Discover The Best Safari National Parks in Tanzania
- Serengeti National Park
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Tarangire National Park
- Ruaha National Park
- Lake Manyara National Park
- Mkomazi National Park
- Julius Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve)
Best Safari Park #1. Serengeti National Park
Covering an area of 14,763 square kilometers (5,700 square miles), Serengeti National Park is one of Africa's largest protected areas and wildlife parks. Serengeti is famous for its annual Great Wildebeest Migration, where millions of wildebeests and zebras along with other herbivores like Thomson Gazelle cross the Serengeti in search of greener pastures. this park is full of rare wildlife spectacles one of them is the "Big Five" (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros) and Wildebeest migration river crossing in the north corridor of Serengeti National Park.
Serengeti National Park best safari park in Tanzania and Africa and it has been also named one of the seven wonders of Africa and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its beauty and biodiversity have earned it a well-deserved global reputation.
Visitors at Serengeti National Park can enjoy a wide-range number of activities at this best park including tracking Serengeti Wildebeest Migration, spotting big five animals, game drives, Serengeti migration river crossing, bird-watching and the scenic Serengeti hot-air balloon flight. Countless accommodation options are available in Serengeti National Park. From adventurous mobile tented camps following the Great Migration to family-oriented lodge-style accommodations and anything in between, you can be sure to find the perfect spot just for you.
Best Safari Park #2. Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is a national park in Tanzania's Manyara Region. The name of the park originates from the Tarangire River that crosses the park. The Tarangire River is the primary source of fresh water for wild animals in the Tarangire Ecosystem during the annual dry season. It covers an area of 2,850 square kilometers (1,100 square miles.) The landscape is composed of granitic ridges, river valleys, and swamps. Vegetation is a mix of Acacia woodland, Combretum woodland, seasonally flooded grassland, and baobab trees.
The park is famous for its high density of elephants and baobab trees. Visitors to the park in the June to November dry season can expect to see large herds of thousands of zebra, wildebeest, and cape buffalo. Other common resident animals include waterbuck, giraffe, dik dik, impala, eland, Grant's gazelle, vervet monkey, banded mongoose, and olive baboon. Predators in Tarangire include lion, leopard, cheetah, caracal, honey badger, and African wild dog. The oldest known elephant to give birth to twins is found in Tarangire. The recent birth of elephant twins in the Tarangire National Park of Tanzania is a great example of how the birth of these two healthy and thriving twins can beat the odds.
Home to more than 550 bird species, the park is a haven for bird enthusiasts. The park is also famous for the termite mounds that dot the landscape. Those that have been abandoned are often home to dwarf mongooses. In 2015, a giraffe that is white due to leucism was spotted in the park.
The most famous activities here in Tarangire National Park include bird-watching, game drives, hot air balloon flights, and tracking elephant herds. The accommodations are located both on the inside and outside of the national park providing a wide range of choices to the visitors.
Best Safari Park #3. Ruaha National Park
The park is about 130 kilometers (81 mi) west of Iringa. The park is a part of the 45,000 square kilometers (17,000 sq mi) Rungwa-Kizigo-Muhesi ecosystem, which includes the Rungwa Game Reserve, the Kizigo and Muhesi Game Reserves, and the Mbomipa Wildlife Management Area. The name of the park is derived from the Great Ruaha River, which flows along its southeastern margin and is the focus of game-viewing. The park can be reached by car on a dirt road from Iringa and there are two airstrips – Msembe Airstrip at Msembe (park headquarters), and Jongomeru Airstrip, near the Jongomeru Ranger Post.
This park is celebrated for its rugged landscapes and diverse wildlife, including elephants, lions, leopards, and antelopes. It's also home to over 570 bird species. Ruaha's remote wilderness and diverse terrain attract visitors seeking a more off-the-beaten-path adventure. The Great Ruaha River is a central feature. Accommodations in Ruaha range from remote luxury lodges to rustic camps, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the park's wilderness.
Best Safari Park #4. Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park is a protected area in Tanzania's Arusha and Manyara Regions, situated between Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley. It is administered by the Tanzania National Parks Authority and covers an area of 325 km2 (125 sq mi) including about 230 km2 (89 sq mi) lake surface. More than 350 bird species have been observed on the lake.
Lake Manyara National Park is located 126 km (78 mi) southwest of Arusha and can be reached by car in an hour and a half. The park can also be reached from Babati the capital of the Manyara Region. Lake Manyara Airport is nearby. To the south, situated on the escarpment above the park, is the 35,399 ha Marang Forest Reserve. To the east is the Kwa Kuchinja Wildlife Migration corridor, which allows wildlife to migrate between the nearby Tarangire National Park to the southeast, Lake Manyara to the west, and the Engaruka Basin to the north.
Lake Manyara National Park is known for flocks of thousands of flamingos that feed along the edge of the lake in the wet season. In 1991 there were an estimated 1,900,000 non-breeding Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) individuals and 40,000 Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus). Great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) can also be present in large numbers (an estimated 200,000 individuals in 1991) and there have been an estimated 1,000,000–2,499,999 individual water birds, however, only 78,320 birds were counted in 1994.
Lake Manyara boasts a huge number of mammals including herbivores and carnivores, the herbivores of Lake Manyara include zebra, bushbuck, waterbuck, Grant's gazelle, impala, Thomson's gazelle, Cape buffalo, giraffe, hippopotamus, baboon, warthog, and elephant. The Carnivores include the rare tree-climbing lions, leopard, African wild cat, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, serval, honey badger, African civet, genet (Genetta) species and several mongoose species. Cheetahs and African golden cats are sighted occasionally.
Best Safari Park #5. Mkomazi National Park
Mkomazi National Park, nestled in the northeastern part of Tanzania, is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. The park covers 3,234 square kilometers (323,400 ha), this park boasts a diverse collection of fauna, and serves as a sanctuary for the endangered black rhinoceros.
The park's wildlife is a sight to behold. You will spot a lot of elephants, giraffes, zebras, and buffalo endlessly roaming the savannah. Among the big cats, lions, leopards, and cheetahs add to this park's unimaginable wildlife. Birdwatchers will be delighted with over 450 bird species, including the ostrich, martial eagle, and vulturine guineafowl.
One of Mkomazi's most critical roles is its dedication to conservation. The park is a last refuge for the African wild dog, a species on the brink of extinction. Mkomazi is also a remarkable success story for the rehabilitation of the black rhinoceros population, which has seen growth due to rigorous protection efforts. These conservation initiatives are closely monitored and managed by the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA). Mkomazi Park is where researchers and conservationists work tirelessly to protect and preserve endangered species like black rhinoceros.
Visitors to Mkomazi can engage in a range of activities, from thrilling game drives to guided walks and immersive birdwatching experiences. Camping and picnic facilities are available for those who wish to enjoy the park's natural beauty up close.
Beyond its ecological significance, Mkomazi is rich in cultural heritage. The local communities surrounding Mkomazi Park have a deep natural connection with their environment and can offer unique knowledge of the region's traditions and way of life.
However, the park faces challenges common to many protected areas, including poaching and habitat degradation. Conservation organizations and local authorities continue their relentless efforts to combat these threats, ensuring the continued survival of Mkomazi's precious wildlife.
In summary, Mkomazi National Park stands as a testament to Tanzania's commitment to preserving its natural heritage. With its remarkable wildlife, including the black rhinoceros and African wild dog, and opportunities for unforgettable experiences. Mkomazi National Park is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. Birdwatchers will be delighted with over 450 bird species, including the ostrich, martial eagle, and vulturine guineafowl.
Best Safari Park #5. Nyerere National Park
Nyerere National Park is the largest national park in Tanzania and also one of the world's largest wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. The total area of the park is 30,893 km2 (11,928 sq mi) and covers a big part of Liwale District in the western Lindi Region, southwest Pwani Region, northeastern Ruvuma Region, and a big part of the southeastern Morogoro Region.
Nyerere National Park is home to several species of wildlife: lions, wildebeests, giraffes, zebras, hippopotamuses, rhinos, antelopes, hyenas, African wolves, and a large number of crocodiles in the Rufiji River. Most notably the park is also known for its prolific population of African Wild Dogs.
Previously and even now, Selous Game Reserve and by extension, Nyerere National Park, was home to a large number of elephants but due to poaching, the numbers have dropped somewhat and it is now hoped that converting part of the reserve to a National Park will help control and minimize poaching.