National Parks of Tanzania - Safaris in Tanzania National Parks of Tanzania Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, Serengeti National Parks, Ruaha, Mikumi National Park Tanzania National parks

Serengeti National park

Serengeti is easily Tanzania’s most famous national park, and it’s also the largest, at 14,763 square kilometres of protected area that borders Kenya’s Masai Mara Game ParkIt is the  Migration for which Serengeti is perhaps most famous. Over a million wildebeest and about 200,000 zebras flow south from the northern hills to the southern plains for the short rains every October and November, and then swirl west and north after the long rains in April, May and June. So strong is the ancient instinct to move that no drought, gorge or crocodile infested river can hold them back. The Wildebeest travel through a variety of parks, reserves and protected areas and through a variety of habitat. Join us to explore the different forms of vegetation and landscapes of the Serengeti ecosystem and meet some of their most fascinating inhabitants. 

Lake Manyara National park

Located beneath the cliffs of the Manyara Escarpment, on the edge of the Rift Valley, Lake Manyara National Park offers varied ecosystems, incredible bird life, and breathtaking views.Lake Manyara’s famous tree-climbing lions are another reason to pay this park a visit. The only kind of their species in the world, they make the ancient mahogany and elegant acacias their home during the rainy season, and are a well-known but rather rare feature of the northern park. In addition to the lions, the national park is also home to the largest concentration of baboons anywhere in the world -- a fact that makes for interesting game viewing of large families of the primates. 

Ngorongoro crater

The Ngorongoro Crater is often called ‘Africa’s Eden’ and the ‘8th Natural Wonder of the World,’ a visit to the crater is a main drawcard for tourists coming to Tanzania and a definite world-class attraction. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is home of Ngorongoro Crater. It was formed some 2.5 million years ago from a volcanic mountain sinking due to inactivity, and was initially thought to be higher than Tanzania’s famous Kilimanjaro. The crater has evolved into a unique and integral part of Tanzania’s eco-system. The crater is actually a caldera, measures 22.5 km’s across and the rim walls stand 600m high. Views from within and from the rim are breathtaking (as can be seen from the picture). The crater houses 30,000 animals, and a large variety of birds, which rarely move from the area due to the availability of water through wet and dry seasons 

Tarangire National park

Tarangire National Park, one of the hidden jewels of Tanzania. This park measures 2,600 sq km’s and boasts a concentration of wildlife second only to Ngorongoro Crater. It features an impressive amount and array of bird life and plant life. Situated only 160km’s from Arusha, the park is nestled to the south of the large open grass plains of southern Maasailand. It is named after the Tarangire River, which runs directly through the center of the park and is the only permanent water source for the animals. Along the banks of this river you will find herds of wildebeest (or gnu) and zebra, followed by Grant’s Gazelle, Thomson’s Gazelle and many others. Lurking in the background lion and leopard keep a watchful eye on a possible meal. The park offers views of grass and floodplains with impressive baobab and flat topped acacia trees scattered throughout. During the dry season the park may look quite ordinary, but activities continue even more earnestly due to the now increased competition. 

Ruaha National park 

At 12 950km², Ruaha is only marginally smaller than the Serengeti, and is pristine and untouched Africa, unsullied by minibus tourism and large lodges with electric lights, discotheques and glitzy curio shops. Infested with tsetse fly, Ruaha is bordered in the north by the Kizigio and Rungwa River Game Reserves, and together they form a 26 500km² conservancy, one of the biggest in East Africa. By road, it is a five hour journey from Iringa, but there is also an airstrip at Msembe for fly-in safaris. The best months to visit are from July to November when the animals congregate around the water holes, but the park is stunning all year round. Ruaha is visually a treat, with rocky outcrops and mountain ranges giving it a topography that ranges from 750m to 1 900m on the peak of Ikungu Mountain, and the focal point of the reserve is the Great Ruaha River, with its deep gorges, swirling rapids – and excellent fishing. With over 10 000 elephant, 30 000 buffalo, 20 000 zebra and huge populations of lion and leopard (not to mention more than 400 bird species) Ruaha is a naturalist’s paradise. 
 

Mikumi National park

This small park measures 1,300 km² and is located closeby to Dar Es Salaam. There is not that is offered to visitors although it is a pretty park. Mostly used by residents of Dar Es Salaam for a weekend getaway. The park has resident game species which can be seen throughout the year. 

Arusha National Park 

Located on the outskirts of Arusha. Not many visitors visit the park during the year which is surprising due to the concentrations of wildlife that are found in the area. Although it is not on any path of the major migration routes of the wildebeest it still has an attractive array of wildlife and birdlife. Mount Meru (4566m) also forms part of this national park. Mount Meru is the 3rd highest mountain in Africa (The highest being Mount Kilimanjaro and second is Mount Kenya). Many hiking trails are available up Mount Meru and spectacular views can be seen from the top. If you want to visit this park, we suggest that you only spend a day at the most here 

Selous Game Reserve

There are so many reasons why the Selous is remarkable. With an area of 55,000 sq km, or 5% of Tanzania's land surface, the Selous Game Reserve is one of the largest protected areas of the world. To give you an indication of how large it is, it is larger than Switzerland or Denmark and is uninhabited and little touched by human interference. The wildlife is spectacular and it houses the largest mammal populations in Africa. Nowhere else can you make boat safaris through more spectacular wildlife concentrations. Visitors are also permitted to take walking safaris with an armed ranger, which is not possible in Tanzanian National Parks.

Outstanding features include Rufiji, Beho Beho and Ruaha River. These provide the eco system with the much needed water and also contribute to the marshy conditions found within the Reserve. The Rufiji River splits the eco-system into two distinct parts. Stiegler's Gorge which is 100, deep and 100m wide is a magnificent natural feature with a rickety and gut wrenching cable car that ferries safari vehicles across the the river. This is not for the feint hearted.

The reserve is home to over half of Tanzania's elephant population, as well as significant numbers of buffalo, wild dog and hippo, as well as lion, leopard and plenty of lesser game. This is a bird lover's paradise with over 350 species of bird. To give you an indication of the numbers - 120 000 buffalo, 150 000 wildebeest, 50 000 zebra, an estimated half the African population of wild dog, about 4 000 and 50 000 impala. This is only seen by about 2000 visitors per year, which shows that this is untouched Africa as it was hundreds of years ago.