National Parks in Tanzania

The Serengeti National Park located in northern Tanzania, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its vast plains and incredible wildlife. Spanning nearly 15,000 square kilometers, it is home to over 2 million ungulates, thousands of lions, leopards, cheetahs, and around 500 bird species. Visitors can witness the awe-inspiring Great Migration, search for elusive predators in riverine forests, or enjoy breathtaking views from a sunrise hot air balloon safari.

The Serengeti offers more than just sightings—it's an experience that engages all the senses. From the powerful sound of migrating wildebeest to golden sunsets over the plains and the warm hospitality of the Maasai people, the park promises unforgettable moments in every season. It's truly magical, no matter when you visit.

Nearest Airport – Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha Airport, Airfields at Seronera, Kogatende etc

Type of Accomodations - Accommodation options come in every price range - the sound of lions roaring at night is complimentary.

Best Time to Visit – Through out the year. River crossing which is part of migrtaion happens during July to August

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area located about 180 km west of Arusha in northern Tanzania, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its stunning landscapes and rich biodiversity. At its heart lies the Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, formed over 2 million years ago. Spanning 260 square kilometers and over 600 meters deep, the crater hosts around 25,000 large animals, including black rhinos, elephants, buffaloes, lions, and various antelope species.

This area borders the Serengeti and plays a key role in the Great Migration, one of the world’s most impressive wildlife spectacles. It also contains Olduvai Gorge, a significant archaeological site shedding light on early human evolution.

Water sources such as Lake Magadi, fed by seasonal streams and springs like Ngoitokitok, support a diverse ecosystem, including hippos and flamingos. While some animals migrate with the seasons, many—like buffalo and servals—reside year-round. The crater is also home to Mduma’s shrew, a rare and endangered mammal found only in the nearby montane forests.

Nearest Airport – Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha Airport

Type of Accomodations - Accommodation options come in every price range inside the conservation area and Karatu which is the nearest town

Best Time to Visit – Through out the year.

The Tarangire National Park located about 120 km southwest of Arusha, is renowned for having one of the highest densities of elephants in Tanzania. Spanning 2,600 square kilometers, it ranks as the country's sixth-largest national park. The park is named after the Tarangire River, a vital water source during the dry season, drawing large herds of wildlife including elephants, wildebeests, zebras, buffaloes, and predators such as lions.

Tarangire is home to an impressive range of biodiversity, including endangered species like African wild dogs, greater and lesser kudu, and over 550 species of birds—more than even the Serengeti. The landscape features vast grasslands, acacia woodlands, wetlands, and iconic baobab trees that store water and can live for centuries.

From June to November, the park hosts a smaller-scale but significant wildlife migration, attracting about 250,000 animals to the riverbanks. During the rainy season (November to May), many animals migrate toward the Rift Valley and Lake Manyara. For a more intimate and less crowded safari, the southern part of the park is ideal, offering an authentic experience of Tanzania’s wilderness.

Nearest Airport – Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha Airport

Type of Accomodations - - Accommodation options come in every price range inside the park and Karatu which is the nearest town

Best Time to Visit – Through out the year.

The Lake Manyara National Park located 126 km west of Arusha in northern Tanzania, lies at the base of the Great Rift Valley. Covering 330 sq km—of which 230 sq km is lake—the park offers stunning views of the escarpment and is known for its tree-climbing lions, hot springs, and dense groundwater forests that support a variety of wildlife, especially primates.

A haven for bird lovers, the park boasts over 350 bird species, including millions of flamingos that gather around the lake. Visitors can also experience the canopy walk, offering a unique bird’s-eye view of the forest and wildlife below.

Nearest Airport – Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha Airport

Type of Accomodations - - Accommodation options come in every price range inside the park and Karatu which is the nearest town

Best Time to Visit – Through out the year.

The Arusha National Park located just 45 minutes from Arusha City and near Moshi, sits at the base of Mount Meru, Tanzania’s second-highest mountain and a stunning volcanic peak. Though compact, the park offers a wide variety of attractions including the scenic Momella Lakes, Ngurdoto Crater, tropical forests, and the dramatic ash cone of Mount Meru—making it an excellent acclimatization hike before attempting Mount Kilimanjaro.

Spanning over 200 square miles, the park features diverse landscapes from savannah to alpine vegetation and supports rich wildlife, including giraffes (in the world’s largest population), buffaloes, elephants, zebras, hippos, and occasional sightings of lions and leopards.

Visitors can enjoy game drives, horseback rides, canoeing, guided walks, and Mount Meru treks, making Arusha National Park a perfect destination for a day trip or a memorable start or end to any Tanzanian safari adventure.

Nearest Airport – Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha Airport

Type of Accomodations - Accommodation options come in every price range

Best Time to Visit – Through out the year.

The Kilimanjaro National Park Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Mount Kilimanjaro—Africa’s tallest peak and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987—is one of Tanzania’s most iconic destinations. Located in northern Tanzania near the Kenyan border, the snow-capped mountain rises dramatically from the plains and is a dormant volcano known for its breathtaking views and ecological diversity.

The park is rich in biodiversity, with 2,500 plant species and 140 species of mammals, including elephants, buffaloes, blue monkeys, colobus monkeys, and even leopards. Wildlife is found at various altitudes, from montane forests to high-altitude moorlands.

Mountain climbing is the main attraction, with several routes leading to the summit such as Marangu (the most accessible), Machame, Shira, Umbwe, and Rongai. Climbs typically take 5–6 days and require moderate fitness. Comfortable mountain huts are available along some routes.

Kilimanjaro offers not only the challenge of summiting Africa’s highest point but also the chance to experience unique flora, fauna, and striking landscapes across various ecological zones.

Nearest Airport – Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha Airport

Type of Accomodations - Accommodation options come in every price range

Best Time to Visit – Through out the year. February – March is the best season for climbing the peak.

The Gombe National Park Nestled along the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Gombe Stream National Park is a narrow strip of ancient forest set among steep ridges and deep valleys. The park’s main attraction is its famous chimpanzee population, protected within its borders and made world-renowned by Dr. Jane Goodall’s groundbreaking research, which began here in 1960.

Visitors can enjoy chimpanzee trekking, forest hikes, visits to waterfalls, and scenic walks along the lakeshore. The park’s landscape is stunning, with 16 lush valleys carved by year-round streams. In addition to chimpanzees, the park is home to other forest-dwelling primates like red-tailed and blue monkeys. Gombe offers a rare opportunity to observe our closest relatives—sharing over 98% of human DNA—in their natural habitat.

Nearest Airport – Dar Es Salaam International Airport, Kigoma Airport, Mwanza Airport , Arusha Airport

Type of Accomodations - Accommodation options come in every price range

Best Time to Visit – January to March & June to October

The Mahale Mountain National Park Located on the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika in western Tanzania, Mahale Mountains National Park is a remote and unique wilderness. Named after the Mahale mountain range, the park is home to the largest population of eastern chimpanzees in the world. It’s one of only two protected areas in Tanzania for chimpanzees, the other being Gombe Stream National Park.

What sets Mahale apart is its untouched, roadless environment—accessible only by boat and explored entirely on foot. The park is also notable for the rare coexistence of chimpanzees and lions within the same ecosystem, offering an extraordinary and immersive wildlife experience.

Nearest Airport – Dar Es Salaam International Airport, Kigoma Airport, Mwanza Airport , Arusha Airport

Type of Accomodations - Accommodation options come in every price range

Best Time to Visit – January to March & June to October

The Katavi National Park Located in western Tanzania, Katavi National Park is the country’s third-largest park, covering 4,471 square kilometers. Originally a game reserve, it became a national park in 1974 and was expanded in 1997. About 40 km south of Mpanda town, Katavi is remote and less visited, offering an unspoiled safari experience.

The park is rich in cultural and historical significance, once home to the Rungwa, Manda, and Kimbu peoples. Its landscapes include the Katuma River and the seasonal floodplains of Lakes Katavi and Chada, which attract impressive concentrations of wildlife. Large herds of buffalo, elephants, zebras, and giraffes roam the area, while crocodiles and hundreds of hippos crowd the shrinking waterholes during the dry season. Predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and wild dogs are also present.

Access to the park is typically via charter flights, landing on the dirt Ikuu airstrip. Flights to Katavi take about three hours from Dar es Salaam or Arusha and about two hours from Mwanza.

Nearest Airport – Dar Es Salaam International Airport, Katavi Airport, Mwanza Airport , Ikuu Airstrip

Type of Accomodations - Accommodation options – Tented Camps

Best Time to Visit – January to March & June to October

The Ruaha National Park located about 130 km west of Iringa, is Tanzania’s largest national park, spanning approximately 20,226 km² after incorporating the Usangu Game Reserve in 2008. It forms part of the vast 45,000 km² Rungwa-Kizigo-Muhesi ecosystem, which includes several game reserves and wildlife areas.

Named after the Great Ruaha River—an essential wildlife viewing area along the park’s southeastern border—Ruaha is accessible via dirt road from Iringa or by flights landing at Msembe or Jongomeru airstrips.

The park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, giraffes, buffaloes, hippos, and the rare sable antelope. It also boasts over 570 bird species, attracting both resident and migratory birds. Recognized as a Lion Conservation Unit since 2005, Ruaha offers rich biodiversity and exceptional game viewing.

Nearest Airport – Dar Es Salaam International Airport, Iringa Airport , Msembe Airstrip

Type of Accomodations - Accommodation options come in every price range

Best Time to Visit – January to March & June to October

The Mikumi National Park Located near Morogoro, Mikumi National Park spans 3,230 km² and was established in 1964, making it Tanzania’s fourth-largest national park. It shares a border with the Selous Game Reserve, creating a unique ecosystem, and is also neighbored by the Udzungwa and Uluguru Mountains. The park is bisected by the A-7 highway, dividing it into two distinct ecological zones.

The northwest region, part of the Mkata River floodplain, features savannah landscapes dotted with acacia, baobab, tamarind, and rare palm trees, resembling the Serengeti. Malundwe Mountain, the park’s highest point at 1,290 meters, connects the Uluguru and Udzungwa mountain ranges.

Mikumi is rich in wildlife, including elephants, zebras, wildebeests, giraffes (a unique subspecies), buffaloes, antelopes, baboons, and hippos found in artificial pools near the northern entrance. Over 400 bird species also inhabit the park, making it a rewarding destination for wildlife and bird enthusiasts.

Nearest Airport – Dar Es Salaam International Airport, Iringa Airport , Mikumi Airstrip. Day trip can be done on SGR from Dar Es Salaam

Type of Accomodations - Accommodation options come in every price range

Best Time to Visit – Through out the year

The Kitulo National Park Located in Tanzania’s southern highlands, Kitulo National Park spans 412.9 km² across the Kitulo Plateau, sitting at 2,600 meters between the Kipengere and Poroto mountain ranges. Shared by the Mbeya and Njombe Regions, it is managed by TANAPA and is the first park in tropical Africa created primarily to protect plant life.

Nicknamed the “Garden of God” by locals and the “Serengeti of Flowers” by botanists, Kitulo is renowned for its vibrant wildflower displays during the rainy season (November to April). The park hosts over 350 plant species, including rare orchids and Afroalpine flora, with several species found only in this region.

The Livingstone Forest, the park’s largest forest block, features evergreen trees and bamboo thickets, and supports endangered and endemic mammals like the Kipunji monkey, Rungwe dwarf galago, and Abbott’s duiker. The Ndumbi Forest, on the eastern edge, is known for its East African Cedar trees and a striking 100-meter waterfall.

Established in 2005, Kitulo is not only a botanical treasure but also an important sanctuary for rare wildlife species.

Nearest Airport – Dar Es Salaam International Airport, Iringa Aiport

Type of Accomodations - Limted

Best Time to Visit – Through out the year

The Sadani National Park established in 2005, covers 1,062 km² and is Tanzania's 13th national park. It is located in the Tanga and Pwani regions and is managed by TANAPA. The park experiences a coastal climate with two rainy seasons—March to June and October to December—while February and July are typically the driest months, with temperatures reaching up to 29°C. The dry season is ideal for visiting, though the park remains appealing year-round.

Once a hunting area, Saadani now boasts a growing wildlife population, including four of the Big Five: lions, elephants, buffaloes, and leopards. Other animals include giraffes, hartebeests, wildebeests, baboons, monkeys, antelopes, hippos, crocodiles, and more. Since becoming a national park, Saadani has also been recognized as a Lion Conservation Unit.

Nearest Airport – Dar Es Salaam International Airport

Type of Accomodations - Limted

Best Time to Visit – Through out the year

The Nyerere National Park formerly part of the Selous Game Reserve, is Tanzania’s largest national park and among the largest protected areas in the world, spanning 30,893 km²—about the size of Belgium. It stretches across parts of Lindi, Pwani, Ruvuma, and Morogoro regions and remains largely untouched by human development.

The park is home to the Rufiji River, Tanzania's largest river, known for its hippos, crocodiles, and one of the world’s largest mangrove forests at its delta. Rich in biodiversity, the park shelters lions, leopards, elephants, black rhinos, giraffes, wildebeests, zebras, antelopes, hyenas, and countless bird and reptile species. It is especially noted for having a significant population of the endangered African wild dog.

Nearest Airport – Dar Es Salaam International Airport, Airstrips - Mtemere, Matambwe, Sumbazi, Kiba, Beho Beho and Siwandu

Type of Accomodations - Limted

Best Time to Visit – Through out the year

The Zanzibar located off the Swahili Coast of Tanzania, comprises two main islands—Unguja and Pemba—separated from the mainland by narrow channels. Unguja, the larger island, measures about 85 km long and 39 km wide, with low-lying terrain and beautiful coral-fringed beaches rich in marine biodiversity. Pemba is smaller and similarly low-lying, known for its isolation and unique wildlife.

The islands experience a tropical monsoon climate, with warm temperatures year-round. Rainfall peaks in March–May and again in November–December, with drier periods in between.

Unguja’s wildlife reflects its historic connection to the African mainland, hosting rare species like the Zanzibar red colobus, found mostly in and around Jozani Forest, and the critically endangered Zanzibar leopard. Other wildlife includes small antelopes, monkeys, civets, mongooses, and diverse bird and butterfly species.

Pemba’s isolation has shaped a unique ecosystem, most notably home to the Pemba flying fox, a large fruit bat species found only on the island.

Nearest Airport – Zanzibar International Airport

Type of Accomodations - Accommodation options come in every price range

Best Time to Visit – Through out the year

The Mafia Island also known as Chole Shamba, is the largest island in the Mafia Archipelago, located in the southern Pwani Region of Tanzania across the Mafia Channel. Although it lies in Tanzanian waters, it is not part of the semi-autonomous Zanzibar region. Covering 394 km², Mafia is Tanzania’s third-largest island in the Indian Ocean.

The island has a population of over 65,000 and its economy relies mainly on fishing, subsistence farming, and trade through its main town, Kilindoni. It attracts niche tourism, especially scuba divers, birdwatchers, and game fishers.

Geographically, Mafia lies near the Rufiji River delta, separated by the 20 km-wide Mafia Channel. The east coast features Chole Bay, a sheltered natural harbor protected by reefs and nearby Juani Island. Ras Mkumbi, a coral cliff and lighthouse at the island’s northern tip, rises about 4.5 meters above sea level, with the land gently ascending to 24 meters inland.

Nearest Airport – Dar Es Salaam International Airport, Mafia Airport

Type of Accomodations - Accommodation options come in every price range

Best Time to Visit – Through out the year