Tanzania Wildlife Safaris

Tanzania is world-famous for its spectacular scenery and density of wildlife, with the country’s northern section being the most visited. The escarpments and volcanoes of the Great Rift Valley form a dramatic backdrop to game-covered plains below. Snow-capped Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain at 5,895m, is a Mecca for avid trekkers and mountaineers.

Tanzania’s national parks are a haven for huge concentrations of animals and birdlife.
The Serengeti alone has nearly 2 million wildebeest and zebra, which migrate along age-old pathways, followed by opportunistic lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena and jackal. The famous Ngorongoro Crater is a massive volcanic caldera where 25,000 animals live in a setting of unparalleled grandeur. Maasai tribe’s people have inhabited this region for hundreds of years, and to this day, still herd their cattle amongst the native wildlife.

Tanzania’s ‘northern circuit’ is the country’s wildlife showpiece. The great Serengeti hosts what many would call the best wildlife safari in Africa: the migration of around 1.5million of wildebeest. Nearby Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park and Tarangire National Park all provide outstanding wildlife safaris. However, all can also be very busy with people.

In southern Tanzania, Selous Game Reserve is arguably the largest in Africa, and combines well with the hotter, drier Ruaha National Park. Both offer very authentic wilderness experiences, based out of small lodges using open-topped 4WDs – and so vie for the accolade of the best wildlife safari in Tanzania.

Western Tanzania appeals for superb and contrasting wildlife safari experiences, with only a few other travelers around. ‘Old Africa hands’ will gravitate to the buffalo and lion in Katavi National Park or the chimpanzees in the thickly forested Mahale Mountains National Park. However, it usually takes more time and expense to reach these parks than the north or south of the country.