Tanzania National Parks
Quick Links about Tanzania
With about 30% of the territory under protection, Tanzania counts 13 national parks, 16 wildlife reserves, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, marines parks and protected areas. The Northern Circuit is the most popular for game safaris and includes Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Mt. Kilimanjaro.
- Serengeti National Park (SNP)
- Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area
- Mount Kilimanjaro
- Lake Manyara National Park
- Tarangire National Park
SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK (SNP)
Serengeti National Park with 14,763 sq km is the largest Tanzanian park, contiguous with Kenyan Masai Mara and extending almost to Lake Victoria.
Species. The park is teaming with stunning wildlife - it is thought that over 3 million large mammals roam the plains in search of fresh grassland. In May or early June you can witness the annual migration of millions of zebras and wildebeests in search of water and forage as the seasons change.
Large herds of antelopes of all sorts including: Patterson's eland, Klipspringer, Dikdik, impala, gazelles, waterbuck, bushbuck and reedbuck, topis, kongoni, cotton's oribi, grey bush duiker, roan antelope buffalo and wildebeests (the estimate is above one million of these animals). Carnivores mammals include lions, leopards, cheetah, hyena, bat eared fox, hunting dog and jackal. Smaller mammals: spring hare, porcupine, warthog, hyraxes, baboon, vervet monkey, colobus monkey, patas monkey, and mongooses. Larger mammals include herds of giraffes, then rhinos, elephants, hippos. There are recorded about 500 species of bird, including vultures, storks, flamingoes, martial and fish eagles and ostrich. Reptiles include crocodiles, a number of species of snakes and lizards.
Activities. Serengeti offers amongst the most exciting game viewing safaris. You can also do bird watching tours and Balloon safaris, which normally follow the Grumeti river. One of the main attractions is the annual migration of wildebeest herds during the dry season, from the Serengeti northwards in the Masai Mara, where they remain between July to October. Therefore the concentration of wildlife is greater between December and June.
NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA (NCA)
The area is located between the Serengeti and Lake Manyara. The area covers about 8.300 kms including Olduvai Gorge, Lake Ntutu and Masek and a series of volcanoes most of which are inactive. It is home to the famous volcanic Ngorongoro crater which is the largest unbroken caldera in the world. The crater, 610 metres deep and 260 kms is a microcosm of East African scenery and game and is usually visited on the way back from the Serengeti to Arusha. Scenic grandeur and stunning views are the hallmark of this wonder of the world. Lake Natron is an alkaline lake known for the high population of flamingoes that gather here at the end of the rain season.
Species. Ngorongoro enjoys an incredible variety of animals and vegetation, from grasslands, swamps, forests, saltpans, lakes. There are 25,000 larger animals within the crater itself, mostly Zebra and wildebeest. However, this is undoubtedly the best place to see black rhino in Tanzania as well as prides of lion that include the magnificent black-maned males. There are lots of colourful flamingoes and a variety of other water birds around the soda lake on the crater floor. More than a 100 species of bird not found in the Serengeti have been found in the crater. Other game includes leopard, cheetah, hyena, elephants, warthog, impala, buffalo, hartebeest, eland, reedbuck, Thompson gazelles.
Activities. Most of the activity is within the crater which is popular for bird watching, photography, walking safaris, and game viewing. The head quarter is located at Park Village at Ngorongoro Crater, also an information centre. Trekking activities can be arranged to reach the volcanoes of the Crater Highlands from the Ngorongoro Crater (Oldoinyo Lengai, Lemagurut, Oldeani, Empakaai, Olmoti). Archeologists will be interested in Olduvai Gorge, a canyon about 50 km long and up to 90 m deep in the northwest of Ngorongoro. Here it is possible to see the famous discoveries made in 1959 of remains of early Man by Mary and Louis Leakey, who found the skull known as Australopithecus Boisei, 1.8 million years old.
The best time to visit Ngorongoro is the dry season from June to August.
MOUNT KILIMANJARO
Kilimanjaro is a giant volcano reaching an elevation of 5,895 m with Uhuru Peak. Other names for this volcano are: Kilima Dscharo, Oldoinyo Oibor (white mountain in Masai) and Kilima Njaro meaning shining mountain in Swahili. The highest and youngest cone is named Kibo. Shira to the west and Mawenzi in the east are older cones that make up Kilimanjaro. Kibo has not been active in modern times, but steam and sulfur are still emitted. At the top of Kibo's summit is a 1 1/2 mile (2 1/4 Km) wide crater
Activities. The upward track wends through forests that vary constantly with the altitude and finally opens out into open moorland below rocky, snow covered Kibo plateau. It has 3 volcanic centres, Shira, Kibo, and Mawenzi. 5, 7 & 8 day climbs are easily arranged from Moshi or Arusha and is the perfect start to your trip in Tanzania. The most popular trail is the Marangu Route, which will take 5 days 4 nights.
The best time to climb Kilimanjaro is between June to September and December to March.
LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
Lake Manyara National park is one of the most popular Tanzanian parks along the Northern circuit. It is located on the ridge of the Rift Valley, with the escarpment in the western border of the park.
Species. The park is well known for the abundance of hippos in the lake, for the typical population of tree climbing lions, which remembers the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth in Uganda. Moreover, Lake Manyara is an important stop over for any bird watcher.
Activities. Canoe safaris start near Endala and go towards Msasa for 3 hours boat cruise. The Mto Wa Mbu village on the north of the park, near the gate, offers community and cultural activities, like village walks, cycling, boat trips on the lake. Bird watching activities are carried out along the parks trails.
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
Tarangire National Park is located along the Tarangire river, on the south of Lake Nanyara. From August to October, during the dry season, Tarangire has one of the highest concentration of wildlife in any African national park.
Species. Tarangire features herds of zebras, wildebeests, hartebeests and elephants. The birds population recors here about 300 different species.
Activities. Game viewing can be organized day and night. Birding is recommended between October and May
