Tanzania safari destinations
Where to go, what each park does best, and how to thread them into one trip.
Tanzania's two safari regions
Tanzania splits neatly in two. The northern circuit, the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Lake Manyara, is the classic first safari. The parks sit close together and you can drive between them, so a week covers a lot of ground.
The southern and western parks, Nyerere and Ruaha, are wilder and quieter. You reach them by light aircraft, and they make a fine second trip once the headline sights are behind you.
Tanzania's top safari parks
Filter by region, or read the full guides for the Serengeti and Ngorongoro.
Serengeti
Open plains that run to the horizon, the Great Migration, and the finest big cats in Africa.
Serengeti safari guide →Ngorongoro Crater
A collapsed volcano holding 25,000 animals, and the surest Big Five sighting in the country.
Ngorongoro safari guide →Tarangire
Big elephant herds and ancient baobabs, with a fraction of the Serengeti's vehicles.
Elephants, June to OctoberLake Manyara
Tree-climbing lions, a pink rim of flamingos, and lush forest fed by underground springs.
A scenic half-day stopNyerere (Selous)
A vast, quiet wilderness where you can swap the vehicle for a boat on the Rufiji River.
Boat safaris and wild dogRuaha
Remote and rugged, with some of the largest lion prides anywhere and very few people.
Big prides, real wildernessSerengeti
Open plains that run to the horizon, the Great Migration, and the finest big cats in Africa.
Serengeti safari guide →Ngorongoro Crater
A collapsed volcano holding 25,000 animals, and the surest Big Five sighting in the country.
Ngorongoro safari guide →Tarangire
Big elephant herds and ancient baobabs, with a fraction of the Serengeti's vehicles.
Elephants, June to OctoberLake Manyara
Tree-climbing lions, a pink rim of flamingos, and lush forest fed by underground springs.
A scenic half-day stopNyerere (Selous)
A vast, quiet wilderness where you can swap the vehicle for a boat on the Rufiji River.
Boat safaris and wild dogRuaha
Remote and rugged, with some of the largest lion prides anywhere and very few people.
Big prides, real wildernessInside the Serengeti
The Serengeti is huge, and it splits into regions that each peak at a different time. Where you stay matters as much as when you go.
| Region | Best months | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Central (Seronera) | Year-round | Reliable big cats and resident game, open all year |
| Northern (Kogatende) | Jul–Oct | The Mara River crossings |
| Southern (Ndutu) | Dec–Mar | Calving season and heavy predator action |
| Western corridor (Grumeti) | May–Jun | The Grumeti River and the rut |
More detail on each region in the Serengeti safari guide.
What each park is best for
| Park | Go for | Signature sighting |
|---|---|---|
| Serengeti | Migration and big cats | Wildebeest crossing the Mara River |
| Ngorongoro Crater | The Big Five in a day | Black rhino on the crater floor |
| Tarangire | Elephants and baobabs | Herds a hundred strong at the river |
| Lake Manyara | Scenery and birds | Lions draped in an acacia tree |
| Nyerere (Selous) | Water and wild dog | A boat safari at golden hour |
| Ruaha | Remoteness and lions | A pride of twenty on the move |
Getting around the parks
Almost every northern safari starts in Arusha. Tarangire is about two hours away by road, Ngorongoro around three, and the Serengeti beyond that, either a half-day drive through the highlands or a short hop by light aircraft.
The southern parks are a flight from Dar es Salaam or the northern circuit, which is part of their appeal. Fewer roads, fewer people, more wilderness.
Which park suits you
| You want | Go to | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Your first safari | Serengeti and Ngorongoro | The headline sights in one easy loop |
| The Great Migration | Serengeti | The herds move through it all year |
| The Big Five for certain | Ngorongoro Crater | The highest density of wildlife, rhino included |
| Elephants and quiet | Tarangire | Big herds with far fewer vehicles |
| Off the beaten track | Nyerere or Ruaha | Wild, remote parks for a second trip |
Suggested safari routes
Crater and Serengeti
Ngorongoro plus the central Serengeti, the highlights at a brisk pace.
Full northern circuit
Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, taken steadily.
North and south
The northern circuit, then a flight to the quiet of Nyerere or Ruaha.
Build your route
Tell the planner which parks and animals you care about, and it will join them into a trip that flows.