Tanzania National Parks, Safaris and Game Reserves

(Tanzania, TZ, East Africa)



Serengeti National Park photo of zebrasThink of Tanzania and you can't help but picture prowling big cats or vast herds of wildebeest. There are some 15 national parks and reserves in this country, all managed by the Tanzania National Parks authority.

Whilst most visitors undoubtedly come to marvel at the country's big game populations as part of an official tour, it's possible to have a go at everything from hot-air ballooning over the Serengeti to canoeing in Arusha. For the more adventurous hikers, there are plenty of heights to conquer.

Families on safari in Tanzania should note that children five years old and under are free, with camping fees discounted for those younger than 16 years. However, both the Gombe Stream and the Mahale Mountains national parks do not currently allow children aged under seven.


Picture of elephants in the Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park

Address: Serengeti, Tanzania, TZ, Africa
Spread over more than 14,750 square kilometres / 5,695 square miles, the Serengeti is the oldest and best known of Tanzania's national parks. For most visitors, the highlight is the three-week period when over a million wildebeest make their 1,000-km / 620-mile migration journey. Throughout the year, the Serengeti also offers some great opportunities for game viewing. Herds of buffalo, thousands of gazelle and groups of elephants and giraffes live within the park's boundaries, as do lions, jackals and prowling cheetah. If you are able to tear yourself away from big game viewing, the Serengeti is also home to a myriad of smaller animal species, including lizard and ostrich. It also has a dung beetle population that extends to an amazing 100 varieties.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge

Image of chimpanzees at the Gombe Stream National Park

Gombe Stream National Park

Address: Kigoma, Tanzania, TZ, Africa
The Gombe Stream National Park is the smallest park in Tanzania. Located roughly 16 km / 10 miles north of Kigoma, in western Tanzania, it mostly comprises chimpanzee habitats. The inhabitants were made famous by Jane Goodall, who carried out extensive research here in the sixties. The surviving member of Goodall's original chimp community is Fifi. A troop of olive baboons also make the park their home. If you are prepared to splash out on somewhere plush to stay with a difference, then the Gombe Luxury Tented Camp may well appeal. Since the Gombe Stream National Park lies on the northern shoreline of Lake Tanganyika, it can only be accessed by water taxi or boat.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge, children under seven years old are not permitted

Arusha National Park view, showing group of giraffes

Arusha National Park

Address: Arumeru, Tanzania, TZ, Africa
Although relatively small in comparison with other African parks, the major attraction of Arusha's National Park is its sheer diversity - from forests inhabited by blue monkeys to the rolling hills further north that are home to thousands of pink flamingos. The Ngurdoto Crater, with its rock cliffs, also falls within the boundaries. The Arusha offers great views over Mount Meru, the fifth-highest mountain in Africa. It is also possible to glimpse the snowcapped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro around 50 km / 30 miles away.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge

Mount Kilimanjaro National Park photograph

Mount Kilimanjaro National Park

Address: Mount Kilimanjaro, Near Moshi, Tanzania, TZ, Africa
Visitors come from all over the world to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro at Uhuru Point. Less well-known, though, is the national park that bears the same name. On the way to the summit, visitors pass through a whole range of climate zones, including the cultivated lower reaches of Kilimanjaro and montane forest, where you can spot elephants, leopards and buffalo. Higher up, exotic fauna gives way to even more exotic flora, including giant lobelias, mosses and lichen.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge

Lake Manyara National Park view

Lake Manyara National Park

Address: Near Karatu, Tanzania, TZ, Africa
If you are limited on the amount of time you can devote to game viewing during your stay, then the Lake Manyara National Park may be just the thing. It is often said that Manyara is a microcosm of Tanzania's safari experience. In other words, you get the opportunity to spot monkeys, buffalos, hippos and giraffes in a relatively compact area of jungle, floodplain and acacia woodland. If you are lucky, you may even spot one of the tree-climbing lions.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge



Ruaha National Park photo of giraffe

Ruaha National Park

Address: Near Iringa, Tanzania, TZ, Africa
A combination of wilderness and accessibility makes the Ruaha National Park a popular destination for safari lovers. The park is huge and covers approximately 40,000 square kilometres / 15,450 square miles, being home to some 10,000 elephants, as well as a pride of over 20 lions. Running through the landscape is the Great Ruaha River. For simple lodging, the Ruaha River Lodge is more than just comfortable.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge

Tarangire National Park photo

Tarangire National Park

Address: Near Babati / Gallapo, Tanzania, TZ, Africa
Famed for its giant baobab trees, the Tarangire National Park is at its most appealing between the months of August and October, when the concentrations of indigenous wildlife are at their highest. During this dry season, the park welcomes literally thousands of migrating animals, including herds of African elephants, who come here since the Tarangire becomes the only source of water at this time of the year. Those wishing to pay a visit will find the entrance located on the north-western side, with accommodation coming in the form of the Tarangire Safari Lodge and the Tamarind Camp.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge

Image of elephants in the Selous Game Reserve

Selous Game Reserve

Address: Near Liwale, Tanzania, TZ, Africa
Covering an area estimated at 50,000 square kilometres / 19,305 square miles, the protected Selous Game Reserve is the biggest of all the African wildlife reserves. Animals often spotted roaming the savannah include buffalos, wild dogs, elephants and hippos, while crocodiles can also be seen in some areas. Offering boat trips, the Rufiji River provides added interest and flows all the way into the Indian Ocean. Walking safaris are also available, along with camping opportunities at the Rufiji River Camp and the Selous Mbega Camp. Entrance fees are charged per person, with an additional fee per vehicle - only 4WDs are permitted in the reserve. Buses are available to the village of Mloka, roughly 10 km / 6 miles from the entry gate, where pick-ups can be arranged.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge

Mikumi National Park buffaloes

Mikumi National Park

Address: Mikumi, near Kidodi / Morogoro, Tanzania, TZ, Africa
Located on the south-eastern side of central Tanzania and close to the town of Kidodi, the Mikumi National Park is within comfortable reach of Dar es Salaam and suits those looking for an easy safari experience. Several different camping sites are available, with the most noteworthy being the Choga Wale ground on the northern side of the Mikumi.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge

Mahale Mountains National Park view

Mahale Mountains National Park

Address: Kalambo / Ntodno / Kapande, Tanzania, TZ, Africa
Enjoying a rather isolated setting, the Mahale Mountains National Park is to be found on the western side of Tanzania, alongside the shoreline of Lake Tanganyika, and is called home by many wonderful sandy beaches. This is an important chimpanzee sanctuary and can only be visited on foot, since there are no actual roads. The Mahale Camp adds a touch of luxury, with its thatched traditional cottages (bandas) and home comforts. Entrance is via boat transport across the lake.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge, children under seven years old are not permitted