Best National Parks in Tanzania

Let view Tanzania recommends you to ask yourself the following questions as they should help you zero in on the best national park in Tanzania.

When do you plan to visit Tanzania?
Which animals attract you the most?
Do you prefer crowds or wish to explore the park without having to come across other tour groups?
Game drives, hot air balloons, fly camping, walking expeditions into the wild – which of these attract you the most?
Would you like to watch a few predators or thousands of game animals?
What kind of accommodation are you looking for?
Are you a budget traveler or are you searching for luxury?

The top national parks in Tanzania:

Serengeti National Park

Home to the Great Migration, the Serengeti easily makes its way into most bucket lists. This fascinating park presents all kinds of ecosystems which allows it to host a variety of plants, birds and animals. The sheer diversity makes it one of the most unique national parks in Africa. Over the years, Serengeti National Park has attracted people from all walks of life, including movie stars, celebrities, writers and poets, and it easily ranks as one of the most coveted safari destinations in Africa.

Highlights

Home to the Great Migration
Authentic game viewing opportunities
Hot air balloon safaris
One of the best destinations to spot African predators
Excellent accommodation options

Lowlights

The park is very crowded during peak season

Serengeti Facts

Number of annual visitors: 90,000
Size: 13,250 sq. km.
Altitude: 3737 feet to 7133 feet
Common Animal Sightings: Wildebeest, giraffe, gazelle, big cats, elephant, zebra, eland, topi, kongoni.
Best Season to Visit: June to July and January to February
Nearby Attractions: Ngorongoro Conservation Center, Lake Natron, Tarangire National Park

Ngorongoro Conservation Crater

Formed millions of years ago, the Ngorongoro Conservation Crater closed off its borders to man with the help of walls that rose to heights of 400 to 600 meters. As a result, nature was allowed to run free here and create some of the most exotic species of plants and animals that the world has ever seen. This is one of the few places where you can see the Big 5 in a single day and it also hosts the endangered black rhino.

A Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis) walking in the rain at the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania

Highlights

Year-round wildlife viewing
Watch the endangered black rhino
Excellent accommodation
Explore the Maasai culture by visiting a traditional village
See the Big 5 in a single day

Lowlights

Expensive
Very crowded during peak season

Ngorongoro Facts

Number of annual visitors: 400,000
Size: 8228 sq. kms.
Altitude: 3310 feet to 1959 feet
Common Animal Sightings: Black rhino, wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, elephant, topi, buffalo, cheetah, lion, spotted hyena, leopard, golden jackal, bat-eared fox
Best Season to Visit: June to September
Nearby Attractions: Serengeti National Park, Empakaai Center, Mount Kilimanjaro.

Lake Manyara

Think of Lake Manyara as a mini Serengeti. The place is very small in size, and a majority of the area is covered by the lake itself, but it still hosts as many as 11 ecosystems and a vast and varied wildlife. The groundwater forest surroundings at Lake Manyara offer a much-needed break from African savannahs. Tree-climbing lions are the superstars here, but predator sightings are difficult. A close encounter with hundreds of elephants is the next best thing.

Highlights

Night safaris, hiking and trekking available
Tree-climbing lions
Splendid bird-watching opportunities
See elephants from up close
Breathtaking natural beauty
Wildlife is usually concentrated in certain pockets

Lowlights

Very crowded during peak season

Lake Manyara Facts

Size: 330 sq. kms.
Altitude: 3127 feet to 4741 feet
Common Animal Sightings: Baboon, flamingo, elephant, wildebeest, giraffe, blue monkey, buffalo, water-buck, impala, warthog, zebra, klipspringer, Kirk’s dik-dik, lion, leopard.
Best Season to Visit: July to October
Nearby Attractions: Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Center

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park isn’t located on the main safari route, and is less crowded than most other national parks in Tanzania. The park is 10 times larger than Manyara and its game tends to be incredibly concentrated during peak season. The park is also known for its breathtaking baobab trees and stunning natural beauty.

Highlights

Night safaris and walking safaris available
Excellent accommodation options
Concentrated wildlife viewing opportunities during dry season
Breathtaking scenery

Lowlights

Animal sightings are difficult during wet season
The park tends to get crowded during peak season

Tarangire Facts

Number of Annual Visitors: 160,000
Size: 2850 sq. kms.
Altitude: 3222 feet to 5400 feet
Common Animal Sightings: Elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, eland, impala, gazelle, hartebeest, buffalo, wildebeest and giraffe
Best Season to Visit: July to October
Nearby Attractions: Arusha, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Center, Lake Manyara National Park.

Selous Game Reserve

Selous Game Reserve represents the largest uninhabited area in the continent, and this alone makes it worth visiting. The large untouched expanses of land showcase nature at its beautiful best. The reserve also presents the best bush vibe in Tanzania. Selous Game Reserve is one of the two destinations used by elephants for their annual migration, and if watching millions of wildebeests isn’t possible, you can go for the next best thing, watching thousands of elephants at Selous.

Highlights

One of the few destinations in Africa to see wild dogs
Elephant migration Boat safaris available
Excellent wildlife viewing opportunities during dry season
Lion sightings are common
One of the best destinations to see wild dogs
Excellent accommodation

Lowlights

Hunting allowedMalarial area
Animals are scattered during wet season
Compact wildlife viewing circuit

Selous Facts

Size: 47,665 sq. kms.
Altitude: 118 feet to 4793 feet
Common Animal Sightings: Elephant, wild dog, crocodile, black colobus monkey, hippo, antelope, bushbuck, sickle-horned sable, reedbuck, waterbuck and curly-horned greater kudu
Best Season to Visit: June to November
Nearby Attractions: Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar.

Ruaha National Park

The largest national park in Africa might not come with a world-famous reputation, but it certainly presents the wildest encounters for those who know what to look for. Ruaha National Park is most famous for its fascinating beauty, ancient baobab trees, picturesque river and dramatic scenes and it offers incredibly exciting game viewing experiences to its visitors.

Highlights

Fly camping trips
One of the best destinations to see wild dogs
Guided treks
Unusual antelope species
Doesn’t get crowded

Lowlights

Remote location
Lack of proper low-budget accommodation
Animals sightings are difficult during wet season

Ruaha Facts

Number of Visitors: 20,000
Size: 10,300 sq. kms.
Altitude: 2362 feet to 6188 feet
Common Animal Sightings: Giraffe, greater kudu, sable antelope, lesser kudu, zebra, impala, bushbuck, buffalo, hartebeest, gazelle, waterbuck, elephant, lions, black-backed jackals, cheetahs, leopards, spotted hyenas and African wild dogs
Best Season to Visit: June to October
Nearby Attractions: Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam.

Gombe Stream National Park

Gombe may be small in size, but its attractions pack a punch. The park is famous all over the world because of its connection to Jane Goodall and her pioneering research on chimpanzees. Chimpanzee tracking expeditions are an obvious highlight, but one can also expect to see several species of primates here. Gombe presents a trail system which lets visitors penetrate deep into the forest and enjoy some of the best views of the African bush.

Highlights

Home to Jane Goodall’s research
Chimpanzee sightings are common
Hikes available
Exclusive and uncrowded

Lowlights

Accommodation is limited

Gombe Facts

Size: 52 sq. kms.
Altitude: 2516 feet to 5269 feet
Common Animal Sightings: Chimpanzee, vervet monkey, olive baboon, blue monkey, red colobus monkey, white-tailed monkey, bushbuck, bushpig and leopard.
Best Season to Visit: July to October
Nearby Attractions: Ujiji, Mahale Mountains National Park.

Katavi National Park

Katavi is remote, very remote, and reaching the park requires a lot of effort. This alone dissuades most travelers from visiting Katavi. However, take the first step and the park does its bit to ensure that you never have to go home disappointed. Katavi presents untouched wilderness and it is common to run across more predators than humans while you’re here.

Highlights

Game safaris and walking expeditions available
Spectacular hippo viewing opportunities
Exclusive and uncrowded
Unusual species of antelopes

Lowlights

Limited accommodation
Very difficult and expensive to get to the park
Animals are scattered during wet season

Katavi Facts

Size: 4,471 sq. kms.
Altitude: 2677 feet to 5361 feet
Common Animal Sightings: Eland, sable, roan antelope, hippo, buffalo, reedbuck, giraffe, impala, zebra, duikers, elephant, lion, leopards and wild dog
Best Season to Visit: June to October
Nearby Attractions: Ruaha National Park.

Mahale Mountains National Park

Mahale Mountains National Park may be ignored by most tourists visiting Tanzania, but those wanting to get closer to their closest genetic relative, the chimpanzee, simply have to visit the Mahale Mountains. The park presents the best chimp tracking experience in Tanzania and visitors also fall in love with its stunning beauty. Better yet, Mahale Mountains is home to some of the glittery sand beaches that Africa is so famous for.

Highlights

Excellent place to see chimpanzees
Hiking expeditions available
Exclusive and uncrowded
Fishing and kayaking available
Walking tours availableSpectacular beaches

Lowlights

Very difficult to get to
Limited accommodation
Expensive

Mahale Mountain Facts

Number of Visitors: 1,000
Size: 1613 sq. kms.
Altitude: 2484 feet to 8117 feet
Common Animal Sightings: Chimpanzee, red colobus monkey, antelope, red-tailed monkey, blue monkey, warthog, bushbuck, hippo, crocodile and leopard
Best Season to Visit: May to October
Nearby Attractions: Nkungwe, Kigoma

Mikumi National Park

Mkata Floodplain, the star attraction at Mikumi National Park, has often been compared to the great Serengeti because of its amazing diversity and concentrated wildlife. This alone makes Mikumi worth visiting. The park is also popular for presenting stunning photo ops and large herds of game animals.

Highlights

Good animal sightings during dry season
Perfect for weekend getaways
Excellent accommodation
Guided walks available

Lowlights

Animals are scattered during wet season
Single road circuit
Lack of wilderness appeal

Mikumi Facts

Size: 3220 sq. kms.
Altitude: 653 feet to 4131 feet
Common Animal Sightings: Hippo, zebra, giraffe, elephant, impala, wildebeest, spotted hyena, buffalo and lion.
Best Season to Visit: June to October
Nearby Attractions: Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Selous Game Reserve