TANZANIA DESTINATIONS

Arusha National Park
The Park has three distinct zones: Ngurdoto Crater (often described as a mini Ngorongoro), the Momella Lakes , a group of shallow alkaline lakes fed by underground streams, and Mount Meru , one of the most rewarding mountains to climb in Africa .

Animals here include buffalos, elephants, hippos, giraffes, zebras and a variety of antelopes, blue monkeys and black and white colobus monkeys, leopards and hyenas.

Gombe Stream National Park
Gombe is the smallest of Tanzania 's national parks, but thanks to Dr. Jane Goodall, one of the best known. Since 1960, Goodall and colleagues have lived among the Gombe chimpanzees, making significant contributions to the study of primates. Travel to the Park is by water only from Ujiji or Kigoma. The forests are alive with the famous chimpanzees, red colobus and red-tail and blue monkeys. You can also spot bushbucks, bush pigs and grey duikers. The lakeshore is home to the pied and giant kingfishers, the crowned eagles, the African broadbills, Ross's Turaco and the trumpeter hornbills.

Katavi National Park
Katavi National Park lies south of the Mahale Mountains on a high flood plain surrounding Lake Katavi . It is one of the most difficult Parks to reach and is strictly for those of an adventurous spirit, but it has excellent game viewing with a real wilderness atmosphere. July to October are the best months to visit the Park.

The water of the Park shelters crocodiles, hippos and large flocks of pelicans. The diverse woodlands, acacia bushes, lakes and swamps have attracted over 400 species of birds. Leopards, lions, elephants, elands, roan and sable antelopes, southern reedbucks and Topi inhabit the short grasses and thickets. Katavi is also home to one of the largest herds of buffalos, with as many as 1,600 animals.

Mahale Mountains National Park
Mahale Mountains , like Gombe Streams, are home to some of the last remaining wild chimpanzees in Africa . The Park is reached by boat or plane, both of which are available for charter. May to October is the best time to visit. There are no roads and all game viewing is done on foot. Mahale is a unique ecological zone with lowland forest, moist and dry savannah, miombo and open woodlands. Animals range from elephants, buffalos, leopards and primates to roan and sable antelopes, giraffes, kudus, elands, leopards and lions.

Lake Manyara National Park
Hemingway describes Lake Manyara National Park 's magnificent hunting country in "The Green Hills of Africa ". Mahogany, sausage trees and crotons are alive with blue monkeys and vervet. Elephants feed off fallen fruit while bushbucks, waterbucks, baboons, aardvarks, civets, the shy pangolins and leopards as well as the black rhinos, all make their home in the forest. Manyara is sanctuary to elusive buffalos and hippos, giraffes, impalas, zebras and the famous residents - tree-climbing lions. Lake Manyara itself is a magnet for birdlife and a kaleidoscope of different species can be found around its shores, including huge flocks of flamingoes. The park is ideal for a day trip. A four-wheel drive is recommended during the rains. The dry season is from June to September and January to February. Read more