Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park supports the greatest remaining concentration of plains game in Africa. The name of the area is derived from the Maasai “Siringeti” meaning endless plains. It is of the size of Northern Ireland. The park contains an estimated 3.5 million large animals and it stretches over 5.700 square miles of plains, riverine bush, acacia woodland, with savannah grassland as the dominant environment. In the Serengeti you will explore the Kopjes – Home to the lion, leopard and cheetah – as well as follow the trail of the migrating plains game. From mid-January to mid-February the wildebeest migration is at its height in Serengeti, with the wildebeest giving birth to their foals during this time. The plains are crowded with herds, and early morning finds many new calves tottering by their mothers’ sides. Perhaps you will witness the spectacle birth on the plains, as well as the dramas of predator and prey as they unfold in these beautiful surroundings. As a result of the biodiversity and ecological significance of the area the park has been listed by UNESCO as one of the World Heritage Sites.

Ngorongoro national park

Ngorongoro Conservation protects wildlife habitat as well as the rights of local Maasais who graze their livestock on about 75 % of the area. Ngorongoro Crater, 19 kilometers wide, is the world’s largest intact caldera. Before the cataclysmic collapse of its cone 2 million years ago, this volcanic mountain may have been taller than Kilimanjaro. Its rim, which averages 2,316 meters elevation, is cloaked in moist montane forest and grassland, hosting elephants, goldenwinged and eastern double colored sunbirds, stonechats and Jackson’s widowbirds. From lodges and campsites on the rim, visitors are

driven down to the crater floor for a day-long trip. At 1700 meters elevation, the crater is primarily grassland, with patches of spring-fed marshes, freshwater ponds, a salt lake and small forests. Harboring 20,000 animals, it is a virtual Noah’s Ark (without giraffes). Great effort has gone into saving the black rhino here, and several dozen are resident. Buffaloes, wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, and hartebeest graze the grassland, while elephants roam the wooded area, and hippos gather in marshes and ponds. Lions, spotted hyenas and golden and black-backed jackals are easy to find, whereas servals and cheetahs are rarely sighted.

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park is the most Southern of the accessible parks of northern Tanzania and is named after the river Tarangire. The park covers an area of 2,600 sq. km, and most of the park is an open grassy savannah, dotted with splendid specimens of Baobab trees. However, there are also areas of swamp in the south. The park is also spectacular in the dry season due to the fact that many of the migratory wildlife species come back to the permanent waters of the river until the onset of the rains when they migrate again for better pastures. This animal phenomenon takes place from June to September.

Furthermore, it possesses the second highest concentration of wildlife during the dry season next to Serengeti\Ngorongoro. It is one of the few protected areas in Tanzania with a hydrological regime that ensures a year round water source for the park’s most exceptional resource, the Tarangire River. Moreover, it is known for its river valley, wetlands, gently rolling hills, rocky out crops and numerous baobab trees. It is the only National Park in Tanzania’s northern circuit where one can easily view a large concentration of elephants all year around.

Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara is set below the Rifth Valet Escarpment. It’s comprised of the lake, the ground water forest, swamps, acacia bushes and the hot springs to the south. The name “Manyara” comes from the Maasai word “emanyara”, which is a euphorbia species of a plant that is grown into a hedge around a family homestead. The 329 square kilometers is a magnet for birdlife and kaleidoscope of different species can be found around its shores including a huge flock of flamingos. The lake is alkaline or soda-lake, its ground water forest with Mahogany and sausage trees are alive with blue money and vervet. Elephants, bushbucks, waterbucks, baboons, leopards, buffalos, hippos, giraffes, impalas, zebras and lions complete the picture of wildlife to be found. The lake is also famous for fighting male hippos who engage in fierce battles for territory.

Mikumi National Park 

Mikumi National Park is lying just north of the famous Selous Game reserve. Gazetted in 1960 to cover the current area of 1070 square kilometers. It was later extended in 1975 to cover the current area of 3230 square kilometers. The park is the 5th largest National Park in Tanzania. The name Mikumi comes from the Borassus palm, which one grew there in profusion but no stem is visible in the village.

You can experience the spectacular concentration of variety of animals in Mkata flood plaim including four of the big five: elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard.

The ever changing skies and light producing glorious sunrise and sunset.

It is in the ecosystem with Selous making the animals (elephant, buffalos and zebras) migrate to and from the northern part of the reserve into the park.

Saadani National Park

Saadani National park is the only one of Tanzanias national parks that combines both marine, terrestrial and fresh water ecosystems. The park, established in 2005, was created after combining the former Saadani Game Reserve, Zaraninge forrest and Mkwaja cattle Ranch coming to a total of 1,100 square meters.

Saadani National Park lies along the Indian Ocean coast in the Tanga region covering three districts of Pangani, Handeni and Bagamoyo. About 110 km north of Dar es Salaam city. The park is located in the centre of the historical triangle made up of Bagamoyo, Pangani and Zanzibar. The park has lots of attractions all year around. From July to October is the best time for flamingo watching in the salt pans.

Selous Game Reserve

Selous Game Reserve became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 due to its diverse wildlife and peaceful nature. All human entry and exit is carefully controlled and the park is relatively undisturbed by human impact.

The Selous Game Reserve is the biggest game reserve in Tanzania. It covers around 50,000 square kilometres. This huge area contains a large number of elephants, cheetahs, giraffes, hippos and crocodiles, amongst other species. The area also covers a lot of different habitats; open grasslands, woodlands, forests and swamps.

The Selous Game Reserve is not the most famous to go on a safari. This means that it can be a more wild and free experience, since the number of cars in Selous are lower than elsewhere, and the area is almost free from human interference.

Ruaha National Park

Ruaha National Park covers around 20,000 square kilometres, which makes it the largest national park in Tanzania. The park is a part of an even bigger eco-system; the Rungwa-Kigozo-Muhesi eco-system. This eco-system covers an area of 45,000 square kilometres, which also includes some other game reserves.

The park was formerly known for it's large population of elephants, and despite the fact that this number has decreased, there is still a large number of elephants to be found there. The park also contains Africa's second largest number of lions and the third largest population of wild dogs. The best opportunity to see the big mammals and predators is in the dry season (May-December).

Furthermore, the park contains a lot of different bird species; more than 571 different species has been seen in the park. The best opportunity to see the big variety of birds and flowers is in the wet season (January-April).