The 10 Best Safari Parks in Tanzania

Serengeti National Park is without a doubt one of the best safari parks in Africa. It’s renowned for providing incredible opportunities to witness the Great Migration, a year-round spectacle where around 1.5 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebras thunder across the plains in search of fresh grazing and water.    
The migration is one of the seven wonders of Africa and a highlight of any safari adventure. However, it is just one of the reasons why the Serengeti is the most famous safari park in Tanzania. It’s also celebrated for its rich variety of wildlife.    

The Serengeti’s extraordinary diversity extends to its landscapes, which feature endless savannahs, intriguing Kopje rock formations, and lush woodlands—making it a paradise for photographers. Spot big cats like lions, leopards, and cheetahs, along with rarer small felines such as caracals and servals. The park is also home to the entire range of Africa’s famous mammals and reptiles.

The park can get busy during peak season, but due to its vast size of over 14,750 square kilometres, there are always plenty of quiet spots to explore. We’d recommend visiting the Southern Serengeti (Kusini) between January and March or the Western Corridor from June to July if you’re seeking a quieter atmosphere.     

Extending to 56,000 square kilometres, Nyerere National Park and Selous Game Reserve are, together, the largest single protected area in Africa. 

Despite this claim, Nyerere remains off the beaten track and underexplored by travellers, offering an immersive and exclusive safari experience. Located in southern Tanzania, it’s far from the famous parks along the Northern circuit.

Within the park’s vast landscape of open plains and dense woodlands, lies the Great Rufiji River and big lakes. Visiting this park presents a rare opportunity to get up close to Africa’s aquatic wildlife. Not only does this picturesque waterway lend itself perfectly to those wanting to go on a photography safari, but it makes Nyerere one of the only two parks in East Africa where you can do a boat safari.

Nyerere is the best safari park in Tanzania for seeing the endangered African Hunting Dogs (wild dogs). It is also home to lots of other wildlife including elephants, lions, leopards, hyenas, impala and hippos. 

Another great thing about this Tanzania safari park is the sensational bird-watching opportunities on offer. Over 440 species of birds have been recorded, including rarely-spotted species such as Pel’s fishing owls and white-backed herons. 

While Nyerere National Park remains one of the more under-the-radar safari parks in Tanzania, the northeast of the park is accessible from Zanzibar. This means that it is quite popular with day trippers from the island. For a quieter safari experience, focus on the north-west.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the best safari park in Tanzania for wildlife diversity density. Nicknamed Africa’s Eden, it has the densest populations of large mammals in Africa. The conservation area also happens to be the largest intact volcanic caldera on Earth and a geographical marvel in itself.

Wherever you look, you’ll see one of the world’s most celebrated species wandering through the incredible wetlands, grasslands and forests of the extinct volcano crater. The wildlife in Ngorongoro Conservation Area includes wildebeest, zebras, elephants, lions, hippos, waterbucks, leopards and hyenas. It is also the best place to see the rare black rhino. 

Along with providing an open stage of the most famous animals in Tanzania, Ngorongoro Crater is very interesting culturally, as many Maasai people live in the highlands of the conservation area. This nomadic tribe moves with the water and men and boys can often be seen herding the livestock, while the women watch over the children. 

World-renowned for being one of the best locations for a Tanzania safari, Ngorongoro Conservation Area is often quite popular amongst travellers. Given its compact size it can get quite busy, so a half-day safari is the perfect way to explore the park. Serving up abundant wildlife amid some of Africa’s most unique and stunning landscapes, it’s hard to top the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Offering a unique combination of marine and land safari, Saadani is one of the best safari parks in the world. It provides a spectacular bush-meets-beach experience and is one of only two parks in East Africa to do so. The variety of activities on offer makes this one of the top African safari parks for families. 

You can go on boat safaris along the Wami River to see hippo pods and sleepy crocodiles sunbathing on the banks. You can also visit Saadani’s Madete Marine Park to learn about the fascinating conservation work it does to protect the endangered green turtles. 

The park is home to 30 species of large mammals, including lions, buffalo, and giraffes, but is particularly famous for its elephant herds. On safari, you can see hundreds of elephants gathering together to meet and socialise. 

One thing to be aware of is that seasonality can greatly affect your experience at Saadani. As one of the smaller parks, wildlife can be harder to spot during the rainy season due to thick vegetation. July to September and January and June are great times to visit.

We particularly recommend visiting Saadani between July and September, as this is the turtles’ hatching season. During this time, you can watch tiny hatchlings making their first journey from the sandy shores to the ocean  - unlikely to return to their beach of birth for another 50 years. 

To make your experience more enriching, you can visit our research centre at Simply Saadani Camp to learn more about  Tanzania’s wildlife that you encounter during your trip. 

Tarangire is one of the best safari locations in Tanzania. It is renowned for its impressive elephant herds, abundant wildlife, and distinctive baobab trees. Its varied landscapes and exceptional animal sightings make it a favourite among safari-goers. 

The park is located near Arusha, the safari capital of Tanzania. This makes it accessible and means it can be easily included as part of a broader safari itinerary, combining visits to other notable parks like Manyara, Ngorongoro, and the Serengeti.

Tarangire is home to a diverse range of wildlife, from zebras and gazelles to lions and hippos. However, it is important to plan your visit carefully, as wildlife viewing opportunities are significantly impacted by the seasons in this park. 

The dry season runs from July to October and tends to offer the best game-viewing opportunities. However, this is also often the most popular time to visit. For this reason,  you may want to get in touch with our team of safari experts before booking your trip, to ensure you visit at the best time for you.

If you’re looking for the best safari parks in Tanzania for seeing rare birds, Lake Victoria is the place for you. Here you’ll be able to see the incredible species including the legendary shoebill, otherwise known as the ‘dinosaur bird’, along with egrets, cormorants and gannets.

This bird watchers' paradise is Africa’s largest lake and the third-largest in the world. It lies firmly off the beaten track, offering a peaceful and authentic safari experience. The lake’s vast blue waters host an abundant ecosystem, while its shores are studded with flourishing banana trees.

Alongside its impressive bird species, Lake Victoria is also home to many other exciting creatures including marsh mongooses, hippos, reedbucks, Nile crocodiles, otters and various types of turtles.

While exploring Lake Victoria, you can visit the Chimpanzee sanctuary on Rubondo Island. Here, take nature walks and boating safaris amongst the playful primates. You’ll also be able to visit tribal fishing villages to discover more about the local way of life.

Burigi-Chato National Park, the Serengeti Wetlands and Saanane National Park are also great places to visit while on safari in Lake Victoria. 

It is worth noting that Lake Victoria lies in a remote location which means it has fewer accommodations and less modern infrastructure. However, with the help of an experienced safari provider familiar with the area, these challenges only add to the adventure.

Gombe National Park is the best safari park in Tanzania for seeing chimpanzees. It is where the legendary zoologist, Jane Goodall, pioneered her legendary research into the genetic links between chimpanzees and humans.

In this lush rainforest, you can watch chimpanzees gracefully swinging from tree to tree and darting across the jungle canopy. You'll also witness their social behaviours, as they play and groom each other amid the lush vegetation.

Beyond its primates, Gombe is also one of the best safari destinations in Tanzania for birdwatchers. African fish eagles, palm-nut vultures and African paradise flycatchers are all commonly spotted here. Emerald Schalow’s turacos are also sometimes seen by the park’s beautiful lake shore.

Gombe National Park is one of Tanzania’s more remote and less-explored parks, offering a chance to see its rare species with few other travellers around However, its secluded location means there are limited accommodation options. With this in mind, it’s best to book a visit to this Tanzania safari to this park well in advance to secure availability. 

Pristine and untouched, Ruaha is another of the best safari parks in Tanzania. Its remote location has kept it relatively undiscovered, making it a hidden gem in the country’s travel scene. As one of Africa’s largest parks, Ruaha boasts an impressive array of wildlife.

The park is renowned for its large herds of elephants and large greater kudu antelope population. On top of these wonderful mammals, there are also giraffes, cheetahs, leopards, lions, hartebeest and hyenas in Ruaha, along with more than 570 bird species.

Ticking the boxes for an off-the-beaten-path experience without skimping on wildlife sightings, Ruaha is easily one of the top national parks in Tanzania for safari. However, game viewing here is highly influenced by the seasons.

For the best experience, we recommend visiting during the dry season which runs between July and October. Despite falling under peak visiting season, Ruaha’s remote location ensures it remains uncrowded.

Situated in the Morogoro Region, Mikumi National Park is another of the top national parks for safari in Tanzania. The landscape itself is UNESCO-protected and absolutely stunning, a mosaic of vast grassy plains, savannahs, wetlands, expansive woodlands, and dramatic mountain ranges.

This varied scenery isn’t just beautiful to look at — it also creates the perfect environment for a wide range of wildlife. In Mikumi, you’ll find hippos, crocodiles, giraffes, zebras, elephants, lions, and several species of antelope.

If you’re into birdwatching, you’re also in for a treat as there are over 400 species of birds to see. On top of offering a fantastic safari experience, Mikumi is easy to get to as there is road access from Dar Es Salaam, making it a great choice for families seeking both adventure and convenience.

One thing to keep in mind is that the park's accessibility means it can be a bit pricey and popular with day-trippers from Zanzibar. However, with some careful planning, you will enjoy one of the best safari experiences in Tanzania