Top 5 Tanzania Wildlife Destinations

Tanzania has endless national parks, infinite wildlife, scenic landscapes and wonderful lodges that make an excellent vacation spot.

Camping in one of the national parks, amidst the African wilderness and beauty surrounding you, is an exceptional experience. Go with your friends and family and explore all that the country has to offer.

Traveling solo is also a great option because Tanzania is perfect for solo travelers. Here’s why!

While you’re there, you need to visit these top 5 Tanzania wildlife destinations:

1. Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park consists of some of the oldest ecosystems in the world! It’s an excellent hotspot for predators and you’re very likely to see a kill or two on your safari here.

The Serengeti is home to the Big 5, cheetahs, jackals, serval cats, giraffes, gazelles, elands, impalas, zebras, wildebeests, hippos, hyenas and over 500 species of birds!

Another spectacular wildlife highlight of Serengeti includes the Great Migration of Serengeti, which is a magnificent natural phenomenon whereby millions of wildebeests (and fewer zebras) migrate in a clockwise manner. The most interesting events of the migration include the Grumeti and Mara River crossings, where you get to see Nile crocodiles splash out of the water and hunt down some of the wildebeests.

Highlights:

• Hot air balloon safari available
• Many predators can be spotted here
• The Big 5 can be seen here, although the rhinos are hard to spot
• The Great Migration
• Scenic views

2. Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a haven for the Big 5 of Africa – elephants, lions, buffaloes, leopards and rhinos. All of them can be spotted here very easily! Apart from rhinos, the other 4 of the Big 5 can be found in many other national parks of Tanzania. The presence of black rhinos makes the Ngorongoro Conservation Area a wildlife hotspot! While the rhinos are usually shy and hide behind thick vegetation, they can be seen roaming around the open grassland here, making them very easy to spot.

The sheer diversity and concentration of animals here will leave you stunned. You can spot hippos, giraffes, wildebeests, zebras, cheetahs, jackals, flamingoes, and hyenas.

The Conservation Area is also home to the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world, the mighty Ngorongoro Crater!

Highlights:

• Big 5 – rhinos can be seen here easily
• Scenic landscapes and breath-taking views, especially in and around the crater
• High wildlife density
• Excellent for year-round wildlife viewing

3. Ruaha National Park

Ruaha National Park is a predator’s paradise and a true representation of the African wilderness in all its glory. It’s home to a large population of elephants and buffaloes.

Ruaha is best known for its African wild dog population, which is the 3^rd largest in the continent! Rare wildlife species you can spot here include sable and roan antelopes, greater kudus, lesser kudus, and striped hyenas.

Being a predator’s paradise, you can also sight leopards, lions, jackals, and cheetahs.

Other wildlife species that you can find here include buffaloes, zebras, impalas, bushbucks, waterbucks, giraffes, gazelles, hippos, zebras, and crocodiles.

Highlights:

• A large population of elephants
• Rare wildlife species
• Predator’s paradise
• Best place to spot African wild dogs
• Hot air balloon safari available
• Great place for birdwatching with over 400 bird species

4. Selous Game Reserve

Selous Game Reserve is an untouched, vast reserve that offers you all the exclusivity you need with nature! Since it forms part of the southern safari circuit, the Selous Game Reserve is unaltered by man. If you’re looking for African wilderness in its purest form, this is the place to be!

It’s a great place to observe unusual antelopes like sable and puku.

You can spot giraffes, buffaloes, lions, elephants, crocodiles, elands, hartebeest, waterbucks, impalas, zebras, wildebeests, hippos, hyenas, leopards, and African wild dogs!

Highlights:

• Canoe safari available
• Over 400 species of birds
• African wild dogs can be found here
• Rare antelopes like puku and sable antelopes can be spotted
• Raw natural beauty and wilderness

5. Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park is known for its unique tree-climbing lions, flamingoes and a large population of elephants. You can spot herds containing up to 300 elephants at once!

Unique wildlife species you can observe in Tarangire include pythons, long-necked gerenuks, and fringe-eared oryx.

Other wildlife species to see here include giraffes, elands, hartebeests, gazelles, hippos, buffalos, zebras, wildebeests, lions, and hyenas.

Highlights:

• You can spot tree-climbing lions
• Pythons, fringe-eared oryx, and long-necked gerenuks can be observed
• Large herds of elephants
• Scenic views
• Easily accessible

So, what are you waiting for? Head over to Tanzania and have a great time observing the African wilderness!