SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
This is Tanzania’s oldest and most popular national park. The Serengeti
is famed for its annual migration, when some six million hooves pound
the open plains, as more than 200,000 zebra and 300,000 Thomson’s
gazelle join the wildebeest’s trek for fresh grazing. Interestingly, even
when the migration is quiet, the Serengeti offers arguably the most
scintillating game-viewing in Africa. A visit to the Serengeti guarantees
you views of great herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephants, giraffe
and thousands upon thousands of eland topi, kongoni, impala and
Grant’s gazelle.
Located: 335km (208 miles) from Arusha.
LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
The compact game-viewing circuit through Manyara is an amazing
Tanzanian safari experience. Manyara provides the perfect introduction
to Tanzania’s bird life. More than 400 species have been recorded here
and even a first-timer to this park might reasonably expect to observe
100 of these in one day. Highlights include; thousands of pink hued
flamingos on their perpetual migration as well as other large water birds
such as pelicans, cormorants and storks. Another key attraction in the
Manyara are the tree climbing lions. This is the only National Park where
you will find this unique tree climbing lion species.
Location: In northern Tanzania. The entrance gate lies 1.5 hours
(126km/80 miles) west of Arusha along a newly surfaced road. The
park is 330 sq km (127 sq miles), of which up to 200 sq km (77 sq
miles) is lake when water levels are high.
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
Herds of up to 300 elephants scratch the dry river bed for underground
streams, while migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle,
hartebeest and eland, crowd the shrinking lagoons. It’s the greatest
concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem. The one place
in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as the stately fringe eared
oryx and peculiar long-necked gerenuk are regularly observed.
Location: 118 km (75 miles) southwest of Arusha and 2,600 sq km
(1,005 sq miles) in size.
NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA
The Ngorongoro Crater is often called ‘Africa’s Eden’. Ngorongoro is
among the ‘8th Natural Wonders of the World.’ A visit to the crater is a
main drawcard for tourists coming to Tanzania and a definite world-class
attraction. The Ngorongoro Crater and the Ngorongoro Conservation
Area are without a doubt some of the most beautiful parts of Tanzania,
steeped in history and teeming with wildlife. Besides vehicle safaris
to Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge, and surrounding attractions
including hiking treks through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area are
becoming increasingly popular options.
Size: covers approximately 8300 square kilometres
