Where to go on a safari in Tanzania?

Each child has dream to see with your own eyes the wonderful landscapes of the The Lion King As well as his wild beasts. A safari is an extraordinary experience to be accomplished at least once in a lifetime for nature lover and especially wild life.

Will you have the chance to meet the Big Five (elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos, rhinos) during your safari?

I wish you that since I personally had this chance and it is a surreal feeling to find yourself only a few meters from these majestic wild beasts.

Why choose Tanzania for a safari?

La Tanzania is part of one of the best destination to go on a safari.

Indeed, it is a more luxurious safari destination than others destination like Kenya. 

The safaris are indeed there more expensive but it comes from several points :

• The abundance of wildlife on this territory allow you to see a large number of wild animals
• The entrance fees to parks are more expensive : this allows better protection of animals 
• The will for the government to limit the number of tourists in each of the parks resulted in a higher tariff

When you choose to go on a Tanzania safari, you are opting for a better quality and therefore a higher price. 

When is the best time to go on a Tanzania safari?

The answer is essential to take into account when booking your safari. In fact, depending on the period chosen, particularities come into play.

Tanzania enjoys a equatorial climate with a pleasant temperature all year round. 

It exists two rainy seasons in Tanzania:

• March to June
• From October to December.

It is therefore best to travel to Tanzania during the dry season, end of June to October. These are the times when we have the best chance of seeing animals near water points. 

However, if you wish to attend the wildebeest migration, it will be better to choose the period between April and June to observe this extraordinary phenomenon. 

For my part, I went on a safari at the beginning of June, I had the chance to witness the migration of the wildebeest with magnificent weather throughout this adventure. 

Where to go on a safari in Tanzania?

You have chosen to go on a Tanzania safari, but you are still wondering in which many parks in Tanzania are you going on your safari?

Go on a safari in the parks of northern Tanzania 

The parks of northern Tanzania are most famous. It's about mostly chosen circuit by tourists who decide to go on safari in Tanzania. As a rule, your safari will be from Arusha, or possibly Moshi.

Among the parks of North part, there is :

• Tarangire National Park: you will see many baobabs and more than 300 species of birds. This park located south of Arusha is famous for its elephant and bird migration. Also, you will observe a large amount of wild animals.

• Serengeti National Park : this is the most famous national park. This immense plain extends to the north-west of Tanzania. In Swahili, “siringit” means “endless plain”. It is one of the seven wonders of Africa which is listed as a World Heritage Site. This park notably served as inspiration for the “Lion King”. You can observe many species there, including the Big Five. 

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• Lake Manyara: it is a relatively small park of about 330 km2 still home to many animals. It is located in a small valley whose flat bottom is occupied by a lake and forest. There are many baboons, gazelles, elephants, zebras and giraffes.

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• Ngorongoro crater : it is the largest intact and not submerged caldera in the world. Indeed, this crater of more than 20 km in diameter was formed following the collapse of a volcano. This crater, about 700 m deep, has been chosen as the home of a very high concentration of animals.

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• Arusha National Park: this park is accessible by day from Arusha. 

Safari in Tanzania: How many days for the northern parks?

You can opt for a safari for a very variable duration between 1 day and 15 days or more.

It is possible to make a day safari arusha national park, it being easy to access from Arusha.

If you want to go on a safari of two days, you will be advised to go to the Tarangire and Lake Manyara Park. 

For 3 to 4 day safari, or you can focus on a northern park such as Serengeti, or you will be offered a fast circuit between several parks (Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti). Be aware, however, that the distances are extremely long and that by opting for this kind of circuit you risk spending a lot of time in the car.

For longer safari, the circuits offered will generally be the same, namely:

• 1 day in Tarangire
• 1 day at Lake Manyara
• 1 day at Ngorongoro crater
• 1 day or more in the Serengeti

I therefore advise you to spend at least 5 days in the parks of the North to go on a safari. This will allow you to be able to experience a real immersion in these immense wild plains of Tanzania.

Go on a safari in the parks of southern Tanzania 

The southern parks are smaller and less crowded. Between plains and mountains, the landscapes are varied, you will be able to see many animals there as the fauna is intact.

From Dar Es Salaam, it is possible to make safaris in the 4 main parks in the South:

• Selous National Park: this reserve has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982. It receives few visitors while many animals are present in this reserve. This reserve covers 50 km000, so it covers nearly 2% of the territory of Tanzania. There is an impressive population of mammals (elephants, hippos, buffaloes, etc.). 

• Ruaha National Park: This park is located 128 km from Iringa, it is the second largest park in Tanzania. Ruaha Park is home to one of the largest elephant populations in Tanzania. Wild and surrounded by baobabs, this park of more than 21 km000 is home to many animals. This is a park specializing in luxury safaris. 

• Mikumi National Park: located 300 km southwest of Dar Es Salaam, this park is known for its population of antelopes. However, you will also find all the usual animals there (elephants, buffaloes, zebras, hippos, giraffes etc.). 

• Udzungwa Mountains National Park: with an area of ​​1 km990, it is located 2 km from Dar Es Salaam. In this park there is a river which turns into a waterfall of 348 m. Many endangered primate species can be observed there as well as more than 170 bird species. The Udzungwa Mountains contain an exceptionally rich biodiversity.

Safari in Tanzania: How many days for the southern parks?

From Dar Es Salaam, if you opt for a 2 or 3 day safari, I advise you to opt for Mikumi and Saadani national parks.

If you have 3 4 days in, a safari in the Selous reserve or in the ruaha national park is ideal. 

For one week safari, it may be interesting to combine the reserve of Selous and Ruaha.

Go on a safari in the parks of Western Tanzania 

The parks of western Tanzania are little known and little visited, yet there is an impressive fauna:

• Katavi National Park: located 35 km southwest of Mpanda, it is one of the wildest reserves. Less known, this park welcomes in a year, fewer visitors than the Serengeti in a day. There is a large plain of 425 km2 of grass in the heart of the park. You will find hippos and crocodiles there as well as more than 400 species of birds in addition to all the usual animals.

• Mahale National Park : far from the crowds, this place is dazzling with its limpid waters, its sandy beaches and the mountains in the background. There is an impressive fauna including chimpanzees, leopards, antelopes etc.

• Gombe National Park: It is the smallest national park in Tanzania with its 56 km2. It is also the most famous reserve in the world for observing chimpanzees.

Safari in Tanzania: How many days for the Western parks?

To be able to take advantage of Katavi National Park it is important to program 2 to 3 days.

If you want to combine the Katavi and Mahale national parks, it is advisable to plan a route of 6 7 days in.

It is also possible to group Ruaha, Katavi and Mahale on a safari 10 days minimum.

For the gombe national park, you must plan 2 days.

Le choice of circuit that you will take to make your safari depend du time that you have as well as your budget but also of your personal desires.

Know that whatever your choice, each of the parks from Tanzania is extraordinary.