Being home to stunning and diverse flora and fauna, a rich cultural heritage, and mesmerising landscapes, Tanzania is the perfect holiday destination for any traveller. This scenic country is known for the safari experiences it offers, as this is where one can find some of the most spectacular safari parks and reserves in the world. Here are the top 10 national parks in Tanzania!
- The Serengeti
The Serengeti is a vast region home to a number of wild animals such as zebras, cheetahs, rhinos, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, gazelles, hyenas, lions, hippos, antelopes, jackals, and foxes! It allows tourists to witness the Great Migration during which 2 million wildebeests move across the region. Tourists can go to nearby Maasai villages for cultural tours. For wildlife viewing and safaris, visitors can opt for a game drive, walking safari, cycling tour, or even hot air balloon ride! At the Retina Hippo Pool, one can see up to 200 hippos, and tourists can see 2 million year old fossils and ancient tools at Olduvai Gorge!
- Selous Game Reserve
One of Tanzania’s most popular destinations, Selous Game Reserve, is excellent for birdwatching, as one can spot 350 species of exotic birds, including owls, kingfishers, palm nut vultures, kestrels, storks, parrots, herons, and eagles. Game viewing is spectacular, as there are elephants, giraffes, antelopes, zebras, hyenas, hippos, wildebeests, and lions residing in the reserve! The region is ideal for photography as it has grassy plains, woodland, mountains and riverine forests!
- Ngorongoro Crater
This vast grassland is home to zebras, monkeys, leopards, cheetahs, wildebeests, elephants, warthogs, antelopes, hyenas, lions, antelopes, oryx, elands, buffaloes, impalas, gazelles, and black rhinos! The park is great for game drives, camping, and walking safaris. Getting a tour guide is an excellent idea, as it helps navigate the region and learn from the experience, making the trip enriching and unforgettable.
- Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is the 6th largest safari park in Africa. Known for its amazing wildlife, the park is home to leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, wild dogs, gazelles, mongooses, waterbucks, badgers, lions, monkeys, and baboons. It is famous for its large elephant herds, and visitors can even witness the magnificent elephant migration. Exotic birds are abundant, as the park is home to beautiful migratory birds such as the yellow necked spurfowl, red billed hornbill, woodland kingfisher, stork, crowned shrike, ostrich, and black headed heron!
- Ruaha National Park
One of Tanzania’s largest national parks, Ruaha is home to 10% of the world’s entire lion population! Visitors can spot the Big 5 (rhinos, lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants), sable antelopes, giraffes, roans, cheetahs, kudu, and African wild dogs!
- Gombe Stream National Park
At Gombe, tourists can find baboons, red colobus, blue monkeys, and vervet monkeys, as well as 200 species of migratory birds, including pelicans, ospreys, palm nut vultures, storks, hornbills, guinea fowl, barbets, cuckoos, rollers, hawks, owls, and eagles! Tourists can trek up to the lower slopes where they can easily spot the chimpanzees!
- Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara is the “crown jewel” of Tanzania’s river system. At the park, one can explore the groundwater forest, grassy plains, and blue volcanic peaks. The region is home to leopards, giraffes, elephants, wildebeests, zebras, lions, blue monkeys, and over 400 bird species including pelicans, flamingos, hornbills, crowned eagles, guinea fowl, egrets, and storks. Nature lovers can also enjoy the vivid greenery, spot the giant baobab trees, and visit the Maji Moto hot springs.
- Mahale Mountains Reserve
This national park has lush vegetation, beautiful waterfalls, and dense forests. Tourists can find the largest concentration of chimps in the world, and spot red colobus monkeys, and red tailed monkeys! One can enjoy a walking safari or hike up to Nkungwe at 8069ft!
- Saadani National Park
This park is unique as it doubles as a beach destination. Located right on the Indian Ocean, it is home to animals such as giraffes, lions, elephants, warthogs, buffaloes, waterbucks, baboons, elands, vervet monkeys, and wildebeests! Tourists can enjoy a game drive, or walk at the beach, observing the breathtaking beauty of the ocean.
- Arusha National Park
At Arusha, one can enjoy the mesmerising views of Mount Meru, the lush vegetation, and the cascading waterfalls. Tourists can canoe at the Momella Lakes, enjoy a picnic at the Chemeka Hot Springs, hike up the mountain, or go on safaris or game drives to spot animals and birds such as flamingos, geese, hornbills, hyenas, elephants, zebras, giraffes, monkeys, and herons! The park offers a range of adventures and exciting experiences that can make a vacation unforgettable!
