What to see
Wildlife in Tanzania: what there is and when to go
Nature reserves, national parks and centres where you can see animals in the wild, or nearly. This site lists 37 such places in Tanzania, 20 of them with a Wikipedia article; the best known is Serengeti National Park. The best time for this in Tanzania is December to February and June to October, and it is also possible March and November. Each place has its own season, which is not the country's: a high mountain hut and a valley in the same country are not open in the same months.
In a nutshell
- What this is
- The places in Tanzania people go to for wildlife, each with its own season.
- How many
- 37 on this page, 20 with a Wikipedia article; you get them all on your trip map.
- Best known
- Serengeti National Park — national park in Tanzania.
- Best time
- December to February and June to October.
- Also possible
- March and November.
- Where they cluster
- Zanzibar City (2) and Dar es Salaam (2).
- Ways in
- JRO Arusha · DAR Dar es Salaam · ZNZ Zanzibar · MWZ Mwanza
What counts as wildlife
Nature reserves, national parks and centres where you can see animals in the wild, or nearly. In mild weather, when the animals show themselves and the paths are open.
Each place is included because of how its source describes it, not because of what anyone says about it: that is why a castle that is now a museum appears under history and museums at the same time. Of these 37, 36 also count as nature, 1 also counts as history and 1 also counts as with kids.
When to go
For wildlife in Tanzania, the best time is December to February and June to October, and it is also possible March and November.
- JanBest time12:16
- FebBest time12:10
- MarPossible12:02
- AprBetter not11:53
- MayBetter not11:46
- JunBest time11:42
- JulBest time11:44
- AugBest time11:50
- SepBest time11:58
- OctBest time12:07
- NovPossible12:14
- DecBest time12:18
Best timePossibleBetter notHours of daylight
There are about 12 h 18 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change. Daylight hours are those at the average latitude of these places, on the 15th of each month.
Counting place by place, in January 37 of the 37 are at their best, and in March, 0.
When to visit Tanzania in general, with its festivals and high seasons, is on its page.
The best known
Ranked by how many Wikipedia editions have an article on them, which is the closest thing to measuring fame without asking anyone.
- Serengeti National Park — national park in Tanzania (67 Wikipedias)
- Maasai Mara — National Reserve in Narok County, Kenya (50 Wikipedias)
- Stone Town — old part of Zanzibar City, the main city of Zanzibar, in Tanzania (47 Wikipedias)
- Kilimanjaro National Park — national park in Tanzania (44 Wikipedias)
- Gombe National Park — national park in Tanzania (37 Wikipedias)
- Arusha National Park — national park in Tanzania (28 Wikipedias)
- Tarangire National Park — national park in Tanzania (26 Wikipedias)
- Akagera National Park — A place where they do tourisme (23 Wikipedias)
What there is
Each one has its own page: what it is, where it lies, its altitude, its daylight hours and which months are worth it. Most of them are in Zanzibar City (2) and Dar es Salaam (2). Open whichever you like and have a look before you decide on the trip.
- Serengeti National ParkNational park in Tanzania
- Maasai MaraNational Reserve in Narok County, Kenya
- Stone TownOld part of Zanzibar City, the main city of Zanzibar, in TanzaniaZanzibar City
- Kilimanjaro National ParkNational park in TanzaniaMoshi, Tanzania
- Gombe National ParkNational park in Tanzania
- Arusha National ParkNational park in TanzaniaArusha
- Tarangire National ParkNational park in Tanzania
- Akagera National ParkA place where they do tourisme
- Ruaha National ParkNational park in Tanzania
- Mahale Mountains National ParkNational park in Tanzania
- Mkomazi National ParkNational park in Tanzania
- Ruvubu National ParkNational park in Burundi
- Saadani National ParkNational park in Tanzania
- Udzungwa Mountains National ParkNational park
- Jozani Chwaka Bay National ParkNational park in Tanzania, East AfricaZanzibar City
- Tsavo West National ParkNational park in Kenya
- Ndere IslandProtected area of Kenya
- Nyerere National ParkNational park in Tanzania
- Menai Bay Conservation AreaConservation area in Zanzibar, TanzaniaDar es Salaam
- Mara TriangleSouthwestern part of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
- Baraka Natural AquariumWildlife
- bird reserve kizimkaziProtected areaDar es Salaam
- Chome Forest ReserveProtected area
- Enguserosambu Nature ReserveProtected area
And the other 13:
- GOMANI BOMA MKAMBANI AREA, Grumeti Game Reserve, Ibanda-Kyerwa National Park, Liparamba Game Resserve, Litumbandyosi-Gesimasowa Proposed Game Reserve, Loasi River Forest Reserve, MAWE MAWILI BOMA AREA, Mikumi National Park, Mkungunero Game Reserve, Mount Hanang Nature Forest Reserve, Niassa Reserve, Pololeti Game Reserve, Selous Game Reserve
More in Tanzania
Everything else listed for Tanzania, with how many places of each kind: Nature (63) · Mountains (8) · Hiking (8) · Beaches (6) · History (13) · Museums and art (12).
And if you are looking at it the other way round —I know when I can go, tell me where— that is where to travel.
Frequently asked questions
When should I go to Tanzania for wildlife?
December to February and June to October, and it is also possible March and November. Each place above also gives its own, which changes with altitude: at three thousand metres the season is not the same as in the valley. There are about 12 h 18 of daylight all year round: this close to the equator the days barely change.
What is the best-known place for wildlife in Tanzania?
Serengeti National Park — national park in Tanzania, with an article in 67 Wikipedias. After it, Maasai Mara and Stone Town.
Where in Tanzania are most of the places for wildlife?
Of the 37 on this site, they cluster most in Zanzibar City (2) and Dar es Salaam (2).
How do I add this to a trip?
Create a trip to Tanzania and you get them all on the map, with their category. The ones you like go into a day of the plan with one tap, and the app lets you know when you pass nearby.
I don't know where to go yet
That is what Find a trip is for: tick what you feel like and the months you can travel, and it suggests destinations among the 105 countries in Kokai, with the places that fit those dates.
Keep reading
- Where to travelPick what you fancy (mountains, beaches, museums…) and the months you have free, and Kokai tells you which countries to go to and what to see there.
- DestinationsVisas, vaccines, plugs, currency, when to go and how to get around, country by country: 105 destinations and 855 things to sort before you leave.
Data from OpenStreetMap, licensed under the ODbL, from Wikidata, CC0, and airports from OurAirports. Daylight hours are calculated from latitude. More in credits.