Tanzania Vacations - Enjoy Incomparable Wildlife Safaris in the Top-Five National Parks in Tanzania
Tanzania national parks and game reserves are home to an amazing diversity of wildlife, making for incomparable Africa game watching safaris. Among these game reserves, the five parks below stand out as the best of the best.
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha national park occupies 12,950 sq km, making it the second largest national park in Tanzania. Located 128 km from Iringa, this park is named after the great Ruaha river, which attracts many thirsty animals to its banks, among them lions, leopards, hyenas, water bucks, and reed bucks. The river also hosts several hippos and crocodiles. Other animals found in Ruaha include zebras, wild dogs, giraffes, lesser and greater kudu, impala, and several antelope species. Ruaha national park is unique in that it combines Southern Africa and Eastern Africa flora and fauna.
The topography at Ruaha is highly suitable for trekking and walking safaris. The rain seasons from March to April and from October to November see an increase in the population of birds to peak levels, with more than 350 bird species present. These include some Eurasian migrant birds. The climate of Ruaha is usually hot and dry, and temperatures get to 40 degrees Celsius in October. Previously, this national park was completely inaccessible by road. Now, it is accessible all year round. If you travel from Dar es Salaam by road, you will take 10 hours, whereas if you take a flight, you will only take one and a half hours. May to December, the dry season, is the best time to take a safari in Ruaha.
Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park is situated between Lake Manyara and the wall of the Great Rift Valley - rising 610 metres above. The park supports a thriving population of birdlife and hence it is one of Tanzania's best birding destinations. Common birds in the park include waterfowl as well as some migrants. The lush green vegetation of the national park offer some of the best places to view leopards. Tree-climbing lions can also be spotted on the grassy shores of the lake.
The best time to visit Lake Manyara National park for wildlife safaris is from December to February, and from August to September, though you can still see wildlife throughout the year. The national park has three distinct habitats: open floodplains, lush groundwater forest, and acacia woodlands. Since the park is very accessible, you can get to see most of its main attractions within two hours.
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is part of Tanzania's famous northern safari circuit. Occupying about 2,600 sq km, the park is named after the Tarangire river. It has a a high concentration of wild animals including elephants and over 570 species of birds, rendering it a haven for birdwatching lovers.
If you want to visit Tarangire National Park, the best time to go would be during the dry season from June to September. During this period, wild animals tend to congregate at the banks of river Tarangire as they seek to quench their thirst. Likewise, the dry season means less thick vegetation cover, increasing your chances of seeing more animals. It is also in Tarangire that you stand the best chance of spotting pythons because they have a habit of climbing trees here.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Ngorongoro Conservation Area is situated at the north of Tanzania and covers an area of over 7,000 square miles. The park is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, having been declared so in'79. At the conservation area's north west, it merges with the Serengeti plains. Part of the world-famous great wildebeest migration between Serengeti and Masai Mara takes place here.
At the center of this conservation area lies the 264 sq km Ngorongoro crater, whose floor is inhabited by a great array of wildlife. Since the crater provides one of the greatest and very satisfying game watching experience, it is not a big surprise that it remains one of the most popular Tanzania destination for wildlife safaris.
Great herds of gazelle, antelope and zebra can be seen grazing along the river beds as well as large herds of elephants moving from one corner of the park to the other. It is also possible to see prides of lions sleeping lazily under the shady trees or at least hear a lion's roar echoing off the walls of the crater. This is an exciting, though at times, shocking experience. Birdwatchers will also enjoy visiting Ngorongoro. Lake Ndutu in the area is home to a thriving population of birds. Some of the bird species you will see here include stocks, ducks and flamingos among may more.
Serengeti National Park
The name Serengeti comes from the Maasai word "Siringit" meaning unending plains - aptly describing the open grassy plains that make up the national park. The 12,950 sq km national park is part of an ecosysytem that spans across the Kenya - Tanzania border into the Masai Mara game reserve. Serengeti's diverse habitat enables the park to support more than 30 species of large mammals and about 500 species of birds.
The "great wildebeest migration" takes place in the Serengeti. This event is the largest and longest overland migration of mammals in the world, earning it a recognition as the world's most spectacular wildlife show. Together with the mighty Victoria falls and the Ngorongoro crater, the migration is also recognized as one of the ten natural wonders of travel in the world.
It is almost impossible to accurately predict the dates for the migration from Serengeti to Masai Mara, though generally it takes place between July and August. The reverse journey occurs around October. The event involves nearly 2 million herbivores moving from Serengeti to the Mara then later back to Serengeti in search of green pasture. One of the most dramatic moments of the migration is when the animals cross the Mara river.
You can travel to Serengeti from Arusha by either flight or road. By road, Arusha is 320 km from Serengeti, taking about hours. If you prefer flying, you have the option of taking a charter flight or scheduled flights from Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha to any of the airstrips in Serengeti including Kirawira and Seronera airstrips.
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha national park occupies 12,950 sq km, making it the second largest national park in Tanzania. Located 128 km from Iringa, this park is named after the great Ruaha river, which attracts many thirsty animals to its banks, among them lions, leopards, hyenas, water bucks, and reed bucks. The river also hosts several hippos and crocodiles. Other animals found in Ruaha include zebras, wild dogs, giraffes, lesser and greater kudu, impala, and several antelope species. Ruaha national park is unique in that it combines Southern Africa and Eastern Africa flora and fauna.
The topography at Ruaha is highly suitable for trekking and walking safaris. The rain seasons from March to April and from October to November see an increase in the population of birds to peak levels, with more than 350 bird species present. These include some Eurasian migrant birds. The climate of Ruaha is usually hot and dry, and temperatures get to 40 degrees Celsius in October. Previously, this national park was completely inaccessible by road. Now, it is accessible all year round. If you travel from Dar es Salaam by road, you will take 10 hours, whereas if you take a flight, you will only take one and a half hours. May to December, the dry season, is the best time to take a safari in Ruaha.
Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park is situated between Lake Manyara and the wall of the Great Rift Valley - rising 610 metres above. The park supports a thriving population of birdlife and hence it is one of Tanzania's best birding destinations. Common birds in the park include waterfowl as well as some migrants. The lush green vegetation of the national park offer some of the best places to view leopards. Tree-climbing lions can also be spotted on the grassy shores of the lake.
The best time to visit Lake Manyara National park for wildlife safaris is from December to February, and from August to September, though you can still see wildlife throughout the year. The national park has three distinct habitats: open floodplains, lush groundwater forest, and acacia woodlands. Since the park is very accessible, you can get to see most of its main attractions within two hours.
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is part of Tanzania's famous northern safari circuit. Occupying about 2,600 sq km, the park is named after the Tarangire river. It has a a high concentration of wild animals including elephants and over 570 species of birds, rendering it a haven for birdwatching lovers.
If you want to visit Tarangire National Park, the best time to go would be during the dry season from June to September. During this period, wild animals tend to congregate at the banks of river Tarangire as they seek to quench their thirst. Likewise, the dry season means less thick vegetation cover, increasing your chances of seeing more animals. It is also in Tarangire that you stand the best chance of spotting pythons because they have a habit of climbing trees here.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Ngorongoro Conservation Area is situated at the north of Tanzania and covers an area of over 7,000 square miles. The park is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, having been declared so in'79. At the conservation area's north west, it merges with the Serengeti plains. Part of the world-famous great wildebeest migration between Serengeti and Masai Mara takes place here.
At the center of this conservation area lies the 264 sq km Ngorongoro crater, whose floor is inhabited by a great array of wildlife. Since the crater provides one of the greatest and very satisfying game watching experience, it is not a big surprise that it remains one of the most popular Tanzania destination for wildlife safaris.
Great herds of gazelle, antelope and zebra can be seen grazing along the river beds as well as large herds of elephants moving from one corner of the park to the other. It is also possible to see prides of lions sleeping lazily under the shady trees or at least hear a lion's roar echoing off the walls of the crater. This is an exciting, though at times, shocking experience. Birdwatchers will also enjoy visiting Ngorongoro. Lake Ndutu in the area is home to a thriving population of birds. Some of the bird species you will see here include stocks, ducks and flamingos among may more.
Serengeti National Park
The name Serengeti comes from the Maasai word "Siringit" meaning unending plains - aptly describing the open grassy plains that make up the national park. The 12,950 sq km national park is part of an ecosysytem that spans across the Kenya - Tanzania border into the Masai Mara game reserve. Serengeti's diverse habitat enables the park to support more than 30 species of large mammals and about 500 species of birds.
The "great wildebeest migration" takes place in the Serengeti. This event is the largest and longest overland migration of mammals in the world, earning it a recognition as the world's most spectacular wildlife show. Together with the mighty Victoria falls and the Ngorongoro crater, the migration is also recognized as one of the ten natural wonders of travel in the world.
It is almost impossible to accurately predict the dates for the migration from Serengeti to Masai Mara, though generally it takes place between July and August. The reverse journey occurs around October. The event involves nearly 2 million herbivores moving from Serengeti to the Mara then later back to Serengeti in search of green pasture. One of the most dramatic moments of the migration is when the animals cross the Mara river.
You can travel to Serengeti from Arusha by either flight or road. By road, Arusha is 320 km from Serengeti, taking about hours. If you prefer flying, you have the option of taking a charter flight or scheduled flights from Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha to any of the airstrips in Serengeti including Kirawira and Seronera airstrips.
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