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It’s hard to watch Our Great National Parks and not be left in a state of wonder. Netflix’s latest docuseries, hosted by former President Barack Obama, is a love letter to the protected areas of our world; from the waves of Monterey Bay, California, to the rainforests of Indonesia. Every frame is filled with awe-inspiring footage of difficult-to-find animals and gorgeous landscapes.
But the coolest part of Our Great National Parks has nothing to do with what’s on screen. No, the best part is knowing that you can visit most of these landscapes in real life.
Looking to get off your couch and commune with nature? We have you covered. Here is your guide to all 17 of the parks that are mentioned in this docuseries. Now it’s up to you to book your flight and pack your most comfortable pair of hiking boots.
Episode 1, "A World of Wonder"
Out of the five episodes in Our Great National Parks, its first installment showcases the most parks. This introduction highlights eight different protected areas, from the Congo to the wilderness of Wyoming. Here’s your guide to the parks mentioned:
Loango National Park: Located on the Atlantic coast of Gabon in Central Africa, its wilderness includes beaches, forests, savannas, and wetlands. It’s been called the “land of the surfing hippos.” And yes, that’s as cute as you think it is.
Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park: In the Melaky Region of northwest Madagascar, this park is home to a recently discovered animal. Our Great National Parks features first ever footage of the rock iguana.
Yakushima National Park: A protected region of the Kyushu island of Japan, this park is home to mountains that are considered to be sacred to the local population as well as the Japanese macaque.
Yellowstone National Park: Primarily located in Wyoming in the United States, Yellowstone is widely considered to be the first national park in the world. But what Our Great National Parks focuses on the most is the park’s American bison population.
Manuel Antonio National Park: This one is located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The smallest of Costa Rica’s national parks, it’s home to the three-fingered sloth.
Kakadu National Park: This park is located in the protected area of the Northern Territory of Australia. The docuseries highlights the elusive crocodiles found here.
Great Barrier Reef: A staple of Australia, this is the world’s largest coral reef system. It’s also home to the largest green turtle nesting site.
Volcanoes National Park: Located in northwest Rwanda, this one covers a rainforest as well as five of the eight volcanoes of the Virunga Mountains. It’s also home to the endangered mountain gorillas.
Episode 2, "Chilean Patagonia"
This docuseries’ second episode focuses on the Chilean Patagonia, which encompasses the southern end of South America. In total there are 24 national parks in this region, but Our Great National Parks only covers five of them:
Torres del Paine: Located in the southern park of the Patagonia, this one includes mountains, glaciers, lakes, and rivers. It’s also home to pumas and the guanaco, a close relative of the llama.
Cerro Castillo National Park: Found in the Aysén Region, this environment is home to the Andean condor, which is largely considered to be the largest bird of prey in the world. The species was classified as endangered, but in recent years it has been making a comeback.
Conguillío National Park: Part of the Andres, this park is home to the Llaima volcano as well as the endangered Araucaria, better known as the monkey puzzle tree.
Laguna San Rafael National Park: On the Pacific coast of southern Chile sits this park that is home to the San Rafael Glacier. The series follows the leopard seals that can be found here.
Diego Ramírez Islands: A group of subantarctic islands, this region is in the middle of some of the most precarious waters on the planet. They’re also home to grey-headed and black-browed albatrosses as well as southern rockhopper penguins.
Episode 3, "Tsavo, Kenya"
Unlike the first two episodes of this docuseries, its third installment only focuses on two parks: Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park. Particular focus is given to the eastern park. The oldest and largest park in Kenya, it’s located near the town of Voi in the Taita-Taveta County. It’s home to the Yatta Plateau, the world’s longest lava flow, as well as the famous “big five” wild animals: lion, black rhino, cape buffalo, elephant, and leopard.
Episode 4, "Monterey Bay National Marina Sanctuary, USA"
Off the coast of California, this is one of the more interesting regions featured in the show. That’s because it’s almost entirely aquatic. The U.S. Federally protected sanctuary encompasses 276 miles of coast, running from San Fransisco to Cambria. It’s home to several animal special including elephant seals, orcas, southern sea otters, gray whales, and sea nettles jellyfish.
Episode 5, "Gunung, Indonesia"
Last but certainly not least is Gunung Leuser National Park, located in northern Sumatra, Indonesia. What makes this park so special is the wildlife that inhabit it. The Gunung Leuser National Park is one of two remaining habitats for the Sumatran orangutans. It’s also the only remaining home for the critically endangered Sumatran tiger and the Sumatran rhinoceros.
