Tanzania is home to some of the best safari parks in the world. With a number of gorgeous parks, Tanzania is the perfect destination for nature lovers.
A safari park is a place where you can see animals roaming freely in their natural habitat. The best safari parks in Tanzania offer visitors different kinds of experiences. Some are located near a game reserve, others are set in the middle of an open savannah and some have lakes and rivers.
There are several natural parks in Tanzania where you may go on safari, but some stand out owing to the vast number of wildlife and wildlife spectacles that can be witnessed, such as The Great Migration.
If you’re planning a vacation to Tanzania, you’ll undoubtedly be wondering which parks are worth seeing, how many days to devote to each one, how to plan the itinerary, and so on.
This page contains a list of Tanzania’s most notable parks, along with information about each one and why it is worthwhile to visit them. You may also find a map with an example of a route between these parks at the bottom of the post, which you can use to plan your trip. Let’s get this party started!
National park of Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak on the African continent, is located in this park (5,895 meters). If you’re seeking for animals, you should avoid this park because it’s recognized for its scenery rather than its fauna. You’ve come to the correct location if you want to witness this magnificent piece of nature’s art.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is one of Tanzania’s most popular tourist attractions, as it is one of the world’s most accessible summits. It attracts thousands of visitors each year.
Kibo (5,895 meters), Mawenzi (5,149 meters), and Shira (5,149 meters) are the three extinct volcanoes that make up Kilimanjaro (3,962 meters). The climb typically takes five to seven days, and there are two routes, one of which is simpler than the other.
The dry season, which runs from late June to October and from late December to early March, is the greatest time to come, since it is between the short and long rains. It is advisable to avoid visiting between April and May since the rains make the roads inaccessible and unsafe.
Elephants, buffaloes, and other antelopes may all be seen in the park. We did not visit it on either of our two trips since we were searching for a different style of tour with more animals, so it was not on our radar.
How much time do you want to devote to it?
If you’re not planning on climbing Kilimanjaro, a safari day in the national park will suffice.
National park of Tarangire
Tarangire National Park, about three hours from Kilimanjaro, was our first destination in Tanzania and a great site to begin our safari.
This park is known for the enormous number of elephants it has; in fact, it has Tanzania’s biggest elephant population.
The baobabs and acacias are further distinguishing features of this park, resulting in a one-of-a-kind scenery. The Tarangire River, which runs through the park, is named for it. During the dry season, thanks to the Tarangire, there is a great concentration of animal life here.
Apart from elephants, zebras, wildebeests, kudus, giraffes, and to a lesser degree lions, cheetahs, and leopards may also be seen in the park. The latter is harder to discern in this photo.
We were fortunate in that we were able to view a pair of lions lurking behind a tree when we had already decided that we would not see any.
The park features a picnic spot (complete with monkeys) where you may eat and take in the views from a viewpoint overlooking the river, where elephants and giraffes can be seen in the distance.
Tarangire National Park is unlike any other safari park in East Africa. It’s so big, in fact, that you can drive around it in an afternoon. And being so close to Lake Victoria, it makes for striking birdwatching.
Tarangire National Park is one of the largest, most diverse and scenic national parks in Tanzania. The park covers an area of 2850 square kilometers and is located in Western Tanzania. The park is found in a part of the country that is extremely dry. The two rainy seasons, between November and January, and between July and September, provide most of the water.
In conclusion, Tarangire National Park is endowed with a diversity of wildlife, including animals like elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, gazelles and the rare tree-climbing lions. It also has a number of elephant herds that migrate from the Serengeti, the Masai Mara and Lake Manyara National Park.
How much time do you want to devote to it?
A one-day safari in the park is sufficient for a visit.
TIP: If you like to travel from more to less animals, begin your safari in the Serengeti and conclude it here or at Lake Manyara. Starting in Tarangire and ending in Serengeti is the greatest way to move from less to more.
National park of Serengeti
The Serengeti National Park, one of Tanzania’s biggest, is the ultimate safari destination. Due to its topography of extensive plains of flora, interspersed in the distance with woods, rivers, and rocky islands, which many animals use as habitats, the park’s name means “endless plains” in Masai.
Thousands of different species may be found here, including wildebeest, impala, lions, zebras, hyenas, jackals, warthogs, and mongooses, among others, and there will be greater opportunities to spot the elusive leopard or cheetahs.
The Great Migration takes place in the Serengeti National Park, which is home to one of nature’s most magnificent sights.
In quest of greener pastures, thousands, if not millions, of wildebeest and zebra migrate through the Serengeti and Masai Mara (Kenya). If you are planning a safari, it is critical that you research the timing of the migration before settling on a date. This will help you decide whether to stay in one section or another of the park.
In that regard, we strongly suggest you to stay within the national park; it is well worth it, and you will not spend time traveling long distances.
During the dry season, the animals may be found in the north of the Serengeti Park and in Kenya’s Masai Mara Park, which serves as a haven for them.
They leave in mid-September for the short-grass plains of the Gol and Hill Nabbi Mountains, where they will spend December. Those that have survived the migration give birth to their young in this area in January and February, before returning to the cycle of hunting for water and lush pastures in May.
This information isn’t perfect science, and it changes based on the weather and what the animals decide; it’s nature, and it’s uncontrollable.
The Serengeti National Park is the most popular safari park in Tanzania. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Africa and is considered by many as the best place in Africa to see wildlife in their natural habitat. The Serengeti National Park is also inhabited by the Masai people, who are traditionally cattle herders. The Masai people play a very important role within the park, including in conservation, and people often see them as a great source of information about the wildlife.
How much time do you want to devote?
We recommend visiting the Serengeti Park for at least three days. This way, you’ll have more opportunities to see exceptional wildlife experiences, and you’ll be able to search further afield for species that are more difficult to spot, such as leopards and cheetahs.
Tanzania’s Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, rhino) can be seen at a number of wildlife parks, including Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti, Arusha National Park and Lake Manyara. These parks are also home to large animals like hippos, crocodiles, giraffes and zebras.
Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Crater, which was formed about 3 million years ago, is the world’s largest inactive caldera. The crater was created by an ancient volcano that exploded violently and collapsed into a circular depression. The crater’s extensive forested highlands, which cover 60% of the floor, host several wildlife species, including the African elephant, the largest land mammal in Africa. It is home to rare animals like black rhinos, lions, leopards, cheetahs, wildebeests and zebras.
The Ngorongoro Crater safari is a popular tourist attraction. Visitors can take a tour of the crater, explore its flora and fauna and enjoy the scenic views of Lake Magadi.
Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park is a small, beautiful park in Tanzania. It is well-known for its wildlife and its tree-climbing lions.
Lake Manyara National Park is one of the most popular national parks in Tanzania. It is located in the Rift Valley and covers an area of about 30km². The park was established in 1961 to protect the wildlife of Lake Manyara and surrounding areas.
The park’s main attraction are the tree-climbing lions, which can be seen all over the park. There are also many other animals that live here, such as elephants, giraffes and zebras.
If you’re planning a trip to Tanzania, consider making 4 Days Tanzania Tour that takes you to the very best national parks in the country. The 4-day tour shows you the best parks in the country, including the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park, the Serengeti National Park, and the Tarangire National Park. Book your 4 Days Tanzania tour now with Greg Adventures and get ready to see the most amazing animals and landscapes in this beautiful country.
