National parks · Tanzania
The Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Tarangire and the private Mwiba reserve: a short guide to Tanzania’s parks, with links to our trips and articles.
National parks
Tanzania’s northern parks pair the Serengeti’s endless plains with the Ngorongoro Crater, the groundwater forest of Lake Manyara and the elephants of Tarangire.
The name comes from the Maasai word Siringet, “the place where the land stretches forever”. Our articles cover the park’s history and twelve facts about its wildlife.
Our Great Migration safari runs July to September; our calving season safari runs December to March.
Inside the crater rim, large herds of zebra and wildebeest graze close to lions, leopards, elephants and black rhinos. It is one of Tanzania’s major tourist drawcards.
A groundwater forest fed by underground springs, with elephants, hippos, giraffes, buffaloes and some of the largest baboon troops in Africa. Ernest Hemingway called it “the loveliest place I have seen in Africa”.
Our guide to the rules of safari singles out Tarangire for its herds of elephants.
A private reserve between the western border of Ngorongoro, the southern edge of the Serengeti and Lake Eyasi, with hills, cliffs and many rivers. It offers walking safaris and night drives.
Our Mwiba guide says to avoid April and May, the rainy season.
Trips
Journeys through Tanzania’s parks. Every trip is quoted for your dates and your party.
Read next
Three articles from our travel blog to read before you choose your parks.
The Serengeti’s endless golden plains or the Ngorongoro Crater’s ancient caldera: how to decide between them on a luxury safari.
Read the article
The name Serengeti comes from the Maasai word Siringet, “the place where the land stretches forever”.
Read the articleA private reserve between Ngorongoro, the southern Serengeti and Lake Eyasi, with no crowds of vehicles at a sighting.
Read the articlePlan my trip
Three fields and a few words about where and when. We read your note and reply by email.
There is no obligation. Every journey is quoted for your dates and your party.
Frequently asked questions
For the Great Migration in the northern Serengeti, July to September is the strongest window on our 10-day Serengeti and Ruaha route, when river crossings begin and Ruaha is at its driest. Our calving season safari runs December to March in the south. The long rains in April and May are the wettest months, and our Mwiba guide advises avoiding them.
Our Tanzania trips run from two days to fourteen. Three or four days covers the northern circuit of the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire. Ten days lets you follow the migration through the central and northern Serengeti and add Ruaha. Kenya combines well: our 13-day Magical Africa links the Masai Mara with the Serengeti.
Tanzania is best for open plains and large herds. The Serengeti offers the migration and big cats, and the Ngorongoro Crater holds zebra, wildebeest, lions, leopards, elephants and black rhinos on its floor. Tarangire is known for its elephants, Lake Manyara for its groundwater forest, and the private Mwiba reserve for walking safaris and night drives.
Entry and health rules depend on your nationality and change, so check the official source rather than a summary. For entry, see the Tanzania Immigration Services Department at immigration.go.tz. For health, see the Tanzania page on TravelHealthPro (travelhealthpro.org.uk) or speak to your travel clinic, and ask about malaria prevention early.
Game drives leave before dawn, so mornings are cool in an open vehicle. You return to camp for lunch and a rest, then head out again for an afternoon drive and sundowners. Some itineraries add a sunrise balloon flight. Where camps are far apart, light aircraft link them, and those flights are planned into your itinerary.
We tailor every trip. Send your dates, party size and interests through the enquiry form on this page, and we will reply by email with what is possible and a quote for your party. Camps near the Mara River book out first from July to October, so early dates help. Payment is by invoice.
Next step
Tell us when you would like to go and how many of you are travelling. We will reply with what is possible and a quote for your party.
