Arusha National Park is located just 25 kilometers from the town of Arusha, Tanzania’s safari capital. It is the nearest park to the Kilimanjaro International Airport which makes it an ideal location for a day trip. The park is home to a variety of wildlife including elephants, buffalos, leopards, giraffes, hippos, hyenas, waterbucks, wart hogs, and several types of antelope and birds. There are no lions in the park, but leopards can be seen on occasion. Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro are the two prominent landmarks that can be seen from nearly anywhere in the park.

Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest peak and the highest freestanding mountain in the world. Its distinct snow-covered peak can be seen from 160 km away on a good day. Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is a challenge but can be climbed throughout the year, however, it is recommended to avoid attempting the hike during the rainy season. Rainforests are located around the mountains base and are home to elephants, leopards, lions, the Colobus monkey, and lush vegetation.

Lake Manyara National Park is perched between Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley. The park is known for its incredible scenery and is only a two and a half hour drive from Arusha making it yet another perfect candidate for a day trip. The best time to visit if you want to see some of the large mammals is during the dry season of July to October. Tree-climbing lions are one of the parks most well-known attractions and the park has the largest amount of pachyderms per km. sq in Tanzania.

Tarangire National Park Upon entering the park, the most striking feature first visible are the baobabs, the giant, majestic tree that speckle the landscape. The Tarangire River is also a prominent feature of the park and supports the dense vegetation that surrounds the river bed. Tarangire’s most impressive attraction however, is the migration of Serengeti animals to the area during the dry season (June to October). During this time, the wildlife migrate to the area in search of water making it the park home to the largest concentration of animals in Tanzania during these months. A few animals to expect to see at the park include hartebeest, wildebeest, elephants, zebras, giraffes, Eland, waterbuck, and gazelles.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area has created a beautiful, natural wildlife sanctuary in the world. The crater walls create the world’s largest volcanic caldera. Animals choose to remain in the area because of the ideal conditions and the park has an estimated 25,000 mammals roaming througout the crater. The crater is also home to some of Tanzania’s last remaining black rhinos and giant-tusked elephants.