Tanzanian National Parks
In Africa, Tanzania Has:
·Most National Parks
Currently 14 National Parks covering an area over 42,000 sq km
·Highest Percentage of Its Territory Formally Protected
Almost one third of Tanzania’s territory is formally protected for conservation
·Highest Proportion of Africa’s Large Mammal Population
Home to estimated 20 percent of Africa’s Large Mammal population
Arusha National Park
Gombe National Park
Katavi National Park
Kilimanjaro National Park
Kitulo National Park
Mahale National Park
Manyara National Park
Mikumi National Park
Mkomazi National Park (Status Pending)
Ruaha National Park
Rubondo National Park
Saadani National Park
Saanane National Park (Status Pending)
Serengeti National Park
Tarangire National Park
Udzungwa National Park
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Selous Game Reserve
Arusha National Park
Circuit: Northern
Size: 542 sq km (206 sq miles)
To Do: Game Drive, Walking Safari, Mt. Meru Climb
Known For: Giraffes, bird watching, colobus monkeys, view of kilimanjaro from Meru
summit
Best Time to Visit: Safari year round, climb Meru june - december
Gombe National Park
Circuit: Western
Size: 52 sq km (20 sq miles)
To Do: Chimpanzee trekking, hiking, swimming/ snorkeling
Known For: One of the best places to observe Chimpanzees, location of Jane
Gooddall’s research and Henry Stanley’s famous “Dr. Livingstone I presume?”
Best Time to Visit: Chimps February – June, November - December
Katavi National Park
Circuit: Western
Size: 4,471 sq km (1,727 sq miles)
To Do: Walking Safaris, Game Drives
Known For: Untouched Wilderness, Hippo and Crocodile in floodplains, Tamarind
tree inhabited by spirit of legenary hunter Katabi
Best Time to Visit: May – October only
Kilimanjaro National Park
Circuit: Northern
Size: 1500+ sq km (575+ sq miles)
To Do: Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb, Day hikes
Known For: Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, Tallest free-
standing mountain in the world, and hardest gear-free amateur climb
Best Time to Visit: warmest December – February, Driest July - September
Kitulo National Park
Circuit: Southern & Coastal
Size: 413 sq km (157 sq miles)
To Do: Hiking
Known For: Wildflowers
Best Time to Visit: December - April
Mahale National Park
Circuit: Western
Size: 1,613 sq km (623 sq miles)
To Do: Chimpanzee Tracking, Hiking, Camping Safaris, Snorkeling/ Fishing
Known For: Population of 800 Chimps, One of the best places to observe Chimps
Best Time to Visit: May October, light rain October - November
Manyara National Park
Circuit: Northern
Size: 330 sq km (127 sq miles)
To Do: Game Drives, Night Game Drives; Bike, Forest, and Culture Tours just
outside park
Known For: million resident pink flamingoes in Lake Manyara, tree-loving lions
Best Time to Visit: Safari year round
Mikumi National Park
Circuit: Southern & Coastal
Size: 3,230 sq km (1,250 sq miles)
To Do: Game Drives
Known For: Herds and Predators on Mkata Floodplain, Eland
Best Time to Visit: Safari Year Round
Mkomazi National Park (Status Pending)
Circuit: Southern & Coastal
Size: 3,245 sq km (1,240 sq miles)
To Do: Game Drives, Walking Safaris
Known For: Herds and Predators around Umba River, Gerenuk
Best Time to Visit: June – September
Ruaha National Park
Circuit: Southern & Coastal
Size: 10,300 sq km (3,980 sq miles)
To Do: Game Drives, Walking Safaris, Visit Isimila Ruins
Known For: Untouched Wilderness, Herds and Predators around Great Ruaha
River and Floodplains, Greater Kudu
Best Time to Visit: Large Game May – December, Greater Kudu in June
Rubondo National Park
Circuit: Western
Size: 258 sq km (93 sq miles)
To Do: Walking Safaris, Boat/ canoe excursions, Fishing
Known For: Sport Fishing Nile Perch, Fish eagles, island habitat in Lake Victoria
Best Time to Visit: June – August, December - February
Saadani National Park
Circuit: Southern & Coastal
Size: 1,062 sq km (415 sq miles)
To Do: Game Drives, Walking Safaris, Boat Trips, Swimming
Known For: “Where the (Indian Ocean) Beach meets the Bush”, Boat trips on
mangrove-lined Wami River
Best Time to Visit: Safari Year Round, Big Game January – February, June - August
Saanane National Park (Status Pending)
Circuit: Western
Size: 0.5 sq km
To Do: Boat excursion
Known For: Boat Bird-watching and Game viewing on this Lake Victoria Island
Best Time to Visit: Year Round
Serengeti National Park
Circuit: Northern
Size: 14,763 sq km (5,700 sq miles)
To Do: Game Drives, Hot Air Balloon Safaris, Camping Safaris
Known For: Great Migration of Millions of Wildebeest & Zebra, Lion Prides,
Crocodiles in Seronera River, Proliferation of Predators and Grazers
Best Time to Visit: Safari Year Round, Great Migration December - July
Tarangire National Park
Circuit: Northern
Size: 2,850 sq km (1,005 sq miles)
To Do: Game Drives
Known For: Large Herds of Elephants, Baobab trees, Predators and Grazers
around seasonal swamps and Tarangire River
Best Time to Visit: Safari year Round, Herds June - September
Udzungwa National Park
Circuit: Southern & Coastal
Size: 1,990 sq km (770 sq miles)
To Do: Hiking, Camping Safaris
Known For: “African Galapagos” for endemic Bird, Primate, and Flora species,
Mountain Forest Trails, Sanje waterfall
Best Time to Visit: Year Round, Hike June - October
For more information, visit the official site of Tanzania’s National Parks (TANAPA) at www.tanzaniaparks.com.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Circuit: Northern
Size: 8,292 sq km, Crater 304 sq km
To Do: Game drives, Camping Safaris, Walking Safaris
Known For: Ngorongoro Crater is World’s Largest complete Caldera, World’s
Highest Density of Large Predators, World’s Largest Population of Black Rhino,
Oldupai Gorge Archaeological site, World Heriatge site
Best Time to Visit: Safari Year Round
For more information, visit the official website of Ngorongoro Conservation Area at www.ngorongoro-crater-africa.org.
Selous Game Reserve
Circuit: Southern & Coastal Circuit
Size: 55,000 sq km (21,000 sq miles)
To Do: Game Drives, Camping Safaris, Hunting
Known For: Africa’s largest protected wildlife area, Large populations of Elephant and
African Wild Dog
Best Time to Visit: Safari Year Round, June - September