National Parks in Tanzania: When it comes to authentic wilderness experiences, Tanzania is one splendid destination you shouldn’t miss visiting. Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa and Tanzania safari holidaymakers have about 20 National Parks and several pristine Game Reserves to explore.
Many of the National Parks in Tanzania make up the vast protected ecosystems and they have been set aside primarily to preserve the rich natural heritage of the country. They also play a primary role in protecting the breeding grounds where diversity of Tanzania’s floral and faunal species live which attract most of the Tanzania safari travelers.
Regardless of population pressure, Tanzania is committed to preserve and preserve its natural wonders. To achieve its conservation goal, over 42000sq.kms of land area has been set aside by the government of Tanzania for National Parks, Reserves, Conservation Areas, Marine Parks and others.
National Parks in Tanzania
1. Serengeti National Park
2. Mount Kilimanjaro National Park
3. Ruaha National Park
4. Tarangire National Park
5. Mikumi National Park
6. Arusha National Park
7. Gombe National Park
8. Katavi National Park
9. Mahale Mountains National Park
10. Lake Manyara National Park
11. Saadani National Park
12. Ngorongoro Conservation Area-TZ
Serengeti National Park-TZ
Serengeti National Park is considerably the most popular, the least disturbed and oldest National Park in Tanzania. It is a massive safari park in Tanzania and it sits on 14763sq.kms/5700sq.miles. Serengeti N/Park is photographer’s dream travel destination, a home to all the big game; elephants, lions, rhinos, cape buffaloes, leopards.
Besides the big five game, Serengeti is most famous for wildebeests, thousands of gazelles, zebras, giraffes, impalas, elands, 500 bird species including secretary birds, ostriches, eagles. The main activities to do while on Tanzania safari in Serengeti N/Park include watching the wildebeest migration, hot air balloon tours, Maasai rock paintings & musical rocks, visit the Olduvai gorge.
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park sits on 2600sq.kms/1005sq.miles along the Manyara region about 2 hours’ drive from Arusha. For anyone on Northern Tanzania safari, it is a must visit. It takes its name from the Tarangire River which often becomes the park’s only source of water especially around the dry season. Lots of wildlife species in Tarangire National Park gather at Tarangire River during the dry season for water including giraffes, zebras, elephants.
Tarangire National Park boasts of its other distinct natural features such as the huge termite mounds, baobab trees, birds that total up to 550 species including the Kori bustards, ostriches, yellow collared lovebird, ashy starling, drabber rufous tailed weavers. The major activities to undertake ere include game drives, guided walks, visit to the Maasai and Barabaig villages, rock paintings, birding etc.
Udzungwa National Park
Udzungwa National Park (Heart of the African Galapagos) expands up to 1990sq.kms/770sq.miles. It is the biggest and most bio-diverse chain mountain. Udzungwa is hikers’ dream destination hosting 6 primate species including the red colobus monkeys, mangabey taxa; 4 peculiar bird species, Sanje waterfall etc.
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park is another most expansive safari park in Tanzania, straddling on 10300sq.kms/3980sq.miles. It is known for its huge concentration of hippos, crocodiles which can be clearly spotted on the banks of the Mighty Ruaha River where the park takes its name. Unlike Serengeti, Ruaha N/Park isn’t popular but it is undoubtedly one of the largest protected areas with distinct landscape.
Mikumi National Park
Mikumi National Park is Tanzania’s 4th biggest park sitting on land area of 3230sq.kms/1250sq.miles. Mikumi is found near the Northern border to Selous Game Reserve and Morogoro area. From Dar-es-salaam, the park is 283kms away.
Mikumi National Park was established in 1964 and adjacent to it are the2 protected areas of Udzungwa and Uluguru Mountain N/Parks. The species of wildlife in Mikumi N/Park include zebras, elephants, hippos, impalas, buffaloes, lions, wildebeest, giraffes, elephants, elands, sable antelopes, greater Kudu; 400 avifaunal species including Bateleur eagle.
Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park is 330sq.kms/127sq.miles protected area designated as a UNESCO Site in 1981. Lake Manyara N/Park is most famous for tree climbing lions though it also shelters other wildlife such as warthogs, buffaloes, hippos, leopards, wildebeest, baboons, giraffes, elephants; 300 bird species such as Kingfishers, Lilac breasted rollers, flamingos.
Kilimanjaro National Park
Found in the North-eastern Tanzania just next to Moshi Town, Kilimanjaro National Park was established in 1973. The park sits on 1688sq.kms of land area, covering parts of Mount Kilimanjaro and montane forest.
Arusha National Park
Arusha National Park is remarkably the best place you should expect to visit if you are to have the best of what Tanzania has to offer the world. Sitting on 552sq.kms of land area, Arusha is just 1 hour’s drive off from Arusha. It is found in the North-eastern Arusha, 58kms off from Moshi.
Arusha National Park was created in 1967 and boasts of its diverse attractions including wildlife such as waterbucks, cape buffaloes, giraffes, lions, elephants, warthogs, zebras, colobus monkeys, birds such as Hartlaub’s turacos, red knobbed coot, white browed coucal, little grebe, Egyptian goose etc.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area-Tz
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a home to world’s natural wonder “Ngorongoro Crater” is a must visit destination in the Northern Safari Circuit of Tanzania. It was created in 1959 and it is among the very few designated UNESCO Heritage Sites in Tanzania and Africa at large.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area occupies 8288sq.kms of land area and shelters diversity of wildlife including all the big five, zebras, elands, hippos, blue wildebeest, cheetahs, wild dogs, gazelles hyenas; 500 bird species including saddle bill storks, flamingos rufous tailed weavers, long crested eagles, caspian lapwings.
Gombe National Park
Set in the Western Tanzania border, Gombe National Park is a home to chimpanzees occupying 35sq.kms of land area. The park was created in 1968 and it is one of the best places in Tanzania to visit for chimpanzee tracking. The other wildlife include red colobus monkeys, forest pigs, baboon, leopards, snakes, 200 bird species etc. The main Tanzania safari activities to do here include chimp trekking, guided nature walk, visit Henry Stanley’s site, cultural safaris, sport fishing.
Mahale Mountains National Park (MMNP)-TZ
Located on Lake Tanganyika shores, Kigoma region of western Tanzania, Mahale Mountains National Park is another beautiful place worth visiting for chimpanzee tracking. Mahale was created in 1985 and occupies 1650sq.kms protecting lots of hippos, sable antelopes, leopards, blue monkeys, red colobus monkeys, yellow baboons, 300 bird species.
While at Mahale Mountains National Park expect variety of safari activities to do. They include chimpanzee tracking, bird watching, hiking, guided nature walks, sport fishing. Places to stay include Mbali Mbali Mahale Lodge, Mahale Mango Bandas and Greystoke Mahale Camp.
