Safari spots in Tanzania

Serengeti National Park - A vast plain bordering the Kenyan Masai Mara in the north, Tanzania's Serengeti Plain is home to great numbers of wildlife, many of which endure the annual Great Migration which offers some of Africa’s most spectacular game-viewing and phenomenal photographic opportunities. 

Tarangire National Park - Ancient baobab trees, large family herds of elephants, prolific bird life and dry season concentrations of wildlife makes Tarangire the classic Africa of lore. This picturesque park offers a privileged glimpse of an Africa, unspoilt by tourism.

Lake Manyara National Park - A stunning alkaline lake of the Great Rift Valley system, forming two thirds of the Lake Manyara National Park. The lakeshore habitats are home to large elephant and buffalo herds and over 380 recorded bird species. The park’s incredible fauna and flora have qualified it as a World Biosphere Reserve.

Mount Kilimanjaro National Park – Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest mountain at 5895m (19340ft) and one of the most instantly recognisable landmarks on the continent with its snow-capped peak rising 5km above the surrounding plains. It is also the highest mountain that can be climbed without specialised mountain equipment or experience. Although straddling the border with Kenya, it is only accessible from Tanzania.

Arusha - A bustling and colourful market town and Tanzania's primary point of access to Kilimanjaro and safari circuits.

The Tanzanian coast and Zanzibar

The island resorts and coastal towns are a popular destination for those wanting a relaxing and revitalising break after a safari or climbing up Mt Kilimanjaro

Mikumi National Park - The closest National Park to Dar es Salaam.  Just over 3200 km of flat grasslands and wooded hills between the Uluguru, Rubeho and Udzungwa Mountains (all part of the forest reserves of the Eastern Arc Mountains - an island chain of cool, moist forests in an arid sea of hot savannah). 

The Tanzam Highway cuts through the northern sector from which an excellent game viewing road network provides access to the Mkata River floodplains and Mwanambogo dam.  Mikumi is part of the Selous ecosystem and supports strong herds of zebra, wildebeest, buffalo and impala with a healthy population of elephant, giraffe and predators.  Over 400 bird species have been recorded in Mikumi. 

Of particular interest in Mikumi is the large and relatively unexplored tract south east of the highway which shares its border with Selous Game Reserve.  Mikumi is the best point of access into the Udzungwa Mountains which are home to at least ten species of primate and several recently discovered species of bird.

Selous Game Reserve - Home to the big five and boasting some of the largest populations of wildlife and birds in Africa, the Selous Game Reserve is also one of the continents biggest wilderness sanctuaries where some of its most remote areas can be reached only by fly-in safaris

Ruaha National Park - This paradise situated in south western Tanzania provides fantastic game viewing in an area only marginally smaller than the Serengeti. The majestic Ruaha River traverses the park and is a great place to view the plentiful game, and due to its relative remoteness, the park has successfully managed to maintain a true wilderness atmosphere.

Katavi National Park - At nearly 5000 km, third in size to the Serengeti and Ruaha, and with the least visitors in Tanzania, Katavi is Tanzania's wildest safari destination by far! The park lies in the Rukwa Rift just east of Lake Tanganyika.

Dense brachystegia woodlands are cut by seasonal rivers with broad floodplains which are further broken up by the great seasonal lakes of Chada and Katavi. With access very restricted in the rains, Katavi is a classic dry season reserve between June and November when game concentrations are at their greatest.

Tsetse fly and dry heat during the season are small prices to pay for intense game viewing without crowds. The park has massive herds of buffalo, elephant, zebra, giraffe and other ungulates in the woodlands and plains. The dormant riverbeds and remaining pools are home to huge pods of mud-wallowing hippos and cave-dwelling crocodiles and attract plains game and predators in a big way – there’s no shortage of safari-action in Katavi!

This is an expensive destination suited to serious safari enthusiasts who prefer to have it mostly to themselves (Katavi is off the traditional circuit and  practically devoid of any villages and habitation of any sort).

Mahale Mountains National Park - A scenically stunning mountain range park situated in western Tanzania that borders the beautiful Lake Tanganyika. A multitude of activities including game viewing, boating, fishing and mountain climbing are popular. The mountains also provide a rare and unique opportunity to track wild chimpanzee

Dar es Salaam - An old and dilapidated town, this is Tanzania's main point of access to Zanzibar, Pemba and the southern game parks.