Tanzania National Parks and Wildlife Reserves: The Safaris Tour Operator

Experience African safari tours and the adventures of a safari in Tanzania in some of the best African country’s protected areas. Find and book your unforgettable Tanzania safari parks with the professional team of African Sermon Safaris. On this African safari tour operator’s page, you will learn more about Tanzania National Parks map and their attractiveness to visitors.

Read on here to see some of the top parks in Tanzania safari featuring in the many tour operators list of safari destinations. Notable of Tanzanian parks is Mount Kilimanjaro National Park which is home to Africa’s highest mountain. Mount Kilimanjaro is famously known for climbing to Uhuru Peak and can be combined with wildlife safari in Tanzania. Also, it features blue monkey.

Read on to learn more information about map of Tanzania’s National Parks and Game Reserves. Also an explanation as to how many national parks are in Tanzania with their colorful wildlife – flora and fauna species.

In this African country, you will find some of the most famous Tanzania national parks in the world and the famous of all the Tanzanian parks; the Serengeti (one of the largest national parks), the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, Lake Manyara NP, Tarangire National Park Tanzania with its giant baobab trees, the Selous Game Reserves, Ruaha National Park. Nowhere in the world can wildebeest, gazelles, zebras and antelopes be found in such enormous numbers as here.

All the wildlife national park areas in Tanzania are managed by TANAPA who also determine Tanzania park fees.  You can spot able antelope in Ruaha NP which one of the most  remote protected areas in Tanzania. The Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania is a protected area in southern Tanzania and among the Africa’s largest protected areas in Tanzania.

The characteristic open plains make discovering wild easy. The world of Jane Goodall’s chimpanzees can be discovered in Gombe and Mahale NP in Tanzania, one the African countries managed by TANAPA authority and provide Tanzania park fees guideline.

All this makes the wildlife safari destinations of choice for your Tanzania safari which offers some of the Africa’s best protected areas and natural habitats. While on safari, visit map of Tanzania safari parks to experience the annual great migration of the wildebeests in the Serengeti Park Tanzania or spotting the Big Five and also see tree climbing lions at Lake Manyara. Search and book with the professional team of African Sermon Safaris an African tour operators. Get to know more about how many national parks are in tanzania be reading on.

The National Parks of Tanzania and African safari tours
Tanzania’s National Parks flora and fauna is as diverse as the animal population in this African Country. Small patches of tropical rainforest is available in the eastern arc which host an selection of indigenous plant life (flora) and Tanzania forest animals.

The tropical rainforests are to be seen found in Udzungwa Mountains and Ulugurus Mountains among other places especially on the way to Dar es salaam from Moshi and Arusha areas. These areas are now managed by Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA). The Tanzania national park fees is determined by TANAPA and is responsible for maintaining the parks as well.

It is worth to note that Tanzania is best known for its wilderness and richly varied typical wildlife, flora and fauna. More than one quarter of the country is protected forest, Tanzania National Parks or Reserves. National parks of Tanzania are managed and run by TANAPA. Read more about Tanzania national park fees at their page for year round charges.

Great Migration of the wildebeest –  Safaris in Tanzania safari parks
One of the most spectacular great migrations of wild animals on earth is the annual migration of the wildebeest zebra in the Serengeti. In search of food and water, more than one million wildebeest zebra and half a million zebras and antelopes, followed by the predators, migrate from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the Serengeti and Masai Mara and back each year in the areas of Tanzania .

We have available budget camping safaris, mid-range, luxury safaris or horseback safaris, search and book your trip with the professional team of African Sermon Safaris.

View below list of wildlife Tanzania safari parks which are part of our example of safari tours in Tanzania, carefully put together to experience the best of what Tanzania national parks have to offer. Or design your own safari in this African country., entirely according to your own wishes. So, how many national parks are in tanzania?

List of National Parks & Game Reserves in Tanzania

Below is a list of the Premier Tanzania National parks & wildlife reserves managed by Tanzania National Parks Authority:

• Serengeti National Park Tanzania
• Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area
• Selous Game Reserve
• Ruaha National Park
• Katavi National Park Tanzania
• Lake Manyara National Park
• Gombe National Park
• Tarangire National Park, with Tarangire River in tow
• Kilimanjaro National Park
• Arusha National Park

The below list by African Sermon Safaris will help answer one of the most common question of how many national parks are in tanzania

Ruaha National Park – Tanzania safaris
This Tanzania’s second largest national park at an area of 12950 km2. Together with Rungwe / Kizigo Game Reserves, Ruaha National Park the extensive Ruaha Ecosystem. The mighty Ruaha River irrigates the entire eastern part of the park, and is the center of big game activity during the dry season from June to November. One finds the second largest elephant population in the country. Furthermore, there are African wild dogs, both greater kudu and lesser kudu, sable antelopes, hippos, lions leopards, cheetahs and more than 400 species of birds. It is important to know Ruaha is the best one of the only wildlife park in Tanzania where lesser kudu and greater kudu co-exist.

Selous Game Reserve
Easily accessed from Dar es salaam. Did you know that this wildlife reserve is the largest game reserves in Africa? Also it is the second largest national park in the world, after The Central Kalahari Game Reserve, making safaris in Tanzania parks rank very well in the world’s chart. The Selous Game Reserve houses large numbers of large game, especially along the course of the mighty Rufiji river. By regular seasonal floods, permanent lakes were formed along the river that attracted many animals.

In addition to a large population of elephants, there are buffaloes, wildebeest, zebras, waterbuck, lions leopards, wild dogs, hippos, crocodiles, etc., and more than 350 species of birds. Only in the Selous one can undertake a foot safari, where the contact with wild animals can provide exciting moments. In addition, the park offers the chance to spot African wild dogs in this park in Tanzania.

The very best time to visit The Selous is during the dry season in June to October, when game masses around the diminishing waterholes and temperatures are less scorching than in the southern summer.

Mikumi National Park
Mikumi National Park is the third largest national park in Tanzania (3230 km2). It consists of plain around the Mkata River.  The national park is very easily accessible, as the paved highway TanZam highway crosses the park just under 300 km from Dar es Salaam. This road links Zambia’s capital Lusaka far inland to the southwest with the Indian Ocean. On the south side of the road, Mikumi is hilly and wooded, while a large and flat grassy flood plain surrounded by distant mountains spreads over the landscape on the north side of the road.

Well, Mikumi is not as big and spectacular as the adjacent Selous reserve to the south and Ruaha national park (popular for able antelope) further west, but here is a nice stock of yellow baboons, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, hippos, zebras, wildebeest, hyenas, lion leopard – and the park is perfectly located if you are on a solid Tanzania car safari and must visit both of the two great neighbors, as Mikumi lies between them and about half way between Ruaha and Dar es Salaam.

The park thus provides a much needed and lovely stop on this long trip, but is also a good starting point for visits to the nearby rain-forest covered and almost 2,000 km2 large Udzungwa National Park approx. 75 km to the southwest. Here you can go for wonderful walks in the heavily hilly and lush rain-forest with many beautiful birds and two species of monkeys that are only found here. You can also walk to the top of the 170 meter high waterfall, one of Africa’s highest, and get a much-needed swim in some rock pools after the humid and warm walk.

Tarangire National Park
With an area of 2600 km2, this is one of the most beautiful protected areas in northern Tanzania and Tanzania’s National Parks. Here one finds the largest concentration of wild animals during the dry season, and it is the only park in the region where a large concentration of elephants is found throughout the year. Tarangire River provides haven for the largest elephant population in Northern Tanzania.

Tarangire National Park is known for its wetlands mainly Tarangire River, hills and rocks, acacia forests and many baobabs. There are both oryx, kudus, lions, cheetahs, generuk, wildebeest zebra, and about 550 bird species. The park offers a chance to see African wild dogs which are rare. The park offers also an excellent views of many giant baobab trees.

The mid and end of the dry season, that is from late June to October, is the best time to Tarangire National Park for the best wildlife viewing. It is during this time that mass of animals congregate at watering points and thus forming an excellent time to visit this wonderful park.

Tarangire is one of the popular safari destinations for a day trip from Arusha, the main Tanzanian safari capital.

Serengeti National Park, Great Rift Valley Park
This is Tanzania’s most famous of all the Tanzanian national parks. The park stretches for almost 15,000 km2, and is best known for the twice-yearly great migration of masses of herbivores. About 1.5 million wildebeests, 500,000 gazelles and 250,000 zebras migrate through the ecosystem before and after the dry season, followed by the large predators. The Serengeti National Park is also known for its large lions populations, cheetahs, wild dogs and lions leopards.

The world-famous Serengeti National Park covers nearly 15,000 square kilometers and is unrivaled by the annual migration of the wildebeests. This supplemented with about 500 thousand gazelles and antelopes, large numbers of lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, giraffes, yellow baboons etc. makes a visit to this National Park a truly unforgettable experience.

Serengeti Park Tanzania is not only the most famous national park in Tanzania, but a whole ecosystem in the northern part of Tanzania. The area extends from Ngorongoro to the east to Lake Victoria in the east, and to the north lies Kenya. The National Park extends further into Kenya, where the area is called Masai Mara, named after the colorful and half-nomadic warrior tribe of Masai. A Serengeti safari is an experience for life.

It is not without reason that Serengeti Park is one of the best places in the world to see animals in their natural habitat. Here are more than 70 larger species of mammals and more than 500 species of birds. Especially the lions are a huge attraction, and the park is also one of the places in Africa where the chance to see lions is greatest. Blue monkeys are also to be seen here.

This national park of Tanzania is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is considered one of the world’s ten natural wonders, partly because of the world’s greatest walks of interest. zebras and wildebeest. From January to March, the wildebeest zebra get their calves, and then the large population of wildebeest moves towards better grazing areas. It creates the world’s largest and greatest wildebeest migration.

The Serengeti Park Tanzania is part of the great East African rift, the Great Rift Valley, where the African continent is slowly slipping apart. Therefore, the area is known for a very exciting geology and precisely at Serengeti you can visit the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai – the mountain of God according to the local Maasai People. If you want to choose just one national park to visit during your trip to Africa, you can with great advantage choose Serengeti Park.

Lots of animals, remarkable African savannah landscape and a unique geology that is only found here in East Africa. Serengeti Park is a very popular safari destination for safari tourism, and if you are interested in a safari trip with experiences of other Tanzanian national parks, have a chat with our talented travel staff and we can create the journey you dream of.

The best time to visit Serengeti National Park is from January to February and from June to September if you plan your trip to The Great Migration.

Lake Manyara National Park – Famous tree climbing lions
Tanzania’s national parks list cannot be complete without Manyara National Park that  is worth a visit for every traveler to Tanzania although it is one of the smaller parks in the Great Rift Valley. From July to April, the water at the edges is colored pink by the hundreds of flamingos that seek food here. In addition, Lake Manyara National Park area houses a stable elephant population, large bands of baboons and the famous tree climbing lions or Tanzania forest animals.

Lake Manyara is an ideal park for day trips in Tanzania. A day trip to Lake Manyara National Park is an exciting opportunity for travelers to get a feel of the real Africa.  It is one of the popular Tanzanian National Parks in the Northern circuit.

Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area
The Crater is located in the eastern part of the Serengeti National Park, but was spun off as the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) in the late 1950s. Since then, the Maasai have been allowed to live here with their herds, except for the crater floor itself. The entrance is approximately 160 kilometers or three hours drive from Arusha, the largest town in northern Tanzania national parks and a popular starting point for Tanzania safaris and ascents in Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. Theoretically, therefore, you do not need more expensive accommodation near the crater, but could even start early in the morning in Arusha and return in the evening having discovered one of the top Tanzanian national parks.

If I could only choose one of the many parks in Tanzania and Kenya to see animals on a safari in Tanzania, my choice would definitely fall on on this incredible Crater in northern Tanzania. There are many good reasons for this, but especially in one case, the crater stands out clearly: in terms of the variety and quantity of animals in a relatively small space. About 25 to 30,000 animals live in this unique natural area, which is often referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. With about 300km square, the crater floor is as big as Munich and would just as easily deserve to be called the largest “zoo” in the world.

The unique Ngorongoro Conservation Area phenomenon must be seen to be believed. The complete area covers about 8300 km2. The crater, a collapsed volcano, is 250 square kilometers and 611 meters deep. On the bottom of the crater we find a soda lake and a fresh water lake. There are large numbers of meat eaters, prey, primates and birds around the year. Here one of the last viable populations of the almost extinct black rhinoceros lives. Ngorongoro also has the largest concentration of lions and spotted hyenas. The area also houses the world-famous archaeological sites of Laetoli, where fossil human footprints of 3.6 million years were found, and Olduvai Gorge.

Arusha National Park, Tanzania’s National Park
Arusha National Park covers an area of 137 km2, just outside Arusha, between Mount Kilimanjaro National Park and Mount Meru. Curious are the Ngurdoto crater, the Momella lakes, the highland mountain forest (Tanzania forest animals) and Mount Meru (4575m). There is a varied animal life, including Colobus monkeys, blue monkey, bushbucks, buffalo elephant and giraffes and more than 500 bird species. Here in this safari park, you can see buffaloes up-close.

Mount Meru which is located in the heart of Arusha National Park is placed as the second summit in Tanzania. Less well-known than the famous Kilimanjaro, the ascent of Meru remains an extraordinary experience during a trip to Tanzania. His ascent is therefore a perfect training before that of Kilimanjaro which rises to 5895 meters.

Second summit of Tanzania and fourth summit of Africa, Mount Meru is a volcano considered to be active. Its last eruption dates back to 1910 but fumaroles were recorded between 2014 and 2015. Its lava flows formed a drop of 3000 meters and are now known as “Black Mountain”.

The volcano rises to 4,565 meters above sea level and overlooks the lands of Arusha National Park. Its caldera, 5 kilometers in diameter, is bounded by a horseshoe-shaped cliff, the highest walls of which reach 1,500 meters in height.

Your ascent of Mount Meru is necessarily accompanied by an armed guard. The lush vegetation of its surroundings hides many wild animals including hyenas and lions leopards and a face-to-face meeting could prove to be dangerous.

Arusha National Park is one of the main day trip spots for tourists in Arusha or Moshi due to its proximity.

Mahale National Park
This reserve, just like Gombe Stream NP, is best known for its large population of chimpanzees. However, it is not easy to find Mahale on the map, since this area only became a national park in 1985. The mountain landscape extends to Lake Tanganyika. The highest mountain, the Nkungwe (2460 m), ensures that the humid air, supplied from the lake, condenses and ends up as precipitation here. Thanks to the abundant rain, there is a lush vegetation both in the woods and on the lower parts. The mountains are sometimes deeply cut by valleys along which rivers run that supply Lake Tanganyika with water.

The east side of the mountains is a lot dryer. The vegetation mainly consists of miombo forests where you can find some of the Tanzania forest animals. This is a very isolated area. The animals in this park are more closely connected with West Africa than with East Africa. You can mainly find chimpanzees, porcupines, various colobus monkeys, guinea fowl and mongooses. Predominantly Japanese researchers have been active for 20 years with the study of chimpanzees. Through this years of study, about 100 animals have become ordinary to human presence.

The number of chimpanzees has risen sharply since 1975, due to the relocation of villages outside the boundaries of the reserve. This resulted in more control over the poaching of animals and burning of land. Because of the relocation of the villages, lions, buffaloes and leopards are now being observed in the park. In Mahale you can make walking safaris on a ranger. Few tourists visit this park because it is far away from the civilized world, but it certainly pays off.

This part of national park and reserve is located on the banks of the Tanganyika Lake, north of Kigoma is the habitat of the chimpanzee. These have been studied for 40 years by a team of scientists led by Jane Goodall. Through years of study it is possible to approach the animals well. This small park of only 52 km², consists of dense vegetation that extends to the lake. For that reason, the safaris are only done on foot. Besides Chimpanzees, you will also find baboons and Colobus monkeys. Leopards,  buffalo elephants etc live in the park. The best period to visit this park is from May to October.

Information about Protected Areas

It is Tanzania national parks – with safari to Africa’s highest point on top of the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, to one of the world’s largest nature reserves, Serengeti Park is known for its annual great migration of millions of wildebeest, to Lake Victoria, which is the largest lake in Africa and originating from the source of the Nile and off to the east coast, known for its white sand beaches and beautiful Indian Ocean, with beautiful fish and an adventurous seabed. And off the coast you will find the island of Zanzibar, which is a paradise on earth.

Tanzania is just below the equator and the climate is pleasantly tropical at the coast and has lower humidity inland. Warm and sunny all year long in the daytime and comfortable cool temperatures during the night.

The big safari experiences in Tanzanian national parks also include a positive and welcoming population. Tanzania consists of more than 120 different tribes, which at form a diversity of exciting and beautiful culture.

Population
Tanzania has about 120 different tribes, most belong to the Bantu group. One of the largest tribes, the Masai, belong to the Nilotic group. Unlike many other African countries, all these different tribes have been able to build a coherent society since independence without significant ethnic tensions.

Language
Each tribe has its own language. In addition, almost everyone speaks Swahili, the national language. English is commonly known in the big cities.

Climate
The coastal areas are warm and humid, with an average daily temperature of 30 ° C. The long rains are from March to June, the dry season from July to February. The central plateau (1200m above sea level) has hot days and cool nights.

National parks
An important part of the country is protected as Tanzania National Parks, Game Reserves or Game Controlled Areas. Some of the world’s most famous Tanzanian parks, such as the Serengeti  Park Tanzania and the Ngorongoro crater, can be found in Tanzania. Tarangire River in Tarangire National Park is a great refuge for animals during the dry seasons. Gombe Stream national park is located in the Western Kigoma region of Tanzania and not many tour operators offer tours. Among Parks in Tanzania, the major attraction at Gombe Stream National Park is the chimpanzees which were made famous by Jane Goodall.

Indian Ocean Coast
Relatively close to Tanzania’s east coast lies Zanzibar, a short flight from Dar es salaam City.

Zanzibar “hears” during Tanzania, and a trip to Zanzibar is an obvious choice to end a safari if you are for relaxation, sun, beach and beach holidays. In addition to the fantastic beaches, there is also the opportunity to visit the famous spice markets in the middle of the island. See the red colubus monkeys, experience the amazing history of the main town of Stone Town, swim with dolphins, snorkel among shoal fish, sea turtles and more.

In addition to the many and great natural and animal experiences awaiting travelers on a Tanzanian safari, the meeting with the friendly and welcoming locals will also remain one of the best memories of a safari in the world’s most complete safari island.

Tanzania National Parks – How is the Weather Like?

The country is just south of the equator and so experiences tropical sun. Sunscreen with a high factor is recommended, a factor 30-50 is appropriate for many. Avoid too much direct sun in the hours of the middle of the day.

The climate is tropical with high humidity at the coast, where a fresh breeze from the sea often airs pleasantly. In the safari areas in the country, the climate is more dry and the heat feels comfortable for most people. Daytime temperatures of about 25-30 degrees inland are normal, but the mornings, where you drive on safari in Tanzania can be cool. In national parks Tanzania, the temperature varies in relation to the areas you are in. Stay in the highlands is a lot cooler with temperatures down to 2-5 degrees at night. It can therefore be a good idea to bring a fleece jacket or jacket.

Although the temperature is not high, the sun’s power is still high. Where the temperatures in the country fluctuate somewhat throughout the year, they are very stable at the coast, where all year round is about 30 degrees. The water is approximately 26-28 degrees all year round. Statistically, it rains in April, May and November, with least precipitation from July to October and from December to February.

In recent years, however, climate change has been playing in, so you can often experience all kinds of weather regardless of when you travel to one of the Tanzania safari parks on Tanzania safaris for game drives.

Clothing and footwear traveling in Tanzania national park
For African safari tours in Tanzania wildlife parks (game drives) mostly located in the Great Rift Valley, you will need to know the best clothing before you go. The clothes for the game drives Safaris in Tanzania may be in the nature’s own colors, ie. soil colors, brownish and greenish hues. At the coast it is a good idea with bright colors that do not “suck” the sun’s heat to it as dark clothes do.

Take both clothes for the hot days, but also prepare for cool evenings and mornings with long pants and for example, fleeces. Safaris going to the highlands (between 2000 and 2400 meters above sea level). The Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, in the coolest months – June, July and August – can offer temperatures down to below 5 degrees in the morning. In the evening, the adult men are wearing long trousers for dinner.

Footwear should reflect the activity. If you are going on mountain climbing, you should wear the sea a couple of good hiking boots. When bathing on the coast, a pair of bath sandals can protect you from sharp corals, while a pair of lightweight shoes with air for the feet are suitable for safaris in Tanzania game drives. By now, you have all your possible travel questions answered including how many national parks are in Tanzania and the locations that are suitable for Tanzania safaris. Continue exploring more on this African Sermon Safaris website for available Tanzanian tours that might be of interest.