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Tanzania is a country endowed with an incredibly diverse array of wildlife and it makes for some of the best game viewing safaris in Africa. Below are the top five national parks and game reserves in Tanzania.

Ruaha National Park

Occupying 12,950 sq km, Ruaha national is Tanzania’s second largest national park. It is situated 128 km from the Tanzanian town of Iringa, and is home to zebras, roan and sable antelopes, giraffes, greater and lesser kudu, impalas, leopards, wild dogs, lions, water bucks, and reed bucks among many other animals. The park derives its name from the great Ruaha river, which itself hosts many crocodiles and hippos, and also draws many thirsty animals to its banks creating a great wildlife spectacle. What makes this national park unique is the fact that it hosts plant and animal species found both in southern Africa and Eastern Africa.

The topography at Ruaha is highly suitable for trekking and walking safaris. The rain seasons from March to April and from October to November see an increase in the population of birds to peak levels, with more than 350 bird species present. These include some Eurasian migrant birds. The climate of Ruaha is usually hot and dry, and temperatures get to 40 degrees Celsius in October. Previously, this national park was completely inaccessible by road. Now, it is accessible all year round. If you travel from Dar es Salaam by road, you will take 10 hours, whereas if you take a flight, you will only take one and a half hours. May to December, the dry season, is the best time to take a safari in Ruaha.

Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is situated between Lake Manyara and the wall of the Great Rift Valley – rising 610 metres above. The park supports a thriving population of birdlife and hence it is one of Tanzania’s best birding destinations. Common birds in the park include waterfowl as well as some migrants. The lush green vegetation of the national park offer some of the best places to view leopards. Tree-climbing lions can also be spotted on the grassy shores of the lake.

The best time to visit Lake Manyara National park for wildlife safaris is from December to February, and from August to September, though you can still see wildlife throughout the year. The national park has three distinct habitats: open floodplains, lush groundwater forest, and acacia woodlands. Since the park is very accessible, you can get to see most of its main attractions within two hours.

Tarangire National Park

As part of the popular northern tourism circuit of Tanzania, Tarangire National park has a high wildlife concentration especially during the dry seasons, with a large population of elephants. Over 570 bird species are also present in the park, making it an ideal destination for birdwatching safaris. Tarangire National park occupies about 2,600 sq km.

The best time to go on safari in Tarangire national park is in the dry months from June to September. The dry weather at that time force many animals to congregate at the river to drink water. There is also less vegetation cover at this time, giving you great animal spotting chances. You also stand a better chance of seeing pythons at Tarangire than in any other places, particularly because Tarangire pythons have love climbing trees.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in’79, Ngorongoro Conservation Area covers an area of over 7,000 square miles in Northern Tanzania. At the north-west, Ngorongoro conservation area joins up with the Serengeti plains, an area through which the wildebeest horde during their great migration between Masia Mara in Kenya and Serengeti.

At the center of this conservation area lies the 264 sq km Ngorongoro crater, whose floor is inhabited by a great array of wildlife. Since the crater provides one of the greatest and very satisfying game watching experience, it is not a big surprise that it remains one of the most popular Tanzania destination for wildlife safaris.

Within the park, you get to see big herds of herbivores grazing along river banks, among them antelopes, gazelles, and zebras. Likewise, elephant herds roam from one corner of the park to the other. During your game drives here, you are also likely to hear lions roar echoed off the crater walls, and also see prides of the king of the jungle lazing under tree shades. This experience can be both exciting and shocking at the same time. Ngorongoro is also well suited for birdwatching, for example at Lake Ndutu, which hosts a thriving bird population. Flamingos, stocks, and ducks are just some of the common bird species found here.

Serengeti National Park

In the local Masai language, the word “Siringit” means unending plains. Serengeti’s name is derived from this word, describing the national parks open grassy plains. Occupying 12,950 sq km, this national park is part of the same ecosystem with Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya. This vast plain is the home of over 30 large mammal species and about 500 bird species.

The world’s longest and largest overland mammal migration takes place in the Serengeti plains. Dubbed the “great wildebeest migration”, the event is recognized as the most spectacular wildlife show in the world, and is ranked alongside the Ngorongoro crater and the mighty Victoria falls among the ten natural wonders in world travel.

It is almost impossible to accurately predict the dates for the migration from Serengeti to Masai Mara, though generally it takes place between July and August. The reverse journey occurs around October. The event involves nearly 2 million herbivores moving from Serengeti to the Mara then later back to Serengeti in search of green pasture. One of the most dramatic moments of the migration is when the animals cross the Mara river.

You can travel to Serengeti from Arusha by either flight or road. By road, Arusha is 320 km from Serengeti, taking about hours. If you prefer flying, you have the option of taking a charter flight or scheduled flights from Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha to any of the airstrips in Serengeti including Kirawira and Seronera airstrips.

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