TANZANIA NATIONAL PARKS AND GAME RESERVES

TANZANIA
NORTHERN CIRCUIT.

Tanzania’s parks and reserves occupy almost a quarter of the whole country. The reserves and parks fall under northern and southern circuits. The coastline constitutes of Pemba, Zambia, and Mafia archipelago.

SERENGETI NATIONAL RESERVE

Serengeti National Park is inhabited by more than 200 species of birds and 35 species of plains mammals, including cheetahs, leopards, lions, and giraffes. Zebras, gnus (large African antelopes also called wildebeests), gazelles, and elephants did not exist in large numbers in the park until the 1960s, when the rising human population in the region caused a shortage of natural resources and forced many of these animals into the protected area. About 200,000 zebras, 2 million gnus, 1 million gazelles, and thousands of elephants now live in the park. The plains of Serengeti National Park are also home to black rhinoceroses. During the rainy season, from November to May, millions of animals graze on the park's southeastern plains. This area has few rivers and becomes excessively dry once the rainy season ends, so gnus, gazelles, and zebras migrate to the western savanna and as far north as the grasslands of Masai Mara Game Park, across the Kenya-Tanzania border, where they spend the dry season.
In 1981 the park was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Illegal hunting in the park is a serious problem, posing a particular threat to the survival of elephants and rhinoceroses.

NGORONGORO CRATER.

AREA 8,000 Sq Km.
Ngorongoro crater is 19 Km wide. It is the world’s largest intact caldera. Before the cataclysmic collapse of its cone 2 millionyears ago. This volcanic mountain may have been taller than Kilimanjaro. Its rim which averages (2,316m) elevation is cloaked in the moist montane forest and grassland, hosting elephants, plains game and unique bird life. In Ngorongoro you are assured of the big five. From the lodges and camps visitors are driven down the crater for a daylong survey. This is another world heritage site that visitors should not miss. Since it is nature’s grandiose amphitheatre.

LAKE MANYARA NATONAL PARK.

AREA-330 Sq Km.
Lake Manyara is one of the biosphere reserves in the world. It is one of the smallest and most diverse national parks. With a more intimate view of the African outdoors. The park is a host for tree climbing lions, hippos, elephants and a huge array of birdlife including tens of thousands of flamingoes.
South of the ground water forests, acacia woodland and open grasslands are huge herds of buffaloes, wildebeests, impalas, giraffes and many more mammals

TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK.

The Tarangire National Park, established in 1970, covers an area of 2600 sq km and is named after the river that flowsthrough the park throughout the year. The best time to visit is from July to September when, being the dry season, the animals gather in large numbers along the river. Tarangire is a wonderful park, there are rivers, swamps, and a variety of vegetation zones and habitats that makes the park one of the best ‘dry season Retreat Park' for most of the wildlife from the southern masailand.
Bird's species recorded in Tarangire have been estimated at approximately 300 including migrants that fly south in October until April.

KILIMANJARO NATIONAL PARK

Kilimanjaro is the Africa's highest mountain and is referred to as the roof of Africa. This is the major attraction in the park.
It lies just 3 degrees south of the equator and stands at (5895m) making it the highest single standing mountain in the world. From the cultivated lowlands of Moshi to the enormous freestanding massifs with snowfields, Kilimanjaro is a true African beauty.
The parks lower slopes are cloaked in montanne forests moorlands studded with giant lobelias and locky barren landscapes, which is a host to duikers, hyraxes and plenty of birds.
Experience an organized five-to-seven days hike transversing cold alpine forests with night in huts or tents.
Other attractions in the north include Mt. Meru, oldoinyo Lengai Mountain and the remote, lakes Natron and Eyasi.

SOUTHERN CIRCUIT

SELOUS GAME RESERVE

AREA-55, 000 Sq Km
This is the largest game reserve in Africa. With its abundance in wildlife, bird life, beautiful flora and fauna, Seoul is a designated world heritage site.
Selous is also home to the remaining endangered black rhino. Its other tangible assets include the Rufiji River, one of Africa’s truly mesmerizing waterways, which forms a network of tributaries ideal for boat safaris.
Sand banks on the rivers are lined with giant crocodiles, palm fringed bank massed with thirsty elephants, buffaloes and plains game on dry land, leopard and cheetahs can be spotted, with a chance of running into wild dogs of which 25% of the continents is found here.

RUAHA NATIONAL PARK

AREA-12, 950 Sq Km.
Ruaha is Tanzania’s second largest national park and is home to the largest elephant’s population in the country. Estimated at some 10,000. An escarpment bisects this park, making a neat ecological divide between the Ruaha river valley and the high plateau covered with Miombo Woodland. Baobabs and euphorbias, flooded grasslands and acacia woodland is a spectacular feature along the Ruaha River. Thousands of elephants buffaloes & plains game inhabit the park, along with all major cats.

MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK.

AREA- 3,000 Sq Km
Mikumi is set between Uluguru Mountains to the North and the Lumango mountains to the Southeast and within a short flight from Dar es salaam. Mikumi offers endless terrains teaming with wildlife and over 300 species of bird life many of which are Eurasian. Animals to spot here include- buffaloes, giraffes, zebra, lions, leopards, sable antelopes, hippos, crocodiles among others.
One special treat at Mikumi is the visit to the center for the study of primates such as yellow baboon and the chimpanzee.

OLDUVAI GORGE

AREA-50Sq Km.
Olduvai gorge is within the Ngorongoro conservation area just North of the road to Serengeti. This museum has yielded hominid fossils key to the study of human evolution. It is referred to as the cradle of mankind, because the remains of 1.75 million years Homo habilis (zinjanthropous) were discovered here. There are shaded picnic sites and colourful birds roam the area for crumbs. Cheetahs can also be spotted occasionally.