Africa’s wildlife parks are often associated with dry savannahs and game drives. However, there are several parks that offer a different experience in which rivers, lakes, and wetlands define the landscape. In Tanzania, Nyerere National Park’s Rufiji River carves floodplains and oxbow lakes best explored by boat, revealing hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and waterbirds. Also in Tanzania, Lake Manyara pairs an alkaline lake with flamingos and tree-climbing lions. Zambia’s Lower Zambezi follows the Zambezi River, offering scenic canoe trips, while Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools showcases floodplains and pools created by the same waterway. Kafue’s Busanga Plains change with the seasons. Sometimes, the plains are flooded wetlands; at other times, they are rich grasslands. In Rwanda, Akagera features lakes, papyrus wetlands, and rare shoebills. Namibia’s Bwabwata is framed by the Okavango and Kwando rivers, while Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park links two lakes and offers wildlife viewing along the Kazinga Channel.