Best National Parks to Visit in Tanzania
Best National Parks to Visit in Tanzania
Updated guide to the 22 best National Parks to visit in Tanzania for you to explore on an African wildlife safari. Tanzania’s 22 National Parks make it a preferred destination for tourists to experience the best of Africa’s wilderness.
The National Parks in Tanzania alone cover an area of about 99,000 sq. km. Tanzania’s national parks are located in the Northern, Southern, and Western circuits. The different game parks provide refuge to Tanzania’s rich biodiversity and breathtaking natural landscapes.
Guide to Northern Safari Circuit National Parks in Tanzania
Want a safari that can blow your mind? Visit the Northern tourist circuit to explore some of Tanzania’s finest National Parks, each promising captivating sightings.
The prominent safari parks to explore along the Northern circuit include Serengeti National Park (the crown jewel), & Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Tarangire, Arusha National Park, and Lake Manyara National Park.
Serengeti National Park
Serengeti is most popular as the crown jewel of Tanzania and is an excellent destination to visit for Big 5 safaris in Africa. Covering over 14,750 sq. km, Serengeti game safaris promise astonishing encounters in the stunning savanna plains.
Expected day encounters in the Serengeti savanna plains include the African elephants, leopards, zebras, wildebeests, buffalo, and rhinos. The park is also a hidden treasure to locate several cheetahs, spotted hyenas, impalas, giraffes, and more.
A visit to Serengeti National Park guarantees you exceptional African wilderness experiences including the Great Migration (from June to September), Big 5 game drives, and witnessing the wildebeest calving (January to February).
Serengeti also offers outstanding walking experiences, hot air balloon rides, and expeditions in the historic Olduvai Gorge. For visitors who desire a close interaction with communities, join the thrilling Maasai village tour.
On any safari in Serengeti, the focus is often to explore the Central region, also popular as Seronera Valley, Northern Serengeti for the River crossing experience, and the Southern plains offer remarkable encounters of newborn wildebeest being born from January to March. You shouldn’t miss appreciating each region’s breathtaking landscapes, rocky kopjes, extensive grasslands, and riverine woodlands.
Where to stay
Top accommodation options to book for your stay in and around Serengeti include Serengeti Luxury Retreat, Serengeti Explorer, Awali Serengeti Camp, and Faru Faru Lodge.
The premier midrange lodges in Serengeti include Lobo Wildlife Lodge, Serengeti Serena Lodge, Kati Kati Tented Camp, Seronera Wildlife Lodge, Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge, and Grumeti Migration Camp.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Get a chance to explore one of the world’s hidden treasures and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ngorongoro is where one of the world’s richest and biggest intact volcano caldera lies. Explore Ngorongoro Crater, also famous as the Garden of Eden. On a Tanzania safari in Ngorongoro, expect to explore the diversity of wildlife, including African elephants, rare black rhinos, wildebeests, giraffes, leopards, cheetahs, and more.
Where to stay on a safari in Ngorongoro
The key lodges to secure a slot for overnight stay in and around Ngorongoro include Ngorongoro Oldeani, Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, Ngorongoro Lodge, Osonjoi Lodge, Ngorongoro Farm House, and more.
Tarangire -Best National Parks to Visit in Tanzania
Visit the lush Tarangire National Park, also referred to as the Elephant Paradise/haven. This vast park is popular for wildlife such as leopards, cheetahs, lions, fringe-eared oryx, giraffes, caracals, black rhinos, and buffalo. The other rare animals to explore in Tarangire include the African wild dogs, zebras, long-necked gerenuk, and more.
Tarangire offers insights beyond wildlife. A safari to Tarangire is rewarded with incredible views of the massive baobab trees. The park also features amazing habitats like seasonal swamps in the Southern part and mainly attracts several species of wildlife and birds. Tarangire River is also an incredible spot to locate diverse wildlife in Tarangire National Park.
About 550 bird species reside in Tarangire, including yellow-collared lovebirds, bateleur eagles, lappet-faced vultures, Von der Decken’s hornbills, lilac-breasted rollers, and ashy starlings.