Resting at the foot of Mount Meru, the sprawling city of Arusha is known as the safari capital of northern Tanzania. It serves as an excellent base from which to explore the remarkably scenic surrounding area which includes majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as the Manyara, Tarangire and Ngorongoro National Parks. Arusha is a good spot to take a day or two off from the safari circuit as it features a temperate climate and lush surrounds. Visitors can look forward to exploring the wildlife-abundant Serengeti National Park; the magnificent Arusha National Park; and taking on the challenge of climbing Mount Meru, Africa’s fifth highest mountain.
Located in western Tanzania, the remote Katavi National Park is a captivating stop along the western tourist route. Encompassing Lake Katavi, the Katuma River, and picturesque Lake Chala, Katavi National Park encompasses roughly 4500 square kilometres of unspoiled Tanzanian woods, savannah and wetlands. This park is the third-largest in the country and is home to the world’s largest herds of buffalo. Katavi boasts a wide array of bird and animal life, including leopards, elephants, zebras, lion,s and the densest hippo and crocodile populations in the country.
Spreading out from the shores of beautiful Lake Tanganyika, the mountainous terrain of the Mahale Mountain National Park is home to some of Africa’s last surviving wild chimpanzees and trekking in search of these incredible primates is one of the main attractions of the reserve. Other highlights include walking game safaris that take in the park’s diverse wildlife, hiking up the 2460-metre Mount Nkungwe – the highest of the Mahale mountain range’s six peaks – and fishing and snorkelling in Lake Tanganyika on the park’s western border. While the park is home to over 900 chimpanzees, it is also home to a variety of other wildlife including: leopards, blue duikers, red colobus monkeys, giant pangolins, lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, otters and a variety of bird species.
