There’s simply nothing quite like the magic of a safari whether it’s your first or umpteenth time. You wake up when the sun is just rising, nervously excited about what your day will bring. There’s a buzz of anticipation in the air when the game drive starts in the cool air of morning. And then the thrill as your senses become attuned to the bush, and you spot your first animal!
Seeing animals up close and personal as they roam free is an intoxicating, exhilarating and completely addictive experience. And lucky for you, there’s no better place on earth for safari than Tanzania.
As well as the ‘Big Five’ of lions, elephants, leopards, rhino and buffalo, there’s chimpanzees, hyenas, jackals, countless antelopes, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, monkeys, eagles … and that’s just the start of what you might see!
But with 21 National Parks, it can be tricky deciding where to go and what to do on your trip. So our expert consultants will work with you to design an itinerary that’s tailor-made for you, using their knowledge to come up with your extraordinary adventure.
You can combine safari with climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, trekking in the Ngorongoro highlands, a yoga retreat, Zanzibar, local experiences, day trips and city tours– the choice is yours!
You’ll witness one of nature’s most spectacular sights as two million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles migrate across the grassy plains. It’s the ultimate safari destination: a David Attenborough documentary brought vividly to life in front of your eyes.
Big Four (rhino sightings are very rare), wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, cheetahs, jackals, hyena, bat ear fox
You’ll wonder at the scenery at Arusha, as the park spans rainforest, savannah and alpine moorland. Towering over is Mt Meru, making this the perfect destination to combine with a climbing trip.
Black and white colobus monkey, 400 species of birds, buffalo, giraffe, several antelope species
Lake Manyara is known for its spectacular setting: a forested valley within the towering escarpment of the rift valley with a flamingo rimmed soda lake. And if that wasn’t enough to tempt you, it’s famous for its tree-climbing lions. While they might be hard to spot, don’t worry there’s plenty of other animals here to enjoy too including an abundance of elephants.
The park is en route to the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, so can be easily combined as part of your itinerary.
Lions, cheetah, elephants, buffalo, giraffe, baboons, Skyes monkeys, short-eared galago
If you’re after a truly memorable experience, then Gombe National Park is the trip for you. You’ll make eye contact with chimpanzees in a magnificent, lush tropical forest, marvelling at the similarities between us and humankind’s closest cousins. Then cool off with a snorkel in Lake Tanganyika among hundreds of colourful cichlids.
Chimpanzees, leopards baboon, vervet monkey, red colobus monkey, blue monkey, bushbabies
An untouched wilderness where you’ll find the largest herds of buffalo in the world! The park also teems with hippo, and lion sightings are common. But the best thing about Katavi is that it’s relatively off the beaten track, so you don’t have to worry about crowds.
Big Four (no rhino), hippo, sable and roan antelopes, crocodile
Mahale Mountains is one of the best places to go if you want to see humankind’s closest cousins. You’ll take a hike in a pristine rainforest, brimming with butterflies to have your truly magical encounter. And if that wasn’t enough, the park is situated on the shores of the azure blue Lake Tanganyika, so you can take a dhow trip, snorkel and watch amazing jaw-dropping sunset after sunset.
Chimpanzees, red colobus, red-tailed and blue monkey
The ideal safari destination for those of you without much time, as it’s incredibly accessible from Dar es Salaam. But that’s not the only thing in its favour! There’s an abundance of wildlife, and huge herds of elephant and buffalo are often seen.
We think it’s a great first stop, to get you in the wildlife spotting mood!
Zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, impala, giraffe, elephant, lion, spotted hyena
Mkomazi was established to help conserve the highly endangered black rhino and African wild dog. While it can’t compare to some of the other parks, it does have a breathtaking setting with views of Mt Kilimanjaro towering over the plains.
African wild dog (though sightings are rare), topi, eland, giraffe, zebra, gazelle, fringe-eared oryx, lesser kudu, gerenuk
Your Tanzania wouldn’t be complete without a safari to the beautiful and iconic Ngorongoro Crater. Formed when a gigantic volcano erupted, you’ll view a wonderful array of wildlife against the backdrop of a 600m high crater wall. The Big Five are all here, and it’s a superb place to spot them all!
Big Five, cheetah, hippo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, hyena
The largest national park in Tanzania, that boasts wildlife in numbers that would impress even the most seasoned of safari enthusiast. We’re talking 10,000 elephants, 30,000 buffalo, 20,000 zebra and large numbers of lions, leopards and wild dog all hoping to hunt them!
Lions, leopards, wild dogs, cheetahs, greater kudu, lesser kudu, roan and sable antelope
Saadani NP is known for being the park where the beach meets the bush, as it borders the Indian Ocean. So you can sunbathe on an idyllic palm-lined beach, cool off with a refreshing dip in the tropical waters, while still getting your animal fill.
Elephant, giraffe, buffalo, warthog, common waterbuck, reedbuck, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, hippo, crocodile, green turtles
A World Heritage Site, known for its dramatic emerald green scenery and abundance of wildlife including lions and wild dog. It’s also one of the few reserves that allows hiking, giving you another way to explore the landscape.
Lions, wild dog, hippo, crocodile
Rivalling the majestic Serengeti for wildlife, Tarangire National Park doesn’t get the attention it should. Which is a good thing, as you’ll see all its elephants without getting annoyed by all the crowds.
Elephants in large herds, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, lion, hyena
Kigosi is a remote and rarely visited NP located in the North West. But that deserves to change, as the park has the largest floodplain and wetland ecosystem in East African reserves. That makes it an important dry season refuge and feeding area for migratory birds and large mammals. If you’re into bird-watching, then this is teh park for you.
Lion, hartebeest, crocodile, waterbucks, pelicans, shoebill stork, wattled cranes and Kingfishers
Imagine standing in the middle where three countries, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda, meet? This scenic park full of rolling hills, valleys and savannahs was only established in 2019 making it ripe for exploring!
Leopard, hippos, roan antelopes, buffalo
Another national park that was only established in 2019! The park boasts a lush forest, and plenty of wildlife including elephants and lions.
Elephants, elands, waterbucks, roan antelopes, giraffes, warthogs, lions, hippos
A river runs through this remote national park, taking a slow and winding meander through savannah, woodlands and rolling hills. And in this river? Lots of hippo and some of the largest crocodiles ever recorded in Africa!
Elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, giraffe, zebra, Sitatunga antelope, Cape clawless otters, hippo, crocodile
This forest-fringed park is formed out of the various islands that bless Lake Victoria. Butterflies, birdlife, rare Sitatunga antelope, elephants and giraffes all call it home. And if you’re really lucky, you might even get to spot the extremely endangered amphibious antelope camouflaging itself in the lake shore marshes!
Elephant, rare Sitatunga antelope, giraffes
The smallest national park in the country, but size isn’t everything… Perfect for those wanting to get closer to nature, as you can go on a short walking safari through the landscape.
A picture perfect setting taking in the waters of Lake Burigi and the Kagera River amongst the grasslands of the savannah. The park borders Rwanda Akagera National Park and Uganda’s Kikati game reserve, so the abundant wildlife can range wide and free.
Cape eland, elephant, buffaloes, antelopes, lions, leopards, zebras, giraffes, chimpanzees, gorillas
Locals refer to this park as ‘The Garden of God’ and it’s easy to see why. Fields and field of colourful flowers between the peaks of the Kipengere and Poroto mountains stretch as far as the eye can see. And what’s more, it’s also home to the Kipunji – one of the 25 most endangered primates in the world.
A close canopy of primeval forests hugs the slopes of a chain of mountains known as the Eastern Arc Mountains, filled to the brim with rare primates, flora and birds. You can enjoy an enchanting but sometimes challenging hike through forest trails, up above the clouds and to the multi-levelled waterfall.
400 species of birds, 6 species of rare primates including the Iringa red colobus and Sanje Crested Mangabey
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