ATTRACTIONS AND DESTINATION

 NATIONAL PARKS

Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park is among the best-known big game safari destinations in Africa and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Tanzania. It is famous for its annual great wildlife migration of wildebeest and zebra. One of the best times to visit the park is in May when the grass becomes dry and exhausted and the wildebeest and zebra start to mass in huge armies offering a spectacular wildlife show. The size of the National Park is 13,250km². The common animal sightings in the park are wildebeest, giraffe, gazelle, big cats, elephant, zebra, eland, topi, and kongoni. The best time to visit is in June to July and January to February when the great migration is taking place. The nearby attractions include Ngorongoro Conservation Center, Lake Natron, and Tarangire National Park.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro is one of the many craters formed by a volcanic eruption three to four million years ago. The steep sides of the crater have become a natural enclosure for a wide variety of wild animals and exotic plant species that the world has ever seen. This crater is one among the few places where you can see the Big 5 in a single day and is also host to the endangered black rhino. Local Maasai people are permitted to bring cattle to graze in the crater but are required to leave at the end of each day. The size of the Conservation Crater is 8,228km² and the common animal sightings in the crater are Black rhino, wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, elephant, topi, buffalo, cheetah, lion, spotted hyena, leopard, golden jackal, and bat-eared fox. The best season to visit this Conservation Area is from June to September. The nearby attractions include Serengeti National Park, Empakaai Center, and Mount Kilimanjaro.

Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro is an inactive volcano in north-eastern Tanzania, near the border with Kenya in the town of Moshi and is accessible via Kilimanjaro International Airport. At 5,892 meters (19,331 feet) above sea level, Kilimanjaro is a UNESCO World Heritage site, Africa’s highest peak and the world’s highest free-standing mountain. Although positioned close to the equator, Mount Kilimanjaro is famous for its snow-capped peak looming over the plains of the savannah. The mountain has become a major tourist attraction for mountaineers and trekkers from around the world. The mountain is part of Kilimanjaro National Park and is the second most popular park in the country. The mountain is one of the most accessible high peaks in the world and has an average success rate of around 65%

Zanzibar

The island of Unguja, part of Zanzibar, makes up the final Spice Island. Once part of the British Empire, today Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania. The African island has been for centuries an important trading center, a melting pot of African, Indian and Arab influences. Zanzibar’s major tourist attraction is Stone Town, with its whitewashed coral rag houses. The town is home to numerous historical and cultural sites, some dating back to the 15th century. The archipelago is home to kilometres of white sand beaches as well as coral and limestone scarps along the coast allowing safe and significant amounts of diving and snorkeling and a cultural fusion of multiple cultures. Often the trip to Zanzibar is the end of a tourist’s adventure into Tanzania after either a safari expedition in the north of the mainland or after a trek to the peak of the Kilimanjaro. The island has the Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park which is a mangrove swamp which is home for the red colobus monkey and 40 species of birds and 50 species of butterfly. Zanzibar is accessible via Abeid Amani Karume International Airport and by ferry from Dar es Salaam.

Mafia Island

Also part of the Spice Islands, but smaller than Pemba, Mafia Island has a population of around 40,000 people. Don’t expect organized crime: the name derives either from the Swahili “mahali pa afya,” meaning “a healthy dwelling-place,” or from the Arabic “morfiyeh,” meaning “archipelago”. The island attracts scuba divers, game fishermen, and people wanting to relax on one of the island white sandy beaches.

Tarangire National Park

Smaller than Ruaha, this national park is a paradise for bird watchers as more than 550 different species frequent the park. Tarangire is also known for its huge number of elephants, baobab trees and tree climbing lions. Huge termite mounds can be found all around the park.

Pemba Island

Known as the Green Island in Arabic, Pemba Island lies in the Indian Ocean and is part of the “Spice Islands”. As neighboring Zanzibar is becoming more and more popular with tourists, more adventurous travellers are seeking out the less-crowded Pemba. The island is especially popular with divers who come here for the untouched coral and very abundant marine life.

Lake Manyara

In the wet season Lake Manyara is home to almost 300 different species of migratory birds, including thousands of flamingos. The place is very small in size, and a majority of the area is covered by the lake itself, but it still hosts as many as 11 ecosystems and a vast and varied wildlife. In the dry season, alkaline mud-flats take the place of the waters. This is the best time to see large mammals such as hippos, elephants, wildebeest and giraffe. A number of safari lodges provide tourists with lodging and day and night safaris to see the wildlife. The groundwater forest surroundings at Lake Manyara offer a much-needed break from African savannahs. Tree-climbing lions are the superstars here, but predator sightings are difficult. A close encounter with hundreds of elephants is the next best thing. The size of the park is 330km² with common animal sightings such as Baboon, flamingo, elephant, wildebeest, giraffe, blue monkey, buffalo, water-buck, impala, warthog, zebra, klipspringer, Kirk’s dik-dik, lion, and leopard. The best season to visit is from July to October. The nearby attractions include Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Center.

Selous Game Reserve

Selous Game Reserve represents the largest uninhabited area in the continent, and this alone makes it worth visiting. Savanna animals can be found in this reserve in greater numbers than in any other African game reserve, thanks to stringent regulation by the Wildlife Division of the Tanzanian Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism. The reserve also offers the best bush vibe in Tanzania.  Most visitors arrive by aircraft, and walking tours or river trips are permitted, though no human habitation or permanent structures are allowed. Selous Game Reserve is one of the two destinations used by elephants for their annual migration, and if watching millions of wildebeests isn’t possible, you can go for the next best thing, watching thousands of elephants at Selous. The size of the Game Reserve is 47,665 km². While in the Game Reserve you will see animals such as Elephant, wild dog, crocodile, black colobus monkey, hippo, antelope, bushbuck, sickle-horned sable, reedbuck, waterbuck and curly-horned greater kudu. Usually the best season to visit is from June to November. Nearby attractions include Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar.

Ruaha National Park

Located in the middle of Tanzania, the Ruaha National Park is the largest national park in the country. The park is named after the Hehe word “ruvaha,” meaning “river.” The largest national park in Africa might not come with a world-famous reputation, but it certainly presents the wildest encounters for those who know what to look for. Filled with Giraffe, greater kudu, sable antelope, lesser kudu, zebra, impala, bushbuck, buffalo, hartebeest, gazelle, waterbuck, elephant, lions, black-backed jackals, cheetahs, leopards, spotted hyenas and African wild dogs, the park offers visitors an opportunity to get up close and personal with nature. Ruaha National Park is most famous for its fascinating beauty, ancient baobab trees, picturesque river and dramatic scenes and it offers incredibly exciting game viewing experiences to its visitors. Due to the parks somewhat remote location visitors can enjoy viewing the wildlife without competing with hordes of other tourists. The size of the National Park is 10,300 km². The best season to visit the park is from June to October. The nearby attractions include Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park is an untouched, quiet park located in Northern Tanzania. Tarangire National Park isn’t located on the main safari route, and is less crowded than most other national parks in Tanzania. It’s well-known for exciting safari adventures and elephant migration. The park is 10 times larger than Manyara and its game tends to be incredibly concentrated during peak season. The underrated national park features a diversity of wildlife and several activities. The park is also known for its breathtaking baobab trees and stunning natural beauty. The Tarangire River is located within the park and serves as a source of fresh water for the animals. The park size is 2,850km² and the common animal to look out for are Elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, eland, impala, gazelle, hartebeest, buffalo, wildebeest and giraffe. The best season to visit is from July to October. The nearby attractions and destinations include Arusha, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Center, and Lake Manyara National Park.

Arusha National Park

Arusha National Park is a gem of varied ecosystems and spectacular views of Mt. Meru, the crater that gives the region its name. Arusha National Park is home to an array of wildlife species such as zebra, giraffe, waterbucks, elephants, Cape buffalo, blue monkeys, and a variety of birds. The small national park includes the slopes, summit, and ash cone of Mt. Meru, the Momela Lakes, Ngurdoto Crater, and the lush highland forests that blanket its lower slopes. Game viewing around the Momela Lakes is at a laid-back and quiet pace, and while passing through the forest many visitors stop to search for troupes of rare colubus monkeys playing in the canopy. The park is located close to Arusha town, the safari capital of Tanzania. It features stunning scenery and it is dominated by Mount Meru, a volcanic cone with a spectacular crater. The biggest highlight in the park is the towering Mount Meru volcano. The park also offers a wide range of activities such as canoe safari and walking safari.

Climbing Mt. Meru or enjoying the smaller trails that criss-cross its lower slopes is a popular activity for visitors to Arusha National Park. The three-day trek to reach the crater’s summit is a quieter, and some say more challenging alternative than the famous peak of nearby Mount Kilimanjaro. Along the lower slopes, the paths to rivers and waterfalls create a relaxing day hike for visitors who don’t want to attempt the rather arduous climb. Ancient fig tree forests, crystal clear waters cascading from mountain streams, and a chance to spot colobus monkeys are the attractions and pleasures of Arusha National Park.

The closest national park to Arusha town – northern Tanzania’s safari capital – Arusha National Park is a multi-faceted jewel, often overlooked by safari goers, despite offering the opportunity to explore a beguiling diversity of habitats within a few hours.

The entrance gate leads into shadowy montane forest inhabited by 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. In the midst of the forest stands the spectacular Ngurdoto Crater, whose steep rocky cliffs enclose a wide marshy floor dotted with herds of buffalo and warthog.

Further north, rolling grassy hills enclose the tranquil beauty of the Momela Lakes, each one having a different hue of green or blue. There are shallows sometimes tinged pink with thousands of flamingos. The lakes support a rich selection of resident and migrant waterfowl, and also shaggy waterbucks that display their large lyre-shaped horns on the watery fringes. Giraffes glide across the grassy hills, between grazing zebra herds, whilst pairs of wide-eyed dik-dik dart into scrubby bush like overgrown hares on spindly legs.

Although elephants are uncommon in Arusha National Park, and lions are absent altogether, leopards and spotted hyenas may be seen slinking around in the early morning and late afternoon. It is also at dusk and dawn that the veil of cloud on the eastern horizon is most likely to clear, revealing the majestic snow-capped peaks of Kilimanjaro, which is only 50km (30 miles) away.

Passing first through wooded savannah where buffalos and giraffes are frequently encountered, the ascent of Meru leads into forests aflame with red-hot pokers and dripping with Spanish moss, before reaching highly open heath spiked with giant lobelias. Everlasting flowers cling to the alpine desert, as delicately-hoofed klipspringers mark the hike’s progress. Astride the craggy summit, Kilimanjaro stands unveiled, blushing in the sunrise. The size of Arusha National Park is 552 km² (212 sq miles).and it is located in Northern Tanzania, northeast of Arusha town.

The park is an easy 40-minute drive away from Arusha and approximately 60 km (35 miles) from Kilimanjaro International Airport. The lakes, forest and Ngurdoto Crater can all be visited in the course of a half-day outing at the beginning or end of an extended northern safari.

Gombe Stream National Park

Gombe Stream National Park may be small in size 52 km² (20 sq miles), but its attractions pack a punch. Gombe presents a trail system which lets visitors penetrate deep into the forest and enjoy some of the best views of the African bush.

Gombe Stream National Park, located on the western border of Tanzania and the Congo, is famous all over the world because of its connection to Jane Goodall and her pioneering research on chimpanzees. Chimpanzee tracking expeditions are an obvious highlight, but one can also expect to see several species of primates here.

Situated on the wild shores of Lake Tanganyika, Gombe Stream is an untamed place of lush forests and clear lake views. Hiking and swimming are also popular activities here, once the day’s expedition to see the chimpanzees is over.

Gombe Stream’s main attraction is obviously the chimpanzee families that live protected in the park’s boundaries. Guided walks are available that take visitors deep into the forest to observe and sit with the extraordinary primates for an entire morning — an incredible experience and one that is the highlight of many visitors’ trips to Africa. Besides chimpanzee viewing, many other species of primates live in Gombe Stream’s tropical forests. Vervet and colobus monkeys, baboons, forest pigs and small antelopes inhabit the dense forest, in addition to a wide variety of tropical birdlife.

An excited whoop erupts from deep in the forest, boosted immediately by a dozen other voices, rising in volume and tempo and pitch to a frenzied shrieking crescendo. It is the famous ‘pant-hoot’ call: a bonding ritual that allows the participants to identify each other through their individual vocal stylizations. To the human listener, walking through the ancient forests of Gombe Stream becomes a spine-chilling outburst which is also an indicator of imminent visual contact with man’s closest genetic relative: the chimpanzee.

The most visible of Gombe’s other mammals are also primates. A troop of beachcomber olive baboons, under study since the 1960s, is exceptionally habituated, whereas the red-tailed and red colobus monkeys – the latter regularly hunted by chimps – stick to the forest canopy.

The park’s 200-odd bird species range from the iconic fish eagle to the jewel-like Peter’s twinspots that hop tamely around the visitors’ centre. After dusk, a dazzling night sky is complemented by the lanterns of hundreds of small wooden boats, bobbing on the lake like a sprawling city.

The National Park is Located 16 km (10 miles) north of Kigoma on the shore of Lake Tanganyika in western Tanzania with the best season to visit from July to October.

Nearby attractions include Ujiji, Mahale Mountains National Park

Katavi National Park

Katavi is remote, very remote, and reaching the park requires a lot of effort. This alone dissuades most travelers from visiting Katavi. However, take the first step and the park does its bit to ensure that you never have to go home disappointed. Katavi presents untouched wilderness and it is common to run across more predators than humans while you’re here.

The wilderness of Katavi National Park, located in the western area of Tanzania, is one of the most untouched areas in the entire country.

It offers un-spoilt wildlife viewing in the country’s third-largest national park, in a remote location far off the beaten track. The size of the national park is 4,471 km² and Africa at its most wild — unadulterated bush settings, spectacular views, and rich wildlife.

Katavi’s dramatic scenery is as varied as it is pristine. Flood plains of thick reeds and dense waterways are home to a huge population of hippo and varied birdlife. In the woodlands to the west, forest canopies shroud herds of buffaloes and elephants. Seasonal lakes fill with dirty coloured water after the rains and animals from all corners of the park descend in them to drink. The park is also home to the rare roan and sable antelope species, and it is a must-see for the visitors intending to explore the wilds of the continent.

Isolated, untrammeled and seldom visited, Katavi is a true wilderness, providing the few intrepid souls who make it there with a thrilling taste of Africa as if it must have been a century ago.

Tanzania’s third largest national park; it lies in the remote area southwest of the country, within a truncated arm of the Rift Valley that terminates in the shallow, brooding expanse of Lake Rukwa.

The bulk of Katavi supports a hypnotically featureless cover of tangled brachystegia woodland, home to substantial but elusive populations of the localised eland, sable and roan antelopes. Nevertheless the main focus for game viewing within the park is the Katuma River and associated floodplains such as the seasonal Lakes Katavi and Chada. During the rainy season, these lush, marshy lakes are a haven for myriad water birds, and they also support Tanzania’s densest concentrations of hippos and crocodiles.

It is during the dry season, when the floodwaters retreat, that Katavi truly comes into life. The Katuma, reduced to a shallow muddy trickle, forms the only source of drinking water for miles around, and the flanking floodplains support game concentrations that defy belief. An estimated 4,000 elephants might converge on the area, together with several herds of 1,000-plus buffalo, while an abundance of giraffes, zebras, impalas and reedbucks provide easy pickings for the numerous lion prides and spotted hyena clans whose territories converge on the floodplains. The best season to visit Katavi National Park is from June to October.

Katavi’s most singular wildlife spectacle is provided by its hippos. Towards the end of the dry season, up to 200 individuals might flop together in any riverine pool of sufficient depth. And as more hippos gather in one place, so does male rivalry heat up – bloody territorial fights are an everyday incident, with the vanquished male forced to lurk hapless on the open plains until it gathers sufficient confidence to mount another challenge.

The park is located Southwest Tanzania, east of Lake Tanganyika with The headquarters at Sitalike lying 40km (25 miles) south of Mpanda town.

One may connect to the park using Charter flights from Dar or Arusha or a tough but spectacular day’s drive from Mbeya (550 km/340 miles), or in the dry season only from Kigoma (390 km/240 miles).

Activities

• Walking, driving and camping safaris.
• Near Lake Katavi, visit the tamarind tree inhabited by the spirit of the legendary hunter Katabi (for whom the park is named) – Offerings are still left here by locals seeking the spirit’s blessing.

Accommodation

• Two seasonal luxury tented camps overlooking Lake Chada.
• A Resthouse at Sitalike and campsites inside the park.
• Basic but clean hotels at Mpanda.

Mahale Mountains National Park

Mahale Mountains National Park may be ignored by most tourists visiting Tanzania, but those wanting to get closer to their closest genetic relative, the chimpanzee, simply have to visit the Mahale Mountains. The park presents the best chimp tracking experience in Tanzania and visitors also fall in love with its stunning beauty. Better yet, Mahale Mountains is home to some of the glittery sand beaches that Africa is so famous for.

Mahale is located in the Western Tanzania to the South of Kigoma town, it is bordering Lake Tanganyika-the World’s longest, second deepest and least polluted freshwater lake-harbouring an estimated 1000 fish species.

The dry season (May -October) is the best period to visit the Park. During this period, chimpanzees are likely to be seen in big groups, the sunshine illuminates the fish in the Lake and the beach is an inviting place to relax. However, Mahale Mountains National Park is accessible all year round. A visit in the rainy season can also be a memorable experience, made remarkable by views of the neighbouring country DR Congo across the water and by incredible lightning storms that light up the lake at night.

Tourist Attractions while in the Park one will surely get to see Chimpanzees, Chain of Mountains (Mahale range), Forest fauna and flora such as Angola colobus, red colobus, red-tailed and blue monkeys, forest birds, alpine bamboo, and montane rain forest etc., Beach along Lake Tanganyika, Local fishermen, Sun set on the Lake horizon.

Activities

• Chimp tracking (allow two days)
• Hiking to the Park’s highest point “Nkungwe” (8,069ft) held sacred by the local Tongwe people.
• Camping safaris
• Snorkeling
• Sports fishing and many more water sports activities

Mahale is accessible by air, road and boat. There are several flights, car and boat options to suit most travelers and chimps lovers:

Mikumi National Park

Mkata Floodplain, the star attraction at Mikumi National Park, has often been compared to the great Serengeti because of its amazing diversity and concentrated wildlife. This alone makes Mikumi worth visiting. The park is also popular for presenting stunning photo ops and large herds of game animals. Mikumi is Tanzania’s fourth-largest national park at a size of 3,230 km² (1,250 sq miles). It’s also the most accessible from Dar es Salaam. With almost guaranteed wildlife sightings, it makes an ideal safari destination for those without much time.

Since the completion of the paved road connecting the park gate with Dar es Salaam, Mikumi National Park has been slated to become a hotspot for tourism in Tanzania. Located between the Uluguru Mountains and the Lumango range, Mikumi is the fourth largest national park in Tanzania and only a few hours’ drive from Tanzania’s largest city. The park has a wide variety of wildlife that can be easy spotted and also well acclimatized to game viewing. Its proximity to Dar es Salaam and the amount of wildlife that live within its borders makes Mikumi National Park a popular option for a weekend getaway from the city for both leisure seekers & business visitors who don’t have to spend a long time on an extended safari itinerary.

Most visitors come to Mikumi National Park aiming to spot the ‘Big Five’ (cheetah, lion, elephant, buffalo, and rhino), and they are always not disappointed. Hippo pools provide close access to the mud-loving beasts, and bird-watching along the waterways is particularly rewarding. Mikumi National Park borders the Selous Game Reserve and Udzungwa National Park, and the three locations make a varied and pleasant safari circuit.

Swirls of opaque mist hide the advancing dawn. The first shafts of sun decorate the fluffy grass heads rippling across the plain in a russet halo. A herd of zebras, confident in their camouflage at this predatory hour, pose like ballerinas, heads aligned and stripes merging in flowing motion.

Mikumi National Park abuts the northern border of Africa’s biggest game reserve – the Selous – and is transected by the surfaced road between Dar es Salaam and Iringa. It is thus the most accessible part of a 75,000 square kilometre (47,000 square mile) tract of wilderness that stretches east almost as far as the Indian Ocean.

Lions survey their grassy kingdom – and the zebra, wildebeest, impala and buffalo herds that migrate across it – from the flattened tops of termite mounds, or sometimes during the rains, from perches high in the trees. Giraffes forage in the isolated acacia stands that fringe the Mkata River, islets of shade favoured also by Mikumi’s elephants.

Criss-crossed by a good circuit of game-viewing roads, the Mkata Floodplain is perhaps the most reliable place in Tanzania for sightings of the powerful eland, the world’s largest antelope. The equally impressive greater kudu and sable antelope haunt the miombo-covered foothills of the mountains that rise from the park’s borders.

More than 400 bird species have been recorded, with such colourful common residents as the lilac-breasted roller, yellow-throated long claw and bateleur eagle joined by a host of European migrants during the rainy season. Hippos are the star attraction of the pair of pools situated 5km north of the main entrance gate, supported by an ever-changing cast of water-birds.

Mikumi National Park is located 283 km (175 miles) west of Dar es Salaam, north of Selous, and en route to Ruaha, Udzungwa and (for the intrepid) Katavi. A good surfaced road connects Mikumi to Dar es Salaam via Morogoro, a roughly 4 hour drive. Charter flight from Dar es Salaam, Arusha or Selous. Local buses run from Dar to park HQ where game drives can be arranged.

Activities

• Game drives
• Guided walks
• Visit nearby Udzungwa
• Travel on to Selous or Ruaha.

Accommodation

• Two lodges
• Three luxury tented camps
• Three campsites.
• Guest houses in Mikumi town on the park border.
• Lodge Mahondo
• Permanent tented camp at Lumaaga

Mkomazi National Park

Set below the verdant slopes of the spectacular Usambara and Pare Eastern Arc Mountain Ranges and overseen by iconic snow – capped peak of Kilimanjaro, Mkomazi is a virgin breathtaking beauty exhibiting unique natural treasures and immense sense of space – which adds to the fulfillment of high visitor’s enjoyment expectations – a much needed bridge between northern circuit and coastal attractions.

A game reserve since 1951, this new National Park takes its name from a word from Pare tribe denoting “scoop of water”, referring to little water. It is a fantastic destination for birdwatchers, with more than 450 avian species recorded, among them are the dry – country endemics such as the cobalt – chested vulturine guinea-fowl, other large ground birds such as ostrich, kori bustard, secretary bird, ground hornbill and some migratory species including the Eurasian roller.

Mkomazi is home to the charismatic black rhino, the sociable African wild dog, the spectacular fringe – eared oryx, with its long back – sweeping horns, and the handsome spiral – horned lesser kudu; the gerenuk, a gazelle distinguished by its slender neck, bizarre alien – like head, and having the habit of standing tall on its hind legs as it stretches for acacia leaves that other browsers cannot reach.

Activities

• Game drives
• Camping
• site seeing
• bird watching
• walking safari
• hiking (uphill)
• Learn more about conservation and rhinoceros at Mkomazi rhino sanctuary.

Accommodation

• One semi – permanent tented camp near the Park headquarters
• Few designated basic campsites where one must bring his/her own camping gears and food
• There are several small hotels and guest houses in same town.

Saadani National Park

Saadani is where the beach meets the bush. The only wildlife sanctuary in East Africa to boast for an Indian Ocean beachfront, it as well possesses all the attributes that make Tanzania’s tropical coastline and islands very popular with European sun-worshipers. Yet it is also the one place where those idle hours of sunbathing might be interrupted by an elephant strolling past, or a lion coming to drink at the nearby waterhole!

One gets to appreciate the palm trees as they sway in a cooling oceanic breeze. White sand and blue water sparkle alluringly beneath the tropical sun, brand Saadani is a splendid place to visit. Traditional dhows sail slowly past, propelled by billowing white sails, whilst Swahili fishermen cast their nets below a brilliant red sunrise.

The National Park is home to many grazers which include giraffes, buffaloes, warthogs, common waterbucks, reedbucks, hartebeests, wildebeests, red duikers, greater kudus, elands, sable antelopes, yellow baboons and velvet monkeys. Herds of up to 30 elephants are encountered with increasing frequency, and several lion prides are inhabitants, together with leopards, spotted hyenas and black-backed jackals. Boat trips on the mangrove-lined Wami River come along with a high chance of sighting hippos, crocodiles and a selection of marine and riverine birds, including the mangrove kingfisher and lesser flamingo. The beaches form one of the last major green turtle breeding sites on mainland Tanzania.

The park is located on the north coast, roughly 100km (60 miles) northwest of Dar es Salaam, and a similar distance southwest of the port of Tanga.

Activities

• Game drives
• guided walks.
• Boat trips
• Visit Saadani fishing village, which lies within the reserve, where a collection of ruins pays testament to its 19th century heyday as a major trading port.

Accommodation

• Sanctuary Saadani Safari Lodge
• Saadani River Lodge
• KISAMPA
• Saadani Park Hotel
• Tembo Kijani Lodge
• Tent with a View Lodge
• The Park offers various types of accommodation and their facilities for both Residents and Non-residents visiting the Park.
• Rest house near the beach, with a furnished sitting room, master bedroom, three single rooms and a fully equipped kitchen.
• Bandas which are located along the beach, each with two rooms of four beddings and single rooms for couples with outside dining and kitchen equipped with cooking gas, deep freezer and utensils.
• These facilities offer campers an opportunity to sleep at camping sites by pitching tents at the public camp site which is located along the beach of Saadani,
• Special camp sites: Kiwandi campsite located at Zaraninge forest, Kinyonga campsite located along Wami River and Tengwe campsite located in the wilderness zone. Visitors are advised to come with their own food that they may cook using park facilities.

Rubondo Island National Park

Located on the south-west shores of Lake Victoria, Rubondo Island National Park includes Rubondo Island and several other small islands of Lake Victoria.

The park boasts for its rich and diverse variety of butterflies and bird life, easily viewable from the lake shore. The rare Sitatunga, an extremely endangered amphibious antelope, can sometimes be viewed escaping from the charging predators by hiding and camouflaging itself in the lake shore marshes.

A visit to Rubondo Island National Park offers visitors a break from game viewing in the tranquil peace of a lake shore setting. Exploring the islands within the park creates an excitement for day trips. Fishing expeditions into Lake Victoria are easily arranged through the major lodges. Rubondo Island National Park is a relaxation from the rigorous safari circuit and a relaxing place from which to explore Lake Victoria.

The National Park offers a bucket of attractions including a variety of water birds, Eurasian migrants and introduced African grey parrots, high density of African fish eagles distinctly seen animal species including Sitatunga, Elephants, Giraffes, Hippos, Bushbucks, Pythons, Crocodiles, Chimpanzees (not fully habituated), Bush pigs and Suni, also the Lake Victoria forming a spectacular sight for visitors with the deepest point in the lake (Irumo) forming part of the park.

Attractions

One should be sure to behold the magnificent view of one of the last remaining representatives of evergreen dense primary lowland Congolese forest with a unique habitat mosaic in the midst of high biodiversity value. Another of the many attractions is the beautiful and attracting beaches such as Fly catcher, Mchangani and Michicoco; the important gulfs of Irumo and Kamea; clear sighting of both sun rise and sun set; cultural sites such as “Ntungamirwe”, “Maji Matakatifu”, “Altare” and “Solo” which explain the life of natives who once stayed in the park; “Birds Islands”, breeding sit for water birds; and Crocodile Island

Accommodation & Facilities

• Bandas: Located about two kilometers from the Park headquarters with 1 unit of well-maintained uniport with triple beds inside/self-contained and 5 double bed rooms all self-contained with hot shower service. Maximum capacity 13 pax per night.
• Rest House: Owned by TANAPA and located about two kilometers from Park headquarters with 2 singles, 1 triple beds room and 1 double bed sized room all being self-contained with TV and hot shower. Maximum/full capacity is 7 pax per night.
• Youth hostel: Located at park headquarters. Capacity 36 persons (16 boys, 16 girls and two rooms with double beds to accommodate 4 teachers.)
• Resting shelters: Four resting shelter located at bandas facing a magnificent view of the lake where visitors rest while enjoying the lake breeze during a day.
• Dining and Kitchen: A well maintained and fully equipped facility comprising of dining and kitchen owned by the park, all visitors are advised to bring in some foodstuffs while the park provides kitchen and dining facilities. Note that, the place is self-catering.
• Campfire: The dining/kitchen facility faces a fireplace where fire is normally lit for visitors to stay nearby during evening times while enjoying their barbecue and drinks.
• Shop: One shop owned by TANAPA Rubondo staff located at Park headquarters which sells some household items and beverages for both staff and visitor uses.
• Public Campsites: Mlaga campsite which can accommodate up to 30 persons one per night. (Not operating currently)
• Picnic Sites: Four picnic sites two of which being located at Maji matakatifu, one at Pongo view point and one at Mamba trail, they all face a spectacular view of the lake at different sights which together bring the aesthetic value of the park thus adding to visitors satisfaction.

Activities

• Game Drives
• Bird Watching
• Walking Safaris.

Saanane Island National Park

The park made a record of being the first ever National Park to be located within the City and the smallest National Park in both Tanzania and East Africa. The Park is the home of mammals like Impala, Rock Hyrax, Velvet Monkeys and Wild Cats. The presence of “De-brazas Monkey” underscores its potential as the only Park in the country inhabiting the species.  Reptiles are also dominant; they include crocodiles, Monitor Lizards, Agama Lizards, Pancake and Leopard Tortoises, Snakes particularly Python. The aquatic part of the Park inhabits a variety of fisheries life, mainly Tilapia and Nile Perch.

The Park is located 2km Southwest of Mwanza city centre, which lies in the Gulf of Lake Victoria (Latitude 2.5 S and Longitude 32 E).

Activities

• Game Viewing
• Bird Watching
• Rock Hiking
• Boat Cruise
• Walking
• Picnics
• Bush Lunch
• Photographing/Filming
• Meditation
• Sport Fishing.

Kitulo National Park

Kitulo National Park is the only natural habitat area in Africa perched on the sky at a higher altitude than any known park in the continent. It is located 3,000 meters above sea level on the East African massif, much influenced by the eastern Rim of the Great Rift Valley which stretches from the Red Sea in Middle East across north and East Africa to Mozambique in Southern Africa.

Locals refer to the Kitulo Plateau as Bustani ya Mungu – The Garden of God – whereas botanists have dubbed it the Serengeti of Flowers, host to ‘one of the great floral spectacles of the world’. The only of its kind in Africa where wild flowers, birds and harmonious grass eating mammals are dominating. Kitulo is indeed a rare botanical marvel, home to a full 350 species of vascular plants, including 45 varieties of terrestrial orchids, which erupt into a riotous wildflower display of breathtaking scale and diversity during the main rainy season of late November to April.

Having its unique flower species remained wild, with birds singing and migrating t

Kitulo National Park stands alone, boasting of being the only tourist attractive site in the continent offering floristic visits than the traditional wildlife photographic holidays which most tourists to Tanzania are used to experience. Tourists from all corners of the world are now exposed to this park, and are expected to book their itineraries to this new park. There are about 400 plant species, most of them are wild flowers and other such attractive, natural plants, which no doubt at all, will attract visitors to go there. Recorded 45 endemic orchid species are found only in the park than any other part of the world.

The park covers 413 kilometers of forest-land, dominated with plants and few wild animals which together form a natural habitat that is tourist attractive by itself. The park’s scenery is as comparable to the Biblical Garden of Eden, as most visitors there say.

Added to its natural attractions and uniqueness, Kitulo Plateau is the natural resting site for intercontinental migrating birds during periods of the year on their way to Europe.
It is only in this park where migrating Storks rest while flying from Cape Town in South Africa to Northern Europe. European White Storks and other species of Storks from Scandinavian countries via West Africa migrate to brood inside Kitulo Plateau on their way, flying across the European and African continents every year. These big, attractive birds stop in this park for some months and later continue with their long journey across the continent.

Activities

• Good hiking trails exist and soon will be developed into a formal trail system.
• Open walking across the grasslands to watch birds and wildflowers.
• Hill climbing on the neighboring ranges. A half-day hike from the park across the Livingstone Mountains leads to the sumptuous Matema Beach on Lake Nyasa

Udzungwa National Park

Udzungwa is the largest and with most biodiversity and a chain of a dozen large forest-swathed mountains that rise majestically from the flat coastal scrub of eastern Tanzania. Known collectively as the Eastern Arc Mountains, this archipelago of isolated massifs has also been dubbed as the African Galapagos for its treasure-trove of endemic plants and animals, most familiarly being the delicate African violet.

Brooding and primeval, the forests of Udzungwa seem positively enchanted: a verdant refuge of sunshine-dappled glades enclosed by 30-metre (100 foot) high trees, their buttresses layered with fungi, lichens, mosses and ferns. Ornithologists are attracted to Udzungwa for an avian wealth embracing more than 400 species, from the lovely and readily-located green-headed oriole to more than a dozen secretive Eastern Arc endemics. Four bird species are peculiar to Udzungwa, including the forest partridge, first discovered in 1991 and more closely related to an Asian genus than to any other African fowl. Of six primate species recorded, the Iringa red colobus and Sanje Crested Mangabey both occur nowhere else in the world – the latter, remarkably, remained undetected by biologists prior to 1979.

The more challenging two-night Mwanihana Trail leads to the high plateau, with its panoramic views over the surrounding sugar plantations, before ascending to Mwanihana peak, the second-highest point in the range.

The park is located Five hours (350 km/215 miles) from Dar es Salaam; 65 kms (40 miles) southwest of Mikumi.

What to do

• Two-hour hike to the waterfall
• Camping safaris
• Combine with nearby Mikumi or en route to Ruaha.

Accommodation

• Camping inside the park and bring all food and supplies.
• Two modest but comfortable lodges with en-suite rooms within 1km of the park entrance.