WILDLIFE IN TANZANIA

Tanzania’s unrivalled collection of protected areas includes 12 national parks (with a thirteenth on the way), 16 wildlife reserves, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, two marine parks and several protected marine reserves.
Until recently, development and tourism have focused almost exclusively on the so called northern circuit Serengeti, Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Arusha and Kilimanjaro National Parks and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. As a result, all of these places are easily accessible, well equipped with facilities and heavily visited. In addition to the natural beauty, the northern circuit’s main attractions are the high concentration, diversity and accessibility of its wildlife.
The southern circuit Ruaha, Mikumi and Udzungwa Mountains National Parks and the Selous Game Reserve has been receiving increasing attention, although it still doesn’t see close to the number of visitors that the north does. Most areas tend to have more wilderness feel and the wildlife is just as impressive, although it’s often spread over larger areas.
In western Tanzania are the Mahale Mountains and Gombe Stream National Parks, where the main drawcards are the chimpanzees, and remote Katavi National Park, with its large herds of wildlife. Rubondo Island National Park in Lake Victoria is of particular interest to those interested in bird watching. Saadani Game Reserve, soon to be gazetted as a national park, lets you mix beach and bush.

 NATIONAL PARKS

All parks are managed by the Tanzania National Parks Authority. Entry fees to each national park must be paid in US dollars, preferably in cash. Travellers’ cheques are accepted, though you’ll usually be given change in Tanzanian shillings at bad rates. If you hold a Tanzanian residency permit, rates are the same as those to pay them in Tanzanian shillings instead of dollars. However, as the parks invariably use an unfavorable exchange rate, it usually works out cheaper just to pay them in dollars.
            All of the parks have campsites. Ordinary camp sites have basic facilities-generally pit toilets and sometimes a water source. Special camp sites are more remote, and have no facilities at all; the idea is that the area remains as close to pristine as possible. Unlike ordinary camp sites, special camp sites must be booked in advance, and you’ll need to bring everything in with you, including drinking water.
            In addition to camp sites, most parks also have simple bandas (thatch-roofed huts) and several (Serengeti, Arusha, Ruaha, Katavi and Gombe Stream National Park) have rest houses, usually with bedding and cooking facilities. Most parks also have several comfortable lodges or luxury tented camps, which is where most visitors choose to stay. Many parks in the northern circuit have hostels, although priority is given to school groups and they should be reserved in advance.

WILDLIFE RESERVES

These fall under the jurisdiction of the Wildlife Division of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism. For entry fees see the individual reserve entries; all fees must be paid in US dollars cash.

MARINE PARKS AND RESERVES.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism Marine Parks and Reserves Unit is responsible for the marine parks and reserves in Dar es Salaam’s Upanga section, oversees marine parks and reserves.