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Tanzania is a country endowed with an incredibly diverse array of wildlife and it makes for some of the best game viewing safaris in Africa. Below are the top five national parks and game reserves in Tanzania.

Ruaha National Park

Named after the Great Ruaha River, The Ruaha National Park is the second largest national park in Tanzania and the biggest elephant sanctuary in the world. The 12,950 sq km park, located some 128 km from Iringa town, is home to a wide range of wild animals including zebra, greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan antelope, impala and giraffe which can be found on the plains stretching from the rivers edge. The Ruaha river hosts numerous hippos and crocodiles and it also draws huge numbers of thirsty water buck, reed buck, leopard, wild dogs, hyena and lions. Indeed Ruaha is unique in that it boasts plant and animal life found in both eastern and southern Africa.

The topography at Ruaha is highly suitable for trekking and walking safaris. The rain seasons from March to April and from October to November see an increase in the population of birds to peak levels, with more than 350 bird species present. These include some Eurasian migrant birds. The climate of Ruaha is usually hot and dry, and temperatures get to 40 degrees Celsius in October. Previously, this national park was completely inaccessible by road. Now, it is accessible all year round. If you travel from Dar es Salaam by road, you will take 10 hours, whereas if you take a flight, you will only take one and a half hours. May to December, the dry season, is the best time to take a safari in Ruaha.

Lake Manyara National Park

The Lake Manyara National Park is without doubt the best destination for birdwatching in Tanzania due to its unrivaled birdlife. The waterfowl and several migratory birds are some of the bird species found here. Lake Manyara national park is also one of the greatest places for viewing leopards atop the lush green vegetation. Tree-climbing lions are also common in parts of the park. The National Park is located between Lake Manyara and the walls of the great Rift Valley, which rise up to 610 meters above.

Although it is possible to view wildlife throughout the year, December to February and from August to September are the best months to go on a game drive in the park. Lake Manyara National Park consists of three habitats that include acacia woodlands, open floodplains, and lush groundwater forest. The park is easily accessible and it is possible to see all of its main attractions within two hours.

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park is part of Tanzania’s famous northern safari circuit. Occupying about 2,600 sq km, the park is named after the Tarangire river. It has a a high concentration of wild animals including elephants and over 570 species of birds, rendering it a haven for birdwatching lovers.

Visitors who want to take game drives around Tarangire should do so during the dry season from June to September. This is the best time to view wildlife as animals tend to congregate while drinking the waters of River Tarangire. In addition the vegetation is not so dense, unlike the case during wet season. While at Tarangire chances of spotting python seem to more than even for some or other reason maybe because they have taken to climbing the trees in the area.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Conservation Area is situated at the north of Tanzania and covers an area of over 7,000 square miles. The park is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, having been declared so in’79. At the conservation area’s north west, it merges with the Serengeti plains. Part of the world-famous great wildebeest migration between Serengeti and Masai Mara takes place here.

At the center of this conservation area lies the 264 sq km Ngorongoro crater, whose floor is inhabited by a great array of wildlife. Since the crater provides one of the greatest and very satisfying game watching experience, it is not a big surprise that it remains one of the most popular Tanzania destination for wildlife safaris.

Great herds of gazelle, antelope and zebra can be seen grazing along the river beds as well as large herds of elephants moving from one corner of the park to the other. It is also possible to see prides of lions sleeping lazily under the shady trees or at least hear a lion’s roar echoing off the walls of the crater. This is an exciting, though at times, shocking experience. Birdwatchers will also enjoy visiting Ngorongoro. Lake Ndutu in the area is home to a thriving population of birds. Some of the bird species you will see here include stocks, ducks and flamingos among may more.

Serengeti National Park

The name Serengeti comes from the Maasai word “Siringit” meaning unending plains – aptly describing the open grassy plains that make up the national park. The 12,950 sq km national park is part of an ecosysytem that spans across the Kenya – Tanzania border into the Masai Mara game reserve. Serengeti’s diverse habitat enables the park to support more than 30 species of large mammals and about 500 species of birds.

The Serengeti hosts the largest and longest overland migration in the world, dubbed the Great Wildebeest Migration. The semi-annual occurrence that is said to be the world’s most spectacular wildlife show is one of the ten natural travel wonders of the world. Others include the Ngorongoro Crater and Victoria Falls.

The great wildebeest migration from Serengeti to the Mara generally takes place between July and August. It is however impossible to correctly predict its timing as it is largely dependent on the rain and pasture availability patterns. The reverse journey of the migration happens around October. About 2 million herbivores participate in the migration, with some of the most interesting moments being when they cross the Mara river in pursuit of greener pastures.

To get to Serengeti, you can travel both by road or by flight. It takes about 8 hours by road from Arusha, 320km away. By air, you can take a flight from Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha to Kirawira airstrip or Seronera airstrip or any of the other airstrips in Serengeti.

See great Tanzania vacations packages and also make your reservation for Tanzania hotels in the author’s website.

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