Tanzania National Parks

The overview shows national parks from the Serengeti in the north to Nyerere National Park in the south. The table compares area, best months and typical animals; the groups below organise the parks by region.

17 national parks

Park	Region	Area	Best months	Wildlife
Arusha National Park	North	552 km²	June to October	Giraffes, buffalo, zebras, colobus monkeys, blue monkeys
Kilimanjaro National Park	North	1,712 km²	January to March, June to October	Elephants, buffalo, leopards, blue monkeys, colobus monkeys
Lake Manyara National Park	North	648.7 km²	June to October	Elephants, lions, buffalo, hippos, flamingos
Mkomazi National Park	North	3,245 km²	June to October, January to February	Elephants, giraffes, black rhinos, African wild dogs, lions
Ngorongoro Crater	North	260 km²	All year round, especially June to October	Lions, black rhinos, elephants, buffalo, wildebeest
Serengeti National Park	North	15,000 km²	all year round, June to October, December to March	Lions, wildebeest, zebras, elephants, cheetahs
Tarangire National Park	North	2,800 km²	June to October, January to February	Elephants, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, lions
Mikumi National Park	South	3,230 km²	June to October, January to February	Elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, hippos
Nyerere National Park	South	over 30,000 km²	June to October	Elephants, buffalo, African wild dogs, hippos, Nile crocodiles
Ruaha National Park	South	over 20,000 km²	June to October	Elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards, cheetahs
Gombe Stream National Park	West	52 km²	January to February, June to October	Chimpanzees, baboons, red colobus monkeys, guenons, leopards
Katavi National Park	West	4,471 km²	June to October	Buffalo, elephants, hippos, lions, Nile crocodiles
Mahale Mountains National Park	West	1,613 km²	January to February, June to October	Chimpanzees, red colobus monkeys, colobus monkeys, forest elephants, leopards
Saadani National Park	Coast	1,100 km²	June to October	Elephants, giraffes, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles
Kitulo National Park	–	465.9 km²	November to April	Elands, buffalo, hares, highland birds, butterflies
Rubondo Island National Park	–	456.8 km²	January to February, June to October	Chimpanzees, elephants, giraffes, sitatungas, hippos
Udzungwa Mountains National Park	–	1,990 km²	June to October	Udzungwa red colobus monkeys, Sanje mangabeys, colobus monkeys, forest elephants, buffalo

North

Arusha National Park
Volcano, montane forest, savannah and lakes characterise the park near Arusha, which is home to giraffes, buffalo and colobus monkeys.
Kilimanjaro National Park
On Kilimanjaro, rainforest, heath, moorland and alpine desert follow one another; elephants, buffalo and primates below.
Lake Manyara National Park
Groundwater forest, savannah, swamps and the lake provide habitat at Lake Manyara for elephants, lions and flamingos.
Mkomazi National Park
Dry savannahs below Kilimanjaro and the Pare Mountains are home to elephants, giraffes, black rhinos and wild dogs.
Ngorongoro Crater
Northern Tanzania's 260 km² volcanic caldera combines grassland, swamps, forest and a high density of large mammals.
Serengeti National Park
Covering around 15,000 km², the Serengeti includes open plains, river valleys and habitats for lions, wildebeest, zebras and elephants.
Tarangire National Park
Roughly 2,800 km² of savannah defined by baobabs and the Tarangire River, with elephants, buffalo, zebras and lions.
Daniel, Nelly, Sara and Aaron advise you personally and plan your trip with you.
Request a trip nowNo obligation. Reply within 24 hours.

South

Mikumi National Park
Open savannahs and waterholes in southern Tanzania provide habitat for elephants, giraffes, zebras and lions.
Nyerere National Park
More than 30,000 km² of savannah, lakes and river channels on the Rufiji provide habitat for elephants, wild dogs and hippos.
Ruaha National Park
Over 20,000 km² of savannah, rocks, baobabs and the Great Ruaha River are home to elephants, buffalo and lions.

West

Gombe Stream National Park
On Lake Tanganyika, Gombe protects rainforest with chimpanzees, baboons, red colobus and vervet monkeys.
Katavi National Park
Katavi in western Tanzania offers seasonal rivers, wide plains and buffalo, elephants and hippos.
Mahale Mountains National Park
Rainforest and mountains meet on Lake Tanganyika to form a habitat for chimpanzees, colobus monkeys and forest elephants.

Coast

Saadani National Park
Savannah, the Wami River, mangroves and beach on the Indian Ocean provide habitat for elephants, giraffes and hippos.
Daniel, Nelly, Sara and Aaron advise you personally and plan your trip with you.
Request a trip nowNo obligation. Reply within 24 hours.

Other parks

Kitulo National Park
Kitulo in the southern highlands combines alpine meadows and orchids with elands, buffalo and highland birds.
Rubondo Island National Park
Forest and wetlands on an island in Lake Victoria are home to chimpanzees, elephants, giraffes and hippos.
Udzungwa Mountains National Park
Rainforest, mountain slopes and waterfalls in southern Tanzania are home to endemic primates and more than 400 bird species.

Safari, Zanzibar or Kilimanjaro

Tanzania safari with personal guide and private vehicle
7 to 14 days · Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire
from 1,465 USD per personfor 6 people
Zanzibar Holiday
1¼ to 2 hours' flight from Arusha · transfer and hotel
from 598 USD per personfor 6 people
Kilimanjaro Climb
6 to 9 days on the mountain · mountain guides from Arusha
from 1,714 USD per personfor 6 people

Locally run in Tanzania, certified guides, fair prices

Reply within 24 hoursThe team replies to every enquiry within 24 hours.
Direct local operatorThe German-Tanzanian team is based in Usa River near Arusha.
Certified guidesSome guides have 10 to 20 years of experience; the team trains juniors with Francis.
Fair and clear pricesYou book without intermediaries, directly with the operator.

TALA 033221TALA tour-operator licence, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism
TATOTanzania Association of Tour Operators
KilimanjaroKINAPA licence, Wildfinder Mountain Climbers
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Your safari gives back

Every trip with Wildfinder Safaris supports both projects in the region.

Rhino standing facing forward in tall grass in front of a steep overgrown hillside under low clouds

People · Mount Meru

Nkoaranga Orphanage

The Nkoaranga orphanage at the foot of Mount Meru has existed since 1997; around 30 children up to the age of three live there with 12 carers. Instead of a fixed contribution, Wildfinder Safaris regularly buys supplies for the orphanage: groceries, toiletries and similar items.

More about the Nkoaranga Orphanage

Wildlife · Mkomazi

WildlifeNOW

WildlifeNOW is a Kora Project programme at Mkomazi National Park: it protects black rhinos and African wild dogs, maintains their populations through breeding and safeguards the ecosystem. It also raises awareness in the surrounding communities, and Wildfinder Safaris supports the programme.

More about WildlifeNOW