Tanzania, located in East Africa, is home to some of the most iconic wildlife destinations in the world. The country’s vast network of national parks and game reserves showcases Africa’s natural beauty and biodiversity. From the endless plains of Serengeti to the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania offers an unmatched safari experience.
Climate and Best Time to Visit
Tanzania has two main rainy seasons: the ‘long rains’ from April to May and the ‘short rains’ from November to early December. The dry season, which runs from June to October, is the best time for safaris as animals gather around rivers and waterholes. January to March is also excellent for seeing newborn animals during the calving season, especially in the southern Serengeti.
The country can be visited year-round, but accessibility and wildlife activity vary depending on the region and season. Western and southern parks may be harder to reach during the rains.
Northern Circuit Parks
1. Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti is Tanzania’s most famous park and one of the most celebrated wildlife areas on Earth. It is best known for the Great Migration — a spectacle where over 1.5 million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras move across the plains in search of fresh grazing. The park’s vast grasslands, acacia woodlands, and river valleys host Africa’s Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino.
Best Time to Visit: June to October (Migration), January to March (Calving season).
2. Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Home to the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The crater floor teems with wildlife including lions, elephants, hippos, buffaloes, and rare black rhinos. The surrounding highlands offer scenic views and cultural encounters with the Maasai people who inhabit the area.
Best Time to Visit: Year-round, but June to October provides the best visibility and dry conditions.
3. Tarangire National Park
Known for its massive elephant herds and ancient baobab trees, Tarangire is a photographer’s dream. During the dry season, animals migrate to the Tarangire River, creating excellent viewing opportunities for elephants, zebras, wildebeest, and predators.
Best Time to Visit: July to October.
4. Lake Manyara National Park
A small but diverse park famous for its tree-climbing lions, pink flamingos, and lush groundwater forests. Lake Manyara also offers opportunities for bird watching, canoeing (seasonally), and breathtaking views of the Rift Valley escarpment.
Best Time to Visit: June to October (dry season).
5. Arusha National Park
Close to Arusha city, this park is ideal for short safaris or day trips. It features Mount Meru, crater lakes, and dense forests home to colobus monkeys, giraffes, and bushbucks. Walking safaris and canoeing on Momella Lakes are popular activities.
Best Time to Visit: Year-round, though dry months offer easier access.
6. Kilimanjaro National Park
This park protects Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m). It’s not a traditional safari park but a destination for trekking. Climbers experience different ecosystems from tropical forest to alpine desert before reaching the snow-capped summit.
Best Time to Visit: January to March and June to October for clear conditions.
Southern & Western Circuit Parks
7. Ruaha National Park
Tanzania’s largest park, Ruaha is wild and remote. It features rugged landscapes, large prides of lions, leopards, wild dogs, and huge herds of elephants. The Great Ruaha River attracts animals during the dry season, offering spectacular game viewing with fewer crowds.
Best Time to Visit: June to October (dry season).
8. Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve)
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nyerere (formerly Selous) is one of the largest protected areas in Africa. It’s known for boat safaris on the Rufiji River, walking safaris, and sightings of elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and lions.
Best Time to Visit: June to October.
9. Mikumi National Park
Often called the ‘Serengeti of the South,’ Mikumi offers accessible game drives from Dar es Salaam. You’ll find lions, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, and hippos in its open plains.
Best Time to Visit: June to October.
10. Mahale Mountains National Park
Located on Lake Tanganyika, Mahale is famous for its chimpanzee tracking experiences. The park’s remote forested mountains and pristine beaches make it one of Tanzania’s most beautiful destinations.
Best Time to Visit: June to October (dry season).
11. Gombe Stream National Park
The smallest of Tanzania’s parks, Gombe is where Jane Goodall conducted her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees. Visitors can hike forest trails and watch chimps in their natural habitat.
Best Time to Visit: July to October.
12. Katavi National Park
A remote gem offering classic African wilderness. Large buffalo herds, hippos, and crocodiles gather at shrinking waterholes during the dry season, making for intense predator-prey encounters.
Best Time to Visit: June to October.
13. Rubondo Island National Park
An island sanctuary on Lake Victoria. It offers forest walks, birdwatching, and fishing, with occasional sightings of sitatungas and chimpanzees.
Best Time to Visit: June to October.
Practical Safari Tips
- Book safaris early if traveling between June and October (peak season).
- Consider the Northern Circuit for first-time visitors — it’s well-developed and offers diverse experiences.
- Southern and Western circuits are more remote but provide exclusive wilderness encounters.
- Pack light but include essentials like insect repellent, sunscreen, binoculars, and a hat.
- Check visa and vaccination requirements (especially for yellow fever and malaria prophylaxis).
- Use reputable tour operators for guided safaris and trekking.
- Carry a camera with zoom capability for distant sightings.
- Respect wildlife — maintain safe distances and follow park regulations.
Serengeti National Park
is a vast UNESCO World Heritage Site in north-central Tanzania, famous for the annual Great Wildebeest Migration and high densities of predators like lions and cheetahs. It features diverse landscapes of plains, woodlands, and rivers, and is home to over 35 species of plains animals and 350 species of birds. Visitors can explore the park via game drives, and other activities include hot air balloon safaris and guided walks.
Key features
The Great Wildebeest Migration: An annual movement of over 1.5 million wildebeest and 400,000 zebras across the plains as they follow the rains for food.
Wildlife: The park has a high density of predators, including lions, leopards, and cheetahs, along with elephants, giraffes, and rhinoceroses.
Landscapes: The park’s landscape includes vast grasslands, woodlands, and rocky outcrops called kopjes, some of which are said to have inspired “Pride Rock” in Disney’s The Lion King.
UNESCO World Heritage Site: Designated in 1981, it is recognized for its global significance to biodiversity and the conservation of species like the black rhinoceros.
Unfenced: The park is not fenced, allowing for nocturnal wildlife viewing in certain areas and experiences like night drives.
Visiting the park
Activities: Popular activities include game drives, guided walks, and hot air balloon safaris.
Costs: Day park fees and overnight concession fees contribute to park conservation and management. A basic daily cost can be around $130 to $140 per person.
Accommodation: Various lodging options are available, from safari lodges to camps.
Timing: The Great Migration is a year-round event, but river crossings, particularly the Mara River crossings, are typically most dramatic between July and October.
The Great Migration
The Great Migration is the world’s largest annual animal migration, involving over 1.5 million wildebeest, 250,000 zebras, and hundreds of thousands of other animals like gazelles and elands.
Calving season: From January to March, the herds gather on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area for the birthing season.
Movement to the Western Corridor: Around May, as the rains end, the herds begin their journey northwest. In late May and June, they mass in the Western Corridor and must cross the Grumeti River, which is populated by large Nile crocodiles.
Mara River crossings: From July to October, the migration moves to the northern Serengeti. The famous, dramatic Mara River crossings, where the herds face crocodiles and swift currents, typically happen during this time.
Return to the south: Around November, the animals start their journey back south as the short rains begin, returning to the southern plains by December.
Wildlife
Beyond the Great Migration, the Serengeti is famous for its high concentration of predators and diverse wildlife.
The “Big Five”: The park is a prime location to spot the “Big Five” safari animals: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and the endangered black rhino. The Serengeti has one of the largest lion populations in Africa.
Other mammals: Many other species are abundant, including cheetahs, hippos, hyenas, giraffes, and various antelopes like the topi, impala, and eland.
Birdlife: The park is a birder’s paradise, home to over 500 species, including the ostrich, flamingo, and several types of raptors.
Geography and climate
The Serengeti’s landscape is a diverse mosaic of habitats.
Vast plains: The southern Serengeti is dominated by extensive, virtually treeless grasslands.
Kopjes: Rocky granite outcrops, known as kopjes, dot the plains and provide vantage points and resting spots for predators.
Woodlands and riverine forests: The landscape includes woodlands, which are common in the north, and lush riverine forests along the Mara and Grumeti rivers.
Climate: The park has a mild, warm climate. The best time for wildlife viewing is during the dry season, from June to October, when animals congregate near water sources. The wet season (November to May) features lush scenery and calving season.
Conservation and human history
The park is a cornerstone of African conservation efforts.
Protected status: Established in 1951, the Serengeti was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.
Maasai people: The Maasai people have coexisted with the Serengeti’s wildlife for centuries and play a vital role in its conservation today.
Threats: Conservation challenges include poaching, habitat loss, and potential infrastructure development.