Unless your stay in Tanzania is very short, the Serengeti is a must see experience. The park has rightfully earned its reputation as the most famous safari destination in the world. The name Serengeti means "endless plain" in the Maasai language and certainly lives up to its name. The sheer number of animals make this a memorable experience. Each year, one of nature's truly great events occurs, the great migration. Up to two million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle make their trek across the Serengeti watched closely by preditors stalking the weak, injured or exhausted. You have seen the pictures and videos, now come experience it in person. The timing of the migration varies according to the grazing conditions but the Serengeti is a park that is great to visit any time of the year. For more details and lodge options, click here

With the spectacular backdrop of the crater walls, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a photographer's dream. The fact that the animals in this area tend to be less skitterish also helps to get some close viewing. All the popular safari game excepting giraffe are present, including the rare black rhino. Recognised as a World Heritage Site, this is the world's largest intact caldera. The ecosystem here is fragile, so overnight stays are not permitted within the crater but some great lodges and camping options are available overlooking the crater. For more details, click here.

Famous for its tree climbing lions, this park is also a favourite for bird watchers with nearly 400 species present including flamingo whose numbers turn the alkaline lake into a sea of pink. Leopard, buffalo, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, gazelle and baboon are among mammals often spotted inside the park. Its location makes this a good destination for short duration trips out of Moshi or Arusha as well as additions to Ngoronogoro or Serengeti safaris. For more details click here.

This park is located approximately 1 1/2 hours east of Moshi. Kenya's Tzavo National Park shares a common border with Mkomazi. It is the newest national park in Tanzania and does not yet have a great infrastructure and is not heavily visited. The best times to visit are during the rain season of March through May when many animals from Tzavo park come down into Mkomazi.

Large concentration of elephants and giraffe reside here. With the Tarangire River winding through this park, a visit during the dry season (July - November) when the animals congregate along the river banks is best. A wide range of game resides in this park but it has more dense vegetation that makes viewing a bit more challenging. Its location makes a 1 or 2 day safari possible from Moshi or Arusha. For lodge details, click, here.

Arusha National Park is just 32 km away from Arusha town, which was described by Sir Julian Huxley as "gem amongst parks." It consists of three spectacular features, the Momela Lakes, Mount Meru and the Ngurdoto Crater and has an abundance of wildlife, fauna and flora. Magnificent views of both the Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru can be spotted on clear days from almost any part of the park. The vegetation and wildlife varies with the topology, which ranges from forest to swamp. The park is famous for its 575 species of birdlife, both migrant and resident, and black and white colobus monkeys. Other animals frequently seen in the park are baboon, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, hyena, zebra and a wide range of antelope species. Leopards are present but, as always, difficult to find. Recently added tourist attractions include canoe safaris on the Momela Lakes and walking safaris around the rim of the Ngurdoto Crater.

Ruaha offers exceptional all round game viewing including some of east Africa's best lion / buffalo interaction. The best game viewing is during the months of May to November. Elephant, lion, leopard and cheetah are plentiful. The large size of the lion prides are noteworthy with some in excess of over 20 animals.

Selous is Africa's largest wildlife reserve, three times larger than the Serengeti. Over half of all elephants in Tanzania reside inside of this preserve. As a game reserve rather than a park, a wider range of activities are allowed including boat safaris and guided walking safaris.

Located to the north of Selous and adjacent to it, this park has a good network of game viewing roads and boasts wide open plains and plenty of wildlife including good numbers of zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, impala, giraffe, elephants and lion are resident to this park.

The major attraction of Udzungwa is its bio-diversity and unique rainforest that is delightful and fascinating forest of leafy glades freckled with sunshine. There, many rare plants not found anywhere else in the world have been identified. These range from a tiny African violet to 30m high trees. It is also home to about six types of primates including: two endemic and endangered species - the Iringa red colobus monkeys and the Sanje crested Mangabey, not discovered until 1979. The plateau supports populations of elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard which however, are not expected to be easily seen as they tend to be found in less accessible area of the park. Bush baby (galago), bush pig, civet, duiker, honey badger and three types of mongoose are more likely to be seen. A number of rare forest birds, including furous-winged sunbird and a new species of the partridge-like francolin, many of which are only found in this area of Tanzania. It is thus Tanzania's richest forest bird habitat and among the three most important bird conservation areas on the continent and one of East Africa's great forests. There are no roads in this park, so walking safaris are the only option.

One of the few remaining coastal rainforests left in Tanzania and the only wildlife sactuary in Tanzania bordering the sea. A rare combination of both land and aquatic wildlife viewing and some inviting beaches await visitors to this park. Although its location is not that remote, the roads leading there may be difficult, even impassible during the wet season of April and May.

Located along Lake Tanganika and the smallest national park in Tanzania, this park is famous for Dr. Jane Goodall's chimpanzee research. Walking safaris are the only option available here and no other traditional safari game is present, but the experience of tracking chimpanzees in the wild is unforgetable.

Unique scenery, with the majestic Mahale Mountains popping out of the shore of Lake Tanganika along with the opportunity to see chimpanzee in the wild, make this park a real gem. The location makes it an adventure to arrive there. Plenty of traditonal safari game in addition to the chimpanzees make this a bit more exhilerating to track the chimpanzees and the larger size of the habitat make this a bit tougher to locate the chimps compared to Gombe Stream.

A chance to experience the feel of safaris of old. Virtually devoid of infrastructure, encountering other tourists is a rarity. Katavi's density of large mammals is second only to the Serengeti. This park is best visited during August until early November, when the animals congregate around the available water sources. The park is best known for the huge numbers of hippos. A trip to Katavi is a highly rewarding experience for the adventurous.

Rubondo Island National Park is comprised of Rubondo Island and nine smaller Islands tucked into the corner of Lake Victoria north-west of Mwanza. The park provides a variety of habitats ranging from savannah to open woodland, dense forest, papyrus swamps and sandy beaches. It is a protection for precious fish breeding ground and is very attractive for sport fishing. There is a wide variety of animals including bushbuck, crocodile, genet, hippo, mongoose, vervet monkey and the reclusive sitatuga - a shaggy aquatic antelope. Also dwelling inside the park are introduced species such as chimpanzee, elephant and giraffe. The bird-life is unique with migrating birds from East, Central and Southern Africa flocking to "Bird Island" from December to February to breed. Bee-eaters, fish eagle, ibis, kingfisher and saddle-billed stork will be seen while tilapia and Nile perch abound in the lake. Wild flowers are at their best from November to March. both walking safaris and boat safaris are available for this park.

The Masai Mara Reserve is one of East Africa's best known game viewing areas and adjoins the Serengeti Park of Tanzania, a land of undulating hills and rolling grasslands supporting a huge animal population. When a casual visitor is treated to the sight of lions in prides, sometimes numbering as many as thirty beasts with a handsome black-maned male in dominance. A cheetah roaming the plains to run down its prey or a leopard with its kill in the lower branches of the sausage tree. In the Mara River there are hundreds of hippos and some crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks. Elephant, cape buffalo, giraffe, gazelles, topi antelope and during the months from July to September the wildebeest and zebra migrations overflow into the Masai Mara from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Accommodation varies from camping, simple lodges to luxury camps and ranch homesteads. Most lodges offer the opportunity to take a hot air balloon safari in the early mornings, every day of the year, weather permitting.

This park consists of high Alpine moorland and primeval forest. Rarely visited beyond the lower salient, many visitors stay at one of the two tree hotels, Treetops and the Ark. Both are situated in forest glades and overlooking water holes. Salt deposits lure the animals out from the forest and at dusk floodlights are switched on so that guests can view in comfort through the night. Many species pass through with some sightings of the elusive leopard and the rare bongo antelope. Each forest lodge is served by its base hotel, Outspan Golf & Country Club and Aberdare Country Club. Both are delightful country hotels with facilities and outdoor activities.

This park was created around Africa's second highest mountain. It is a favourite with trekkers and serious mountain climbers. The forest and lower slopes abound with elephant, Cape Buffalo and fantastic bird life, as well as Giant Forest Hog. There is one 'Tree-hotel', Mountain Lodge, which is 165 kms from Nairobi. Further north is the famous Mount Kenya Safari Club set on the edge of the forest leading to the lower slopes of the mountain. On the huge Ol Pejeta Ranch there is the luxury Sweetwaters Tented Camp.

There are three adjoining reserves situated in arid country north of Mt. Kenya, but watered by the Uaso Ngiro River and natural springs. Very scenic with craggy hills and everywhere the Doum palm trees following the water courses. Some unusual animal species can be found here: the Reticulated giraffe, beisa oryx, Grevy's zebra and long-necked gerenuk. Leopard and crocodile can be seen most nights at the lodges where bait is set to attract them.

A real gem of a park situated right at the foot of Africa's highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, which, at 5895 metres is an imposing attraction to the horizon. Elephants abound in the forest and swamps feeding on the lush grasses. Cheetah can be found on the salt flats. Giraffe wander through the forest whilst zebra and wildebeest feed on the open plains. The snow-capped dome of the peak of Kibo form a magnificent backdrop, making it a photographers' paradise. Accommodation is in various camps and lodges.

This huge park is split in two by the main Nairobi/Mombasa highway and covers a total area of 2000 sq.kms. Once famous for its large herds of over 60,000 'red' elephants, so called due to the red murrum earth that they sprayed themselves with like talcum powder. Although these herds have recently been depleted due to poaching and drought, a strong drive by the Wildlife Services has brought peace to their lives and the populations are on the increase again. In Tsavo West are the Mzima Springs where hippo and crocodile can be viewed from the underwater hide. Further south, adjoining the park is the Taita Hills Sanctuary with its unique lodge at Salt Lick perched high on stilts of concrete overlooking water holes. Nearby is the luxury of Taita Hills Lodge. Tsavo West is bordered on the south by Mkomazi National Park in Tanzania.

Meru, in the Northern Frontier district of Kenya, is untamed Africa at its most alluring. The animals are shy, unused to their human counterparts and the landscape is wild. Accommodation is now available in Elsa's Kopje named after Elsa, the orphaned lioness reared by Joy and Goerge Adamson (from the movie "Born Free") who eventually returned her to the wild in Meru. This park is singled out as the driest in the country with little rainfall although it is, in fact, criss-crossed with numerous rivers and streams running off nearby mountains. The landscape is blessed with dense ribbons of vegetation with magnificent stands of baobab trees, and doum and raphia palms running though dry valleys.

A soda lake frequented by hundreds of thousands of Greater and Lesser Flamingos lining the shore in a pink mass. It is also a sanctuary for both black and white rhinoceros and a small herd of rare Rothschild's giraffe. There are two lodges inside the Park.