Tanzania’s Lesser-Known National Parks: Why They’re Worth Visiting

Whenever the majority of the population think of a Tanzanian safari what strikes their mind is the world renowned, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, or even Mount Kilimanjaro. These icons are undoubtedly spectacular though there is also a group of less known national parks in Tanzania that have not yet been victimized by the mass tourism. These little secrets provide just as stunning scenery, special natural experience, and that feeling of relaxation that is becoming so hard to find in the modern world. When you are in need of an adventure that is out of the beaten path, then here is why the lesser known national parks of Tanzania should be included in your traveling list.

Ruaha National Park -The Biggest Secret in Tanzania.

Ruaha is the largest national park in Tanzania with a size of more than 20,000 square kilometers but it is among the least frequented. It is also not so big to have large masses of people; it has enormous open areas where visitors can experience the sense of the real wilderness.

The outstanding feature of Ruaha is its huge biodiversity. It hosts huge groups of lions, some of the biggest groups of elephants in East Africa and some rare animals like African wild dogs. It is located at the intersection of the eastern and southern African ecosystems and this attribute has enabled it to house a special combination of wildlife not found anywhere. Having baobab-dotted sceneries, rolling hills, and winding rivers, Ruaha provides a wild and rough safari experience which seems to be miles away in a well-travelled tourist route.

Katavi National Park – Wild and Uncivilized.

Katavi National Park is the most ideal choice of safari by lovers of privacy. Katavi is one of the most remote places in Africa since it is found in western Tanzania and receives few visitors annually.

Katavi is famous in its huge hippo and crocodile pods which at times are found competing in space in the shrinking pools during the dry period. The plains are covered by large herds of buffalo in the thousands with the elephants and giraffes. Lion and hyena are among the top predators, and they will never be too far behind making the game viewing experiences to be thrilling.

The exclusivity is what is unique about Katavi. In this case, you could spend a whole day going round without seeing another safari vehicle, thus having the impression like you own the park.

Mahale Mountains National Park -A Chimpanzee Heaven.

Mahale Mountains National Park is one of the most enchanted places of Tanzania, as it is located deep in the shores of Lake Tanganyika. In contrast to the savanna parks, Mahale is a rainforest mountainous park, the main attraction of which is not lions or elephants, but rather chimpanzees.

Africa has some of the highest population of wild chimps in the park and visiting them in their natural habitat, through trekking in the forest is an experience one would never forget. The experience of observing these intelligent primates groom, play and interact is a humbling experience of the fact that we all share this bond with the animal kingdom.

In addition to the chimps, Mahale also has clean white sandy beaches along the lake, crystal clear waters ideal in swimming and dramatic mountainous background of green color. It is a park in which adventure, relaxation, and wildlife merge perfectly.

Mikumi National Park A Secret Place around Dar es Salaam.

Mikumi National Park is an easy but rewarding destination to the travelers who do not want to travel long distances to have a safari experience in Tanzania, but still want to have a quick local experience. Mikumi is usually likened to the Serengeti except that it is smaller and only a few hours way out of Dar es Salaam.

The free plains of Mikumi are inhabited by the elephants, zebras, wildebeest and giraffes and predators such as the lion and leopards. Paradise will also include the birdwatchers as over 400 species of birds have been registered to have been found here. Although it is more affordable compared to other parks, Mikumi nevertheless has a peaceful environment with significantly fewer crowds compared to the parks in the northern circuit.

Saadani National Park -Bush Meets the Beach.

You know when you always dreamt of seeing wildlife, surrounded with roaring ocean waves, then Saadani national park is the place. The only national park in Tanzania to have the Indian Ocean as a neighbor, Saadani is a rare safari cum beach getaway.

It is possible to see the elephants and giraffes by roaming along the coastline, the hippies and crocodiles in the river Wami and the lions taking naps in the shade all within golden sandy beaches. Having had a game drive, visitors may spend some time by the sea, combining the excitement of the safari expedition and the calmness of a beach vacation.

The Reason to select less well known parks?

Although the Serengeti and Ngorongoro will never be less fascinating, the other parks of Tanzania have a magic of their own:

Less Traffic: You will be able to have close wildlife experiences without fighting over the room.

Experiences that are unique: Chimpanzee trekking in Mahale, beach safari in Saadani are new in these parks.

Raw Wilderness: A lot of them are untamed and primitive in nature and offer a true safari feel.

Conservation: With its visits to these less frequented locations, the traveler is contributing to the revenue that benefits conservation and the local communities.

Planning Your Trip

Exploring the unexplored parks of Tanzania is not as easy as the usual northern circuit. There are those parks such as Katavi and Mahale that can only be reached through charter flights and others such as Ruaha and Mikumi that can be accessed via the roads. The accommodation can be as luxurious a lodge to a simple tented camp due to their less advanced state but the payoff is that everyone has not gotten a chance to experience what you are about to.

To the adventurous traveler, a combination of one or two of these parks with a more recognized park such as the Serengeti would form a balanced itinerary which fulfills both iconic places and off-the-road discovery.

Final Thoughts

Tanzania is not only the Serengeti or Kilimanjaro it is a land of enormous diversity and untold secrets. A visit to the less known national parks is not only about avoiding the masses but also connecting more with nature in some of the remaining areas of pure wilderness in Africa.

When you want a true safari adventure which will incorporate adventure and relaxation as well as memorable wildlife experience, the hidden parks in Tanzania are there to be explored.