Featuring the highest population of exotic animals in the world, the East African region is a must-visit destination for any traveler. The wildlife sanctuaries of the National Parks in Tanzania and Kenya amaze the visitors with grandeur and virginity of the nature. Whatever your adventure goals may be - to see the Great Migration, the Big Five or to capture majestic sunsets on camera - these destinations have all of these and much more to offer.
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The Serengeti covers 14,763 sq km, is flourishing with magnificent wildlife. It lies between the shores of Lake Victoria in the west,
Lake Eyasi in the South, and the Great Rift Valley to the east. As such, it offers the most complex and least disturbed ecosystem on earth.
The park features endless rolling plains and is contiguous with Masai Mara National Park in Kenya. Serengeti is known as one of the
best wildlife sanctuary in the world and an estimated 3 million large animals roam the plains. On it its vast, treeless plains are tens of
thousands of hoofed animals, constantly on the move in search of fresh grassland.
One of the Serengeti’s main attractions is the annual migration of wildebeest herds in search for better grazing. Every October and
November, more than 1.5 millions of wildebeest and Zebras travel from the northern hills to the southern plains for the tropical rains, and
then journey west and north after the long rains in April to June.
A unique combination of diverse habitats enables it to support more than 30 species of large herbivores and nearly 500 species of birds. Its
landscape, originally formed by volcanic activity, has been sculptured by the concerted action of wind, rain and sun. It now varies from open
grass plains in the south, savannah with scattered acacia trees in the centre, hilly, wooded grassland in the north, to extensive woodland
and black clay plains to the west. Small rivers, lakes and swamps are scattered throughout. In the south-east rise the great volcanic massifs
and craters of the Ngorongoro Highlands.
Each area has its own particular atmosphere and wildlife. Kopjes which provide habitats to different
animals. The Serengeti boasts large herds of antelope including Patterson’s eland, zebra, gazelles, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena,
impala, and large herds of giraffes. Nearly 500 species of birds have been recorded in the park. The Serengeti is an opportunity for one of
the best game viewing in Africa.
December to March the wildebeest migration congregates around Ndutu, in the far south of the Serengeti. And April to
May, the Wildebeest migration moves north into the plains of the central Serengeti. But between June and July the
wildebeest migration splits in two; one group goes west into the Western Corridor before crossing the Grumeti River, the other heads directly
to the north of the Serengeti passing near Klein’s Camp. August to October the herd has reformed, and meanders on the Kenya and Tanzania border , along the banks of the mighty Mara
River, returning south from the beginning of November.
The unpredictable nature of the exact path and timing of wildebeest migration is due to the dependance on rain. The animals' moves follow the path
of the rain in order to feed off the new grass whilst also being close to a good water supply. Standing water may be found in different areas
each year, may even be spread across different areas of the Serengeti. In the latter case, the herds may split and later regroup.
Game drives, balloon safaris (upon request), walking safaris, cultural tourism (visit a Masai village), crocodile safaris are some of the most popular options.
Lodges, Luxury tented camps, special campsites and public campsites can accommodate nearly every budget.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) was established in 1959. It is located 156 kilometers west of Arusha. Ngorongoro and it coves an area of
8300sq/km. Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) it boasts of the finest blend of mountain landscapes shaped by rifts and volcanoes, wildlife, people
and archaeological sites in Africa. The concept of multiple land use in a conservation perspective is a deviation from a traditional approach
(National Parks & Game Reserves) of regarding conservation as complete absenteeism of human Interference.
The NCA becomes one of the first program in the world to pioneering experiment in multiple land use for the benefits of both Maasai people
and wildlife in a natural traditional setting. NCA is often called ‘African Eden’ and the ‘Eight Wonder of the Natural
World’. Traditional African pastoralists co-operate with Tanzania’s government bodies to help preserve the natural resources of the
area and to ensure a fantastic experience for Tourists. Ngorongoro is the World Heritage Site and has also been declared an International
Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, due to i:ts outstanding wildlife and cultural value.
Ngorongoro is the largest unbroken caldera in the world. It is also known as collapsed volcano, this natural amphitheatre have 250 square kilometers and 23 km wide. The crater has very steep walls with an average depth of 600 meters at the altitude of 2,286 m above sea level. The crater alone has over 20,000 large animals (half of them zebra & wildebeest). This includes some of Tanzania’s last remaining black rhino. Animals are free to leave or enter the crater but most of them stay because of the abundance of water and food available in the crater floor throughout the year. One animal lacking inside the crater though is giraffe, who cannot negotiate the steep walls easily.
It was here that Dr. Louis Leakey discovered the remains of Homo habilis or “handy man” regarded by evolutionists as mankind’s first
step on the ladder of human evolution. Researchers say that humans have been part of the Ngorongoro landscape for millions of years. The earliest
sign of mankind in the conservation area is at LAETOLI, where hominid foot prints are preserved in volcanic rock dated 3,600,000 years old. The
story continues at Olduvai (Olduvai) Gorge, a river canyon cut 100 meters deep through the volcanic soils of the Serengeti plains.
Buried in the layers are the remains of animals and hominids that lived and died around a shallow lake amid grass plains and woodlands, from perhaps 2,000,000
years ago to the present. The four different kinds of hominids found there show a gradual increase in brain size and in the complexity of their
stone tools. But many more fossils have been discovered here including those of prehistoric elephants, giant horned sheep and enormous ostriches.
Visitors can learn more details of this fascinating story by visiting the gorge where guides will give on site interpretation of the gorge.
Oldupai Museum at the gorge is also very useful for information and education.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) has a number of other stunning features. These are shifting sands, Nasera Rock, Olkarien Gorge, Empakai
Crater, Olmoti Crater, Active Oldonyo Lengai volcano, Grassland, Lake Makat, Swamps, Lerai Forest, Acacia Woodlands and Complex Forests.
North of Oldupai Gorge- a little black sand dune marches across the plains, moving 17 meters a year. Blown by a strong steady wind it somehow maintains its size and somehow maintains its size and elegant shape.
In the past few thousands of years, a succession of cattle herding people colonized this area from the north. The most numerous and recent are the Maasai who arrived about 200 years ago. Their strong insistence on their traditional custom and costume interests many visitors. Today there is over 42,000 Maasai pastoralists living in the area with their cattle, goats and sheep visitors are welcome to learn about the culture of the Maasai and buy their handcrafts only in designated bomas commonly known as “Cultural Bomas”.
Game drive, walking safaris (highlands area only, no walking safaris are permitted inside of the crater) and trekking.
Lodges, campsites, guest houses in nearby Karatu town.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area can be also visited as a day trip, although this is stretching the limits a bit. If time does not permit a more relaxed option,
this is a destination not to be missed and a day trip should be considered.
Located 120km from Arusha, Tarangire is the sixth largest park in Tanzania. This beautiful park stretches southeast of Lake Manyara around
the Tarangire River. Just a few hours drive from the town of Arusha, Tarangire is a popular stop for safaris traveling through the northern
circuit on their way to Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. It is the vast number of Baobabs trees that first capture the eye as you enter the park.
The gently rolling countryside is dotted with these majestic trees, which seem to dwarf the animals that feed beneath them.
The park owes its name to Tarangire River which flows across the area. Its banks are characterized by dense vegetation of acacia and mixed woodland.
The surrounding area however, is dominated by huge baobab trees and to a lesser prominence,old doum palm trees and black cotton grass.
Tarangire also has regions of quite dense bush, but with high grasses and huge old baobab trees instead of the green forests of Manyara. The land
is hilly and dominated by the impressive valley of the Tarangire River, which attracts good numbers of migrant animals during the dry months,
especially between July and September.
The unique aspect of this Park is the annual animal immigration that takes place during the dry season. Tarangire National Park has some of the highest population density of elephants anywhere in Tanzania, and its sparse vegetation, makes it a beautiful and special location. The park extends into two game controlled areas and the animals are allowed to move freely throughout. From the dryness of July, large herds of zebra, wildebeest, hartebeest and in particular, elephants can be found here in high densities until October when the short wet season allows them to move to new grasslands. Breathtaking views of the Masaai Steppe and the mountains to the south make a stop at Tarangire a memorable experience.
Game drives, bird watching, balloon safari and guided walking safaris:
Lodge, luxury tented camps, special and public campsites. this park maay be visited as a day trip from Moshi.
Lake Manyara was once a famous hunting ground, now it is one of Tanzania's most attractive sanctuaries. Nestling into the steep Rift Valley
wall, this shallow alkaline lake is surrounded by ancient baobab trees, ground water forest of fig and mahogany and open grasslands. A wealth
of surprisingly varied vegetation sustains a wealth of wildlife, nourished by chattering streams bubbling out of the escarpment base and
waterfalls spilling over the cliff. Deep in the south of the park, hot springs bubble to the surface in the shadow of the escarpment.
Hippo wallows near the lake's borders of sedge. Two famous spectacles in Lake Manyara National Park are the tree-climbing lions, which
spend most of the day spread out along the branches of acacia trees six to seven meters above ground, and tree climbing pythons.
Nestling at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment the park is noted for its incredible beauty. As visitors enter the gate they pass
into the lush forest, home to troops of baboons and blue monkeys. Further along, the forest opens up to the woodlands, grassland, swamps and
beyond, the soda lake itself, covering 390 sq km and sanctuary to over 400 species of bird including flamingo, pelican, storks, sacred ibis,
cormorants and Egyptian geese. The park is particularly noted for its huge herds of buffalos and elephants. Also represented here are giraffe,
impala, hippo and a great variety of smaller animals.
Canoeing with forest walks on the escarpment, cultural tours, bike tours, game drive and abseiling outside the park.
Lodge, campsites and hotels in Mto wa Mbu town or Karatu town. Also, this park is close enough to Moshi to be visited as a day trip.
The acrobatic black and white Colobus monkeys welcome you as you pass through Arusha's main entrance gate. From the lush green swamps
surrounded by thick forest in the Ngurdoto Crater, up through the scenic beauty of the Momela Lakes, each a startlingly different hue, through
to the chilly alpine like tundra on Mount Meru, Arusha National Park is a gem of a park, althoug very accessable, it is suprisingly not heavily
visited by tourists. Explore the diverse and changing landscapes, hike along scenic mountain and forest trails and view huge masses of wildlife
in this quaint and charming park.
There are three major attractions in the park. First is the Ngurdoto Crater, which is sometimes called "mini Ngorongoro". Secondly,
there are the Momella lakes, which are shallow alkaline lakes which get their water from underground streams. Finally, there is the spectacular
Meru Crater. Mount Meru (14,990 feet) is described as "one of the most rewarding mountains to climb in Africa". Visitors can climb the
mountain, or organize walking safaris. The park also provides great views of Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru on clear days.
The remains of a large volcano, the Ngurdoto Crater is a steep sided bowl of lush swamps and riverine forest, which is home to elephant, buffalo,
warthog, baboon, reedbuck, Colobus monkeys and duikers. Mosses, ferns, lichens and orchids thrive in the damp atmosphere of the crater, giving
way to huge mahogany, olive and date palm trees on the drier crater walls.
The tranquil beauty of the Momela Lakes brings to the park a wide variety of birdlife (over 380 species) including flamingoes, waterfowl, African
pochard, ibis, heron, egrets, colorful turacos and trogons. The rocky crags of Mount Meru sees a large number of birds of prey and you may
be lucky enough to spot lammergeyers, a large, rare bird of prey, floating on the up draughts from the crater. Other game includes hippo, giraffe,
zebra, antelope, blue monkey, dik dik, reedbuck, klipspringers, leopard, and spotted hyena.
Game drives, walking safaris with an armed ranger (required for walking safaris), bird watching along the 7 Momella soda lakes, cultural tourism outside the park gate (visit a Massai and Meru tribes village), Ngurdoto Crater
Lodge, campsites and hotels in Arusha town. Also, this park is close enough to Moshi to be visited easily as a day trip.
Mkomazi National Park (newly promoted to national park status) is in northern Tanzania in the districts of Same (pronounced "SAH-meh") in Kilimanjaro Region
and Lushoto in Tanga Regions and incorporates the former Umba Forest Reserve. The park borders Tsavo West National Park of Kenya and the
South Pare, North Pare and West Usambara mountain ranges in Tanzania.
It covers an area of approximately 3,230 sq. km, of which 2,010 sq. km
is from the former game reserve and the rest from the former forest reserve. As Mkomazi shares a border with the vast Tsavo National Park, it
is part of greater eco-system making common ground for migratory herds of elephant, oryx and zebra during the wet season.
the endangered black rhino and wild dog have found refuge in the national park along with the adjacent Umba reserve in order to better
protect these and other species. Within the park, the Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary has attained international renown for rehabilitating
rhino, and it offers limitless viewing and educational opportunities for travellers.
Herds of the tall slender-necked Gerenuks, with their bizarre alien-like heads, survive in Mkomazi's arid lands where other
antelope cannot; the Gerenuk even stand on their hind legs to stretch for the tiny leaves of thorny bushes and trees.
The river and other water holes keep the park teeming with small and large mammals, including silver backed jackal, lion, cheetah,
leopard, lesser kudu, giraffe, buffalo, elephant and zebra. Bird watchers also delight in trying to spot any number of Mkomazi's
450 avian species, from wood hoopoe to tawny eagle, parrot to kingfisher.
As a national park, Mkomazi has the potential to be a glorious sanctuary where travellers will explore more of Tanzania's hidden
natural treasures.
There is one semi-permanent tented camp in Mkomazi, near the current park headquarters, called Babu’s camp. There are several designated campsites in the park. The nearby town of Same offers a range of motels and guesthouses. There are also some lodges recently opened not far outside of the park gates. Also, this park is close enough to Moshi to be visited as a day trip.
Lake Natron is a salt lake located in northern Tanzania close to the Kenyan border, in Africa’s Great Rift Valley. The lake is quite shallow, less than three meters (10 feet) deep, and varies in width depending on its water level. The color of the lake is characteristic of those where very high evaporation rates occur. As water evaporates during the dry season, salinity levels increase to the point that salt-loving micro-organisms begin to thrive.
Salt-loving organisms include some cyan bacteria, tiny bacteria that grow in water and make their own food with photosynthesis similar to plants. The red pigment in the cyan bacteria produces the deep reds of the open water of the lake, and orange colors of the shallow parts of the lake. Algae within the Lake’s soda produces a dynamic collage of patterns surface of whilst from air and do also support the high population of flamingo’s which do breed in the area.
Lake Eyasi is a very scenic soda lake found on the southern border of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This sparcely visited lake lies at the base of the Eyasi escarpment on the Western Rift Valley wall. The lake has shallow alkaline water, quite salty, with plenty of algae. It is very important lake, supporting a high population of flamingos.
Gombe Stream is the smallest of Tanzania’s National Parks situated 16 km north of Kigoma, in western Tanzania, Covering only 52 sq km
(20 sq miles), comprising a thin strip of ancient forest set among mountains and steep valleys on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.
Chimpanzees are the reason to visit Gombe Stream which is the world's most famous chimpanzee community. The pioneering British researcher
Jane Goodall, whose years of constant observation since 1960 have brought to light startling new facts about mankind’s closest cousins.
Her research is still ongoing and has made this small, fragile parcel of land world renown. there are no roads in this park, guided walking safaris
are the only option. Strict measures are in place regarding viewing the chimpanzees for the sake of conservation of the animals. Although the
habitat is small here, thre is no guarentee of finding the chimpanzees in one day, so it is advisable to allow at least two days or even
three if possible.
The chimps are as individually unique as humans and no scientific expertise is needed to distinguish the different characters in the cast.
The majority of the other park mammals are primates, most of them forest species. In addition to the famous chimpanzees, visitors could be
lucky enough to see blue or red- tail monkeys. Carnivores are rare in the forest, making Gombe the ideal place for a walking safari, or a swim
in one of the streams.
The best time to find the chimpanzees at Gombe is during the wet season from February to June and November to December.
The dry months of July to October and December to January are, however, better for photo-opportunities.
Mahale National Park covers an area of 1,613sqkm balong the shore of Lake Tanganyika.
Along with Gombe Stream,Mahale offers the opportunity to see chimpanzees in the wild. Tracking the chimps of Mahale is a magical experience. The
guide's eyes pick out last night's nests - shadowy clumps high in a gallery of trees crowding the sky. Scraps of half-eaten fruit and fresh
dung become valuable clues, leading deeper into the forest. Butterflies flit in the dappled sunlight. Then suddenly you are in their midst: preening
each other's glossy coats in concentrated huddles, squabbling noisily, or bounding into the trees to swing effortlessly between the vines.
Although the chimpanzees are the star attraction, the slopes support a diverse forest fauna, including readily observed troops of red
colobus, red-tailed and blue monkeys and a kaleidoscopic array of colourful forest birds. Similar the Gombe Stream, the government has strict
regulations in viewing the chimapanzees. Since the habitat is larger in Mahale compared with Gombe, tracking the chimpanzees may be tougher so
you will need to allow a few extra days.
The area is also known locally as Nkungwe, after the park's largest mountain, held sacred by the local Tongwe people. At 2,460 metres (8,069 ft)
Nkungwe is the highest of the six prominent points that make up the Mahale Range. The park is magnificent in beauty as the mountians come straight out
Lake Tanganika, offering steep banks of montane rainforest. Lake Tanganika is the longest lake in the world and second deepest.
This unpolluted lake hosts over 1,000 species of fish, many of them
only found here. The local tribe is known as the Tongwe and this land is sacred to them, being the ome of their mountain spirits.
Chimp tracking; hiking, camping safaris, lodge safaris,snorkelling, fish for your dinner.
Three seasonal luxury tented camps, two small resthouses and a large campsite.
Katavi National ParkThis park is quite remote and difficult to reach (strictly recommended for those of an adventurous spirit). It lies on a high flood plain surrounding Lake Katavi, to the south of the Mahale Mountains. The main vegetation found here is the Miombo woodland.
It has a wide variety of wildlife including crocodile, hippo, leopard, lion, roan and sable antelopes, southern reedbuck, topi, eland, elephant, and one of the largest herds of buffalo. Katavi offers excellent game viewing with a feel of how safaris must have been like in times past.
The diverse woodland, acacia bush, lakes and swamps have attracted over 400 species of birds, including large flocks of pelicans. Other attractions are Lake Katavi and Lake Chada, which are joined by the River Katuma.
Mikumi National Park This relatively small (3230 sq km) National Park lies 300 km west of Dar-es-Salaam. It is nestled between the Uruguru mountains to the East and the Rift Valley escarpments to the Southwest.
Even though this is a small park, there is a common border with the Selous Game Reserve, allowing movement of game. Therefore Mikumi benefits from a high density of animals, while still being easily accessible. Mikumi National Park is composed primarily of the Mkata River flood plain, this is surrounded by gently rolling hills covered in miombo woodland.
Although less spectacular than some of the better known Tanzanian National Parks, Mikumi still offers a good safari experience with typical flora and fauna of East Africa. There is a rich variety of bird species as well as large numbers of giraffes, buffaloes and elephants. Close to the waterholes you will find lions, leopards and hippos. Also present are zebras, wild dogs, pythons, hartebeest, wildebeest, impala, warthog, eland and other antelope. Several observation towers enable you to view the park in its entirety.
Palm trees sway in a cooling oceanic breeze. White sand and blue water sparkle alluringly beneath the tropical sun. Traditional dhows sail slowly past, propelled by billowing white sails, while Swahili fishermen cast their nets below a brilliant red sunrise.
Saadani National park occupies an area of 1,100 sq km (430 sq miles) and is only park where the beach meets the bush. Indeed, it is the only wildlife sanctuary in East Africa to boast an Indian Ocean beachfront, it possesses all the attributes that make Tanzania’s tropical coastline and islands so popular with European sun-worshippers.
Yet it is also the one place where those idle hours of sunbathing might be interrupted by an elephant strolling past, or a lion coming to drink at the nearby waterhole!
Protected as a game reserve since the 1960s, in 2002 it was expanded to cover twice its former area. The reserve suffered greatly from poaching prior to the late 1990s, but recent years have seen a marked turnaround, due to a concerted clampdown on poachers, based on integrating adjacent villages into the conservation drive.
Today, a surprisingly wide range of grazers and primates is seen on game drives and walks, among them giraffe, buffalo, warthog, common waterbuck, reedbuck, hartebeest, wildebeest, red duiker, greater kudu, eland, sable antelope, yellow baboon and vervet monkey. Herds of up to 30 elephants are encountered with increasing frequency, and several lion prides are resident, together with leopard, spotted hyena and black-backed jackal.
Boat trips on the mangrove-lined Wami River come with a high chance of sighting hippos, crocodiles and a selection of marine and riverine birds, including the mangrove kingfisher and lesser flamingo, while the beaches form one of the last major green turtle breeding sites on mainland Tanzania.
Nyerere National ParkAt 54.600 Km² the Selous is the largest game reserve in Africa. To put it in perspective, Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) is larger than Switzerland and half the size of the U.S. state of Ohio. Until recently, the reserve was only accessible by plane or by train.
However, with an improvement to the road network, the area is now accessible to everyone. The concentrations of wildlife in the Selous are understandably huge. The Selous, named after a German explorer and author, boasts Tanzania's largest population of elephants – currently about 10,000 animals – as well as some of Africa’s largest numbers of buffalo, hippos, Nile crocodile and wild dogs.
Other species commonly seen are lion, bushbuck, impala, giraffe, eland, baboon, zebra and greater kudu. The Selous also contains one of the few viable populations of black rhinos in the world, with between 150 and 200 individual animals. This park also contains more than 350 different bird species and 2,000 different species of plants. The landscape is shaped by the Rufiji River and its tributaries, lined by Barrassus Palms, and it is the heart of the park.
The Rufiji swells through the park down to the Indian Ocean forming a series of small lakes that serves as an important source of water for the multitude of the plains game. It is only in Nyerere National Park that one can combine game drives, boat tours and walking safaris. The hinterland around Lake Tagalala and Beho Beho is some of the most picturesque in the area.
Ruaha National Park Ruaha has recently incorporated the former Usanga Game Reserve creating what is now the largest National Park in Africa covering over 15,000 sq km. This new park itself is at the heart of a much larger ecosystem covering over 40,000 sq km.
The highlights of a trip to Ruaha is watching the huge elephant herds (the greatest concentration in Africa) gathered around the mighty Ruaha River; the lifeblood of the park. Ruaha is a visually stunning park with an undulating plateau at about 900m above lea level with occasional rocky outcrops and mountains reaching heights of 1900m.
Running though the park are “sand rivers” which dry up completely in the dry season and act as roads for the game to move from waterhole to waterhole. Ruaha National Park is a good place for observing lion, buffalo, elephant and painted dog (African Wild Dog). In addition, Grants gazelle, ostrich and cheetah may be seen on the plains. For bird enthusiasts, the park offers over 465 species.
The rainy season from January to June is particularly spectacular as the normal abundant birdlife is enhanced by numerous migrant species.
