Tanzania's game reserves have the largest concentrations of wildlife on the African continent. The wide open plains of the Serengeti are home to over 2 million wildebeest and zebra migrating annually along ancient animal paths, constantly pursued by a host of predators. Throughout this diverse country animals in their countless millions roam freely through the vast expanses of land dedicated to conservation. With names like Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Kilimanjaro, Tanzania is where safaris were born. The fascinating Maasai people have roamed these plains for years living in complete harmony with the wildlife. In contrast, its dramatic coastline is dotted with magnificent white beaches and tropical Indian Ocean islands still perfumed with the scent of spices.
Places of Interest
 The Serengeti National Park
As large as the state of Connecticut, the Serengeti is most famous for its seasonal migration of wildlife. Triggered by rain, nearly 1.5 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra and 300,000 Thompson's gazelle traverse the length of the Serengeti in search of fresh grazing, closely followed by a host of predators including lion, cheetah, leopard and hyena - literally "a moving feast." This mass concentration of wildlife and the ensuing interaction between predator and prey creates a spectacle unrivaled in the natural world.
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Ngorongoro Crater
The largest unbroken caldera in the world, Ngorongoro Crater was formed nearly 2.5 million years ago. The 100 square mile crater floor contains one of the highest concentrations of predators in Africa who are drawn by the large herds of prey animals. Although the crater is dominated by lions and hyenas, the elusive serval cat can also be found prowling the marshes for water birds while cheetah are often seen pursuing small antelope. The crater floor is also one of the last habitats of the endangered black rhino. Bird life is prolific with regular visits by large flocks of migratory birds including flamingos, white storks and yellow wagtails.
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Tarangire National Park
The permanent water of the Tarangire River lures large herds of migrant wildlife from the parched surrounding areas. In the peak of the dry season Tarangire's resident populations of wildebeest, zebra, eland, elephant and buffalo rival those of the Serengeti. It is a place of dense woodlands, clusters of palm trees and thick stands of baobabs.
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Manyara National Park
Between the cliff of the Great Rift Valley and Lake Manyara, the unusually dense forest vegetation of Manyara National Park is supported by underground water that has traveled down the 1,968 foot rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. Babbling freshwater and hot springs provide a unique setting for the 380 species of birds and abundant wildlife that is found here including the famous Manyara tree-climbing lions. Although their behavior remains a mystery, it is quite possible to find an entire pride of lions stretched out in the branches of the acacia trees.
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Zanzibar
Zanzibar evokes exotic images of dhows--lateen sails set against a dawn-sky, whitewashed Arab houses and an azure sea, all warmed by a tropical breeze scented with the aroma of cloves and spices. The reality is satisfyingly similar and Zanzibar continues to live up to its reputation as a romantic tropical paradise. Known as the Spice Island because of its long-standing clove industry, this low-lying stretch of land continues to exert a powerful fascination.
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Mount Kilimanjaro
At 19,340 ft., Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest freestanding mountain in the world. This dormant volcano is a favorite with mountain climbers and can be ascended via several different and challenging routes. An enormous range of vegetation is found beginning with the warm, dry plains with average temperatures of 80ø F, changing to wet tropical forest, heath and moorland, highland desert and finally arctic conditions at the summit.
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Selous Game Reserve
Selous, the largest game reserve in Africa, promises a remote and undisturbed experience. It offers lakes, bush, savanna and miombo woodland and features the largest herds of elephant in Africa as well as hippo, crocodiles and one of the largest populations of wild dog. The concentrations of wildlife are second only to the Serengeti.
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Katavi National Park
Isolated and seldom visited, Katavi is a true wilderness, providing the few intrepid souls who make it there with a thrilling taste of Africa as it must have been a century ago. The bulk of Katavi supports a hypnotically featureless cover of tangled brachystegia woodland, home to substantial but elusive populations of the localised eland, sable and roan antelopes. But the main focus for game viewing within the park is the Katuma River and associated floodplains such as the seasonal Lakes Katavi and Chada. During the rainy season, these lush, marshy lakes are a haven for myriad waterbirds, and they also support.
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Mahale Mountains National Park
Set deep in the heart of the African interior, inaccessible by road and only 60 miles south of where Stanley uttered that immortal greeting “Doctor Livingstone, I presume”, is a scene reminiscent of an Indian Ocean island beach idyll. Silky white coves hem in the azure waters of Lake Tanganyika, overshadowed by a chain of wild, jungle-draped peaks towering over a mile above the shore: the remote and mysterious Mahale Mountains. It is home to some of Africa’s last remaining wild chimpanzees. Its slopes also support a diverse forest fauna, including readily observed troops of red colobus, red-tailed and blue monkeys, and a kaleidoscopic array of colorful forest birds.
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