African Reserves in the Order They Were Founded

Etosha National Park began in 1907, the earliest founding on this path. It lies in northwestern Namibia, covers about 22,270 square kilometres and is administered today by Namibia's Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania was established in 1922 and is recorded at about 54,600 square kilometres, far larger than any park founded before it on this path. Its designation is game reserve rather than national park.

Kruger National Park was proclaimed in 1926 in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces of northeastern South Africa. It covers about 19,623 square kilometres and is managed by South African National Parks.

Hwange National Park in western Zimbabwe was set aside in 1928 as a game reserve and only became a national park in 1961, according to the Wikipedia infobox. It covers about 14,651 square kilometres and is managed by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.

Masai Mara National Reserve in Narok County, Kenya, dates from 1961 and covers about 1,510 square kilometres. It is contiguous with Serengeti National Park across the border in Tanzania, so the two protect one continuous landscape.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve was also established in 1961, but in the Kalahari Desert of Botswana and at about 52,800 square kilometres, roughly thirty-five times the size of Masai Mara. The atlas records it in IUCN category Ib.

Simien Mountains National Park in northern Ethiopia was established in 1969 and covers about 412 square kilometres. It is run by the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority and shows that a small area can be protected for its highland terrain rather than for sheer size.

Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Laikipia County, Kenya, dates from 1988 and covers about 360 square kilometres. It is a not-for-profit wildlife conservancy rather than a government park, and the atlas lists Fauna and Flora International as its governing body.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda is the youngest stop, established in 1991 on about 331 square kilometres. It is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.