Tarangire National Park
Surface: 2.600 km². It is one of the most beautiful parks in the north of Tanzania. During the dry season, a wild animal concentration can be seen: great herds of elephants, giraffes, oryx, kudus, lions, cheetahs, generuks, wildebeest, zebras and about 550 species of birds. Tarangire is also famous for its swamps, hills and massives, its acacia woodlands and baobab trees.
National park Serengeti
Surface: almost 15.000 km². The Serengeti is famous for being one of the largest parks with its immense plains and the best spectacle of the planet, “The Great Migration”, the migration of great herbivores which take place twice a year: Before and after the dry season, about 1.5 million wildebeest, 500.000 gazelles and 250.000 zebras migrate looking for new pastures. It is also well known for the great concentration of lions, which you can sometimes see hunting, as well as cheetahs and leopards up in some acacia. It is also possible to see gazelles, impalas, elephants, hippopotamus, hyenas and many more.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Surface: 8.300 km². The Crater of the Ngorongoro hosts the most famous caldera in the world with 20 km of diameter and 600m of depth. Its surface: 250 km².
In the crater there are two lakes. Throughout the year great numbers of carnivores, preys, birds like the flamingoes and one of the last populations of the almost extinguished black rhino can be found. Its crater is a refuge where practically all the wild fauna of Africa is represented. In the area we can also find Laetoli, a site located in the Olduvai Gorge, an archaeological discovery of hominid fossil footprints dated to 3.6 million years ago.
Lake Mayara National Park.
Surface: 330 kms². Located in the Rift Valley where Africa is separated, it is one of the smallest parks of the north although its visit is advisable. From July to April the borders of the lake are full of flamingoes. A Primary Forest hosts a great stable population of elephants, hippopotami, extensive families of baboons, giraffes, the famous tree climbing lion, as well as a rich bird life.
Gombe Stream National Park.
Surface: 52 km². This reserve is placed along the northern shore of Lake Tanganyika. The region to the north of Kigoma is the habitat of the chimpanzee. For more than 50 years these great primates have been studied by a team of scientists directed by Jane Goodall. Due to this long study it is now possible to admire these chimpanzees closely. This small park has a dense forest that reaches the border of the lake, that is why Safaris are made only on foot. Here, besides the chimpanzees, baboons and colobus monkeys can be found. To all those interested in primates this will be a fascinating experience.
