Northern Tanzania National parks and other Destinations
Tanzania is a case of success regarding Nature conservation and endangered species protection. The country soon understood that they have been presented with some of the greatest natural wonders to be found on Earth. And quickly they learned how to conserve them and take good care of them.
In fact, many conservation works have been done here, specially those related with fighting Elephant Hunting and saving one of the most endangered species in the world, the Black Rhino. Jane Goodall also become famous for her pioneer work with the Chimpanzees at Gombe Stream National Park.
Blessed by nature with 14 national parks (there are even more, but these ones are the most famous) one can found everything in Tanzania. Tanzania is what comes to your mind when you think of Africa. There are parks that are as large as many european countries like the Serengeti National park and Selous Game Reserve. There are parks, like Katavi National Park or Ruaha National Park that are so untouched by humans they reassemble the descriptions of Africa by white hunters and missionaires who came here centuries ago. Parks where you can have a million of acres just for yourself and see more lions than people. There are parks like Gombe Stream National Park or Mahale Mountains National Park where you will be able to see large groups of Chimpanzees and Gorillas. There are parks like Saadani National park where you can join pristine beaches and the wild bush. Other parks, such as Ngorongoro Conservation Area with its Ngorongoro Crater have a beauty that is so stunning, so breathtaking that it is impossible to put into words. And what about Kilimanjaro National Park? Where you can see giraffes with the world’s tallest free standing mountain, the roof of Africa, in the background? Well, there are really parks for every taste and interest and we haven’t even spoke about Zanzibar, with world class beaches of white sand and turquoise warm water. Tanzania is definitely one of the top destinations of the world.
In the following map, you can see the 14 national parks. To learn more about each one and see what we recommend, move your mouse over the map and click in one park.
Description: This is Africa most famous National Park in Tanzania and Covering an area of about 15.000 square kilometers, making it larger than lots of countries, it is famous for the large predator population and for being the arena for the greatest spectacles on Earth: The great Migration.
The landscapes are mainly open grasses, patches of acacia woodland and riparian woodland around Grumeti river in the western corridor. In fact, the word Serengeti means Endless Plains in the Masai language, and you will understand why when you experience this magical place.
As you can see in the above map of the great migration, between December and May, the best area of the Serengeti to catch the great Migration is the Seronera region in center Serengeti. Between June and August our attentions should focus in the Grumeti Area. After that, the herds start moving north towards Kenya and return to the Seronera region in December.
Wildlife:
The most abundant wildlife in Africa. Millions and millions of antelopes, wildebeest, zebras, etc support a giant big predator population.
You will be able to see large predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs, golden and black backed jackals, bat eared foxes and spotted hyenas. Nocturnal predators include Civet, Serval or the Genet and African wild cat. But many other mammals can be found like the rhino, elephant, hippo, waterbuck, bushbuck, eland, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, warthog, baboon, impala, thomson’s gazelle, etc.
When to go:
Serengeti is the wildlife gaming reserve of excellence in Africa throughout the whole year. It is so large that, according to the time of the year, there are areas that are more interesting than others. For example, if you visit the Serengeti between November and May, then the Seronera plains provide the best views of large wildlife concentration. However, between May and July, the Grumeti area in the western corridor offers great views of the migration. From August to October, the lobo area is worth visiting as the migration herds would be passing by.
What to do:
4×4 game safaris, Balloon safaris, Great Migration
What we suggest:
One trip to Tanzania is not complete without a visit to the endless plains of the Serengeti. Be sure to include this park in your itinerary and, if possible, allow at least 3 to 4 days in it. For only a few days, stick with Seronera. If you have more time, going to the Lobo and Grumeti River areas provides spectacular experiences. 4×4 game safaris, Ballon safaris, Great Migration
The closest national park to Arusha town – northern Tanzania’s safari capital – Arusha National Park is a multi-faceted jewel, often overlooked by safarigoers, despite offering the opportunity to explore a beguiling diversity of habitats within a few hours.
The entrance gate leads into shadowy montane forest inhabited by inquisitive blue monkeys and colourful turacos and trogons – the only place on the northern safari circuit where the acrobatic black-and-white colobus monkey is easily seen. In the midst of the forest stands the spectacular Ngurdoto Crater, whose steep, rocky cliffs enclose a wide marshy floor dotted with herds of buffalo and warthog.
Further north, rolling grassy hills enclose the tranquil beauty of the Momela Lakes, each one a different hue of green or blue. Their shallows sometimes tinged pink with thousands of flamingos, the lakes support a rich selection of resident and migrant waterfowl, and shaggy waterbucks display their large lyre-shaped horns on the watery fringes. Giraffes glide across the grassy hills, between grazing zebra herds, while pairs of wide-eyed dik-dik dart into scrubby bush like overgrown hares on spindly legs.
Although elephants are uncommon in Arusha National Park, and lions absent altogether, leopards and spotted hyenas may be seen slinking around in the early morning and late afternoon. It is also at dusk and dawn that the veil of cloud on the eastern horizon is most likely to clear, revealing the majestic snow-capped peaks of Kilimanjaro, only 50km (30 miles) distant.
But it is Kilimanjaro’s unassuming cousin, Mount Meru – the fifth highest in Africa at 4,566 metres (14,990 feet) – that dominates the park’s horizon. Its peaks and eastern footslopes protected within the national park, Meru offers unparalleled views of its famous neighbour, while also forming a rewarding hiking destination in its own right.
Passing first through wooded savannah where buffalos and giraffes are frequently encountered, the ascent of Meru leads into forests aflame with red-hot pokers and dripping with Spanish moss, before reaching high open heath spiked with giant lobelias. Everlasting flowers cling to the alpine desert, as delicately-hoofed klipspringers mark the hike’s progress. Astride the craggy summit, Kilimanjaro stands unveiled, blushing in the sunrise.
About Arusha National Park
Size: 552 sq km 212 sq miles).
Location: Northern Tanzania, northeast of Arusha town..
When to go
To climb Mt Meru, June-February although it may rain in November.
Best views of Kilimanjaro December-February.
Park history
In 1910 the area was declared as a game reserve and a forest reserve in 1921 before being gazetted as a national park in 1973. It was not until 1977 when Kilimanjaro was opened for public access. The park was declared by UNESCO as a world heritage site in 1987 and voted as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa in 2013. Kilimanjaro is located in Northern Tanzania 48 km from Moshi town and covers an area of 1,668 square km.
Best time to visit
Mountain climbing can be done throughout the year. However, the best time is mid June-October and December-mid March.
Tourism activities
Mountain climbing –Climbing Kilimanjaro is not just a climb but a journey from the tropics to the Arctic.The higher you climb,the colder it gets with change in vegetation zones.
Park history
Lake Manyara National Park delivered its name from a plant called Euphorbia tirucalli, known as Emanyara in Maasai language. The Maasai are using this plant toprotect their bomas (hedge). The Park was gazette as a National park in 1960 and was declared as Man and Biosphere Reserve in 1981. The park has an area of 648.7 km2 (402 sq miles) of which 262.7 km2 (163 sq miles) is covered by lake and 386 km2 (240 sq miles) is dry land.
The rainfall pattern of the park is bi-modal with short rains starting from November to December and long rains from February to May, dry season is from late June to October, annual mean temperature is 26.50C, average temperature 11.340C and relative humidity ranges from 45%-85%.
The park can be accessed throughout the year. However, June to October is the best time for large mammals and November to July is ideal time for bird watching.Tanzania is a case of success regarding Nature conservation and endangerous species protection. The country soon understood that they have been presented with some of the greatest natural wonders to be found on Earth. And quickly they learned how to conserve them and take good care of them.
Description: Tarangire National Park is maybe the less famous park of the Northern circuit itinerary. However, it has a number of large mammals that rivals that of Serengeti. The reason why predators are harder to spot here is that this park is much more densely vegetated than the Serengeti. Tarangire brings many animals (and is at its highest interest) during the dry season, where animals are attracted to the permanent waters of the Tarangire river.
Wildlife
Tarangire is famous for the large elephant herds that gather along the river during the months of the dry season. The park hosts large predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs, golden and black backd jackals, bat eared foxed and spotted hyenas. Regarding birdlife, Tarangire is similar to lake Manyara, having been recorded more than 500 different species. Some of the most prominent would be the bateleur eagle, the fish eagle, the palnut vulture, the saddle-billed and yellow-billed stork, the yellow-necked spurfowl, the orange-bellied parrot, the barefaced go-away bird, the red-fronted barbet, the silverbird and red and yellow barbet, the mouse-coloured pendulin tit and the lovely yellow-collared lovebird.
When to go
Open during the whole year but better during the dry months of July and November, as the concentration of wildlife in the river is at its peak.
What to do
4×4 game safaris.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area covers 8,292 square kilometers. It is one of the three divisions that comprise Ngorongoro District in Arusha Region.
NCA was established in 1959 by the NCA Ordinance No 413 of 1959 as a multiple land use area, designated to promote the conservation of natural resources, safeguard the interests of NCA indigenous residents and promote tourism. NCA is a unique protected area in the whole of Africa where conservation of natural resources in integrated with human development.
The main feature of the NCA include the Ngorongoro Crater, The Serengeti Plains that support about 2.0 millions migratory wildlife species of the Serengeti Mara-ecosystem (TAWIRI, 2003) and the catchment forest; the Northern Highland Forest Reserve (NHFR) known as ‘Entim Olturot’ in Maa language. Other important features found in the NCA are the archaeological and palaeontological site located at Oldupai Gorge and the early human foot-prints that were discovered at Alaitole in Ngarusi area. Because of these particular features and the harmonious co-existence between wildlife and people that has existed for many years, NCA was accorded the status of a World Heritage Site and listed as one of the International Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Reserve Programme.
Southern Tanzania National parks and other Destinations
History:
Mikumi National Park is lying just to the North of the famous Selous Game Reserve. Gazetted in 1964 covering an area of 1070 km2, it was later extended in 1975 to cover the current area of 3,230 km2. The park is the fifth largest National Park in Tanzania, it Shares the name ‘Mikumi’ with the village just beyond its Western border of the Dar es Salaam – Iringa highway, which traverse the park for 50km. The small town in turn takes the name from the palm tree (Borassus spp.) which once grew there in profusion but no stem is visible in the village.
How to get there:
By road: About288 km from Dar es Salaam; a four hours drive.
By railway: From Dar es Salaam to Man’gula and from Man’gula using road to reach the park.
By aircraft: The Park can also be reachable by Charter flights
Best time to visit:
The best time to visit the park is during the dry season (May- October). However, the Northern part of the park is accessible through- out the year.
Park history
Established in 1910 as a Game Reserve, Ruaha was gazetted a National Park in 1964. The park, covering an area of 20,226 square km, is the largest in Tanzania and second largest in Africa. Ruaha is located 125 km west of Iringa town.
How to get there:
• By road: 625 km from Dar es Salaam city, approximately 10 hrs drive, 125 km from Iringa, about 3hrs drive on rough road.
• By Air: The Park is also reachable by scheduled and chartered flights from either Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Zanzibar, Dodoma or any other airport in Tanzania.
Best time to visit:
May- October (dry season) and November-April (wet season)
Western Tanzania National parks and other Destinations
Park history:
Gombe, designated as a game reserve in 1943, was upgraded into a national park status in 1968. The park is located 16 km north of Kigoma town on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in western Tanzania. It covers an area of 56 square kilometers and is a fragile habitat for chimpanzee. Gombe gained its popularity after the research of Dr Jane Goodall which isbelieved to be the longest running study of primates in the world.
How to get there:
B motor boat (two hours). The motor boat can be booked through in Kigoma town.
To get to Kigoma:
By air: scheduled flights from Dar es Salaam and Mwanza cities or from Arusha by chartered flights.
By rail: from Dar es Salaam or by ferry from Mpulungu in Zambia.
By road: from Dar es Salaam, Arusha or Mwanza.
Best time to visit:
Chimpanzee can be trekked throughout the year. However, for plants/insects and better chimpanzee spotting, the best time is during wet season (November to mid May) and for the best photo taking (May to October)
Park history:
Formerly a game reserve, the park was established in 1974. The park is located 40km south of Mpanda town, being Tanzania’s third largest national park it covers an area of 4,471 square km after Ruaha and Serengeti.
How to get there:
By Air: Several companies arrange charter flight from Dar es Salam, Mwanza or Arusha cities to either Mpanda airport which is located in Mpanda town or to Sitalike and Ikuu airstrips inside the park.
By Road: From either Dar es Salaam via Mbeya (1513Km), Arusha via Tabora (1015.7km) or Mwanza via Mpanda (741 km).
By Rail: It is also possible to reach Mpanda by train from Dar es Salaam via Tabora then catch a public transport to Sitalike, where game drives can be arranged.
Best time to visit:
May to October and mid December.
Park History:
Mahale Mountains National Park is home to some of the Africa last remaining wild chimpanzees and estimated to have roughly more than 800 residing in this area. This area was traditionally inhabited by the Batongwe and Holoholo people. Tongwe is a small ethnic group of Bantu, therefore this park is situated at the center of Tongwe Land that includes south of the Kigoma Region and north of the Katavi Region. The people had been highly attuned to the natural environment, living with visually no impact on the ecology.
The park was officially declared a National Park in 1985.
Set deep in the heart of African interior, a road free park located about 128 km south of where Stanley uttered that immortal greeting ” Dr Livingstone, I presume”. It is a scene reminiscent of an Indian Ocean Island beach idyll. Silky white coves hem in the sapphire waters of Lake Tanganyika, overshadowed by a chain of wild, jungle draped peaks towering almost 2 km above the shore; the remote, pristine and mysterious Mahale Mountains.
How to get there:
By Air: Mahale can be reached by chartered flight from Kigoma.Dar es salaam,Mwanza, Arusha or any airport in Tanzania.
Best time to visit:
The park can be visited throughout a year; however, the best time is during the dry season (May – November) but can be visited also in wet season (December – April), however you will need additional gears such as rain coat and boot for trekking and walking safari.