Tanzania wildlife safaris
Tanzania wildlife safaris : Tanzania is a destination that has so much to offer and wildlife viewing is among the many things that the country is known for. During wildlife safaris in Tanzania, there are many places where the tours can be done including national parks in Tanzania that are found in the north, south and western parts of the country.
The scenery around Tanzania’s wildlife viewing destinations is also beautiful and diverse consisting of savannah plains, acacia woodlands, riverine forests, swamps, floodplains as well as lakes and rivers.
Some of the popular wildlife safari destinations found in Tanzania include the following;
Serengeti national park which is among the large national parks of Tanzania and also one of the oldest parks of Tanzania which covers about 14,750 square kilometers
The national park is home to numerous wildlife species which can be seen during safaris and is also known for the wildebeest migration that takes place annually. The big five (elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalos) are also among the wildlife species found in Serengeti national park.
Serengeti national park is also a place where tourists can engage in a variety of activities during safaris when exploring the endless plains in the park. the activities carried our during safaris in Serengeti national park include game drives, hot air balloon safaris, nature walks, bird watching among others.
The national park can also be accessed by both road and air transport means during safaris in Tanzania and Serengeti national park is about 7 hour’s drive from Arusha town. The different airstrips found in the national park include Seronera, Kogatende, Kirawira, Lobo, Fort Ikoma, Ndutu, Grumeti among others.
Another destination in Tanzania which is known for wildlife viewing is the Ngorongoro conservation area. During tours around Ngorongoro, tourists explore the crater which is home to over 25,000 wildlife species.
The Ngorongoro conservation area is also a safari destination where the Maasai can be encountered and tourists can also visit the bomas of the Maasai during wildlife safaris around Ngorongoro.
The big five such as elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos and rhinos are also seen during safaris around Ngorongoro. Other wildlife species found around the Ngorongoro conservation area include waterbucks, wildebeests, antelopes, gazelles, impalas, zebras, kudu, hartebeests, hyenas, warthogs and many others.
Ngorongoro is also a UNESCO world heritage site and a volcanic caldera that is home to different wildlife species which can be seen during nature walks, game drives, hikes, hot air balloon safaris and cultural tours carried out during safaris.
Tarangire national park is another wildlife viewing destination to add on your list during a tour in Tanzania. This national park is famous for the large elephant herds that can be seen during safaris and baobab trees that make up the scenery around the park.
Safaris around Tarangire national park can be carried out at any time of the year and the park is crossed by Tarangire river which is a source of water for wildlife species especially in the dry season when wildlife gather around the river to drink.
The national park is about 3 hours’ drive from Arusha town and can be visited for tours as short as 1 day safaris in Tanzania since it is about 120 kilometers away from Arusha.
Wildlife safaris in Tanzania can also be done in Lake Manyara national park which despite its small size is home to a number of wildlife species including elephants, hippos, buffalos, lions, waterbucks, giraffes, antelopes and many others. The tree climbing lions can also be seen during a safari around Lake Manyara national park. Flamingos can also be seen during tours around this park.
Chimpanzees in Tanzania can also be seen during wildlife safaris to destinations like Gombe national park and Mahale national park found along the shores of Lake Tanganyika. These parks are however found in a remote part of Tanzania and are not as highly visited as the parks in the northern part of Tanzania.
Ruaha national park and Nyerere national park are also places in Tanzania where wildlife safaris can be carried out. Nyerere national park was formerly Selous game reserve and is among the wildlife parks found in the southern part of Tanzania. The southern part of Tanzania is the best for remote safaris in Tanzania and tourists can enjoy a wildlife viewing experience without having to deal with tourist crowds during safaris.
In Tanzania there are many other locations to visit not only for wildlife viewing but also to take part in hikes, cultural tours, beach holidays among other activities which can be done in locations like Kilimanjaro national park, Zanzibar island as well as around the towns in Tanzania.
Wildlife safaris in Tanzania can be done at any time of the year however the best time for wildlife viewing is during the months of June, July, August, September and also October when wildlife species gather around water sources in the parks. Safaris can also be done during the rainy seasons from March, April and May and also in November.
The difference between the times of the year when safaris are carried out is that during the high season prices tend to be high while in the low season the price of the safaris are cost friendly.
When visiting Tanzania for wildlife safaris, tourists can visit the parks as part of groups or as part of private safaris. Solo travel is also possible in Tanzania which is a safe country for tours.
Group tours have scheduled dates while private tours can be done at any month of the year during wildlife safaris in Tanzania. The group safaris also tend to be more cost friendly as compared to private safaris.
Some of the costs incurred during wildlife safaris around Tanzania include park entrance fee, concession fees, vehicle fees, camping fees, guide and vehicle charges, accommodation and meal costs.
The park entrance fees vary from one park to another and are charged according to nonresidents, residents/expatriates and also East Africans or Tanzanian citizens.
Visit Tanzania and enjoy a wildlife safari across the different parks during the year.
