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Wildlife Safaris in Tanzania

Wildlife safaris in Tanzania/Tanzania safaris / Tanzania tours : Tanzania is one of the most visited destinations in the world due to its untouched wilderness including national parks, beautiful landscapes, mountains like Kilimanjaro which is the highest in Africa, water bodies like lakes, rivers, rich culture among others.  Tanzania has a number of national parks in the northern circuit and southern circuit and game reserves which harbor abundant and unique wildlife including animals like the African big five mammals( lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos and leopards), primates, bird species, vegetation types among others and they can be viewed during your safari in the Tanzania / tanzania wildlife safari . Tanzania is an interesting destination to visit for visitors who want to catch a glimpse of the tree climbing lions which are found in Lake Manyara national park, spend time with large populations of chimpanzees in Mahale national park, view large herds of elephants in Tarangire national park, enjoy and spend time on the beach, view various bird species including migratory, endemic, near-endemic, forest birds, view the great wildebeest migration in Serengeti national park among others.

National parks in Tanzania

1. Serengeti National Park 

Serengeti national park is the most visited national park in Tanzania due to abundant wildlife and the great wildebeest migration. Serengeti national park is located in the northern part, was established in 1952 and covers a total area of 14,763 square kilometers.  The national park was recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981 due to harboring high concentrations of animals and having the biggest wildebeest migration.

Activities in Serengeti national park

• Game drives which can either be done early in the morning to catch up with predators before going back to their hiding places or in the afternoon. The game drives are done in pop up safari vehicles with the company of a professional driver guide who will help you to spot wildlife including animals such as buffaloes, elephants, lions, leopards, road antelopes, topi, elands, waterbucks, dik dik, gazelles, primates like vervet monkeys, baboons, patas monkeys, different bird species, plant and tree species among others gane drives depict offers you apoortunity to have a perfect tanzania safaris / tanzania tours / tanzania holidays .
• Hot air balloon, this is an exciting activity that helps you to have an aerial view of the park, tree tops, view animals like elephants, buffaloes among others around Seronera River, view Grumeti River and experience the crossing of more than million wildebeests, zebras, gazelles and other animals, view birds flying in the air, have beautiful views of the sunrise, landscapes among others the percfect tanzania wildlife experience/ tanzania holiday experience.
• Guided natural walks, this is an amazing activity that gives you an opportunity to explore the park on foot. Nature walks are best done in the morning or late evening with the company of an armed park guide to protect you from any danger. During the nature walk you will be able to get close and personal with animals in their natural habitat, listen to sweet sounds of birds singing, view the sunset/sunrise, enjoy the cool breeze among others.
• Bird watching, Serengeti national park harbors more than 500 bird species including migratory, endemic species to only Serengeti Mara ecosystem and near endemic species that can also be found in neighboring countries. Bird species that can be spotted during bird watching include hildebrandts starling, verreauxs eagle, red capped robin chat, usambiro barbet, rufous tailed weaver among others.

2. Tarangire national park

Tarangire national park is one of the most visited national parks situated in northern Tanzania and south of Lake Manyara. the national park was established in 1970 and its famously known for harboring large herds of elephants, other animals like gazelle, buffaloes, greater kudus,  wildebeests, wild dogs, warthogs, hartebeest, zebras,  elands, lions, dik dik, vegetation types like savannah, mixed woodland, acacia and baobao trees,  different bird species among others. Tarangire national park derives its name from Tarangire River a permanent water source that crosses the park and provides refuge for different wildlife species especially during the dry season. 

Activities in Tarangire national park

• Game drive, this is one of the most done activities in the park that gives you an opportunity to explore and have great views of wildlife. During the game drives in Tarangire national park, you will have great views of large herds of elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, waterbucks, elands, zebras, impalas among others.
• Bird watching, Tarangire national park is a home of over 550 bird species including water birds, migratory and endemic species. Bird watching in the park is done near Tarangire river, acacia plains, baobab trees, woodland among others and during birding bird lovers will be able to view bird species like African grey flycatcher, vulturine guinea fowl, ashy starling, northern pied babbler, Donaldson smiths nightjar, slate colored boubou among others.
• Guided nature walks, this is an interesting activity where you will be able to explore the national park on foot. during the nature walk you will follow different trails with an armed park ranger who will help you to spot animals like elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, waterbucks, have beautiful views of the sunrise/sunset, different plants and trees, enjoy the quiet environment, listen to sweet sounds of birds singing in the trees among others.
• Hot air balloon, Tarangire national park is one of the national parks in Tanzania that offers the adventurous hot air balloon activity which starts very early in the morning at around 6:00am and takes about one hour ride. During the hot air balloon you will have spectacular views of the park, animals, tree tops, sunrise, view birds flying in the air among others.
• Cultural tours, this is an amazing activity where you will be able to interact with the local people in the neighboring community. during the cultural tour you will visit the Maasai or Rangi people which gives you an opportunity to know more about their way of living, culture, visit their homesteads, learn about their culture, dress code, taste their traditional dishes, buy craft souvenirs, enjoy entrainment through music dance and drama among others. 

3. Ngorongoro conservation area

The national park is part of the Serengeti ecosystem that is located in the northern part of Tanzania. Ngorongoro conservation area was established in 1959 as a multi land-use area where wildlife co-exists with the semi-nomadic Maasai who move from one place to another in search of water and pasture for their livestock. The conservation area was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1959 due to rich, untouched biodiversity and in 2010 it was awarded the status of cultural conservation area.

Activities in Ngorongoro conservation area

• Game drive, this is an activity where you will drive around the park in a 4WD safari vehicle with a professional driver-guide who will help you to spot different animals including the big five mammals which are the lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos, other animals like wildebeests, zebras, warthogs, view different vegetation types among others.
• Guided nature walks, this is an incredible activity where you will get out of the safari vehicle and walk around the park on foot. During the nature walk you will be accompanied by an armed park ranger to protect you from any danger and you will be able to spot animals in their natural habitats, view colorful bird flying in the air, view the sunset or sunrise, enjoy the quiet environment, breath fresh air, listen to birds singing, view different tree and plant species, take great pictures among others.
• Bird watching, the Ngorongoro conservation area is a home of more than 500 bird species including migratory species from Europe and Asia, endemic, water and forest species which make it one of the best birding destinations in the country. during bird watching you will be able to view bird species like grey crowned crane, rosy breasted long claw, fischers sparrow lark, saddle billed stork, kori bustard, ostrich, European bee-eater, secretary bird among others.
• Cultural tours, this is an adventurous activity that gives you an opportunity to interact with the local people living in the surrounding communities. During the cultural tour you will be able to know more about the peoples lifestyle, dress code, learn about their culture, way of living, taste their traditional meals among others. 

 4. Ruaha national park

Ruaha national park is the second largest national park located in the centre on Tanzania. The national park harbors various attractions including animals like hippos, buffaloes, zebras, greater kudus, lions, leopards, bat-eared fox, elephants, giraffes, roan and sable antelopes, impalas, crocodiles, reptiles like monitor lizards, snakes, bird species, vegetation types like Zambian miombo, acacia woodlands, savannah, riverine forests, rivers like the greater Ruaha, cultural and historical sites, undulating landscape among others.

Activities in Ruaha national park

• Guided nature walks, this is an incredible tanzania safari / tanzania tour activity where visitors will explore the park on foot with the company of an armed park ranger. During the nature walk you will follow various walking trails in the park where you will be able to get close and personal with different animals in their natural habitats, view beautiful scenery, landscape, sunrise or sunset, butterflies, enjoy the peaceful and quiet environment, breath fresh air, take photos, listen to birds singing in trees, visit historical sites among others. 
• Game drives, this is one of the major activities carried out in the park that allow you to have great wildlife views of animals like elephants, zebras, buffaloes, giraffes, impalas, elands among others grazing along the roadsides, view different vegetation types, bird species among others.
• Night game drive, Ruaha national park is one of the national parks in Tanzania that offers the adventurous night game drive an activity that gives you an opportunity to view nocturnal animals which become active at night. during the night game drive you will view animals like  bush babies, bat eared fox, night jars, spotted hyenas, hippos grazing, leopards, wild cats, jackals among others.
• Bird watching, Ruaha national park another tanzania wildlife destination/ tanzania wildlife tour is one of the birders paradise in that it harbors more than 450 bird species including migratory species from Europe, water birds, endemic and near endemic species. During birding you will be able to spot bird species like African fish eagle, black bellied bustard, crested barbet, racket tailed roller, ashy starling, collared palm thrush, Tanzanian red billed hornbill, African hawk, white bellied go away bird among others.

5. Selous game reserve  

Selous National Park is the biggest and oldest protected area located in the southeastern part of Tanzania. The game reserve was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 due to its uninterrupted nature, wildlife diversity and it was named after Frederic Courtney Selous a British explorer who was killed and buried within the reserve during the First World War. Selous game reserve has various attractions including animals like giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, greater kudus, hartebeests, reedbucks, sable antelopes, buffaloes, black rhinos, hippos, lions, leopards, hippos, bird species, vegetation types such as Miombo woodland, shrubs, ground water forests, savannah wooded grasslands, Selous grave which is located at beho beho, River Rufigi which is the largest river in Tanzania among others.

Activities in Selous national park

• Game drives, this is an activity in the park where you will be able to view large concentrations of animals in the comfort of the safari vehicle such as the big five mammals which include black rhinos, leopards, lions, elephants and buffaloes, other animals like zebras, warthogs, elands, view colorful bird species, sunrise or sunset, vegetation types among others. 
• Bird watching where you will view various bird species including water and migratory species such as white headed lapwing, palm nut vulture, black winged stilt, African spoonbill, broad billed roller, brown necked parrot, rock prantincle among others.
• Guided nature walks where you will explore the entire park on foot accompanies with an armed park ranger, during the nature walks you will get close and personal with different animals, view colorful butterflies, breathe fresh air, view birds flying in the air, relax your mind in a quiet environment, take photos among others.
• Boat safaris which is done on River Rufiji is an amazing activity that will give you an opportunity to have spectacular views of hippos and crocodiles in water, other animals like buffaloes, elephants, warthogs along the water banks, water birds like kingfishers, fish eagles, herons among others.
• Sport fishing, this is an exciting activity that is carried out with the help of an experienced fishing guide on the designated areas. During sport fishing you will use a catch and release method to capture fish types like tiger fish, cat fish among others.  

6. Arusha national park

Arusha national park is one of the most visited national parks located in the northeastern part of Tanzania. The national park was established in 1960 and it harbors attractions like the alkaline Momella Lakes, lake Longil, the rugged Mount Meru, Ngurdoto crater, Montane forests, lush rainforest and savannah, animals like red duikers, waterbucks, giraffes, buffaloes, hippos, zebras, elephants, primates like blue monkeys, red colobus monkeys, bird species like flamingos, bar tailed trogon, African fish eagle among others.

Activities in Arusha national park

• Game drive, this is one of the popular activities in the park where you will be able to have great views of animals like dik dik, reedbucks, giraffes, zebras, waterbucks, elephants, buffaloes, blue monkeys, colorful bird species among others. The game drives are best carried out very early in the morning because that’s the time when animals are active.
• Bird watching, Arusha national park harbors more than 400 bird species ranging from migratory, endemic and near endemic species including narina trogon, red fronted parrot, secretary birds, verreauxs eagle, tawny eagle, spur winged goose, flamingos among others.
• Canoeing, this is an amazing activity where you will have breathtaking views of hippos in water, beautiful scenery, water birds like fish eagles, flamingos, kingfishers, have great views of the sunrise among others. 
• Guided nature walks, this is an exciting activity where you will be able to explore the national park on foot. During the nature walk you will walk through marsh bushes, streams where you will be able to view animals like giraffes, elephants, zebras, buffaloes, view colorful birds flying in the air, enjoy the cool breeze, relax your mind in the peaceful and quiet environment, listen to sweet sounds of birds singing in the trees among others.
• Mountain climbing, during your safari in Arusha national park you can engage in mountain climbing where you will hike Mount Meru which is the second highest mountain in Tanzania after mount Kilimanjaro. During hiking you will have spectacular views of the ancient fig trees, view the Momella lakes, clear waters from the mountain streams among others.

7. Lake Manyara national park

Lake Manyara national park is the smallest protected area located in northern Tanzania at the base of the Great Rift Valley along the road to Serengeti national park and Ngorongoro conservation area. the national park is famously known for the tree climbing lions which are seen lying up in the acacia tree branches and it also harbors other animals like cheetahs, dik-dik, hippos, gazelle, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, elephants, leopards, banded mongoose, spotted hyenas, bohor reedbucks, primates like blue monkeys, olive baboons, different bird species among others.

Activities in Lake Manyara national park

• Night game drive, the national park is one of the few destinations in Tanzania that offers the incredible night game drive an activity that is carried out at night with the company of an armed park ranger and spotlight touches for clear viewing of the nocturnal animals. During the night game drive you will be able to view nocturnal animals like spotted hyenas, porcupines, leopards, civet cats, genets, hippos grazing among others.
• Day game drives, this is an interesting activity where you will drive around the park following different park tracks in a 4WD pop-up safari vehicle with a professional driver-guide. During this activity you will have great views of different vegetation types, sunrise/sunset, view the tree climbing lions in the acacia trees staring at their prey, other animals like elephants, buffaloes, wildebeests, leopards, different bird species among others.
• Guided nature walks, this is an extraordinary activity that allows you to explore the park on foot. nature walks are done with the company of an armed park ranger to protect you from any danger and during the activity you will be able to enjoy the quiet environment, get close and personal with animals like impalas, buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, zebras, listen to birds singing in the trees, view colorful butterflies, plant and tree species, relax your mind among others.
• Canoeing, this is a fascinating activity that is done on Lake Manyara, a shallow alkaline lake that covers two-thirds of the parks. During canoeing you will have great views of hippos in water, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, warthogs along the water shores, have views of the beautiful scenery, landscape, sunrise, water birds like flamingos, pelicans, kingfishers, cormorants among others.
• Bird watching, Lake Manyara National Park is one of the best birding destinations in that it harbors over 400 bird species including migratory, water birds, endemic and near endemic such as emerald cuckoo, crowned eagle, great white pelican, little stint, spur winged goose, yellow billed stork, black heron, greater flamingo, sacred ibis, pink backed pelican among others.
• Mountain biking, this is an adventurous activity that allows you to explore the park and the surrounding areas on a bicycle. The activity is done with an experienced park guide who will help you to spot different animals, birds, visit the local communities among others.   

8. Mikumi national park

Mikumi national park is the fourth largest protected area located between the Uluguru Mountains and the Lumango range in the western part of Dar es Salaam. The national park is comprised of savannah vegetation, Mkata flooded plains, artificial hippo pool which provide water for the wildlife in the park such as buffaloes, zebras, elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, wild dogs, greater kudus, birds like guinea fowls, marabou stork, black bellied bustard, yellow throated long claw, blacksmith plover, bateleur eagles among others.

Activities in Mikumi national park

• Game drives where you will have great scenic views of animals like elephants, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, impalas, sable antelopes among others grazing along the road sides or gathered around the artificial hippo pools, predators like lions, leopards among others if you are lucky, vegetation types, birds among others.
• Bird watching, Mikumi national park is a home of over 400 bird species including migratory species from Europe, savannah birds and water species. During bird watching you will be able to spot birds like open billed stork, black bellied bustard, African spoonbill, malachite kingfisher, purple crested turaco, shelleys sunbird among others.
• Guided nature walks where you will move around the park on foot with an armed park ranger to protect you from any danger. During the nature walk you will have spectacular views of animals, bird species, mountain ranges, listen to sweet sounds of birds singing in the trees, enjoy the peaceful and quiet environment among others.  

9. Gombe national park

Gombe national park is the smallest national park located in the western part of Tanzania at the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika at the border of Tanzania and Congo. The park is famously known for harboring the endangered chimpanzees, other primates like red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, animals like forest pigs, antelopes, different bird species like a crowned eagle, peters twinspot, double toothed barbet, Ross’s turaco among others. Gombe national park is the protected area where the primatologist Jane Goodal started her research activities about the behaviors of chimpanzees in the 1960s.

Gombe national park offers interesting activities like chimpanzee trekking where you will be able to spend time with the habituated chimpanzee families in their natural environment, bird watching where you will view different migratory, forest and aquatic species, spot fishing where you will use a catch and release method to catch different fish types and guided nature walks where you will explore the park on foot and get an opportunity to get close and personal with animals in the natural habitats, enjoy the cool breeze, relax your mind, breath fresh air, listen to birds singing, take photos, view the sunrise or sunset among others.

10. Mahale mountains national park

Mahale mountains national park is situated on the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika in the remote southern part of Kigoma town. The national park borders with Lake Tanganyika which is the second largest and deepest fresh water lake in the world. Mahale mountains national park is a home of various attractions including wildlife like large populations of chimpanzees, other primates like vervet monkeys, yellow baboons, red colobus monkeys, animals like wild dogs, lions, roan antelopes, buffaloes, elephants, zebras, squirrels, porcupines, different bird species like Ross’s turaco, giant kingfisher, bamboo warbler, crested guinea fowl, vegetations types like miombo woodland, montane forest, montane grassland, riverine forest, Mahale mountains, Kasonge forest among others.

Activities in Mahale national park

Chimpanzee trekking, this is the most popular activity carried out in the park that gives visitors an opportunity to move around the park on foot in search of the habituated chimpanzee families. during chimpanzee trekking you will have great views of colorful birds, plant and tree species, beautiful scenery, other primates like yellow baboons and once the chimpanzees are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn about their behaviors, habits, watch them feeding, hunting, resting among others which gives you lifetime memories.

Mahale national park offers other activities like bird watching where you will view different bird species including forest, water, migratory birds, guided nature walks where you will explore the park on foot with the company of an armed park ranger, sport fishing where you will use a catch and release method to catch different fish species, snorkeling which is done in lake Tanganyika and helps you to cool off and get close to underwater creatures, Kayaking activity where you will maneuver through the waterways in a small water vessel.

11. Mkomazi National Park

Mkomazi national park is situated in the northeastern part of Tanzania on the Kenyan border in Kilimanjaro and Tanga region. Mkomazi national park shares its northern border with Tsavo national park in Kenya which means that you will be able to view migratory animals from Tsavo Park and it also offers refugee for the endangered black rhinos and wild dogs which were successfully reintroduced in the 1990s. Mkomazi national park offers interesting activities like game drives where you will view animals like elands, oryx, dik dik, zebras, hartebeest, lesser kudu, bird watching where you will view migratory and endemic birds like European roller, ostrich, shelleys starling, vulturine guinea fowl, martial eagle, scaly chatterer, guided nature walk activity where you will have spectacular views of wildlife species like birds, plant and tree species, animals at a close range. 

12. Saadani National Park

Saadani National Park is the only protected area where the bush meets the ocean because it’s located on the shores of Indian Ocean between Dar es Salaam and Tanga. Saadani national park is comprised of attractions like Wami River, beautiful beaches, tall savannah, mangrove forests, scattered palm trees, wildlife including animals like wildebeests, greater kudus, elands, elephants, lions, leopards, reedbucks, red duikers, warthogs, giraffes, waterbucks, sable antelopes, hippos, bird species like mangrove kingfisher, African skimmer, long crested eagle, bateleur eagle among others.

Saadani national park offers amazing activities such as game drive where you will be able to view different animals grazing in the open savannah plains, boat safari which is carried out on Wami River and gives you an opportunity to view animals drinking like elephants, lions, buffaloes drinking water along the shores, hippos and crocodiles in water, water birds like pied and malachite kingfisher, ground hornbill, guided nature walks where you will have close views of animals, listen to birds singing, feel the cool breeze, view butterflies, plant and tree species and you can also engage in bird watching where bird lovers will be able to spot migratory, water and riverine bird species like purple heron, little bittern, African skimmer, greater flamingos, crowned eagle among others. 

13. Mount Kilimanjaro national park

Mount Kilimanjaro national park is situated near Moshi city in the northern part of Tanzania, south of Kenya border. The national park harbors the remarkable snowcapped mountain Kilimanjaro which is the highest mountain in Africa standing at an elevation of 5,895 meters. The park also harbors different animals including elephants, elands, bushbucks, leopards, hyenas, buffaloes, forest duikers, tree hyrax, aardvark, crested porcupine, primates like blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, bird species like natrina trogon, rose turaco, African pygmy kingfisher, African pitta, silvery cheeked hornbill, white necked raven among others.

Activities in Mount Kilimanjaro national park

Mountain climbing, this is the major activity in the park where you get to climb the highest mountain in Africa, mountain cycling where you will explore the park with a bicycle, bird watching where you will view different birds like Hartlaub's turaco, violent crested turaco, emerald cuckoo, African pygmy kingfisher, lark heeled cuckoo, animal viewing where you will be able to view various animals like forest elephants, dik-dik, bushbucks, bush babies, guided nature walks where you will explore the mountain slopes on foot, view animals, primates, birds at a close range, enjoy the quiet environment among others.

14. Katavi national park

Katavi national park is the third largest protected area located in the remote area of the southwestern part of Tanzania along the rift valley escarpment. Katavi national park harbors untouched wilderness including seasonal lakes, Miomboo woodland, unique animals like roan and sable antelopes, elands, hartebeest, deffasa waterbucks, giraffes, hippos, zebras, elephants, buffaloes, predators like serval cats, jackals, leopards, cheetahs, lions, hyenas, different bird species like paradise flycatcher, saddle-billed stork, crested barbet among others.

Katavi national park give you an opportunity to engage in various activities like game drives where you will have great views of animals, bird watching activity where you will view water, endemic and migratory bird species, walking safaris where you will get close and personal with animals, birds, butterflies, view beautiful scenery, plant and tree species, chill and relax your mind in the peaceful environment and many more.   

Best time to go for a Wildlife Safari in Tanzania 

Tanzania is best visited in the dry season during the period of June to October and December to January because that is the time when it is little or no rainfall in the national parks, therefore, vegetation will be less and wild animals will gather around the water sources to drink water which helps you to have great wildlife views and also view the great wildebeest migration.

National parks in Tanzania can also be visited during the wet season in the months of March to May and November because this is the best time for bird watching where you will be able to view migratory bird species.

Tanzania has a lot to offer when it comes to wildlife because it has a number of national parks that harbor unmatched wildlife species that can be viewed any time when you book a safari with Focus East Africa Tours.