If you’re looking to explore Tanzania’s amazing wildlife, culture, and natural beauty, visiting a national park is the best way to do it. Most of the country’s famous Game reserves are located near the city of Arusha and include Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park, and Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area. While these areas are fairly easy to access due to their proximity to Arusha/Dar es Salaam (the capital), other parks require longer drives from these cities (roughly 4-5 hours). Here are some tips on what you should expect when visiting each park in this guide:
1. Serengeti National Park
Serengeti National Park is the most famous and popular game reserve in Tanzania and one of the most famous parks in Africa. It’s also one of the best places in Africa to see wildebeest, zebras, and other animals on their annual migration.
The park covers an area of 18,000 square miles (47,000 square kilometers) and has two parts: the northern and southern sectors. The northern part is accessible from Arusha and Nairobi, Kenya while the southern section can only be reached by plane or a 4×4 vehicle from Seronera Gate located on the eastern boundary of the park.
Serengeti National Park was established as a game reserve in 1951 by British colonial authorities who wanted to protect wildlife from poachers but didn’t want to interfere with local people or farmers living inside its boundaries so they created this protected area where animals could roam freely without any human interference.
The park is named after Serengeti, a Maasai word that means “endless plains.” It’s one of the most popular places in Tanzania for tourists because it has the largest population of wildebeest and zebra in all of Africa. They migrate here each year from other areas in search of food and water.
The Serengeti game reserve is also home to many other animals such as lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, and elephants. It’s one of the best places in Africa to see huge herds of wildebeest on their annual migration from Kenya through Tanzania and back again.
The best time to visit the Serengeti National Park is during the dry season, which runs from late June to October. During this time, wildlife viewing is said to be the best in general, with the wildebeest migration being the park’s highlight. It is also recommended to plan your trip around the movement of the Great Migration, which typically occurs from January to February or from June through September.
2. Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Ngorongoro Conservation Area is located in Northern Tanzania, near the Kenyan border. It covers an area of 95 square miles (250 square kilometers) and is home to some of the most spectacular wildlife you’ll find in any national park on earth.
The Ngorongoro Crater itself is a stunning volcanic caldera that measures 12 miles (19 kilometers) across and 2,600 feet (800 meters) deep in the heart of the game reserve. The floor of this crater has been designated as one of only two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Tanzania, due to its importance as a habitat for large mammals like elephants and rhinos; there are also over 400 species of native plants within its borders, more than anywhere else on earth!
You can spot many animals here: lions, elephants, and even cheetahs! If you’re looking for something more specific (like maybe just one type), though…there are plenty more animals within this park’s boundaries too: leopards live here too alongside hyenas; hippos swim in nearby rivers while zebra roam nearby grasslands, you name it!
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is also home to a number of smaller attractions that are worth visiting. For example, the Olduvai Gorge is located within this park and it’s one of the most important archaeological sites in all of Tanzania. This gorge measures about 2 miles (3 kilometers) long by half a mile (800 meters) wide, and it has been excavated over many years; scientists have uncovered evidence here that shows early hominids lived in this region as far back as 1.8 million years ago!
The Ngorongoro Crater is another popular attraction within this park. It measures nearly 6 miles (10 kilometers) across and its walls are about 1,000 feet (300 meters) high; inside the crater, itself sits a lake that is a crucial source of water for the animals that live in the area.
The ideal travel time for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania is from June to October. During this time, the weather is dry, and rainfall is minimal. This period is considered the best time for wildlife viewing since the dry weather forces animals to converge near water sources within the crater.
3. Tarangire National Park
Located in northern Tanzania, Tarangire National Park is one of the country’s largest and most popular game reserve. It covers an area of 8,700 square km (3,350 sq mi) and is home to a variety of wildlife species including elephants, lions, and rhinos.
The park can be reached by road from Arusha or Dodoma via Morogoro city. It has an entrance fee payable at any gatehouse but there are no facilities for non-campers inside the park itself so you’ll need to bring your own supplies!
Known for its large herds of elephants that migrate through twice each year on their way from Maasai Mara in Kenya or Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania up north towards Lake Victoria; Tarangire has become famous among safari enthusiasts who come here specifically looking for these majestic creatures while also enjoying other forms such as giraffes or zebras roaming freely across open plains away from human interference (except maybe yours!).
The best time to visit Tarangire National Park is during the dry season, which runs from late June to October. During this time, the weather is generally pleasant with little rainfall, and the animals congregate around the Tarangire River. This time period is also considered the high season, so the park may be crowded with tourists. However, rates may be lower during the low season in April and May.
4. Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park is located in southern Tanzania, just north of the equator. It covers an area of 872 square kilometers (337 sq mi) and is known for its abundant birdlife. The park’s average elevation is 1,900 meters (6,234 ft).
The park is home to over 350 species of birds and around 100 mammal species including giraffes, elephants, and lions. Other animals you might see include baboons, hippos, and crocodiles. The lake has crocodile-infested waters so don’t swim there! You can find flamingos on Lake Manyara during migration seasons from July until October or November depending on rainfall levels in the catchment area where their food sources grow (grass).
The best time to visit the game reserve is during the dry season from December through April when temperatures are cooler but still relatively comfortable at around 24 degrees Celsius during daytime hours though nights can get chilly due to high altitude which causes rapid cooling effects at night time when temperatures drop sharply after sunset and the lake is not as crowded as it is during the high season.
Tips: Manyara National Park is close to Ngorongoro Crater which makes it easy for tourists to visit both of them together and maybe in one day if you are in a hurry.
5. Selous Game Reserve
Selous Game Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in southern Tanzania. The park covers an area of 22,500 square kilometers (8,700 sq miles) and is home to over 50 mammal species including lions, elephants, and hippos.
It’s known for its wildlife-viewing opportunities: you can spot giraffes at Karungu Hill; leopards prowling along riverbanks; crocodiles lying in wait underwater lilies; hyenas scavenging on carcasses left by lions or cheetahs; and wildebeests migrating across plains as they migrate between Kenya’s Masai Mara National park and Selous Game Reserve each year during their annual migration cycle between July-November each year when there are plenty of food sources available in these areas due to heavy rainfall during this time period which ensures that there will be plenty of grasses growing so that herbivores have enough nutrition from their diets while feeding themselves with leaves from trees such as acacias found throughout both parks’ territories
It’s one of the best places to spot elephants in Africa, and one of the only places where you can see lions and leopards living alongside each other. It’s also home to over 50 species of mammals including cheetahs, hyenas, zebras, and wildebeests, and that’s just scratching the surface!
The Selous Game Reserve is also home to over 500 species of birds that call the Selous Game Reserve home. Its forests are also home to many types of trees including baobabs and acacia trees. The reserve is one of the largest protected areas in Africa, measuring more than 13,000 square kilometers (5,000 sq mi). It spans across Tanzania and Mozambique and is known for being one of the most biodiverse places on Earth!
The best time to visit Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania is during the dry season from June to October. The dry months are best for game viewing as animals gather around water sources and the vegetation is thinner, making it easier to spot wildlife. During this time, there is little to no rainfall and the weather is ideal.
6. Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park is located in the southwest of Tanzania, along the border with Mozambique. It covers an area of 603 square kilometers and is famed for its large herds of elephants and other wildlife.
Ruaha National Park has some fantastic scenery including forests, grasslands, woodlands, riverine areas, and swamps. The park also boasts over 400 recorded bird species as well as 27 species that are endemic to Tanzania alone! You can find lions here too but they are less common than at other parks such as Serengeti or Ngorongoro Crater (home to around 250 lions).
One attraction within Ruaha game reserve is Olduvai Gorge which was first excavated by Louis Leakey back in 1931 when he discovered ancient human remains there which were later named Homo habilis (‘handy man’). Another great thing about this park is that you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see different types of animals without having too many people around so if you’re looking for somewhere quieter then this might be more suitable than others on our list
The park is also home to a wide variety of vegetation from open grasslands and woodland to thick forests which can be seen in the northern part of the park. There are plenty of bird species here including ostriches, vultures, eagles, and flamingos as well as giraffes, zebras, and elephants!
The best time to visit Ruaha National Park is during the dry season, which runs from June to October. During this time, the weather is sunny, but not too hot, and the roads are easy to navigate. Additionally, wildlife is easier to spot because the bush thins out and wildlife concentrates around trusted water sources.
7. Katavi National Park
Katavi National Park is located in the northwestern part of Tanzania, just south of Lake Tanganyika. It’s one of the least visited parks in the country, but it’s also one of the most remote and wildest parks in Africa.
The park covers an area of 679 square miles (1,751 square kilometers). The terrain is flat savannah grasslands interspersed with rocky hills and plateaus that rise to heights up to 4,000 feet (1,220 meters), making it an ideal habitat for large herbivores such as giraffes, elephants, and buffalo.
Katavi game reserve is known for its large populations of predators such as lions and leopards; however, these animals are rarely seen because they tend to avoid humans at all costs unless it’s necessary for survival (for example: when food supplies become scarce). If you do happen upon one during your visit however then prepare yourself–you may have just lucked into witnessing something truly special!
Katavi National Park is home to over 500 species of birds, including some rare ones such as the African crowned crane and the Katanga eagle. It’s also home to many types of insects and reptiles including the Nile crocodile, which can be seen lounging on the banks of Lake Rukwa during the dry season (December-April).
The best time to visit Katavi game reserve is during the dry season, which is from May to October. During this time, the weather is dry and the vegetation is thin, making it easier to spot animals. Large numbers of game congregate around the river, which provides an excellent opportunity to see a variety of wildlife. Additionally, the park’s roads are easier to navigate and there are fewer insects during this season
8. Mahale Mountains National Park
Mahale Mountains National Park is located in the Western part of Tanzania, not too far from Lake Tanganyika and Serengeti National Park.
The park covers an area of more than 1,000 square kilometers (390 sq mi), making it one of the largest game reserves in Tanzania. It was established in 1968 as a game reserve but upgraded to a national park in 1977 with an aim to protect chimpanzees and other wildlife species. The park also protects several rare birds such as the yellow-casqued hornbill and green pigeons among others.
The best time to visit Mahale Mountains National Park is during the dry season between November through April when you’ll have better chances to spot animals like chimpanzees that are active during the daytime since they feed mostly on fruits found in higher-up trees where there is fewer rainwater available during rainy season! There are two main entrances into this beautiful park: one at Nyahururu Gate (about 70km northwest of Mpanda Town) which leads directly into Mahale Natural History Trail; another entrance at Kigoma Gate which allows visitors access via boat across Lake Tanganyika before continuing along the road until reaching another gate entry point near Kigoma town itself
The best time to visit Mahale Mountains game reserve is during the dry season which lasts from June to October. During this time, the weather is mostly sunny with almost no rainfall and the chances of catching malaria are reduced due to fewer mosquitoes. Additionally, chimpanzee trekking is easier during this time as they are likely to be seen foraging in big groups.
9. Gombe Stream National Park
Gombe Stream National Park is located in the northern part of Tanzania. The park covers an area of 1,000 square kilometers and has a population of over 2,200 animals. It’s known for its large population of chimpanzees and other primates, who are studied by Jane Goodall at her famous research center nearby.
But you don’t have to be a scientist or wildlife enthusiast to enjoy this game reserve, you can simply take a boat ride through the lake or walk along one of its many nature trails, which offer views into forests full of trees like baobab trees and papyrus reeds (the latter are used for making paper). The best time to visit Gombe Stream National Park is during the rainy season between November and April; it gets very hot during the summer months so try not to go then if possible!
the best time to visit Gombe Stream National Park is during the dry season, which runs from June to October. During this time, trekking through the park is easier, and the likelihood of seeing chimpanzees is higher as they remain on lower slopes where there is fruit. July to October is considered the high season, and the park doesn’t get crowded at any time of the year. The low season is April and May when the only private lodge in the park is closed. The best weather is between June to October, which is the dry season with little to no rainfall, while the worst weather is between November to April, which is the wet season.
10. Arusha National Park
Arusha National Park is located in northern Tanzania, near Arusha. It’s the country’s oldest game reserve and one of its most important ones. The park has an area of 1,200 square kilometers (465 square miles), which makes it smaller than Serengeti but larger than Ngorongoro Crater or Lake Manyara.
Arusha National Park is known for its abundance of wildlife–especially elephants and giraffes–and also for its beautiful scenery: rolling hills dotted with acacia trees, baobab trees, and other vegetation that grow on alkaline soils; granite outcrops; waterfalls; deep gorges cut into by rivers flowing from Mount Meru beyond its borders; grasslands where zebras graze alongside antelope species including impala (a type of gazelle) or Grant’s gazelle; woodlands inhabited by monkeys like vervet monkeys and bush babies who live there year-round while visitors come during certain seasons only
The best time to visit the Arusha game reserve is during the dry season between June and October. During the dry season, vegetation is thinner, water is scarcer, mosquito levels are reduced, and it is easier to spot the wildlife since they normally gather around the waterholes. The best weather can be found from June to October, with little rainfall, and the worst weather would be in March and April, during the peak of the wet season.
