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Landscapes and Wildlife Tanzania is a country comprising all the landscapes that please the eyes with the most diverse wildlife, and adventure seekers flock from all over the world to the national parks in Tanzania. From the iconic Serengeti, home of the world-famous Great Migration, to the soaring peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania’s national parks offer the best of Africa’s natural wonders. Walk through the verdant Ngorongoro Crater, enjoy a serene boat safari at Nyerere National Park, or go birdwatching on the shores at Lake Manyara, each park provides its own adventure.
10 Must Visit National Parks In Tanzania
Explore national parks in Tanzania and be among beautiful landscapes and wildlife. The following entry fee price is for foreigners only.
1. Serengeti National Park
Photo: Giles Laurent / Wikimedia Commons
Serengeti National Park is one of the most famous wildlife destinations in Africa. Every year, more than two million wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles cross this vast grassland searching for water and food. The park covers roughly 14,763 square kilometres and features neverending savannahs, acacia forests, and kopjes-rock formations that serve as lookout points for predators like lions and leopards. You can see the cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, and more than 500 bird species, including ostriches and secretary birds. Activities in the Serengeti include game drives, hot air balloon safaris, and cultural excursions to nearby Maasai villages.
Location: Northern Tanzania, bordering Kenya
Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
Entry Fee: $60 for adults, $20 for children
2. Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Photo: Zenith4237 / Wikimedia Commons
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of the most photographed and most popular tourist destinations in Tanzania, known for its stunning scenery, diverse wildlife, and history. The main attraction of the region is the Ngorongoro Crater, which is a large and intact volcanic caldera that measures 260 square kilometres. The crater was formed almost three million years ago and has an incredibly high density of wildlife populations, including lions, black rhinos, hippos, elephants, and thousands of flamingos scattered throughout its alkaline lakes. The Olduvai Gorge falls within the area, and its accompanying museum is open to visitors.
Location: Northern Tanzania
Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
Entry Fee: $70 for adults, $25 for children
3. Mount Kilimanjaro National Park
Photo: Erasmus Kamugisha / Wikimedia Commons
Mount Kilimanjaro National Park is a trekker’s paradise, attracting millions of adventurers across the globe. The park is dominated by Africa’s tallest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, and offers dramatic landscapes ranging from lush tropical forests through alpine meadows to icy glaciers at the summit. There are three volcanic cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. The Kilimanjaro Mountain is ideal for climbers and has routes like Marangu, Machame, and Lemosho that are of different degrees.
Location: Northeastern Tanzania, near Moshi town
Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
Entry Fee: $70
4. Tarangire National Park
Photo: Zenith4237 / Wikimedia Commons
The Tarangire National Park is one of Northern Tanzania’s lesser-known safari destinations. Famous for its sprawling plains studded with ancient baobab trees, the park stretches out over an area of 2,850 square kilometres and supports one of East Africa’s largest elephant populations. In the dry season, the Tarangire River is a life force for animals, attracting large groups of elephants, zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, and predators such as lions and leopards. You can enjoy game drives, walking safaris, and cultural tours to nearby communities to learn about the Barabaig and Maasai tribes and their ways.
Location: Northern Tanzania
Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
Entry Fee: $50 for adults, $15 for children
5. Lake Manyara National Park
Photo: Salix Oculus / Wikimedia Commons
Though slightly smaller than other areas in Tanzania, Lake Manyara National Park packs in a remarkably diverse ecosystem, including groundwater forest, savanna, and the alkaline waters of Lake Manyara. The most well-known in the park is the population of tree-climbing lions, perched on branches. To escape the heat and insects. The park is also home to large herds of elephants, giraffes, hippos, and baboons, making it a wildlife hotspot. During the wet months, Lake Manyara is filled with thousands of pink flamingos.
Location: Northern Tanzania
Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
Entry Fee: $45 for adults, $15 for children
6. Ruaha National Park
Photo: Richard Mortel / Wikimedia Commons
Ruaha National Park is the largest national park in Tanzania, at over 20,000 square kilometres. It is an unexplored gem situated in the southern circuit, away from the crowd. Deriving its name from the Great Ruaha River, the park runs through it, and wildlife draws sustenance in the otherwise dry stretches of the region. The park boasts large herds of elephants and buffalos, several lions, along with more unusual species such as the African wild dog and sable antelope. It has 570 bird species, including most of the migrants, such as the European roller and African fish eagle. Enjoy the stunning backdrops in game drives and walking safaris.
Location: Southern Tanzania, west of Iringa
Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
Entry Fee: $30 for children, $10 for adults
7. Nyerere National Park
Photo: Erasmus Kamugisha / Wikimedia Commons
Previously, the home to Selous Game Reserve and now Nyerere National Park is one of Africa’s largest reserves, covering an area of more than 30,000 square kilometres. It provides a special type of wildlife safari and riverine experience as it is crossed by the mighty Rufiji River. This river, through its network of channels, lakes, and swamps, provides a habitat for crocodiles and hippos. The reserve has plenty of wildlife, including elephants, lions, cheetahs, African wild dogs, and over 400 bird species. Here, boat safaris are allowed, providing an interesting way to view wildlife along the water’s edge with walking safaris and traditional game drives.
Location: Southern Tanzania, southwest of Dar es Salaam
Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
Entry Fee: $50 for adults, $20 for children
8. Mikumi National Park
Photo: Adam Jones / Wikimedia Commons
Mikumi National Park forms part of the southern circuit and provides an easy-access safari experience near Dar es Salaam. The park covers an area of 3,230 square kilometres and features open savannahs, scattered acacia trees, and baobabs. Like Serengeti, Mikumi resembles its scenery much more than other national parks in Tanzania. It also hosts plenty of wildlife, including lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, and thousands of elephants. For a better experience, Mikumi is often combined with visits to the Udzungwa Mountains National Park in Tanzania.
Location: Southern Tanzania, west of Dar es Salaam
Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
Entry Fee: $30 for adults, $10 for children
9. Arusha National Park
Photo: Sikjunior / Wikimedia Commons
While Arusha National Park covers only 552 square kilometres, it does contain one of the most diverse ecosystems found in Tanzania. Situated close to Arusha city, this park is an ideal day trip for tourists who are just starting their exploration of Tanzania. The park boasts beautiful lush montane forests, rolling savannahs, and Mount Meru, which is Tanzania’s second-highest mountain at 4,566 meters. Arusha National Park offers sightings of large herds of giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, and colobus monkeys.
Location: Northern Tanzania, northeast of Arusha
Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
Entry Fee: $45 for adults, $15 for children
10. Katavi National Park
Photo: Tobias Brixen / Wikimedia Commons
Katavi National Park stands out as one of the least visited national parks in Tanzania. Spanning 4,471 square kilometres, vast floods, seasonal lakes, and even miombo woodlands largely compose the park. Katavi is known to host large numbers of buffalos, elephants, hippos, and crocodiles in the Katuma River. Lions, leopards, and hyenas are very common predators and host 400 birds and more during the rainy season when these migratory birds come there. Walking safaris are also great for you to bond with nature.
Location: Southwestern Tanzania, Mpanda town
Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
Entry Fee: $30 for adults, $10 for children
National Parks in Tanzania are amazing places where the discovery of wildlife up close brings surrealism and wonderful scenery, letting the park be an entrance to adventures beyond comparison. For family trips, romantic getaways, or solo travel, every National park in Tanzania is suitable for creating unique and adventurous memories. Book your trip with TripXL and experience the Tanzanian lifestyle.
Cover Photo: Gary Bembridge / Wikimedia Commons
