What are the Top National Parks in Tanzania?

Explore the best national parks in Tanzania. We designed the perfect safaris to follow wildlife in Tarangire, Ngorongoro, the Serengeti, and more.

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The Top National Parks in Tanzania

The Ultimate Guide to Tanzania’s Best National Parks for Safari

Tanzania is a strikingly beautiful country that offers some of Africa’s greatest bucket-list experiences, from witnessing the Great Migration on the famed Serengeti Plains to taking in the year-round populations of big game in Tarangire National Park. With eight safari adventures in Tanzania, WT has a special affinity for this incredible destination and offers safaris for everyone alongside cruise-based journeys and a trek to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, the “Roof of Africa.”

best parks in Tanzania

Serengeti National Park

Meaning “endless plains” in Maasai, the Serengeti extends for more than 5,600 square miles across vast plains, and is home to the most varied collection of terrestrial wildlife on the planet. The Serengeti’s endless plains are the stage for a fantastic wildlife event: the Great Migration. The scale of this event and the dramatic encounters between predator and prey offer an unequaled wildlife spectacle. The WT experience puts you right in the action and away from the crowds, since we move our exclusive safari camps seasonally to follow the drama, ensuring a front-row seat on every departure. Beyond the Great Migration, this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers incredible year-round game viewing.

When to Go

June to October, December to March

Reasons to Visit Serengeti National Park

See the Great Migration’s millions of wildebeest and zebras. The thunderous bellow of the hooves of more than a million wildebeest. The flash of stripes from a roaring mass of zebra. It’s no wonder why the Great Migration is often called the greatest show on Earth. Where else in the world do you get the most varied collection of terrestrial wildlife—all participating in a single, breathtaking event?
Experience epic Big Five wildlife sightings. While all of the Big Five—lions, rhinos, elephants, buffalo, and leopards—reside in the Serengeti, other resident wildlife includes giraffes, topi, hartebeest, waterbuck, impala, reedbuck, bushbuck, dik-diks, hippos, crocodiles, warthogs, cheetahs, baboons, and diverse birdlife.
Catch cinematic predator-prey interactions. The Great Migration is always in motion—wildebeest herds trace a clockwise route year-round in search of grazing pastures and water. There are no bad times to see the Great Migration, since the sheer immensity of wildlife almost guarantees high-drama sightings. While you’ll see calving season and excellent birding from December to March, you’ll likely witness thrilling predator-prey interactions (plus beautiful weather) from June to October.

Which Trip Should I Book?

Tanzania: The Great Migration Safari | Tanzania Private Safari | Tanzania Family Private Safari

A group of elephants graze near a large baobab tree in a lush, green landscape under a partly cloudy sky—an iconic scene you’ll find on safari in Tanzania’s best parks.

best parks in TANZANIA

Tarangire National Park

The hidden gem of Tarangire National Park is famous for its enormous herds of elephant and excellent leopard sightings. It has the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem, and it’s the one place in Tanzania where you’ll regularly see dry-country antelope like the gerenuk and the oryx. Tarangire is a quieter alternative to Tanzania’s more visited parks but offers great biodiversity, including iconic baobab trees and seasonal swamps and rivers that attract diverse wildlife during dry months.

When to Go

June to October

Reasons to Visit Tarangire National Park

Witness massive elephant herds. Herds of up to 300 elephants roam Tarangire, scratching the dry river bed for underground streams. In fact, the park is estimated to have the highest concentration of elephants in Tanzania.
Frame your photos with baobab trees. Giant, bulbous baobab trees make for a beautiful motif throughout your travels here. The trees store a lot of water in their roots that the park’s huge herds of elephants rely on during the dry season.
Immerse yourself in Maasai culture. In Tarangire National Park’s remote southern end, WT travelers experience traditional Maasai culture. You’ll embark on Maasai-guided walks to learn about plant medicines, enjoy a special Olpul ceremony with an entertaining jumping competition, make a traditional Maasai soup at camp, and more.

Which Trip Should I Book?

Tanzania: The Great Mig ration Safari | Tanzania Private Safari | Tanzania Family Private Safari

A safari vehicle drives on a dirt road through a grassy area in Tanzania, with several zebras grazing and standing nearby—an unforgettable experience in one of Africa’s best parks.

best parks in TANZANIA

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The Ngorongoro Crater is a vast, wildlife-rich caldera where animals thrive in a self-contained ecosystem. Scenic beauty meets dense populations of lions and the rare black rhino, making it a safari highlight. The larger Ngorongoro Conservation Area spans vast expanses of plains, savanna, and forests, from the northwestern plains of the Serengeti to the Great Rift Valley.

When to Go

June to October, December to February

Reasons to Visit Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Experience the world’s largest intact caldera. There’s nothing quite like exploring the 105-square-mile floor of Ngorongoro Crater, home to Africa’s largest permanent concentration of wildlife, like a smaller Serengeti in a beautifully scenic setting. In Ngorongoro you might see elephants, wildebeest, buffalo, and zebras. And the lion prides here are large, making this one of the best spots on Earth for lion sightings.
See the rare black rhino. Ngorongoro Crater is also one of the best places to spot the endangered black rhino. Around a dozen of them have been introduced into the crater environment by biologists, where they’re being carefully monitored.
Experience Maasai culture. Most travelers to Tanzania miss out on one of the country’s true highlights: its people. Near Ngorongoro Crater, WT travelers visit with the Hadza and Datoga people—the latter tribe consider themselves to be the oldest in Tanzania, with origins dating back 3,000 years.

Which Trip Should I Book?

Tanzania: The Great Migration Safari | Tanzania Private Safari

Two African wild dogs stand on a rocky outcrop, surveying the sweeping savanna landscape—an iconic scene found in Tanzania’s best parks, making it a dream destination for any safari enthusiast.

best parks in TANZANIA

Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve)

One of Africa’s largest protected areas, stretching over 19,000 square miles of wild terrain, Selous offers a remote and authentic safari experience, with opportunities for safari by foot through the bush and by boat along the Rufiji River. The habitats are extremely diverse, from open grasslands dotted with baobab to miombo woodlands, riverine forest, wetlands, and lakes. Such variety is reflected in the park’s wildlife, which consists of elephants, black rhinos, cheetahs, giraffes, hippos, and crocodiles.

When to Go

June to October

Reasons to Visit Nyerere National Park

Enjoy an off-the-beaten-path experience. Tanzania’s true wild side is in its southern reaches, and this world-class reserve hosts just a fraction of the travelers who visit the northern parks. With just as exceptional game-viewing, it’s a wonder why Nyerere National Park remains an under-the-radar destination.
Take a Rufiji River boat safari. The mighty Rufiji, East Africa’s largest river, winds through the park on its way to the Indian Ocean. Floating along it offers unique game-viewing opportunities and a blissful way to enjoy the scenery without the interruption of safari vehicles.
Spot lions, wild dogs, and hippos. Nyerere National Park is home to Africa’s largest populations of lions and African wild dogs. On game drives and boat safaris, you’ll also spot leopards, buffalos, elephants, spotted hyenas, hippos, and marvelous birdlife including the Goliath heron and the African spoonbill.

Which Trip Should I Book?

Southern Tanzania: Off the Beaten Path

Four lions stand together under a tree in grassy terrain, with two facing forward and two looking to the side—a classic scene from a Tanzania safari in one of the world’s best parks.

best parks in TANZANIA

Ruaha National Park

At the heart of this National Park is the Great Ruaha River, which meanders through the park and provides a reliable water source for wildlife. The park dates back to 1910, but the addition of the Usangu Game Reserve and other important wetlands to the park in 2008 increased the park’s size to a remarkable 7,800 square miles, meaning it’s the second largest national park in the country. Ruaha’s rugged wilderness features dramatic landscapes of rocky outcrops, baobabs, and river valleys, making it one of Tanzania’s most rewarding parks for wildlife enthusiasts.

When to Go

June to October

Reasons to Visit Ruaha National Park

Spot large lion prides, big cats, and elephants. Ruaha National Park is home to an estimated 10 to 15% of the world’s lion population, and the third largest wild dog population in all of Africa. It also has some of the largest elephant and giraffe populations in East Africa.
Enjoy an uncrowded, remote safari experience. Ruaha National Park’s vastness combined with very few camps make for an unparalleled experience—it truly feels as if you have this diverse wilderness to yourself.

Which Trip Should I Book?

Southern Tanzania: Off the Beaten Path

A giraffe stands with its neck and head above green bushes against a clear sky, showcasing the beauty of Tanzania’s best parks on safari.

best parks in TANZANIA

Mikumi National Park

Mikumi is the Swahili name for the borassus palm, which grows profusely in this idyllic setting. The park borders Selous Game Reserve and Nyerere National Park, and together, the areas share a vast and unique ecosystem of open savanna, dense forests, and waterholes. Located between the Uluguru mountains and the Lumango range, Mikumi is a haven for wildlife, especially during the dry season.

When to Go

June to October

Reasons to Visit Mikumi National Park

See a wildlife haven in action. During the dry season, June through October, large herds of migratory wildebeest, eland, gazelle, impala, zebras, and kudu gather around waterholes. And more than 440 bird species have been recorded within the 1,000-square-mile park boundary, too.
Visit the Serengeti’s quieter alternative. The centerpiece of Mikumi is the Mkata Floodplain, which draws frequent comparisons to the famed Serengeti Plains, but with only a fraction of the visitors. Here lions rule their grassy kingdom and stalk the wildebeest, impala, zebra, and buffalo herds that migrate across it. Giraffe forage in the acacia stands along the Mkata River, a setting also favored by Mikumi’s elephants.

Which Trip Should I Book?

Southern Tanzania: Off the Beaten Path

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The Top National Parks in Tanzania

The Ultimate Guide to Tanzania’s Best National Parks for Safari

Serengeti National Park

When to Go

Reasons to Visit Serengeti National Park

Which Trip Should I Book?

Tarangire National Park

When to Go

Reasons to Visit Tarangire National Park

Which Trip Should I Book?

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

When to Go

Reasons to Visit Ngorongoro Conservation Area

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Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve)

When to Go

Reasons to Visit Nyerere National Park

Which Trip Should I Book?

Ruaha National Park

When to Go

Reasons to Visit Ruaha National Park

Which Trip Should I Book?

Mikumi National Park

When to Go

Reasons to Visit Mikumi National Park

Which Trip Should I Book?

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