THE GREAT PARKS OF TANZANIA

Wildlife watching is undoubtedly at the top of the must-do experiences list in Tanzania. The parks offer an extraordinary amount of protected areas where you can spot one of the widest variety of animals in Africa; the main ones are Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, the Mkomazi National Park, the Mikumi National Park, the Ruaha National Park, the Sellous Game Reserve.

SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

NGORONGORO CRATER

MKOMAZI NATIONAL PARK

The name Serengeti comes from the Maasai language and means "the great endless plain land" It represents one of the most spectacular wildlife areas in all Africa and is definitely the ultimate safari experience. Here the great migrations take place: immense herds of wildebeest, zebra and antelope migrate following the course of the seasons in search of water and pasture. Around them move the great predators: lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas.

The eighth wonder of the world, Ngorongoro Crater is located 2,200 meters above sea level, measures more than 16 km in diameter and occupies an area of about 265 squared km. It is the largest intact caldera in the world. It hosts a veritable Garden of Eden, a primordial environment where large mammals live freely. The concentration of fauna is impressive: it is estimated to be inhabited by more than 25,000 animals of medium and large sizes.

The park stretches along the border with Kenya in the foothills of the Pare Mountains and is an area of arid savannah. The reserve is renowned for its rhinos, introduced from South Africa to encourage their breeding. These animals are protected within a fenced area of 45 squared km, accessible only to tourists accompanied by park guards. In addition to rhinos, another endangered species can be observed in the park: the lycaons (wild dogs).

SELOUS GAME RESERVE

MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK

RUAHA NATIONAL PARK

This park is home to Africa's largest animal reserve: rich, enchanting, wild; wide open spaces, forests, bush and savannah come across. Along the banks of the Rufiji River there are boat, jeep and hiking tours. The Selous is divided into two areas: photographic safaris take place in the northern area (about 20 percent of the reserve) while the remaining 80 percent, in the south, is almost exclusively reserved for hunting safaris.

Mikumi National Park is a protected natural area in east-central Tanzania and covers an area of 3230 km². The road through the park divides it into two areas with partially distinct environments; the northwestern area is characterised by the floodplain of the Mkata River basin, which is richer in ponds and fauna. The southeastern part of the park is less rich in fauna, and not very accessible.

Established in 1964, it is located in the central part of Tanzania and covers an area of about 10,000 km². The addition of Usangu Game Reserve and other protected areas increased its size to 20,226 km², making it the largest protected area in East Africa. It is home to all wildlife representatives: elephants, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, antelopes, giraffes, warthogs, monkeys, lions, leopards, cheetahs, lycaons and hyenas.

LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK

Tarangire National PARK

Gombe NATIONAL PARK

This is a modestly sized park, largely occupied by the waters of Lake Manyara. The rainforest is home for a variety of large trees and is populated by various animals, such as giraffe, elephant, antelope, wildebeest, hippo, buffalo and extensive groups of baboons and guenons. It consists of a strip of land about 50 km long and from 6 to 8 km wide that includes the lake of the same name and it extends to the western slope of the Rift Valley.

The park is a protected natural area in northern Tanzania and its name comes from the fact that the Tarangire River runs through it, which is reason why it has landscapes that tend to be more verdant. Home for elephants, birds and enchanting felines, dik-dik, kudu and alcelafis. It is populated by huge baobabs, spectacular trees of incredible size and particularly long-lived.

This is Tanzania's smallest national park: it occupies an area of 52 km2 crossed by the Gombe stream, near the shores of Lake Tanganyika. The park is known for the conflict of the same name, also known as the Gombe Four-Year War, a violent clash between two chimpanzee communities for four years: Kasakela and Kahama, who occupied the northern and southern regions of the park, respectively.

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Tanzania's parks are now among the most sought-after safari tour destinations, magical places which host the most beautiful and evocative wildlife reserves and conservation areas. Home for some of the most majestic migrations, they are timeless places, evocative wild beauty that will make you fall in love with Africa. The animal and floral biodiversity that distinguishes these protected areas is among the richest in the world, with an incredible number of animals, plants and flowers.

On the plains of Serengeti Park, the sound of hooves gets closer and closer, then suddenly there are thousands of wildebeest running around disorderly; despite being full of life, this wonderful park seems suspended in time, with lions sitting majestically on the rocks, giraffes swaying elegantly in the sunset light, and crocodiles basking in the sun on the banks of the waterways. Ngorongoro Crater is the best place to observe black rhino, in an Africa that seems almost primeval, with dense forest shrouded in mist and sublime vistas; here the animals are accustomed to the presence of vehicles, whereas in the rest of Tanzania they live in more remote areas and tend to hide. From July to October, during the driest season, Tarangire National Park offers incredible opportunities to spot and observe wildlife; more than 3,000 elephants and many other migrating animals come to these areas to water in the Tarangire River. Thousands of flamingos can be seen in Lake Manyara National Park, although it is difficult to predict which lake because they move around depending on water levels and composition. The best place for boat safaris is the Rufiji River, in the Selous Game Reserve; you can have a boat safari on the Wami River as well, which is aside the Saadani National Park, but the wildlife is not as interesting.

ACCOMMODATION: Is it better to stay inside the parks or in the immediate vicinity? Overnighting far away stay are definitely cheaper, but from inside you can take advantage of the best hours, early morning and evening, to observe the animals (also reducing travel time and hours spent on rough roads).

WHAT TO BRING: binoculars, camera equipment, sunglasses and possibly suncream, light clothing with long sleeves in light colors, a hat, comfortable and sturdy shoes (or waterproof clothing if in rainy season), contact lens solution and eyeglasses, dust protection, mosquito repellent.

WHEN TO GO: The best time is the dry season, from late June to October, when vegetation is sparsest and it is easiest to spot animals, often gathered around pools or streams. For birdwatching, the ideal season is the rainy season, from December to April. For hiking, dry season is recommended.