Two useful websites are the African Game Reserves website, which has information about all parks and game reserves in Tanzania and throughout Africa and the Tanzania Tourist Board (see References for links). Besides researching the parks in Tanzania, determine whether your trip will occur in the wet or dry season. Migratory animals are present in some parks only during specific seasons.
Booking your Tanzania safari trip with a reputable, experienced travel agency can help you design your safari so you can travel in safety and comfort and see what you want to see. A package trip can offer you lower rates, particularly on connections you will need to get to and from national parks. If you book as a group, rates are often lower.
The word "Serengeti" means "endless plain" in the Maasai language, according to Africa Game Reserves, but Serengeti National Park is not the biggest park in Tanzania. That distinction is held by the Selous Game Reserve--the largest protected wildlife area in Africa and a World Heritage Site. Both Serengeti and Selous have migratory seasons, where great herds of zebra, impala, buffalo and even elephants can be seen on the move. Another large park is Ngorongoro Crater park, which includes the Olduvai Gorge--where some of the earliest ancestors of mankind lived.
Gombe Stream National Park, the smallest of Tanzania's parks, was created to protect the chimpanzees studied by Dr. Jane Goodall, according to the Africa Game Reserves. A jungle habitat, Gombe Stream offers on-foot jungle safaris and a close look at chimpanzees in the wild. Lake Manyara Park features tree-climbing lions. Tarangire Park has acacia woods which are home to elephants, eland, oryx and over 550 species of birds. Insinya Park offers the opportunity to experience Maasai culture and village life.
The Tanzania Tourist Board recommends booking a "safari circuit" if you want to see more than one national park. The best-known safari circuit is the northern circuit, according to Trekking.net. It includes the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Lake Manyara parks. The southern circuit includes Selous and Ruaha parks. While most Tanzania parks offer motorized tours, some protected Tanzania parks, such as Mahale and Gombe, only allow walking safaris. The Tanzania Tourist Board recommends walking safaris only to those in good physical condition.
Most safari options include overnight stays in game lodges or camps within the national parks. Well-known lodges and camps include Bougainville Safari Lodge in Ngorongoro Crater and Grumeti River Camp in Serengeti, according to the Tanzania Tourist Board. Mount Meru Game Lodge is part of a 33-acre animal sanctuary and Tarangire Treetops Camp has hotel suites built into the treetops.
After doing your research, make a checklist before going on safari. Important items to verify before travelling include visa and passport requirements. Check with your health insurance about international coverage. Make sure you get all immunizations, including malaria. The Tanzania Tourist Board recommends immunizations be done at least a month before departure and that you carry a medical and immunization record with you.
