Tanzania's parks, compared
6 parks on wildlife, activities, cost, access and health. Every rating opens to show why.
Three parks side by side reads best. Tap a park to swap it in or out.
| Compare | Udzungwa MountainsBest for walking | KataviBest for big game | Mahale Mountains1,577 km² | NyerereBest for on the water | RuahaBest for birding | SerengetiBest for families |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Jun to Sep for hiking | 5Aug to Oct | 1Jul to Oct for trekking | 5June to October | 5Jun to Oct | 5Jul to Oct and Dec to Feb | |
1Jun to Sep for hikingStrict endemic primates: 2 species; Primate species: 11; Udzungwa red colobus: 25,000–35,000 | 5bestAug to OctHippos: Hundreds per pool; Buffalo herds: 1,000+ animals; Crocodiles: Dry-season cave dwellers | 1Jul to Oct for trekkingChimpanzees: Est. 800–1,000; Habituated M group: ±60–75 individuals; Studied since: 1965 (M group 1968) | 5bestJune to OctoberBuffalo: 34,950; Hippo: 21,963; Elephant: 8,303 | 5bestJun to OctLions (landscape): >10% of world total; Wild dogs (landscape): ±500 of ±6,000 left; Elephants: Largest pop. in Tanzania | 5bestJul to Oct and Dec to FebWildebeest: 1,571,960 (TAWIRI, March 2023), now disputed; Lion prides monitored: 21 prides, 205 lions in the central study area, 2022/23; Elephants: More than 7,000 in the park, 2020 | |
| Elephant | Fair chance | Guaranteed | Rare | Likely | Guaranteed | Likely |
| Lion | Absent | Likely | Rare | Likely | Likely | Guaranteed |
| Leopard | Rare | Fair chance | Rare | Fair chance | Fair chance | Likely |
| Buffalo | Rare | Guaranteed | Rare | Guaranteed | Likely | Likely |
| Wild dog | Not published | Rare | Rare | Fair chance | Fair chance | Rare |
| Cheetah | Not published | Absent | Not published | Absent | Rare | Likely |
| Hippo | Not published | Guaranteed | Rare | Guaranteed | Guaranteed | Likely |
| Giraffe | Not published | Likely | Rare | Guaranteed | Likely | Guaranteed |
3400 speciesAbout 400 bird species listed on the wildlife page. | 3400 speciesAbout 400 bird species listed on the wildlife page. | 3398 speciesAbout 398 bird species listed on the wildlife page. | 3440 speciesAbout 440 bird species listed on the wildlife page. | 5best571 speciesAbout 571 bird species listed on the wildlife page. | 4500 speciesAbout 500 bird species listed on the wildlife page. | |
| 4Walking | 4Walking | 4Water | 5Water | 4Walking | 3Walking | |
4bestEvery attraction is a guided walk, from the 1 km Prince Bernhard Falls to the 6 km Sanje Waterfall and the five-day, 65 km Lumemo Trail; a TANAPA guide is mandatory and plateau routes need an armed ranger. | 4bestOne of Tanzania's best walking parks: walks of one to four hours at $20 and longer at $25 behind an authorised armed ranger, a camp built on walking, and fly-camping at $50 a night. | 4bestEverything is on foot with an authorised ranger: daily chimpanzee treks in groups of six with one hour at the sighting, forest walks at $20 to $25, and multi-day hikes towards Mount Nkungwe. | 4bestWalking is excellent: $20 for up to four hours or $25 beyond, with an armed ranger, and several camps offer fly camping. | 4bestOne of Tanzania's best walking parks: official short walks at $20 and long walks at $25 with an armed ranger, and multi-day walking with fly-camping from June to November. | 3TANAPA lists guided walks at $20 for one to four hours or $25 beyond, plus VAT, but they are booked through your camp with an armed ranger, children under 12 are not provided for and TANAPA publishes no list of walking areas. | |
1Night walks are not offered and there are no night activities in the park. | 4bestNight game drives are permitted and named in the TANAPA tariff at $50 per adult, offered as a standard option at Mbali Mbali Katavi, plus night nature walks at $10. | 2There are no vehicles and so no night drives; the tariff prices night nature walks at $10. | 2Night drives are not permitted inside the park since the 2019 regazettement; they still run in the Selous Game Reserve blocks to the south. | 4bestNight game drives are officially permitted, a rarity in Tanzania, at $50 per person with a park ranger booked through your lodge or park HQ. | 2Night drives are not allowed inside the park, where driving stops at 6 pm and the TANAPA tariff has no night-drive line for the Serengeti; Klein's Camp, Mapito Safari Camp and Ikoma Tented Camp run them just outside the boundary. | |
1The only water activity listed is swimming in the waterfall plunge pools at Sanje and Njokamoni. | 1No boat or canoe activity is listed; the shrinking Katuma pools are watched from the bank for hippo and crocodile. | 4Swimming in designated areas of clear lake water, snorkelling over endemic cichlids at $10, kayaking at $10, boat safaris at $20, dhow sundowners and sport fishing. | 5bestBoat safaris on the Rufiji and the lakes are the signature at $20 a person and run year-round because the water is permanent. | 2There are no boat trips on the seasonal Great Ruaha; only Usangu Expedition Camp runs seasonal boat safaris in the remote western wetlands. | 1No boat activity is offered; hippos are watched from the vehicle at the Retima pool, the Grumeti and the Mara River, and at the crossing points you stay inside the vehicle. | |
1There are no roads and no game drives inside the park; your vehicle stays parked at Mang'ula headquarters. | 2Self-drivers with a proper 4x4 can do their own drives, but reaching the park is a multi-day expedition of 550 to 700 km from Mbeya on black cotton soil, with Mpanda the last fuel. | 1There are no roads in the park; every arrival is a light aircraft followed by a 1 to 2 h boat to camp. | 2About 250 km and 5 to 7 h from Dar es Salaam with an unpaved last stretch and a 4x4 sensible; only the TANAPA campsites are road-accessed and the lodges fly their guests in. | 3bestSelf-drivers can come 625 km from Dar es Salaam in 10 to 12 h, the last 108 km from Iringa on gravel being surfaced, with TANAPA bandas inside and a 4x4 strongly recommended. | 3bestLegal with a high-clearance 4x4 but rare and discouraged by TANAPA: about 254 km and 6 to 7 h from Arusha, the Ngorongoro permit paid on the way in and again on the way out, Karatu the last reliable fuel, and public campsites at Seronera and Lobo that need no booking. | |
| $20cheapest bed | $20cheapest bed | $30cheapest bed | $35cheapest bed | $10cheapest bed | $30cheapest bed | |
$35.40bestInternational adult per day ({'name': 'Official TANAPA tariff (GN 666/2018, 490A/2020, 181/2016), cross-checked against the TANAPA Udzungwa park brochure', 'url': 'https://tanzaniaparks.go.tz/uploads/publications/en-1615966435-NEWTARIFF.pdf'}, 2026-07-27). | $35.40bestInternational adult per day ({'name': 'Official TANAPA tariff sheet 2023/24 (still the current published schedule)', 'url': 'https://www.tanzaniaparks.go.tz/uploads/publications/en-1688147569-TARIFFS%20Design%20202324.pdf'}, 2026-07-27). | $94.40International adult per day ({'name': 'Official TANAPA tariff sheet 2023/24 (still in force; no newer tariff has been gazetted)', 'url': 'https://www.tanzaniaparks.go.tz/uploads/publications/en-1688147569-TARIFFS%20Design%20202324.pdf'}, 2026-07-26). | $82.60International adult per day ({'name': 'TANAPA tariff 2023/24, still the current published schedule', 'url': 'https://www.tanzaniaparks.go.tz/uploads/publications/en-1688147569-TARIFFS%20Design%20202324.pdf'}, 2026-07-26). | $35.40bestInternational adult per day ({'name': 'Official TANAPA tariff sheet 2023/24 (still in force; fee rises frozen by the Tanzanian government)', 'url': 'https://www.tanzaniaparks.go.tz/uploads/publications/en-1688147569-TARIFFS%20Design%20202324.pdf'}, 2026-07-26). | $83International adult per day ({'name': "TANAPA tariff 2023/24 and TANAPA's tariff data for 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 (checked 6 Oct 2026)", 'url': 'https://www.tanzaniaparks.go.tz/uploads/publications/en-1688147569-TARIFFS%20Design%20202324.pdf'}, 2026-10-06). | |
$20Lowest listed rate per person per night across 7 places; 4 are budget tier. | $20Lowest listed rate per person per night across 7 places; 3 are budget tier. | $30Lowest listed rate per person per night across 5 places; 2 are budget tier. | $35Lowest listed rate per person per night across 18 places; 6 are budget tier. | $10bestLowest listed rate per person per night across 18 places; 4 are budget tier. | $30Lowest listed rate per person per night across 63 places; 5 are budget tier. | |
$50bestMedian of 6 priced places; top end $90. | $445Median of 6 priced places; top end $910. | $520Median of 5 priced places; top end $1,125. | $395Median of 11 priced places; top end $1,065. | $450Median of 17 priced places; top end $2,000. | $584Median of 18 priced places; top end $1,100. | |
4bestCheapest listed bed $20, 4 of 7 places in the budget tier, park fee $35.40 a day. | 4bestCheapest listed bed $20, 3 of 7 places in the budget tier, park fee $35.40 a day. | 3Cheapest listed bed $30, 2 of 5 places in the budget tier, park fee $94.40 a day. | 3Cheapest listed bed $35, 6 of 18 places in the budget tier, park fee $82.60 a day. | 3Cheapest listed bed $10, 4 of 18 places in the budget tier, park fee $35.40 a day. | 2Cheapest listed bed $30, 5 of 63 places in the budget tier, park fee $83 a day. | |
| $3,094.80mid-range | $6,300mid-range | $2,913mid-range | $2,696mid-range | $3,198.80mid-range | ||
Not published | $774Budget one: self-drive camping, for those already crossing western Tanzania | $838.80Budget one: the independent route that barely exists | $1,253Budget one: the honest budget route, outside the gate | $656bestBudget one: self-drive camping, the trip that costs least | $1,227.20Budget one: self-drive camping, the cheapest way to sleep in the park | |
Not published | $3,094.80Budget two: the cheapest full-service camp, before you've worked out how to get there | $6,300Budget two: mid-range, at Mbali Mbali Mahale | $2,913Budget two: mid-range on the river at Rufiji River Camp | $2,696bestBudget two: a mid-range lodge stay at Ruaha River Lodge | $3,198.80Budget two: a mid-range camp in the Seronera Valley | |
Not published | $5,595Budget three: the fly-in reality, how almost everyone actually visits | $14,190Budget three: fly-in and top-end, at Greystoke Mahale | $5,476bestBudget three: fly-in and top-end at Sand Rivers Selous | $11,545Budget three: fly-in and top-end | $7,497.60Budget three: fly in to a top-end camp | |
| Dar es Salaam (DAR)nearest airport | Ikuu airstrip in the parknearest airport | Mahale airstripnearest airport | Park airstripsnearest airport | Msembe airstripnearest airport | Seronera airstripnearest airport | |
Dar es Salaam (DAR), 380 km, 4 to 6 h on tarFrom the getting-there and flights pages. | Ikuu airstrip in the park; Safari Air Link Mon and Thu from Ruaha, 07:00 to 08:50From the getting-there and flights pages. | Mahale airstrip, then ±1 to 2 h by boat; flights Mon and Thu onlyFrom the getting-there and flights pages. | Park airstrips, ±1 h by air from Dar es Salaam; ±250 km, 5 to 7 h by roadFrom the getting-there and flights pages. | Msembe airstrip, ±2.5 h by scheduled flight from Dar; Iringa ±108 km, 2 to 3 h by roadFrom the getting-there and flights pages. | Seronera airstrip, 1 h 10 from Arusha via Manyara; Arusha to Naabi Hill Gate about 254 km, 6 to 7 h by roadFrom the getting-there and flights pages. | |
Not needed; no roads inside the parkFrom the getting-there page. | High-clearance 4x4 mandatoryFrom the getting-there page. | No roads in the parkFrom the getting-there page. | Sensible for the road inFrom the getting-there page. | Strongly recommended; essential Nov to MayFrom the getting-there page. | A high-clearance 4x4 is the normFrom the getting-there page. | |
| Jun to Sep for hikingpeak game viewing | Aug to Octpeak game viewing | Jul to Oct for trekkingpeak game viewing | June to Octoberpeak game viewing | Jun to Octpeak game viewing | Jul to Oct and Dec to Febpeak game viewing | |
Jun to Sep for hikingFrom the best-time page. | Aug to OctFrom the best-time page. | Jul to Oct for trekkingFrom the best-time page. | June to OctoberFrom the best-time page. | Jun to OctFrom the best-time page. | Jul to Oct and Dec to FebFrom the best-time page. | |
Open all year; avoid trekking mid-Mar to MayFrom the best-time page. | All camps closed Mar to MayFrom the best-time page. | All camps closed Mar to MayFrom the best-time page. | Most camps closed March to MayFrom the best-time page. | Park open all year; most camps closed Mar to MayFrom the best-time page. | Park open all year; several seasonal camps close Mar to MayFrom the best-time page. | |
| High below 1,800 m (NaTHNaC)malaria | High year-round below 1malaria | All of Tanzania below 1malaria | High year-round below 1malaria | High year-round below 1malaria | High all yearmalaria | |
High below 1,800 m (NaTHNaC)From the health page. | High year-round below 1,800m (NaTHNaC)From the health page. | All of Tanzania below 1,800 m, year-roundFrom the health page. | High year-round below 1,800m (NaTHNaC)From the health page. | High year-round below 1,800m (NaTHNaC)From the health page. | High all year, whole park (NaTHNaC)From the health page. | |
Not publishedNo Udzungwa page mentions tsetse. | PresentTsetse common in the miombo woodland away from the rivers; guides warn before a drive. | Not publishedNo Mahale page mentions tsetse. | PresentA real and long-standing feature of the miombo and riverine bush; a comfort problem to plan around. | PresentSome of the most reliable tsetse habitat in southern Tanzania; expect bites on drives through denser woodland away from the river. | PresentConfirmed by a 2016 study near Seronera; mainly in the wooded areas, the Western Corridor, the north and around Seronera, rather than on the open short-grass plains. | |
October, ±31°CMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page. | October, 34.4°C mean maxMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page. | September, 28.1°C mean maxMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page. | October, 33.1°C mean daily maxMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page. | October, 32.5°C mean max, up to 40°CMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page. | October, 31.2°C mean maxMean daily maximum of the hottest month, from the health page. | |
Ifakara, about 47 km, 1 hFrom the health page. | Mpanda, about 40 km from the gateAir evacuation: Ikuu, inside the park. | Kigoma, ±130 km, a boat day awayFrom the health page. | Dar es Salaam, 5 to 7 h drive or ±1 h flightAir evacuation: By air from park airstrips; verify your cover. | Iringa, 2 to 3 h from the gateAir evacuation: Confirm cover with your insurer before you fly. | Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre, about 300 km from Seronera or about 1.5 h by scheduled flightAir evacuation: AMREF Maisha Tourist plan from $50. | |
| 4Wilderness | 5Wilderness | 5Wilderness | 4First safari | 5Wilderness | 5First safari | |
2Dar es Salaam is 4 to 6 h on tar and Ifakara's hospital about an hour away, but malaria risk is high, the trails are steep and slick, and no lodge publishes a child policy beyond family rooms. | 2Malaria risk is high all year, tsetse is real in the miombo, flights run only on Monday and Thursday and every camp closes Mar to May; Mbali Mbali takes all ages and Katavi Wildlife Camp has two family suites. | 1Chimpanzee trekking carries a stated minimum age of 12, malaria risk runs all year, flights operate only on Monday and Thursday, and Kigoma, the nearest hospital town, is a boat day away. | 2Malaria risk is high year-round, tsetse is real, bilharzia is plausible in the lakes and there is no clinic inside; Siwandu's North camp suits families with young children and Roho ya Selous takes children from five. | 2Malaria risk is high year-round, the miombo is serious tsetse country and the nearest hospital is Iringa, 2 to 3 h from the gate; Jabali Ridge takes children from five. | 3bestHighs of about 27 to 31°C, short flights and lodges such as Four Seasons, with a Discovery Centre, and Dunia, which takes children from five, help; but malaria risk is high all year, tsetse is present, walks are effectively 12-plus and the nearest hospital with intensive care is in Arusha, about 300 km from Seronera. | |
1A primate and bird park, not a big-game park: Udzungwa red colobus are guaranteed, while elephant, buffalo and leopard take luck and lion is absent. | 2Elephant, buffalo and hippo are guaranteed and lion likely, but the only scheduled flight is twice weekly at $615 one way from Ruaha and a missed connection costs days. | 1Not a game-viewing park: elephant, buffalo and lion live on inaccessible eastern slopes, and chimpanzees are likely over two or three treks but never guaranteed. | 4Giraffe, hippo and buffalo are guaranteed, elephant 97 per cent and lion 90, and scheduled flights take about an hour from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar. | 3Elephant is guaranteed and lion likely, with scheduled flights of about 2.5 h from Dar es Salaam, but tsetse bites are expected on drives through denser woodland. | 5bestLion, giraffe and zebra are guaranteed and elephant, buffalo, hippo, leopard and cheetah likely over two days of drives, with daily flights from Arusha to Seronera in about 1 h 10. | |
4No interior road network and multi-day treks into deep wilderness on the Lumemo Trail; the Sanje route is the busy one. | 5bestKatavi received 1,338 international visitors in all of 2024, so a dry-season drive routinely happens with no other vehicle in sight. | 5bestNo roads, arrival by dhow, and August, the busiest month, brought 147 international visitors in 2024; all camps sit on the western lakeshore strip. | 3Only the northern strip of the park is open to photographic safaris, so your gate and sector decide what you see, and only the TANAPA campsites are reached by road. | 5bestA 20,226 km² park where, away from the eastern circuits, in the Jongomero sector or Usangu, you can drive for hours without seeing another vehicle. | 3A 14,763 km² park where the north and the Western Corridor are very quiet in February and April and May are the emptiest months, but Seronera is the busiest area and in August TANAPA caps the vehicles at each Mara River crossing point. |
Each park in one line
Udzungwa Mountains A rainforest mountain park where every attraction is a walk, home to two primates found nowhere else.
Katavi Western Tanzania's empty floodplain: hippos packed into shrinking pools and buffalo herds over a thousand strong.
Mahale Mountains Chimpanzees on forested mountains that drop into Lake Tanganyika, reached only by plane and dhow.
Nyerere The Rufiji's water world: boat safaris among hippos and lakes in one of Africa's great wild dog strongholds.
Ruaha Southern Tanzania's baobab country, where East African savanna meets miombo and big lion prides take on buffalo.
Serengeti Tanzania's migration park: 14,763 km² of short-grass plains, kopjes and woodland where the wildebeest herds are somewhere in the park every month.