Tanzania has arguably the greatest diversity of national parks in Africa - from the great Serengeti to remote Ruaha and ancient Udzungwa mountains. There are 22 national parks covering more than 15% of the country. Hard to beat! The protected areas are found in iconic landscapes from Mount Kilimanjaro and Lake Victoria to Lake Tanganyika and the Indian Ocean shores.

It is not possible to visit them all in one or even two safaris, so some selection is key. The Serengeti is a visit in itself with seasonal differences to consider especially if looking for the great wildebeest migration. Most of Africa’s premier lodge operators provide services in the Serengeti, allowing for a good choice in accommodation. The northern parks are all within easy reach of eachother, keeping the safari compact. For regular visitors the chance to visit the wild shores of Lake Tanganyika in search of chimpanzees is something different to plan for. Other Southern and western parks will also add an element of difference in landscape, culture ad wildlife.

Tanzania has an excellent network of small scheduled flights to connect the various safari regions including to neighbouring countries. In addition, the islands of Pemba, Zanzibar and Mafia provide excellent beach and marine opportunities to unwind after the rigours of safari. In short, Tanzania is not a once-off destination!