Tanzania is a country endowed with an incredibly diverse array of wildlife and it makes for some of the best game viewing safaris in Africa. Below are the top five national parks and game reserves in Tanzania.
Ruaha National Park
Named after the Great Ruaha River, The Ruaha National Park is the second largest national park in Tanzania and the biggest elephant sanctuary in the world. The 12,950 sq km park, located some 128 km from Iringa town, is home to a wide range of wild animals including zebra, greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan antelope, impala and giraffe which can be found on the plains stretching from the rivers edge. The Ruaha river hosts numerous hippos and crocodiles and it also draws huge numbers of thirsty water buck, reed buck, leopard, wild dogs, hyena and lions. Indeed Ruaha is unique in that it boasts plant and animal life found in both eastern and southern Africa.
Ruaha's topography is ideal for hiking and walking safaris. In the rainy season between March to April and October to November, the bird population peaks to a high of over 350 bird species - including some Eurasian migrants. Ruaha's climate is hot and dry, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in October. The Ruaha is was until recently totally inaccessible, but there is now a year round road access to the park. From Dar es Salaam, road travel takes 10 hours while a charter flight takes 1 and and half hours. The best time for a safari is over the dry season- May to December.
Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National park is home to an unrivaled abundance of bird species, making it the greatest birding destination in Tanzania. The park hosts many resident and migratory birds. It is also one of the best places for viewing leopards, which can be spotted in the lush green vegetation. At the grassy shores of Lake Manyara, you can also spot the famous tree-climbing lions. This national park is situated between the walls of the great rift valley - which rise up to 610 meters above from the floor - and Lake Manyara.
The periods between December and February and between August and September constitute the best times for going on safari in Lake Manyara national park. However, it is still possible to see animals throughout the year. Most parts of the park are easily accessible, making it possible for you to see all its major attractions in two hours. Lake Manyara National park has three habitats: groundwater green forests, acacia woodlands, and open floodplains.
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is part of Tanzania's famous northern safari circuit. Occupying about 2,600 sq km, the park is named after the Tarangire river. It has a a high concentration of wild animals including elephants and over 570 species of birds, rendering it a haven for birdwatching lovers.
If you want to visit Tarangire National Park, the best time to go would be during the dry season from June to September. During this period, wild animals tend to congregate at the banks of river Tarangire as they seek to quench their thirst. Likewise, the dry season means less thick vegetation cover, increasing your chances of seeing more animals. It is also in Tarangire that you stand the best chance of spotting pythons because they have a habit of climbing trees here.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Located towards the north of Tanzania on an area of over 7,000 square miles the Ngorongoro conservation area was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in'79. The park joins up with the Serengeti to the north-west and it is through here that wildebeest horde through during their world famous migration from the Masai Mara to Serengeti, then to Ngorongoro.
At the center of this conservation area lies the 264 sq km Ngorongoro crater, whose floor is inhabited by a great array of wildlife. Since the crater provides one of the greatest and very satisfying game watching experience, it is not a big surprise that it remains one of the most popular Tanzania destination for wildlife safaris.
When you visit Ngorongoro conservation area, you are likely to experience both surprise and shock, as you get to hear lions' roars echoed off the crater walls, and also spot prides of the lazy king of the jungle idling under the shades of trees. You will also see herds of many herbivores like zebras, antelopes and gazelles grazing in the river shores, as well as huge herds of elephants roaming from one corner of the park to the other. Birdwatching is a good adventure at Ngorongoro. Lake Ndutu, for instance, has a huge population of birds that makes it popular among birding enthusisats. Some of the common birds species around the lake include ducks, flamingos and stocks.
Serengeti National Park
The name Serengeti comes from the Maasai word "Siringit" meaning unending plains - aptly describing the open grassy plains that make up the national park. The 12,950 sq km national park is part of an ecosysytem that spans across the Kenya - Tanzania border into the Masai Mara game reserve. Serengeti's diverse habitat enables the park to support more than 30 species of large mammals and about 500 species of birds.
The "great wildebeest migration" takes place in the Serengeti. This event is the largest and longest overland migration of mammals in the world, earning it a recognition as the world's most spectacular wildlife show. Together with the mighty Victoria falls and the Ngorongoro crater, the migration is also recognized as one of the ten natural wonders of travel in the world.
The great wildebeest migration from Serengeti to the Mara generally takes place between July and August. It is however impossible to correctly predict its timing as it is largely dependent on the rain and pasture availability patterns. The reverse journey of the migration happens around October. About 2 million herbivores participate in the migration, with some of the most interesting moments being when they cross the Mara river in pursuit of greener pastures.
To get to Serengeti, you can travel both by road or by flight. It takes about 8 hours by road from Arusha, 320km away. By air, you can take a flight from Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha to Kirawira airstrip or Seronera airstrip or any of the other airstrips in Serengeti. - 31515
Ruaha National Park
Named after the Great Ruaha River, The Ruaha National Park is the second largest national park in Tanzania and the biggest elephant sanctuary in the world. The 12,950 sq km park, located some 128 km from Iringa town, is home to a wide range of wild animals including zebra, greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan antelope, impala and giraffe which can be found on the plains stretching from the rivers edge. The Ruaha river hosts numerous hippos and crocodiles and it also draws huge numbers of thirsty water buck, reed buck, leopard, wild dogs, hyena and lions. Indeed Ruaha is unique in that it boasts plant and animal life found in both eastern and southern Africa.
Ruaha's topography is ideal for hiking and walking safaris. In the rainy season between March to April and October to November, the bird population peaks to a high of over 350 bird species - including some Eurasian migrants. Ruaha's climate is hot and dry, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in October. The Ruaha is was until recently totally inaccessible, but there is now a year round road access to the park. From Dar es Salaam, road travel takes 10 hours while a charter flight takes 1 and and half hours. The best time for a safari is over the dry season- May to December.
Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National park is home to an unrivaled abundance of bird species, making it the greatest birding destination in Tanzania. The park hosts many resident and migratory birds. It is also one of the best places for viewing leopards, which can be spotted in the lush green vegetation. At the grassy shores of Lake Manyara, you can also spot the famous tree-climbing lions. This national park is situated between the walls of the great rift valley - which rise up to 610 meters above from the floor - and Lake Manyara.
The periods between December and February and between August and September constitute the best times for going on safari in Lake Manyara national park. However, it is still possible to see animals throughout the year. Most parts of the park are easily accessible, making it possible for you to see all its major attractions in two hours. Lake Manyara National park has three habitats: groundwater green forests, acacia woodlands, and open floodplains.
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is part of Tanzania's famous northern safari circuit. Occupying about 2,600 sq km, the park is named after the Tarangire river. It has a a high concentration of wild animals including elephants and over 570 species of birds, rendering it a haven for birdwatching lovers.
If you want to visit Tarangire National Park, the best time to go would be during the dry season from June to September. During this period, wild animals tend to congregate at the banks of river Tarangire as they seek to quench their thirst. Likewise, the dry season means less thick vegetation cover, increasing your chances of seeing more animals. It is also in Tarangire that you stand the best chance of spotting pythons because they have a habit of climbing trees here.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Located towards the north of Tanzania on an area of over 7,000 square miles the Ngorongoro conservation area was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in'79. The park joins up with the Serengeti to the north-west and it is through here that wildebeest horde through during their world famous migration from the Masai Mara to Serengeti, then to Ngorongoro.
At the center of this conservation area lies the 264 sq km Ngorongoro crater, whose floor is inhabited by a great array of wildlife. Since the crater provides one of the greatest and very satisfying game watching experience, it is not a big surprise that it remains one of the most popular Tanzania destination for wildlife safaris.
When you visit Ngorongoro conservation area, you are likely to experience both surprise and shock, as you get to hear lions' roars echoed off the crater walls, and also spot prides of the lazy king of the jungle idling under the shades of trees. You will also see herds of many herbivores like zebras, antelopes and gazelles grazing in the river shores, as well as huge herds of elephants roaming from one corner of the park to the other. Birdwatching is a good adventure at Ngorongoro. Lake Ndutu, for instance, has a huge population of birds that makes it popular among birding enthusisats. Some of the common birds species around the lake include ducks, flamingos and stocks.
Serengeti National Park
The name Serengeti comes from the Maasai word "Siringit" meaning unending plains - aptly describing the open grassy plains that make up the national park. The 12,950 sq km national park is part of an ecosysytem that spans across the Kenya - Tanzania border into the Masai Mara game reserve. Serengeti's diverse habitat enables the park to support more than 30 species of large mammals and about 500 species of birds.
The "great wildebeest migration" takes place in the Serengeti. This event is the largest and longest overland migration of mammals in the world, earning it a recognition as the world's most spectacular wildlife show. Together with the mighty Victoria falls and the Ngorongoro crater, the migration is also recognized as one of the ten natural wonders of travel in the world.
The great wildebeest migration from Serengeti to the Mara generally takes place between July and August. It is however impossible to correctly predict its timing as it is largely dependent on the rain and pasture availability patterns. The reverse journey of the migration happens around October. About 2 million herbivores participate in the migration, with some of the most interesting moments being when they cross the Mara river in pursuit of greener pastures.
To get to Serengeti, you can travel both by road or by flight. It takes about 8 hours by road from Arusha, 320km away. By air, you can take a flight from Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha to Kirawira airstrip or Seronera airstrip or any of the other airstrips in Serengeti. - 31515
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