Top 10 Best National Parks in Tanzania for Safaris in 2026: Ultimate Guide

Tanzania has 22 parks managed by TANAPA (Tanzania National Parks Authority). We focus on the top 10 parks for safaris in Tanzania. The parks are grouped by circuits. This helps plan trips. We have included details for 2026, such as best times to visit, entry fees, and useful tips.

In 2026, conservation work will continue to increase animal numbers, such as rhinos in Ngorongoro. Ongoing solar power initiatives are expanding in areas like Ruaha. Entry fees will stay the same as 2025. Book early, as lodges in popular parks during peak season fill quickly. At Tanzania Safari Desire, we offer trips that are affordable and comfortable. These include family game drives and eco-friendly lodges.

Planning a Tanzania safari in 2026? Explore the top 10 national parks in Tanzania, from the Northern Circuit’s iconic wildlife to the Southern Circuit’s untouched wilderness. This guide highlights the best parks in Tanzania for wildlife, ensuring unforgettable Tanzania safari adventures.

The Northern Tanzania safari parks are the most visited and include some of the best parks in Northern Tanzania. These destinations offer classic Tanzania wildlife safaris ideal for first-time visitors and families.

Spanning roughly 300 kilometers around Arusha, this circuit encompasses world-renowned parks such as Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara. Its accessibility from Kilimanjaro International Airport makes it ideal for first-time visitors, families, and photographers seeking a classic safari adventure.

Typical safaris in this region last between three and seven days, offering a perfect blend of dramatic landscapes, abundant wildlife, and diverse ecosystems—from the endless Serengeti plains to the misty highlands of Ngorongoro.

1. Serengeti National Park: Main Area for the Great Migration

Serengeti National Park was established in 1921 as a small game reserve by the British colonial administration. It started with only 800 acres to protect animals from hunting. In 1951, it became Tanzania’s first national park.It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981 due to its unique ecosystems and wildlife.

Today, the park covers 14,763 square kilometers, which is larger than some U.S. states. It is divided into central plains, northern woodlands, and southern grasslands. The park faces challenges like poaching, planned tarmac roads and dams on the Mara River, but conservation efforts protect its biodiversity.

The park is known for the Great Migration. Past estimates put the wildebeest at 1.3 million, but a 2025 AI-satellite survey has revised this to fewer than 600,000, along with 200,000 zebras and gazelles, moving 800 km each year. Calving happens from January to March in the south. River crossings occur from July to October, where crocodiles hunt the animals

• Main Animals: All Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo). Also cheetahs that run at 100 km/h, over 500 bird species, and about 50 black rhinos protected by patrols. The park has over 2 million ungulates and 4,000 lions.
• Key Activities: Safari game drives for up-close wildlife viewing. Hot air balloon rides ($599 per person for morning views). Bush meals including breakfasts or lunches amid the plains, and sundowners with sunset drinks and canapés.
• Recommended Lodging: Four Seasons Serengeti ($800 per night, includes meals). It has tents with pools overlooking migration paths.

2. Ngorongoro Crater: Area with High Animal Density
   

Ngorongoro Crater formed about 2.5 million years ago when a giant volcano (larger than Mt Kilimanjaro) collapsed after a large eruption. This created the world’s largest intact caldera, 260 square kilometers in size and 610 meters deep.The area was established in 1959 as a conservation zone where Maasai people live with wildlife. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 for its role in human history, including Olduvai Gorge nearby, known as the “Cradle of Mankind.”

Conservation focuses on protecting animals including the black rhinos, with numbers increasing after relocations.

The crater acts like a natural zoo due to its walls, which keep animals inside. It supports about 25,000 large mammals in a small space. Lakes like Magadi attract flamingos, and forests provide habitat for rhinos and leopards.

• Main Animals: High numbers of Big Five, including 75 lions in Lerai Forest. Also jackals, hippos, and around 40 black rhinos after 2025 relocations. Zebras, wildebeests, and buffaloes are common. Check out more about The Ngorongoro Crater.
• Key Activities: Full-day visits with picnic lunches  at the Crater’s floor. Trips to Olduvai Gorge for 1.8-million-year-old fossils. Photographic safaris are popular due to the dramatic views.
• Recommended Lodging: Ngorongoro Serena ($350 per night). It is on the crater rim with views and family rooms.

  

3. Tarangire National Park: Best for Elephants

Tarangire National Park which is often overlooked, was founded in 1970 to protect its river and wildlife from farming expansion. It covers 2,850 square kilometers and is part of the Northern Circuit.

The park is named after the Tarangire River, which provides water during dry seasons. It has diverse habitats like swamps, grasslands, and woodlands and the park is dotted with baobabs. Conservation efforts target elephant protection, as the park has one of Africa’s largest populations.

Tarangire National Park – The elephant’s playground

Over 3,000 elephants gather here in dry seasons, making it a key site for sightings. The park also hosts a mini-migration of zebras and wildebeests as well as the migration of elephants between Tarangire and Manyara through wildlife corridors like Kwa kuchinja. It is a birdwatcher’s paradise with over 550 species.

• Main Animals: Large elephant groups, tree-climbing pythons, oryx, and 550 bird species like lilac-breasted rollers. Also lions, cheetahs, and elands.
• Key Activities: Game drives along the river. Visit Maasai villages around the park for beading activities. Walking safaris inside the park and outside the park’s boundaries with masai warriors, night drives and hot air balloon safaris are available in 2026.
• Recommended Lodging: Oliver’s Camp Tents, Kuro Treetop Lodge, Mpingo Ridge and Serian Tented Camp.

4. Lake Manyara National Park: Small Lush Green Park in the Rift Valley

Lake Manyara was established in 1960 as one of Tanzania’s early protected areas. It covers 330 square kilometers along the Great Rift Valley escarpment. The park includes Lake Manyara, which changes size with seasons, and groundwater forests. It was named after the Maasai word for the Euphorbia tiruccali tree. Conservation protects many animals including tree-climbing lions, zebras, impalas, buffaloes among others, as well as bird habitats.

The park is compact but diverse, with soda lakes drawing flamingos and forests hiding lions. It has over 400 bird species and is a stop for migrants.

• Main Animals: Up to 100 lions (many climb trees), thousands of flamingos in wet season, baboons, and blue monkeys. Also elephants, giraffes, and hippos.
• Key Activities: Safari game drives, walking safaris, canopy walks, night game drives, and Canoe rides depending on water levels. Visiting hot springs is also available.
• Recommended Lodging: Lake Manyara Tree Lodge. Treehouses with lake views.

The Southern Tanzania safari parks offer off-the-beaten-path; a more secluded and authentic safari experience , perfect for longer Tanzania safari experiences.

The Southern Circuit lies approximately 500 kilometers south of Dar es Salaam, this region is ideal for extended safaris, typically lasting seven to ten days, often incorporating fly-in transfers between parks to maximize time in the wild.

In addition to traditional game drives, the Southern Tanzania Safari Circuit offers a range of unique experiences, including boat safaris, walking safaris, night game drives, and fly camping—perfect for travelers seeking adventure beyond the usual routes. The region encompasses spectacular reserves such as Ruaha, Selous (Nyerere National Park), and Mikumi, where vast landscapes and abundant wildlife create unforgettable encounters.

5. Ruaha National Park: Large Park for Predators

Ruaha was gazetted in 1964 from the former Rungwa Game Reserve. It covers 20,000 square kilometers, making it Tanzania’s second-largest park. Named after the Great Ruaha River, it has miombo woodlands and rocky hills. It is a key conservation area for wild dogs and elephants, with efforts to protect against poaching. The park has Tanzania’s largest elephant population and 10% of Africa’s lions. It is recognized as an Important Bird Area with 574 species. Wild dogs hunt in packs here.

Nestled in the heart of Tanzania, Ruaha National Park stands as a true powerhouse for big cats, boasting one of Africa’s largest and most thriving lion populations—estimated at over 3,000 individuals, which accounts for more than 10% of the continent’s remaining wild lions. Some sightings have recorded massive prides of up to 20 members prowling the vast savannas, offering safari-goers an unparalleled glimpse into the raw majesty of these apex predators.

• Main Animals: 10% of Africa’s lions, greater kudu, and 570 bird species. Also over 10,000 elephants and over 40 wild dog packs (Tanzania has about 2,300 total).
• Key Activities: Safari game drives during by day, Walking safaris with armed rangers/guides, Fishing for tigerfish in rivers, Night drives. Fly camping and hot air balloon safaris.
• Recommended Lodging: Jabali Ridge, Asanja Ruaha Camp, Ruaha River Lodge, Jongomero Camp, Mwagusi Camp and Kwihala Camp.

6. Nyerere National Park: Africa’s Aquatic Wilderness of Rivers and Floodplains

Dive into the heart of Tanzania’s watery wilds at Nyerere National Park, once the vast Selous Game Reserve established in 1896 by German colonizers. Renamed in 2019 to honor independence leader Julius Nyerere, this 30,893 km² behemoth—Africa’s largest national park, was upgraded to full national park status for ironclad protection, forming the core of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Selous ecosystem (though facing ongoing threats from the operational Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project since April 2025).

Recent conservation wins, including drone patrols and community ranger networks, have stabilized key species amid rising human pressures like illegal logging and settlements, with 2022 aerial surveys showing low poaching rates (e.g., elephant carcass ratio of just 0.8%).

Teeming with rivers, oxbow lakes, and floodplains, Nyerere is a biodiversity powerhouse: home to ~35,000 buffaloes (Tanzania’s second-largest herd after Serengeti), ~22,000 hippos (one of Africa’s densest concentrations), and ~8,300 elephants as part of a modestly recovering population (up from 2018 lows, with ecosystem-wide totals at ~20,000).

It also supports thriving lion prides—contributing to Tanzania’s continent-leading lion numbers—and over 440 bird species soaring across miombo woodlands and rocky outcrops.

• Main Animals: Massive hippo pods churning the Rufiji’s shallows, elusive African wild dog packs on the hunt, lions lounging by waterholes, plus expansive elephant herds and lurking Nile crocodiles for that primal thrill.
• Key Activities: Nyerere offers diverse activities. Unlike major parks in the Northern Tanzania Circuit, Nyerere offers walking safaris, night game drives, boat rides, fishing, on top of the traditional day safari game drives.
• Recommended Lodging: Great lodges and camps located inside Nyerere National Park include, Rufiji River Lodge, Serena Mivumo River Lodge, Roho ya Selous, Lake Manze Camp and the luxury camp called Siwandu Camp

7. Mikumi National Park: Tanzania’s Accessible Wilderness Near Dar es Salaam

Established in 1964, Mikumi National Park is Tanzania’s fourth-largest park, covering 3,230 square kilometers. Bordering Selous Game Reserve, it was created to protect key wildlife migration routes and remains a vital corridor for elephants and other large mammals.

The park’s highlight is the Mkata Floodplain, a fertile area that attracts a variety of animals throughout the year. Mikumi’s open savannas, dotted with iconic baobabs and tranquil hippo pools, give it the feel of a “mini-Serengeti.” Visitors can encounter a rich diversity of wildlife, including lions, giraffes, zebras, and over 300 bird species, making it a perfect destination for photographers, families, and first-time safari-goers.

• Main Animals: Lions, elephants, eland, and 300 birds. Also giraffes, zebras, and occasional leopards.
• Key Activities: Safari game drives on Mkata Floodplain and walking safaris.
• Recommended Lodging: Vuma Hills Tented Camp and the Stanley’s Kopje.

Mikumi National Park is one of the best national parks in Tanzania for a short safari from Dar es Salaam. Its open savannas and abundant wildlife make it a must-visit for any Tanzania safari.

Beyond the classic circuits, lesser-known national parks in Tanzania provide unique opportunities for off-the-beaten-path safaris in Tanzania, including remote Tanzania safari destinations like Katavi, Gombe, and Saadani.

Tanzania is home to a range of less-visited but equally remarkable parks in the west, east, and along the coast. These regions offer a mix of pristine wilderness, rare wildlife encounters, and unique landscapes, from the remote plains of Katavi to the chimpanzee forests of Gombe and the coastal beauty of Saadani. Perfect for adventurous travelers seeking seclusion, authentic experiences, and off-the-beaten-path safaris, these parks showcase Tanzania’s diverse natural heritage beyond the classic safari routes.

8. Katavi National Park (Western Tanzania): Remote Floodplains and Riverine Spectacles

Tucked away in western Tanzania, Katavi National Park was established in 1974 from the former Rukwa Game Reserve to safeguard its wildlife from rampant poaching and habitat loss. Spanning 4,471 km², it ranks as Tanzania’s fourth-largest national park (after Nyerere, Ruaha, and Serengeti), offering a raw, untouched wilderness with vast seasonal floodplains, palm-fringed lakes, and the meandering Katuma River that draws massive wildlife congregations during the dry months.

This remote gem is famed for its colossal buffalo herds—one of Tanzania’s largest concentrations, with thousands roaming the grasslands—and electrifying hippo pods along the Katuma, where groups of up to 500 individuals jostle and grunt in shallow pools, creating one of Africa’s most dramatic watery spectacles. Lions, leopards, elephants, and elusive wild dogs thrive here amid miombo woodlands, with over 400 bird species adding to the symphony.

• Main Animals: Towering elephant bulls, prowling lion prides, vast buffalo herds, and those boisterous hippo super-pods, plus crocodiles, giraffes, zebras, and antelopes like topi and eland.
• Key Activities: Game drives along floodplain edges, guided bush walks, Fly-camping in remote concessions for stargazing under unpolluted skies. Birdwatching tours peak in November–May.
• Recommended Lodging: Katavi Wilderness Camp (~$450 pp/night full-board)—intimate tents on the Katuma’s banks, with floodlit waterholes for nocturnal viewing and expert-guided night drives.
• Pro tip: Charter a flight from Arusha for the quickest access to this off-the-grid haven.

9. Gombe Stream National Park (Western Tanzania): Jane Goodall’s Chimpanzee Haven by Lake Tanganyika

Perched on the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika, Africa’s deepest lake, Gombe Stream National Park was established in 1968 to protect its irreplaceable primate habitats—building on Jane Goodall’s groundbreaking chimpanzee research that began in 1960.

This pint-sized gem spans just 52 km² (35 km² of forested land plus aquatic zones), featuring steep, rift-valley escarpments, tangled mahogany forests, and grassy beachfronts that feel worlds away from Tanzania’s vast plains.

In 2025, ongoing conservation through the Jane Goodall Institute has stabilized chimp numbers at around 100 individuals, while anti-poaching patrols safeguard the park’s fragile biodiversity amid climate pressures on the lake ecosystem.

A true primate paradise, Gombe teems with habituated chimpanzees—famed for tool-using behaviors observed by Goodall—alongside troops of olive baboons, red colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys swinging through the canopy.

Over 200 bird species flit about, from crested guineafowl to palm-nut vultures, with occasional sightings of bush pigs, hippos in the lake, and elusive leopards adding intrigue to the understory.

• Main Animals: Chimpanzees (playful families in the trees), baboons (loud groups on the ground), red colobus and blue monkeys (jumping in the branches), over 200 bird species, plus hippos and otters in Lake Tanganyika.

• Key Activities: Track habituated chimps on guided forest hikes. Kayak or snorkel along Tanganyika’s clear waters. Join birdwatching walks or cultural visits to nearby villages. Night hikes reveal nocturnal primates.
• Recommended Lodging: Mbali Mbali Gombe Lodge—rustic-chic tents steps from the beach and chimp trails, with lake views, en-suite baths, and expert guides sharing Goodall-inspired stories over campfire dinners.

10. Saadani National Park (Eastern Coast): Where Bush Meets Beach in Tanzania’s Only Coastal Safari

Blending untamed African bush with Indian Ocean shores, Saadani National Park was gazetted in 2002 from a 1960s game reserve to preserve its unique coastal corridor—now spanning 1,062 km² of mangrove swamps, acacia woodlands, and palm-lined beaches.

As Tanzania’s sole seaside national park, it safeguards vital turtle nesting grounds and migratory corridors, with 2025 marine patrols boosting green sea turtle sightings by 20% through beach cleanups and light-pollution controls.

This “13th park” delivers a rare fusion of safari and seaside relaxation, just a short hop from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar.

Saadani’s wildlife thrives in its riverine and coastal mosaics, hosting four of the Big Five—lions, elephants (iconic for wading onto beaches), Cape buffaloes, and leopards—plus hippo pods and Nile crocodiles along the Wami River.

Giraffes, zebras, and antelopes like eland and waterbuck graze the plains, while over 350 bird species (including fiery-necked nightjars) and marine life like dolphins round out the diversity.

• Main Animals: Beach-strolling elephant herds, stealthy leopards in the mangroves, grunting hippo families in river lagoons, lumbering buffaloes on grassy flats, plus zebras, giraffes, and nesting sea turtles hatching under the stars.

• Key Activities: Dawn game drives through bush, Boat cruises on the Wami River for croc and hippo spotting. Guided walking safaris or beachcombing and Turtle-watching tours (seasonal, June–October) and sunset dhow sails.
• Recommended Lodging: Saadani Safari Lodge)—thatched bungalows on a private beachfront, blending ocean breezes with bush views, infinity pools, and riverfront dinners where elephants might photobomb your meal.

Fees based on TANAPA 2025 rates (totals including 18% VAT). Changes possible after March 2026. Use our Safari Planner to customize.

Important Note on Fees: All entry fees listed below include 18% VAT (Value Added Tax) added to the base conservation fees (e.g., $70 base + 18% VAT = $82.60 total). These conservation fees are valid until 2026, but the Government of Tanzania (GOT) may revise them, sometimes with short notice.

Planning Your Safari: Best Times to Visit Tanzania in 2026

Tanzania has an equatorial climate with two rainy periods. Knowing the best time for a Tanzania safari in 2026 helps you plan your visit. Each park experiences unique conditions, so understanding Tanzania safari seasons is essential for both Northern Circuit safaris and Southern Circuit safaris.

• Dry Season (June-October): Animals gather at water. Best for Northern Circuit. Prices 20-50% higher.
• Short Rains (November-December): Green landscapes, fewer people, many birds. Good for budgets.
• Wet Season (January-May): Calving in February-March in Serengeti and Ndutu. Roads may be muddy. Southern parks are better.
• Note for 2026: Weather patterns will be more predictable after El Niño. Migration may start in June.

Practical Tips for Safaris in Tanzania Parks

• Save Money: Visit in low or shoulder seasons for 30% less cost.
• Sustainable Options: Choose TANAPA-approved lodges. Our partners give part of the profits to protection.
• For Families: Children aged 5-15 pay reduced fees. Please give us exact ages of children travelling with you.
• What to Bring: Binoculars (8×42 size), neutral-colored clothes, malaria medicine and other essential items. Read here on what to wear during your safari in Tanzania.
• Health and Safety: Get required vaccinations. Listen and follow the guide’s direction at all times. Adhrere to park rules and regulations at all ttimes to be safe on safari.

Top 10 Largest Tanzania National Parks by Size

Tanzania’s national parks feel like stepping into a wild dream—think endless grasslands buzzing with the Great Migration or foggy mountain woods hiding cheeky chimps. What’s wilder? The country pours over a quarter of its land—close to 40%—into conservation, way more than most places, keeping some of Earth’s most incredible animal hotspots safe and sound.

These 23 parks stretch across more than 99,000 km², giving you huge spaces to roam without the crowds, where the sheer size amps up those heart-pounding wildlife moments.

Our top 10 picks nail the must-visits for 2026/2027 safaris, zeroing in on the big thrills, easy access, and pure wildlife safari excitement.

Wondering which are the top 10 largest national parks in Tanzania? If you love scale, here’s a quick ranking by size, straight from TANAPA’s 2025 data. Even the smallest of these giants outshines many of its global counterparts.

Whether you explore the top national parks in Tanzania in the Northern or Southern Circuit, this guide helps you plan your Tanzania safari in 2026 for unforgettable wildlife adventures in Tanzania.

Tanzania’s parks offer direct views of African wildlife. In 2026, they provide strong opportunities for safaris. To plan your trip, book a custom safari now. Contact us with questions. Your trip can start today.

By Lucas Mombo, Founder of Safari Desire

Lucas Mombo is the founder of Safari Desire, a Tanzania- and Kenya-based safari company he established in 2014. He has worked as a safari consultant since 2008. With over 17 years of experience, he creates custom wildlife and cultural trips. He uses local knowledge to provide real African travel experiences. Follow safari updates and stories on #SafariDesire. Published November 2025 | Updated for 2026 Trips