Arusha
Just half an hour from town, this small park covers an area of 137 sq km and was the location for the 1962 film, ‘Hatari’ starring John Wayne and Hardy Kruger. Consisting of three ‘zones’: Ngurdoto Crater, the Momella Lakes and Mount Meru, the park’s altitude ranges from 1,500m to 4,615m. Vegetation varies from a primeval forest on the crater slopes to swampy edges on the floor. In the forest, duiker, bushbuck, buffalo and black and white colobus monkeys can be spotted. Around the lakes, flamingo and other aquatic birds are found as well as reedbuck, waterbuck, hippo and giraffe. Short canoe trips are possible and with over 50km of tracks, this is a wonderful location for gentle walking safaris.

Ranger Safaris - head office in Arusha

Gombe Stream
Gombe extends over 52 sq km of rich riparian forest and thick brachystegia that tumble over craggy hills into the deep crystal waters of Lake Tanganyika. Made famous by the primatologist Jane Goodall, the park is approximately two hours by boat from Kigoma, has 16 km of lake-frontage and only two places to stay. Nothing can prepare visitors for an encounter with chimpanzees. Whether on the beach or deep within the forest, it is awesome.

Kitulo
Known as the Serengeti of Flowers, Kitulo Plateau lies at over 2,600m and comprises 273 sq km of Afromontane and Afroalpine grassland. With a wealth of endemic flowering plants, Kitulo is heralded as a botanists' paradise, with spectacular blooms and many orchids still being discovered here.

Lake Manyara
From the east, the Rift Valley wall rises several hundred metres to form an impressive backdrop to the lake. From the west, if one is perched at the top of the escarpment, the park lies far below, with a long green strip of water that glistens in the sunlight. The vegetation around the lake’s shores is surprisingly varied and comprises mostly forest, acacia woodland and open grassland. The park covers an area of 330 sq km of which about 230 sq km is the lake itself. You will always find hippo in the Simba River, elephant in the forests and a resident herd of Cape buffalo on the open plains at Mahali Pa Nyati, which means, ‘the place of the buffalo’ in Swahili. In addition, there are approximately 400 species of birds, good leopard sightings and the occasional tree-climbing lion. Canoeing safaris are a great option and only run when the lake is high.

Mahale
With the crystal clear waters of Lake Tanganyika lapping its golden beaches, the park covers around 1,600 sq km of virgin forest. Quite simply, it is one of the most stunning locations in Africa. Chimpanzees are a favourite attraction here. From the lake, the park rises into a spectacular mountain range, with Nkungwe Peak set at 2,462m. With no roads here and only a few places to stay, access is by boat or charter flight, often from Kigoma, 128km to the north. The park is open all year round, but the chimps tend to migrate further into the mountains during the long rains from February to April.

Mount Kilimanjaro
With foothills inhabited by elephant, buffalo, leopard and a wide variety of antelope, Kilimanjaro’s 5,895m Uhuru Peak is the highest point in Africa. Snow-capped, mysterious and often wreathed in cloud, it is one of the world’s most accessible mountains, attracting thousands of climbers each year. There are several routes up, the gentlest being the Rongai and Marangu routes. Accommodation on the mountain is in a mixture of huts and high-altitude tents with base hotels in the foothills.

Olduvai Gorge
The Gorge is about 50km long and in some places around 90m deep and is found between the Crater and Serengeti. It was first discovered by a German entomologist, who instigated an expedition just before the First World War. Later, the exploration was continued by Dr Louis Leakey and his wife, who in 1959 found humanoid remains of Zinjanthropus, later renamed Australapithicus Boisei, an early form of man. There is a simple museum on the site overlooking the Gorge.

Rubondo Island
Rubondo Island is cloaked by virgin forest and tucked away in the south western corner of Lake Victoria. Being a short flight from Serengeti, it is a quiet tropical retreat without the crowds. With many beautiful sandy coves, Rubondo is suited perfectly to those who enjoy walking, birds and wildlife. The swamps protect sitatunga, while waters harbour tilapia and the much sought-after Nile perch. Indigenous wildlife includes elephant, giraffe, hippo, crocodile and a plethora of birds as well as a small chimpanzee project.

Selous
Named after the late Captain Frederick Courteney Selous, a famous elephant hunter killed by German sniper fire in 1917, Selous is the largest unspoilt game reserve in Africa. General accessibility to the 55,000 sq km reserve used to be difficult, however, there are now flights, a limited train service from Dar es Salaam and a convenient dirt road linking the park with other southern Tanzanian attractions. The reserve is vast, remote, wild and no human habitation is allowed within its boundaries, apart from the camps and lodges. Today it boasts some of Africa’s finest virgin bush, unchanged through centuries and inhabited by three quarters of a million wild animals. The river systems and gorges are fascinating, as are the swamps, woodlands and savannahs. Hippo, crocodile, elephant, buffalo, wildebeest, zebras, giraffe, waterbuck, baboon, leopards, lion, wild dog, eland, sable and roan are just a few of the species that thrive here. The bird-life is also extremely rich. Accommodation in the northern sector of the park offers a mix of rustic and exotic lodges, where game activities vary from open four-wheel drive vehicles or boating, to walking safaris. For a real highlight, choose a safari that offers escorted walking and fly-camping trips.

Serengeti
With over 14,700 sq km of rolling grasslands, forests, rocky outcrops and rivers, Serengeti is regarded as the world’s most famous wilderness area. In the local vernacular, the Serengeti means ‘the endless plains that go up to the sky’ and they do just that. Wildlife in and around the reserve teems all year round, however, international visitors mainly come to experience the triangular trek of several million hooves. This movement never stops, as the animals constantly seek out succulent grazing pastures. Every year, after the south’s short November rains, wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, eland, topi and hartebeest gather in their thousands on Serengeti’s southern plains and the Ngorongoro Highlands. Then, around April after the young have been born, they head towards the western corridor of Serengeti, where many overflow into the Masai Mara in July/August. They remain here until late October/November, when Tanzania’s new rains prompt the move south again, towards Lake Ndutu and Lagaja. This yearly phenomenon affects the entire balance of the flora and fauna, which relies on the migratory herds for its survival. These include predators, gazelles, birds and lowly insects, not to mention the grasses and trees that are fertilised by the droppings. Another of the highlights, is an early morning balloon safari where visitors experience a bird’s-eye view of the great plains below.