Tanzania National Parks | Tanzania National Parks & Game Reserves | 16 National Parks in Tanzania
Tanzania National Parks can be divided into three Safari Circuits – Northern, Southern and Western Circuits. Each one of them, in its own right, would make Tanzania a top wildlife destination.
Tanzania Northern Safari Circuit
The northern tourism circuit is by far the most popular safari circuit in Tanzania, comprising most of the must-see destinations in the country. If you’re a first-time visitor to Tanzania, this is where you want to be.
The circuit starts in Arusha and includes, from east to west: Arusha National Park at the foot of Mount Meru, Tarangire National Park 110km southwest of the town of Arusha, Manyara Ranch between Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park and Lake Manyara National Park at the bottom of the Gregory Rift.
The circuit also includes Ngorongoro Conservation Area (which includes the Ngorongoro caldera, the Empakaai Crater and the southern Serengeti plains of Lake Ndutu), and the Serengeti National Park that stretches north to the Tanzania/ Kenya border.
Tanzania Southern Safari Circuit
The south of Tanzania is mostly a destination for the second-time visitor. The south can also be combined with the Serengeti in the north or linked with the west if time and budget allow.
The southern circuit includes parks and reserves that can be visited using Dar es Salaam as a starting point. There’s Saadani National Park north of Dar, then two hours to the west the little park of Mikumi on both sides of the highway that meanders down to Iringa and Mbeya and eventually to Zambia or northern Malawi.
The Selous Game Reserve to the south of Mikumi is great for river experiences on the Rufiji River and also for walking safaris. Udzungwa Mountains National Park is all about forests, waterfalls and weird endemics, while Ruaha National Park just west of Iringa is the gem of the southern circuit.
Tanzania Western Safari Circuit
The Western Circuit embraces the parks along Lake Tanganyika, the western border of Tanzania with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The vast space in a remote natural location makes the circuit worth a visit.
Gombe Stream National Park was made famous by Jane Goodall’s research on its chimpanzee population and subsequent habituation. Mahale Mountains National Park further south, on the shores of the gin-clear waters of Lake Tanganyika, is a more authentic chimpanzee experience and highly recommended.
You’ll have to go further to find the chimps but you’ll get a better idea of how chimps are in the wild than by observing them at feeding pens. Katavi National Park is another 150km towards the south-east of Mahale and probably gets fewer than 500 tourists a year.
Tanzania National Parks
Arusha National Park
Arusha National Park, nestled against Mount Meru in Tanzania, is a sanctuary of remarkable biodiversity and natural beauty. Spanning 552 square kilometers, it offers a blend of rugged terrain, lush forests, and serene lakes. The park's centerpiece, Mount Meru, stands as a challenging trek for climbers and a habitat for diverse wildlife. The Ngurdoto Crater, a mini Ngorongoro, teems with animals grazing on its swampy floor. The Momella Lakes, with their varying hues, attract numerous bird species, including flamingos, pelicans, and waterfowl. Wildlife enthusiasts can spot giraffes, zebras, warthogs, and the elusive leopard. The park's montane forests are home to the black-and-white colobus monkeys and a plethora of birdlife, making it a birdwatcher's haven. With its proximity to Arusha city and Kilimanjaro International Airport, the park is a convenient start or end to a Tanzanian safari adventure. Whether for a day trip or part of a longer journey, Arusha National Park captivates with its tranquil landscapes, diverse ecosystems, and the opportunity for close encounters with nature
Gombe National Park
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park
Kilimanjaro National Park
Katavi National Park
Kigosi National Park – Tanzania
Kigosi National Park Tanzania – Kigosi Game Reserve was established in 1983. The Kgosi game reserve extends from Bukombe and Kahama Districts in Shinyanga Region up to Urambo District in Tabora Region. and covers an area equivalent to 7,000 square km. Kigosi Game Reserve is in Bukombe and Mbogwe districts. The reserve is part of Tanzania’s four wetlands Ramsar Sites. Swamps, papyrus reeds, miombo woodland grassland in the flood plain, and riverine forest. The park has various animal species that include the lion, leopard, buffalo, topi, Liechtenstein's hartebeest, sitatunga, warthog, baboon, zebra, sable, roan, eland, bushbuck, oribi, common and Bohor reedbuck, hyena, hippo, Defassa waterbuck and many others. The park is considered as an important breeding area for extraordinary aquatic bird species such as pelicans, shoebill stork, wattled cranes, and kingfishers among others. Activities in Kigosi national park include game viewing, bird watching, and nature walks, Kigosi national park has no accommodation options within, but camping is recommended for the guests in the park. The dry season, which is from June to September is the best time of the year to visit, roads are clear and less muddy. The reserve is located within the Kigoma Region and is accessible by road and air.
Kitulo National Park
Lake Manyara National Park
Mahale Mountains National Park
Mount Meru (Tanzania)
Mikumi National Park
Mkomazi National Park
Ngorongoro Crater
Ruaha National Park
Rubondo Island National Park
Saadani National Park
Saanane Island National Park
Selous Game Reserve
Serengeti National Park
Sinya Private Reserve
Sinya, a private concession area of 600 km2 northwest of Kilimanjaro, bordering Kenya and Amboseli National Park, offers wildlife, culture and spectacular landscapes with magnificent views of mount Kilimanjaro, Mout Meru, Ol Doinyo Longido and Ol Doinyo Orok.