At the mention of the word ‘savanna', your mind probably wanders to the vast grassy plains of Africa. But do you know that there are actually a few savannas in the world that are worthy of your attention? Even more surprising, some of the best ones are located in Indonesia, ready to be explored to your heart’s content. To celebrate the release of the new Disney's Photo-Realistic Animation THE LION KING, let's unleash our inner Simba or Nala, it’s time to roam here in our 5 picks of the most beautiful savannas in the world:

1. Real Life Lion King

Serengeti (Africa)

Said to be a major inspiration to the movie Lion King, the Serengeti which is located near Cape Town in South Africa, goes as far as the eye can see- and then some more. The seemingly endless grassland is located in Tanzania, Africa and is one of Africa’s most classic safari destinations. It’s the home of the Big Five, over 500 species of birds and Africa’s most well-known great wildebeest migration.

With countless tour packages available for your choosing, more and more attractions are introduced including hot air balloon, camping, walking safaris and so on. Excitement aside, nothing beats the tranquility of just sitting and waiting for sunset or admiring the landscape up close.

2. The Stunning Jewel of Sumba

Puru Kambera, Sumba (Indonesia)

Home to East Sumba’s savanna, the grassland expanse is an iconic jewel that will struck any traveler with an awe-inspiring wonder. Just a 30-minute drive from Waingapu, the open stretches of grassland gets even more dramatic with backdrop of rolling hills at one side and oceanic stretch at the other. Cue in the galloping sandalwood horses and there you have it, the best nature scene one could ever wish for.

In fact, the golden-yellow savanna and blue skies have made the screen plenty of times in the movies. It’s also a highly-requested prewedding location, all thanks to the beach that is adjacent to the meadow with the same name.

3. The Soothing Colors of Nature

Palouse, Washington (USA)

The Palouse is the most serene and pastoral of the seven wonders of the state of Washington. Located in the South-Eastern area of the state some four hours drive from Seattle, the grassland boasts a unique landscape that is also a designated wheat and barley plantations. As the produce matures from time to time, the Palouse changes in colors too, from lush shades of green in Spring to crispy harvest brown in summer.

The meadow is a gem that captivates the hearts of many photographers, ready to hunt for the next most picturesque memory under the sun. One thing is for sure, with such wonderful sight to see, any shot is going to be as good as it gets.

4. Savana Selo

Mount Merbabu National Park, Salatiga (Indonesia)

We’re not kidding when we say some of the best savannas in the world is in Indonesia. Just check out our next contender, Savana Selo that is nicknamed after the pathway to reach it. With the majestic Mount Merbabu near Semarang as the backdrop, you can expect to find a few savanna spots, all with the same exotic yet carefree panorama. The beauty often stops hikers in their tracks, inviting them to take a long rest while absorbing the fresh view it has to offer.

Plenty of other mountains in Indonesia also share the same geographical feature of mountainous savannas. To name a few, there are Mount Sindoro, Mount Lawu, Mount Bromo, Mount Argopura and the list continues! So if you are yet to step foot in Africa or other foreign countries, Nusantara beckons your savanna visit anytime of the day.

5. Pretty in Pink

Nari Park, Seoul (South Korea)

Nothing gets more instagrammable than the stretch of lovely pink savanna in the form of one endless park. Nari Park in Seoul is one of the most visited places in Korea during autumn, the pinkish and violet grass sway dreamily like one huge fluffy carpet.

The pink sea of flowers is not the only thing that you get to enjoy, because Nari Park also houses many different other floral species that share one thing in common : extra prettiness! Just get your camera ready and prepare to experience a day of natural beauty at its finest height.

Whichever savanna you decide to experience the "Circle of Life", let SweetEscape make those festive colors and joyful memories last a lifetime in print! We connect you to 2000+ professional photographers in more than 400 cities around the world, so all you have to do is to create your memories, while we take great photos of your every moment! (Use the code FIRSTESCAPE on your first SweetEscape booking to get USD50 off and let's #MakeLifeMemorable!