A FULL LIST OF THE 8 BEST NATIONAL PARKS IN TANZANIA
A herd of zebra gathering in the midst of the Serengeti National Park. Vast stretches of savannah awaits you here / Image: @kelarn
Tanzania may just be the wildlife capital of Eastern Africa (if Kenya allows it). It's a country made up of a massive 22 national parks, all offering something different to visitors, from walking intrepid safaris in Arusha to outings to see the tree-climbing lions in Lake Manyara.
Given Tanzania's vast amount of national parks, which ones do you choose to visit? What about Gombe Stream in the west or Mount Kilimanjaro in the very north? Or, Nyerere national park is in the southeast; it's a tough call to make if you've never been to the country before.
But don't worry; our team of experts working on the ground in Tanzania is here to pique your interest. We've put together our picks for the 8 best national parks in Tanzania where you can experience wonderful forms of wildlife as well as untouched nature.
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A vibrant herd of black and white zebra running through trees in Nyerere National Park. One of the marvelous sights you can see here / Image: @aronmarinelli
Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve)
Spanning 30,893 square kilometers in the southeast, Nyerere is the largest national park in Tanzania and one of the biggest on this planet. It was once known as Selous Game Reserve, but in 2019, it was split into two parts; the north and the west were named Nyerere National Park, but the eastern side stayed as the Selous Game Reserve.
Nyerere National Park doesn't attract nearly as many eyeballs as some of the more well-known protected areas in the north. But that's the beauty of it: you'll get to see lions, cheetahs, elephants, rhinos, and much more without being disturbed by swarms of tourists.
Keep an eye out for Nyerere National Park's different types of antelope that roam freely. The Coke's Hartebeest is one of the fastest of their kind, and watching them dash off into the sunset is magnificent to witness.
Besides wildlife spotting at this game park, visitors can enjoy several more activities, including visiting a local Maasai village, taking a hot air balloon ride, and settling down for a unique bush meal.
Entry fee for foreign tourists per day = TZS 143630.24 ($50)
Safari vehicles observing the herds of wildebeest during the Great Migration. Always an amazing sight to see when in Tanzania / Image: @dawnw73
2. Serengeti National Park
If you want to see the Great Migration when you come to Tanzania, the Serengeti National Park is the place you need to be.
Between mid-June and November, over a million wildebeest travel through the Serengeti along with thousands of zebras and gazelles in the hope of finding a source of water and grass. Seeing this display in person is mind-blowing, but it's a continuous cycle that occurs all throughout the year in different parts of Tanzania and Kenya.
The Serengeti National Park is open all year round, regardless of the Great Migration, so you'll still see other animals, including the Big Five, even if you miss the spectacle. You'll also have the chance to check out natural landmarks like the Olduvai Gorge, a famous paleoanthropological site that looks like sharply sloped gorge with two offshoots.
Entry fee for foreign tourists per day = TZS 201082.34 ($70) high season (16th May - 14th March) and TZS 172356.29 ($60) low season (15th March - 15th May)
An onlooker observing a still giraffe in Lake Manyara National Park. Lake Manyara is known for its diverse wildlife and you will catch a glimpse of many wild animals here / Image: @etvoilaraissa
Lake Manyara National Park
Ever heard of Tanzania's tree-climbing lions? Well, their home is the beautiful Lake Manyara National Park, which is only a short 90-minute drive from Arusha.
The infamous tree-climbing lions that call Lake Manyara home get all the attention here. All safaris that happen here share the same goal: trying to find these crafty creatures in the acacia trees. It's not known why they hide in the trees, but there have been some guesses that have pointed to the idea that they do so to get a better advantage when hunting for their prey. It also helps them hide from all the insects that would normally bother them when they're at ground level.
Apart from the lions, there are over 350 bird species in Lake Manyara National Park, too, including pink flamingos and plenty of leopards, lions, and a massive number of baboons.
Those interested in doing something special at Lake Manyara National Park can take a canoe safari on the alkaline lake surrounded by dense marshlands and endless forms of wildlife.
Entry fee for foreign tourists per day = TZS 169483.68 ($59)
A graceful giraffe looking above the bushes. Just one of the many giraffes you can see in Arusha National Park known for its wonderful and unique wildlife / Image: @aronmarinelli
Arusha National Park
Arusha National Park is Tanzania's main safari park for spotting giraffes since it has the world's largest population of them.
The great thing about Arusha National Park is that you can easily do it on a day trip from the city since it's only 30 km drive away. It's easy to squeeze a lot into a short visit, from exciting game drives to see the giraffes to birdwatching canoe rides; you might even get lucky and spot the country's second biggest mountain, the big bad Mount Meru.
Entry fee for foreign tourists per day = TZS 143630.24 ($50) high season (16th May - 14th March) and TZS 129267.22 ($45) low season (15th March - 15th May)
Mount Kilimanjaro National Park with Mount Kilimanjaro in the background. If you choose not to climb it, then a visit is always worth it / Image: @sickle
Mount Kilimanjaro National Park
Close to the small town of Moshi is Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, best known for being the location where Africa's highest mountain is. People flock from all over the globe with the goal of climbing the dormant 5,895-meter (19,340 feet) mountain. Even those who aren't brave enough to conquer the climb make the trip up north to experience Mount Kilimanjaro from afar.
Mount Kilimanjaro National Park may attract travelers with a dare-devil instinct, there's also a lot of wildlife to be seen here too including cape buffalos, elephants, tree hyrax, blue monkeys and much more.
Entry fee for foreign tourists per day = TZS 201082.34 ($70)
A safari vehicle driving through Tarangire National Park in persuit of the Big 5. This could be you! / Image: @ray30
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is the 6th biggest national park in the country, with over 2,600 square km waiting to be discovered between the Masai Steppe and the lakes of the Great Rift Valley.
The Tarangire River runs through the national park (hence the name); it's common to see all kinds of animals, like zebras and elephants, drinking from it during your game drives.
You will see four of the Big five here in Tarangire. The only animal you won’t see is the rhino.
However, if you visit during the dry season (between June and October), much of the river is actually dried up. The reason for this is that Tarangire National Park tends to be quite dry in general, and in the dry season, it's on a whole other level.
Entry fee for foreign tourists per day = TZS 143630.24 ($50) high season (16th May - 14th March) and TZS 114904.19 ($40) low season (15th March - 15th May)
A lone buffalo looking ahead. He stands proud and bold in all his glory. Come and see an array of Buffalo in one of the best national parks in Tanzania - Katavi National Park/ Image: @lebalu
Katavi National Park
Opened since 1974, Katavi National Park is as remote as it gets in Tanzania. It's located in the western part of the country and is home to some of the world's biggest herds of buffalo, which are experienced best on a 4X4 game drive.
Katavi National Park really does feel like a world away from all the other wildlife conservation areas in Tanzania, with the marshlands with dense reed beds and winding waterways where crocodiles and hippos hide away from passersby.
There are only three camps in the entire 4,471 square km park, which can only accommodate in and around a dozen people a night. If that doesn't scream unique, we don't know what will! Just watch out for the wild dogs at night; this dying species has taken refuge in the park over the years, so be on the lookout at all times.
Entry fee for foreign tourists per day = 86178.14 TZS (€30)
A hippo poking his head up from the water. You will see plenty of these interesting creatures in Mikumi, making it one of the best National Parks in Tanzania / Image: @k15photos
Mikumi National Park
If you're tight on time passing through Dar es Salaam and want to squeeze in a quick visit to one of the best safari parks in Tanzania, check out Mikumi National Park. It's a little under a four-hour drive away, but many people make the day trip there when visiting the capital.
Mikumi National Park is the 4th largest in Tanzania, but it never gets talked about as much as some of the others. It's hard to comprehend when you think of all the animals that can be seen this close to the capital, from massive pools of hippos to families of zebras racing across the savannah at incredible speeds.
You will also be able to observe 4 of the Big 5 here too. Unfortunately the Rhino no longer lives here.
Entry fee for foreign tourists per day = 86178.14 TZS (€30)
Include These National Parks in Tanzania in Your Travel Plans!
We've come to the end of our list of the 8 best national parks in Tanzania. With 22 to choose from, these are the best must-see parks to visit.
Getting to grips with how the national parks work in Tanzania can be tricky at the start. Most visitors tend to stick to the classic northern safari circuit which includes seeing the Serengeti, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater, which are all amazing, but if you decide to travel off the beaten track and head south, you'll be blown away by how different it is.
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