The best national parks in Tanzania for wildlife and hiking

Africa is known for its abundant wildlife and Tanzania is one of its prime wildlife-watching destinations. The country is located in East Africa and has a total of 16 national parks up its sleeves. It is a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers. In this post, we are going to tell you about some of Tanzania’s most exciting national parks and conservation areas.

Serengeti National Park:

The UNESCO world heritage listed Serengeti is the superstar and the topmost safari destination among all of Tanzania’s national parks. It is home to the greatest wildlife spectacle on Earth  – the Great Migration, where millions of wildebeest and zebras travel north to Kenya’s Maasai Mara Nature Reserve every year in search of greener pasture. Serengeti is the best place in Tanzania to witness the Big Five – lions, leopards, elephants, African buffalo, and rhinoceros. Visit between June and October for the most astonishing wildlife watching experience, including the famed Great Migration. To get the most out of your visit, it is recommended to allow at least three days from your itinerary. With a range of accommodation options, the park can also be visited on a tight budget. However, it does get crowded during peak season, in which case you can always opt for a hot-air balloon safari and distance yourself from the crowd.

Size: 14,750 square kilometers
Best months to visit: June to October
Common animal sightings: Elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, lion, cheetah, hyena
Presence of Big Five: Yes

Ngorongoro Conservation Area:

Close to Serengeti, Ngorongoro is another UNESCO world heritage listed site and a great spot to see the Big Five – you can actually see all of them on a single day. Huge herds of zebras and wildebeest pass through the plains of Ngorongoro during the annual Great Migration. It is home to the volcanic Ngorongoro Crater – one of the world’s largest unbroken calderas. The conservation area is characterized by grasslands, swamps and woodlands. However, due to its smaller size compared to Serengeti, you are more likely to encounter a large number of both – wildlife and humans.

Size: 8,292 square kilometers
Best months to visit: June to September
Common animal sightings: Elephant, hippo, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, black rhino, lion, cheetah, hyena
Presence of Big Five: Yes

Tarangire National Park:

Named after the Tarangire River, Tarangire National Park is located off the main safari route and therefore gets less visitors – a good thing if you dislike crowds. It is known for its abundant elephant population and a scenic landscape dotted with baobab trees. You can go on a walking safari along the ancient baobab trees to witness the wildlife and capture beautiful photographs. Along with elephants, the park also has a significant population of lions, leopards, zebras, giraffes and birdlife.

Size: 2,850 square kilometers
Best months to visit: July to October
Common animal sightings: Elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, lion
Presence of Big Five: Yes, but no rhinoceros.

Lake Manyara National Park:

Lake Manyara National Park is located on the way to Tarangire National Park from Ngorongoro Conservation Area, on the shores of Lake Manyara. The jungle-clad landscape of the park feels quite refreshing if you’re coming from the grassland plains of Serengeti or Ngorongoro. The park’s main highlight is its tree-climbing lions. Besides that, you can also encounter elephants, giraffes, monkeys, zebras and antelopes. The flamingo-covered shores of Lake Manyara offer great photo opportunities.

Size: 325 square kilometers
Best months to visit: July to October
Common animal sightings: Elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest
Presence of Big Five: Yes, but no rhinoceros

Mikumi National Park:

It is the fourth-largest park in Tanzania and famed as a year-round wildlife sighting location. This highly popular safari destination is home to numerous wild animals like buffalos, wildebeest, giraffes, elephants, lions, zebras, leopards, crocodiles and wild dogs. The best part about the park is that you’re guaranteed to witness some of its legendary wildlife.

Size: 3,230 square kilometers
Best months to visit: June to October
Common animal sightings: Elephant, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest
Presence of Big Five: Yes, but no rhinoceros

Katavi National Park:

First things first, Katavi National Park is a remote park that sees a limited number of visitors – which also makes it Tanzania’s most unspoilt park. It offers the most rugged and adventurous wildlife-watching experience. Known for its walking safaris, camping and driving, the park can be visited even on a low budget. Katavi’s wildlife includes hippo, zebra, impala, hartebeest, giraffe, waterbuck, elephant and buffalo.

Size: 4,471 square kilometers
Best months to visit: June to October
Common animal sightings: Elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra, lion
Presence of Big Five: Yes, but no rhinoceros

Mahale Mountains National Park:

Located on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Mahale Mountains National Park is known for its protected chimpanzee area. It is an offbeat destination and offers a rugged and untamed wilderness. While many visit the park to witness magical sunsets over Lake Tanganyika, the park’s chimpanzees and red colobus monkey population attract wildlife enthusiasts. Known for its chimpanzee tracking, the park is made up of rainforest, grasslands and woodland.

Size: 1,650 square kilometers
Best months to visit: June to October
Common animal sightings: Chimpanzee
Presence of Big Five: No

Ruaha National Park:

Tanzania’s largest – Ruaha National Park has the most number of elephants in the country. Characterized by wild topography consisting of rocky outcrops and mountain ranges, the park is also home to a large number of buffalo, zebra, leopard and various bird species. With deep gorges and swirling rapids, the Great Ruaha River is the focal point of the reserve.

Size: 20,226 square kilometers
Best months to visit: June to October
Common animal sightings: Elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra, lion
Presence of Big Five: Yes, but no rhinoceros

Mount Kilimanjaro National Park:

The UNESCO world heritage listed Mount Kilimanjaro National Park is home to Africa’s highest mountain – Mt Kilimanjaro. You don’t visit Mount Kilimanjaro National Park to encounter wildlife, but to enjoy jaw-dropping views. Even though the climb to the top of the summit is quite difficult and requires almost a week, anyone can undertake this journey if they are determined to make it to the top.

Apart from the ones we have mentioned, there are other national parks, game reserves and conservation areas in Tanzania that offer decent wildlife watching experience. In short, we want to point out that you cannot experience the best of Tanzania’s wildlife in a single national park. Explore as many national parks and reserves as you can. You may come across similar animals, but you are guaranteed to have a unique experience in every park you visit. Happy exploring!