TANZANIA NATIONAL PARKS

Arusha National Park

Arusha National Park is on the northern circuit as is closest to Arusha town.

Upon entering the gate, one is invited by the inquisitive blue monkeys and colourful turacos and trogons – the only place on the northern safari circuit where the acrobatic black-and-white colobus monkey is easily seen.

Momela Lake, with its pink flamingos  and Ngurdoto crater are spectacular sites within the park. Mountains Kilimanjaro and Meru provide a great backdrop and is also loved by hikers.

Wildlife: There is an array of grazers which include shaggy waterbucks, giraffes, dik dik and zebra. Elephants and lions are absent but one may be lucky to spot leopards and spotted hyena.

About Arusha National Park

Size: 552 sq km 212 sq miles).
Location: Northern Tanzania, northeast of Arusha town.

Getting there

Approximately 40-minute drive from Arusha. Approximately 60 km (35 miles) from Kilimanjaro International Airport. NOTE: Mountain Climbing Permits duration time is 12 HOURS.

When to go

To climb Mt Meru, June-February although it may rain in November.
Best views of Kilimanjaro December-February.

Accommodation

Basic: there are numerous camps within the park.
Deluxe: Meru Mbega Lodge, Simba Lodge
Luxury- Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge, Hatari Lodge

Mount Kilimanjaro National Park

Kilimanjaro, meaning Mountain of Light or Mountain of Greatness or Mountain of Caravans is one of the most recognisable mountains in Africa. Not only is this the highest peak on the African continent; it is also the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, rising in breathtaking isolation from the surrounding coastal scrubland – elevation around 900 metres – to an imperious 5,895 metres (19,336 feet).

Over the years, it has become an attraction for many around the worlds including celebrities climbing for charity.

Wildlife: You will expect to see amongst the vegetation, some duiker, antelopes, elephants,

About Kilimanjaro National Park

Size: 1668 sq km 641 sq miles).
Location: Northern Tanzania, near the town of Moshi.

Getting there

128 km (80 miles) from Arusha.
About one hour’s drive from Kilimanjaro airport.

What to do

Six usual trekking routes to the summit and other more-demanding mountaineering routes.
Day or overnight hikes on the Shira plateau. Nature trails on the lower reaches.
Trout fishing.
Visit the beautiful Chala crater lake on the mountain’s south eastern slopes.

When to go

Clearest and warmest conditions from December to February, but also dry (and colder) from July-September.

Accommodation

Basic: Huts and campsites on the mountain.
Deluxe:
Luxury: Nomad Safaris tented camp, Nkungwe camp.

Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara is a scenic gem lying on the escarpment. The compact game-viewing circuit through Manyara offers a virtual microcosm of the Tanzanian safari experience.

It is a park of contrasts with lush forestry and long plains.

Wildlife: Large buffalo and wildebeest graze along the plains. Also expect to see lions,

About Lake Manyara National Park

Size: 330 sq km (127 sq miles), of which up to 200 sq km (77 sq miles) is lake when water levels are high.
Location: In northern Tanzania. The entrance gate lies 1.5 hours (126km/80 miles) west of Arusha along a newly surfaced road, close to the ethnically diverse market town of Mto wa Mbu.

Getting there

By road, charter or scheduled flight from Arusha, en route to Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.

What to do

Game drives, night game drives, canoeing when the water levels is sufficiently high.
Cultural tours, picnicking, bush lunch/dinner, mountain bike tours, abseiling and forest walks on the escarpment outside the park.

When to go

Dry season (July-October) for large mammals;
Wet season (November-June) for bird watching, the waterfalls and canoeing.

Accommodation

Baisc: guest houses along Mto wa Mbu.
Standard : Migunga Tented camp
Luxury: Kirurumu, Lake Manyara tree lodge.

Serengeti National Park

Serengeti is Tanzania's oldest and most popular national park, also a world heritage site and recently proclaimed a 7th wonder of the world. It 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

Wildlife: There is a wide spectacle of wildlife to be seen here. Lions, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs and African jackals can be spotted amongst the acacia trees. Other unique animals are the serval cat and the aardwolf. Birdlife is a birdwatchers dream.

About Serengeti

Size: 14,763 sq km (5,700 sq miles).
Location: 335km (208 miles) from Arusha, stretching north to Kenya and bordering Lake Victoria to the west.

Getting there

Scheduled and charter flights from Arusha, Lake Manyara and Mwanza.
Drive from Arusha, Lake Manyara, Tarangire or Ngorongoro Crater.

What to do

Hot air balloon safaris, walking safari, picnicking, game drives, bush lunch/dinner can be arranged with hotels/tour operators.  Maasai rock paintings and musical rocks.

Visit neighbouring Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge, Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano and Lake Natron's flamingos.

When to go

To follow the wildebeest migration, December-July. To see predators, June-October.

Accommodation

Basic: Camp sites
Deluxe: Sopa lodge, Lobo wildlife lodge
Luxury: Bilila Kempinski lodge, Mbuzi Mawe.

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire is a smaller than the Serengeti, but nonetheless huge on game.
It's the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem - a smorgasbord for predators – and the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as the stately fringe-eared oryx and peculiar long-necked gerenuk are regularly observed.

Wildlife: Herds of up to 300 elephants, 500 bird species as well as wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest and eland crowd the shrinking lagoons. Lions, leopards and pythons will often be found atop a tree.

About Tarangire National Park

Size: 2850 sq km (1,096 sq miles).
Location: 118 km (75 miles) southwest of Arusha.

Getting there

Easy drive from Arusha or Lake Manyara following a surfaced road to within 7km (four miles) of the main entrance gate; can continue on to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti.
Charter flights from Arusha and the Serengeti.

What to do

Guided walking safaris.
Day trips to Maasai and Barabaig villages, as well as to the hundreds of ancient rock paintings in the vicinity of Kolo on the Dodoma Road.

When to go

Year round but dry season (June - September) for sheer numbers of animals.

Accommodation

Basic: Lots of scattered campsites in and outside the park.
Deluxe: Maramboi, Tarangire Sopa Lodge.
Luxury: Boundary Hill Lodge, Tarangire Tree tops

Ngorongoro.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is a conservation areaand a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated 180 km (112 miles) west of Arusha in the Crater Highlands area of Tanzania.

It was originally part of the Serengeti but is now administered by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, an arm of the Tanzanian government.

Wildlife: The usual grazers which include antelope, wildebeest, zebra and eland are abundant. It has a dense population of lions with some elephants and leopards at the crater rim.

About Ngorongoro conservancy

Size: 8300 square km (5157 miles)
Location: 118 km (75 miles) southwest of Arusha.

Getting there

Easy drive from Arusha town, well connected to L. Manyara, Tarangire.

What to do

Guided walking safaris.
Hiking, cultural tours to the villages.

When to go

Year round but best between May and February.

Accommodation

Basic: Lots of scattered campsites in and outside the park.
Deluxe: Ngorongoro Sopa lodge, Ngorongoro wildlife lodge.
Luxury: Ngorongoro Crater lodge, Serena Lodge

Selous Game Reserve.

Selous is the largest game reserve in Africa and ranks as one of East Africa’s most mesmerizing game reserve. It covers both Tanzania and Mozambique.

It is also one of Africa’s undiscovered reserves. River Rufiji disproportionately divides the park and one can enjoy boat excursions on the river.

Wildlife : With elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebras and other antelopes numbering in the thousands, game viewing activities are full of excitement and very rewarding. Hippo, kudu, hartebeest and elands also roam the beaten reserve.   There is an abundance of birdlife at Selous.

About Selous game reserve.

Size: 45,000sq km (27,962 sq miles).

Getting there

Easily eachable from Daresaalam or Zanzibar(  daily flights) as well as from Arusha and other parks.

What to do

Game drives, boat rides on river Rufiji, guided walking safaris.

When to go

Between June and February

Accommodation

Basic: Mbega camp,
Deluxe: Selous Wilderness Camp
Luxury: Selous safari camp,