Tanzania, a perfectly balanced vacation destination. From the west to south, or north, the experience is more or less the same. 1/3 of the country is occupied by wildlife protected areas, with unique attractions, cool climate and developed infrastructure. Instead of only mastering a few famous national parks, be informed about all those making the full list in East Africa’s largest country. You can undertake your holiday adventure at any time, in Tanzania’s 19 national parks; inclusive of Jozani – Chwaka Bay national park in Zanzibar Island.
National parks in Tanzania include;-
Serengeti National Park.
Ever heard of the dramatic wildebeest migration; one of the seven natural wonders in the world? Serengeti National park is the host. A migration that sees over 1 million wildebeests, accompanied by zebras, impalas and many more mammals to Masai Mara in search of fresh foliage and water. It is the most visited park, located in the northern part of the country, making up the northern safari circuit of Tanzania.
The park is made up of savanna, woodland and grassland plains, in its 14,763 sq.km land. It was recognized as a UNESCO heritage site in 1981, following its upgrade to become a fully-fledged national park in 1951.
Ngorongoro Crater.
Located in Ngorongoro district in the northern part of Tanzania, Ngorongoro crater is one of the finest destinations to explore, given the fact that it hosts the world’s largest caldera. In size, it is about 44,800 sq.kms and was established in 1959 to protect the rare species and the caldera. The crater, birds, Africa’s big 5, wildlife, the Masai people and Olduvai Gorge are some of the areas of interest to be counted to the park’s name.
Tarangire National Park.
This is the 6th largest park in Tanzania. It was established in 1970 in the northern part of the country, and offers the best of the country’s wildlife, bird species, landscape and vegetation. The 2,850 sqkm land it has offers asylum to large herds of elephants, gazelles, elands, zebras, olive baboons, cheetahs, African wild dogs, wildebeests and over 550 bird species. Tarangire national park also rescues several mammals during the dry season as it has a permanent water source.
Lake Manyara national park.
Home to the rare tree-climbing lions, a breathtaking landscape and variety of birds and animals, Lake Manyara national park is one of the most visited parks in Tanzania. It is situated in northern Tanzania, sprawling through 330sqkm of land, with about 200 sq.km of it occupied by the giant Lake Manyara.
A mention of some inhabitants in the park will include lions, leopards, elephants, zebras and giraffes etc., over 400 bird species and unique flora species.
Arusha National Park.
This park is located in the north-eastern region of Tanzania. It was established in 1960, but renamed in 1967, before expanding in 1973 to about 137 sq.km. As tiny as it may appear, Arusha national park has a variety of flora and fauna, eye-catching landscape, Jekukumia River, dense forests, swamps, alpine highlands and the giant Mount. Meru – second highest mountain in Tanzania.
Resident animals here include giraffes, buffaloes, warthogs, white and black Colobus monkeys and elephants among others.
Mount. Kilimanjaro National Park.
Found in the northern part of Tanzania near the border with Kenya, this national park is home to Africa’s tallest mountain, which also doubles as the world’s tallest standalone mountain – giant snowcapped mountain Kilimanjaro.
The ever permanent ice tip attracts hundreds of hikers worldwide. Other attractions in the park include birds, primates and lush montane vegetation, among others.
Gombe Stream National Park.
Gombe national park is located in the western part of Tanzania, a few kilometers from Kigoma town. This is the smallest park in the country, seating on a 35 sq.km land at the shoreline of Lake Tanganyika, yet offering asylum to the rare chimpanzees, man’s closest relatives. The park was established in 1968, and became the first in Africa to offer chimpanzee habituation experience. Thanks to the dedication of lead primate researcher, Jane Goodall who began the research and documentation of the life of chimps in Tanzania.
Mahale Mountains National Park.
This park is situated in the western part of Tanzania in Kigoma region, next to Gombe national park. These are the only two parks harboring chimps and offering unmatched Chimpanzee trekking adventure in Tanzania.
Only with a boat can you access the park with ease, but there is an airstrip in Kigoma town so travelers can use a domestic flight to access the park from Dar-es-salam, Dodoma or northern based Kilimanjaro airport. Chimpanzees are the prime attractions here.
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park.
This is the only national park found in Zanzibar Island, at the shorelines of the vast Indian Ocean and an escape destination from Tanzania. It is a true herb of monkeys, notably the rare red Zanzibar monkeys which are hardly found anywhere in the world.
Other monkeys include among others Vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked monkeys and birds among others. The Persian birth tab is one other attraction to look out for as you explore the captivating park.
Katavi National Park.
Just after Serengeti, Nyerere and Ruaha national parks, Katavi national park comes as the fourth largest park in Tanzania, seating on a 4,471 sq.km land. Most visitors go to the park each year to encounter the big and small mammals, birds and wildlife; notably the buffaloes, lions, cheetahs, hippos, Zebras, Giraffes and the wildebeests, etc.
Ruaha National Park.
Located south of Tanzania, Ruaha is the 2nd largest national park in Tanzania, gazetted as a park in 1964. This park sprawls through a 20,226 sqkm land, about 130kms west of Iringa. First, it was a reserve in 1910 by the British colonial authorities and then turned to a park in 1964. Its name was derived from the giant Ruaha River, which crosses the park at the south-eastern wing.
Other parks in Tanzania include; Kitulo national park, Mkomazi national park in the northeastern part, Nyerere national park, Saadani national park, Udzungwa mountains national park, Mikumi National park in the Morogoro region and Ruhondo island national park.
All game parks are open for visitors all year round, with tourists allowed in by 07:00hours, and expected out by 19:00hours, except for those spending the nights inside the parks.
Taking a Tanzania safari to any of its 19 national parks; it is surely worth your time and money, because there is plenty to see during the game drives, boat cruise, ballooning safaris, birding, camping and nature walks.
