Welcome to the Tanzania National Parks, a complete visitor guide for tourists looking to explore Tanzania. This vital reference guide on Tanzania continues to provide a wealth of information to both the domestic and international tourism industry.
Over the past 20 years, Tanzania has emerged to be one of Africa’s most dynamic and popular travel destinations. Its lands encompass a staggering natural variety complemented by the innate hospitality of the people residing in there.
Major improvements in air access, new luxury hotels, improved infrastructure in terms of quality road networks roads on safari circuits are some of the critical factors contributing to Tanzania tourism development.
In conjunction with this development, nature conservation has formed a significant part in Tanzania’s tourism. The industry’s mission is to develop sustainable quality tourism that is ecologically friendly to the conservation of natural habitats and as applicable, restoration of the environment in view of the ecological systems as well as its people’s culture. Undoubtedly, these initiatives will see benefits for the present and future generations of mankind, as well as efficiently providing high-class tourism products and services.
We welcome everyone to enjoy this country ‘s rich and wild natural attractions. Stretching from the Indian Ocean coastline studded with postcard-perfect beaches, to the millions of wildebeest migrating across the plains of the Serengeti Game Park.
Karibu Tanzania.
About Tanzania
Extraordinary natural resources making it one of the last sanctuaries of this continent and its ancient and modern history, make Tanzania one of the most outstanding African nations.
With a total area of 945,087 sq km, nearly a quarter of which protected by national parks, hunting reserves and controlled zones, Tanzania is considered one of the cradles of humanity.
Some of Africa’s most famous symbols are situated within its vast territory:
Mount Kilimanjaro, the craters of Ngorongoro, the Serengeti national park, the island of Zanzibar, the great lakes Victoria, Tanganyika and Malawi (Nyasa).
The landscape is extremely varied and the equatorial macroclimate undergoes considerable fluctuations from one area to another.
The United Republic of Tanzania was born on 26 April 1964 out of the Act of Union between Tanganyika (former territory with British trusteeship under UN mandate) with Zanzibar, Pemba and other islands in the Indian Ocean (former British colony).
Tanzania is bounded by Kenya and Uganda in the north, Zaire, Burundi and Rwanda in the west, and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique in the south.
The Tanzanian coastline (1,424 Km) tends to be flat and low but the greater part of the country is formed by a plateau at an average altitude of 1,200 metres. Isolated mountains rise to considerable heights in the northwest and southeast.
The 5,900-metre-high volcano of Kilimanjaro (currently inactive) is Africa’s highest mountain.
The three great African lakes partially bound the country: Lake Victoria in the northwest, Lake Tanganyika in the west and Lake Malawi (Nyasa) in the southwest. Lakes Tanganyika and Malawi lie in the Rift Valley, the spectacular geological formation crossing the globe from Turkey to Mozambique.
Travelling Tanzania
In addition to the standard information available in any good guidebook on Tanzania, you may wish to know more.
The Northern Circuit – Nearly everything has been written about the Northern Circuit in available guidebooks. We should point out that twice a year you can observe the migration of animals from Serengeti (Tanzania) to Masai Mara (Kenya). These migrations coincide with two low seasons (June and end of January/February) and provide a valid motive for increasing visits.
The choice of lodges or tent-sites in the Serengeti Park should be made according to the animals present in the various areas.
Tourist interested in travelling in mobile camps can choose from a series of incredibly interesting itineraries including Lake Natron in the Rift Valley overlooked by Ol Doynjo Lengai, a huge volcano which has been inactive for some years now and considered by the Masai to be one of the manifestations of their god.
Southern Circuit – Although more and more people are visiting the Selous Park and the Mikumi Park is easily reached from Dar es-Salaam, the Southern Circuit is one of the least touristic itineraries in the whole of Africa although it includes sites of outstanding natural beauty.
You can find descriptions of the various parks forming this circuit (Selous Game Reserve, Mikumi National Park e Ruaha National Park) in the guidebooks, although little reference is made to some of the possible itineraries and variations.
For example, in the dry season (from July to December) you can cross the mountains separating the Selous Park from the Mikumi Park (an integrated ecosystem) by car, passing through the city of Morogoro. The landscape is outstandingly beautiful and varied. From the savannah in the lower Selous Park area and the hillside bush, you go through a series of villages in a lush green setting before climbing up the intensively cultivated slopes of the Uluguru Mountains, full of torrents, dotted with numerous little hamlets and sculpted by terracing. The trip is demanding and takes up a whole day, but it will allow you to visit absolutely unspoilt areas with surprisingly different microclimates.
Responsible for the vast variety of panoramas in the Selous Park area is the River Rufiji which also provides the possibility of watching animals from a boat. You will see countless birds, hippopotamuses and crocodiles as well as herds of giraffes, elephants and buffalo with their peculiar charm. You will also encounter that special feeling here so typical of the huge northern parks, whether you’re travelling by jeep or trekking with rangers.
The Ruaha Park is probably the least visited of Tanzania’s big parks. The number of tourists is always extremely low and you will feel like exclusive guests in a huge ecosystem. A lovely river, somewhat smaller than the Rufiji, adds a special touch to the landscape. This park is particularly suited to mobile camps thanks to the authorised camping areas along the river. There is only one lodge in the interior with a very suggestive satellite camp.
Those tourists interested in personalised expeditions integrated with the use of mobile camps, lodges or guesthouses can choose from a number of exclusive itineraries. The whole of south Tanzania is a barely explored universe where you can travel for days and days without meeting any Westerners apart from the rare missionary and international aid worker. Tourism is practically non-existent giving you the opportunity to experience an unspoilt social reality. Travelling along rough tracks only passable by jeep, you will pass through a vast variety of landscapes dominated by endless bush. The itineraries all end with your arrival on the coast in the town of Mtwara, on the border with Mozambique. You will enjoy the beautiful sea stretching to the towns of Lindi and Kilwa which are also departure points for the Mafia archipelago (see previous itineraries).