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Tanzania Game Parks and Reserves

Tanzania plays host to some of Africa’s most famous national parks and natural attractions, including majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. For this reason, the safaris and wildlife-related adventures are the most popular things to do in Tanzania and, the reason many people visit the country. Most visitors will find themselves passing through Dar es Salaam and heading out to the wilderness areas and other destinations.

The beautiful beaches of Zanzibar beckon for those who want to spend some time soaking up the sun. Another kind of natural wonder is Pemba and Mafia islands, appreciated by the scuba divers and snorkelers who come here from around the world to experience the coral gardens, colorful fish, and crystal clear waters.

The Tanzania game parks and reserves are explained herein. They are quite many, and apparently the most famous ones will be covered here.

Serengeti national park is the most famous and second largest park in Tanzania, owing to the spectacular wildebeest migration where millions of wildebeest cross River Mara to the park. The park is a vast treeless plain where you can find the Big Five, and millions of other wildlife. It attracts tens of thousands of tourists each year. The best months for wildlife viewing in Serengeti National Park are between June and September.

Ruaha National Park is Tanzania’s largest game park. It is home to large herds of buffalo and gazelle, and has one of the largest concentrations of elephants in Tanzania. The Great Ruaha River is the main feature of Ruaha National Park, providing magnificent wildlife viewing on the banks. The river also provides much of the electricity to Tanzania through a hydroelectric dam at Kidatu. The Park is the least accessible park in Tanzania and as a result the landscape remains relatively untouched. Birdwatcher’s can enjoy over 400 species of bird that are not found in northern Tanzania, and the river, spectacular gorges, and majestic trees are especially appealing to photographers.

Ngorongoro Conservation area is located between Serengeti and Lake Manyara, and is one of the most popular wildlife viewing areas in Tanzania. It is the home of the famous volcanic Ngorongoro crater, which has a permanent water supply, and draws millions of wildlife to quench their thirst. Visitors primarily come here for large game viewing and bird watching. The renowned Olduvai Gorge, an archeological site, is found here.

Tarangire National Park is a fantastic area for wildlife viewing. It is best visited in the dry season from July to September when the animals gather along the river. This is when Tarangire National Park has one of the highest concentrations of migratory wildlife. Wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest and eland crowd the lagoons. The park is also known for its large population of elephants, and the baobab trees that dot the grassy landscape.

The park is excellent for bird watching, with more than 300 species recorded in Tarangire. These species include buzzards, vultures, herons, storks, kites, falcons and eagles.

Lake Manyara National Park is comprised of forest, woodland, grasslands, and swamps. Two-thirds of the park is covered by water and Lake Manyara is host to thousands of flamingoes, at certain times of year, as well as other diverse bird life. This park is home to the largest concentration of baboons in the world. The highlight of Lake Manyara Park is the large population of elephants, tree-climbing lions, and hippos, which can be observed at a much closer range than in other parks.

Gombe National Park, sometimes referred to as Gombe Stream National Park, is primarily for those who want to get a little off the beaten track and see chimpanzees. It is one of the smallest national parks in Tanzania and is famous for the work of Jane Goodall. This British researcher arrived in 1960 to study the wild chimpanzees and her work turned into what would become the longest running behavioral research program of its kind in the world. Guided walks take visitors into the forest to observe chimps in the wild. Many species of primates and mammals live in the park. Over 200 bird species have been recorded in the tropical forest, including barbets, starlings, sunbirds, crowned eagle, kingfishers and the palm-nut vulture. Hiking and swimming are other popular activities; a trail leads into the forest to a waterfall in the valley.

Mafia Island Marine Park has coral gardens, an abundant variety of fish, and a relaxed diving atmosphere. Countless birds and over 400 species of fish can be seen in the area. Mafia Island is also a traditional breeding site for the green turtle, which are unfortunately endangered. Mafia Island draws divers and snorkelers from around the world to the undersea world protected by the Mafia Island Marine Park. The best months for diving are October to March but the best weather on Mafia Island is May to October. March and April are months of heavy rain.

Selous Game Reserve is the largest game reserve in Africa. It covers 5% of Tanzania’s total area. The southern area is a forbidden zone that is undeveloped, heavily forested, and contains a series of steep cliffs. Travelers are limited to the area north of the Rufiji River. This area of the Selous Game Reserve has large open grassland, woodlands, rivers, hills and plains. The best time to visit is July through October. The Rufiji River bisects the Selous Game Reserve and has the largest catchment area of any river in East Africa. The river is an important feature of the reserve providing the opportunity to watch the diverse water-based wildlife. A broad range of wildlife can be found including elephants, hippos and rhinos as well as buffalo, antelope, giraffe, warthog, wildebeest, lion, leopard and cheetah. The diversity of bird life in Selous includes over 350 recorded species.

Katavi National Park is located in a remote region offering unspoiled wilderness. A predominant feature in Katavi is the enormous flood plain, split by the Katuma River and several seasonal lakes. The lakes support enormous groups of hippos, crocodiles and over 400 species of birds. One of the spectacles in Katavi is the hippos at the end of the dry season; when as many as 200 try to squeeze into a pool of water. The male rivalry heats up causing territorial fights. The dry season brings Katavi National Park to life, herds of impala, reedbuck, lions, zebras and giraffes can be seen at the remaining pools and streams. Thousands of elephants and buffaloes also converge on the park when the flood waters retreat.

Arusha National Park has a range of habitats that consist of the forest of Mount Meru, Ngurdoto Crater in the southeast section of the park, and Momella Lakes, a series of seven crater lakes. Black and white Colobus monkeys are easily spotted in the forested area while the marshy floor of the crater is dotted with herds of buffalo, zebra and warthog. Momella Lakes is home to a large selection of resident and migrant water birds. People come here to see wildlife and also to climb Mount Meru, one of the most beautiful volcanoes in Africa and the second highest mountain in Tanzania. The summit is reached by a narrow ridge, which provides stunning views of the volcanic cone lying several thousand feet below in the crater. The ascent is steep but the route passes through parkland, forest, a giant heather zone and moorland.

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