Which Parks are the Best for Tanzania Safari

Tanzania is the top destination in Africa for safaris. There are parks scattered all over the country that you can visit. Tanzania is also home to Serengeti and Kilimanjaro, two of the most famous national parks in the world.

The parks are separated according to their location within the country. There are northern circuit parks, southern circuit parks, and western parks.

Here is a little more about each park and all the things they have to offer!

Northern Circuit Parks

Northern Circuit parks are by far the most popular since they include Serengeti and Kilimanjaro. If it’s your first time in Tanzania, you need to book a northern circuit safari. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to see animals including the Big 5 and Wildebeests.

The northern circuit parks are also close to popular tourist regions like Arusha and Moshi which you can explore before or after your safaris.

Serengeti National Park

Serengeti is home to the Great Wildebeest Migration and the Big 5. Along with safaris, you can come to Serengeti if you want to do a hot air balloon ride. It’s one of the largest parks with over 2 million animals. Serengeti has many different lodges to choose from including luxury stays and simple tents.

Ngorongoro Crater Conservation

Ngorongoro Crater is one of the best spots to see the Big 5, flamingos, black-backed jackals, and spotted hyenas. It’s also one of the top spots for seeing elephants.

Lake Manyara National Park

At Lake Manyara National Park, you can enjoy different activities like canoe safaris and night drive safaris. It’s also one of the only places where you can see Olive Baboons and Blue Monkeys.

Tarangire National Park

This park is home to more than 300 elephants. You also have plenty of chances to see Baobab Trees and many species of birds. Many people combine Tarangire national park, Lake Manyara, and Ngorongoro into one safari trip.

Arusha National Park

Even though this park is smaller than many others, you can see buffalo, giraffes, and antelopes. This park also has plenty of birds and black and white colobus monkeys. Many people visit Arusha National Park while they are spending time in Arusha since it’s close by.

Kilimanjaro National Park

This national park is home to Mount Kilimanjaro, elephants, zebras, and wildebeest. During the wet months, you can also see many species of birds. Most people come here to climb Mount Kilimanjaro or to go primate trekking.

Southern Circuit Parks

Fewer people travel to the southern circuit parks. They have similar animals and experiences to the northern circuit parks. If you've already been to popular spots like Serengeti and Arusha National Park, check out some of the ones on the southern circuit.

Selous Game Reserve

Selous is popular for boat safaris, fly-camping, and walking safaris. The best time to visit is the dry season. You can also camp in this reserve right among the animals rather than staying in a lodge.

Nyerere National Park

Nyerere is located right on the Rufiji River making it perfect for boat safaris. The river shore attracts many different animals so you can spot the animals from the boat. It’s one of the best parks to spot lions through either a walking safari or a game drive.

Ruaha National Park

Ruaha is most well known for all its different antelope species. You will also see plenty of elephants and lions. Endangered wild dogs are also very common in this park. Try to do a 2 or 3-day safari here with at least one starting in the morning for the best chance to see the endangered dogs.

Mikumi National Park

Mikumi is known for having many different terrains including grassy plains and pools. You can spot hippos, buffalo, impala, and zebras. This is the closest park to Dar Es Salaam making it a popular park for those staying there to visit.

Western Parks

Most people visit the western parks for specialised safaris. The most common activity is chimpanzee trekking. You can spend about a week in the western parks trekking. If you’re short on time, you can also do a 4 or 5-day trek.

Mahale Mountains and Gombe National Park

This is the top place if you want to go chimpanzee trekking. You can also see other primates including red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, and olive baboons. You’ll also get a chance to see Lake Tanganyika which is the largest freshwater lake in the world. Once you’re done chimpanzee trekking, you can go snorkeling!

Katavi National Park

Most people come here to see the largest buffalo herds in the world. This park is also home to roan antelopes and the rare sable. There is also a large population of hippos here. To ensure you get a chance at seeing all the animals, you should spend about two days in Katavi National Park.

Get Ready for Your Tanzania Safari

With over a dozen national parks spread across the country, Tanzania is ready to give you the experience of a lifetime. Whether you’re heading to the northern circuit or the western parks, you can see all the animals of Tanzania in their natural habitat.

Safaris are one of the best ways to explore Tanzania. They’re also the number one reason people can’t wait to travel here! Let Tanzania 

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