A game reserve is a protected area where animals, especially those considered to be "game," can live. Reserves are free from poachers and human encroachment. These reserves may be state owned or privately owned, and they may be open to tourists or restricted. The majority of game reserves do not allow hunting on their premises, but in some areas hunting is allowed but carefully monitored. Game reserves provide a place for endangered animals to thrive in their natural habitat.
Typically a game reserve is an area of land that is marked as protected from hunters and poachers. These areas are created in order to protect animal species that are typically hunted for food or sport and which are often referred to as "game". Building and construction is also not permitted within reserve boundaries. The creation of these protected areas allows these animals to thrive without the threat of hunting and human encroachment on their habitat.
Although most game reserves prohibit hunting, some do allow it. For example, the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania permits hunting in specific parts of the park. While hunting is permitted, it is strictly monitored by the government. The revenue from hunting permits is given back to the reserve, and is a significant source of income for the park.
A National Park is protected by government to preserve the fauna and flora (and sometimes) culture of a region. It may be a game reserve as well, if it happens to contain signifficant amounts of big game (e.g Kruger or Kgagalagadi). Other national parks (e.g Tsitsikamma) are not Game Reserves.
A Game Reserve have populations of large wild animals ("game"). Not all of them are operated by the national government, so not all of them are National Parks. In South Africa, Mpumalanga has a number of private game reserves (e.g Sabie Sands), while Kwazulu-Natal has a number of parks that are operated by the provincial government (e.g. Ithala, Umfolozi, Hluhluwe, Thembe) that are therefore also not National Parks.
