Tanzania Game Parks and Wildlife
Sanctuaries
Serengeti National
Park
The largest and best-known of Tanzania’ National Parks, covering
over 14,500 sq kms. The world-famous wildlife sanctuary has the
greatest and most spectacular concentration of game found anywhere
in the world. Most of the Serengeti is vast open plains with rocks
giving character to the landscape. In addition to its vast herds
of Wildebeest and other plains game, Serengeti is renowned for
its Lion population. It is not unusual to see 40 or more lions
in a day, and Leopards can be found during the day resting in
trees. During June and July, the spectacular annual migration
of the Wildebeest takes place, with the animals moving from their
usual haunts on the central plains on a westward trek into the
Maasai Mara in Kenya. Serengeti has a wealth of bird life with
colorful Rollers, Bee-eaters and Sunbirds in plenty, whilst birds
of prey, game birds and waterfowl are well represented.
Ruaha National
Park
Ruaha greatest charm is probably the fact that it is an unspoiled
African wilderness, an unexplored game and bird sanctuary covering
12,950 sq km. The park lies between two large rivers, the Njombe
and Ruaha, with the latter flowing 16 km through rugged gorges
and rocky broken country, then through lush plains where it is
flanked by palm thickets and tall acacia woodland. During the
dry season, there is concentration of game along the river including
herds of Elephants, Giraffe, Buffalo and Impala and numerous Greater
Kudu. Crocodiles can be seen basking on the many sandbanks. Stretches
of woodland house Roan and Sable Antelope and Liechenstein’s
Hartebeest, with the Lesser Kudu found in the open bush country.
Elephants can be encountered at the Mbage-Mwagusi track.
Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro iso one of the most spectacular game haunts in Africa,
and one of the biggest craters in the world. The approach road
skirts the rim of the crater floor with other game like the Cheetah,
Eland, Grant’s and Thomson’s Gazelle, Spotted Hyenas,
Hunting Dog and the occasional Leopard. Also to be found here
are numerous species of birds including Verraux’s Eagle and
Egyptian Vulture.
Selous Game
Reserve
This is predominantly an Elephant reserve and an extension of
the Mikumi National Park, covering some 54,490sq kms. The area
is mainly woodland with grassy flood-plains and some dense forest
patches much of which is inaccessible. In addition to Elephant
there are Hippos, Buffalo, Wildbeest, Hartebeest, Sable Antelope,
greater Kudu, Eland, Lion and Leopard. Bird life is similar to
that found in the Mikumi national Park.
Mikumi National
Park
A faunal reserve of some 111,600 sq km, the park is situated 294
km from Tanzania’s capital city, Dar es Salaam. Picturesque
wooded hills form a border to the Mkata Plains, a section of the
aprk and home to many Elephants and Buffaloes. Game animals are
abundant and include Lion, Hippo, Warthog, Giraffe, Zebra and
Wildbeest. Also to be found are Greater Kudu, Black Rhino, Leopard,
Cheetah, Waterbuck, Hartebeest, Sable Antelpe and Reedbuck. Bird
life is extremely varied, with many colourful and interesting
species found in the park. Mikumi can be reached from Dar es Salaam
– an easy three and a half hour’s drive.
Lake Manyara
National Park
The is 107 km southwest of Arusha, and is noted for its wealth
of wildlife. At times the lake is visited by thousands of Lesser
Flamingoes with a sprinkling of larger species. Over 30 different
birds of prey have been recorded at the Park, including the pal-nut
Vulture and Ayre’s and Crowned Hawk Eagles. Although the
park is relatively small, its terrain is so diverse that its mammal
and birds list are most impressive. There are a number of Elephants
to be found in the park. The parks main attraction are probably
the tree-climbing Lions of Lake Manyara, which can be found resting
in trees due to a combination of the need to avoid dense undergrowth
and a search for cool shade.
