A Guide to the Major National Parks in Tanzania

This week’s blog is a guide to the major national parks in Tanzania. Tanzania is a beautiful East African country that is known for its vast areas of wilderness and areas of natural beauty. This makes it a perfect safari destination and with all of its national parks, each of them offering something slightly different, you will never be short of something new to see or experience here.

Tanzania is one of the most sought after safari destinations as here you will get to see everything from seeing the world’s last primates in the wooded hills above Lake Tanganyika to seeing rare species which you will not have the chance to spy anywhere else in the world.

First up we have Serengeti National Park which is widely considered to be Tanzania’s most famous park. This huge park which stretches to just under 15,000km² is known for its own Serengeti ecosystem and varied landscapes with all habitats ranging from flat-topped acacias and wild hills to rocky mountains and flat plains. This national park is ever-growing and is famous for its migration of around 1.5 million wildebeest and 250,000 zebras as well as many other species including giraffes, gazelles, cheetahs, elephants, lions and buffalos. Across the park you can see the movements of the different species, this is especially evident in the summer months of June through to August where you can see large herds forming on the banks of the Grumeti River. Whilst you are here to visit the fantastic Serengeti National Park, there are some great options for accommodation.

Serengeti Under Canvas is a semi-permanent tent that is moved around the park over the year in order for guests to be brought closest to the migration and this luxury camping is the best way in which to explore Serengeti to the full. You can also stay at Serena Safari Lodge where all the accommodation blends effortlessly into its surroundings and the rooms are beautifully decorated with private balconies boasting views of the plains.

Next up, we have the Ngorongoro Crater which is deep volcanic crater which some 2,000 feet deep and 100 square miles in extent. Whilst you are here, not only will you have the chance to see The Big Five roam around but also hippos, baboons, hyenas and giraffes. Of special interest, there are many flamingos present in the crater as well as black rhino. For those of you who are interested in birdwatching as well, you will not be disappointed as there are more than 200 bird species for you to identify.