| There is more to Tanzania National Parks than | | | | however, walking safaris are allowed in the |
| Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. | | | | Forrest and on returning to your hotel - take off |
| Tanzania is blessed with many National Parks that | | | | your boots - and enjoy a refreshing walk in the |
| are remote, have a high density of animals and | | | | surf. There are only a very few locations where |
| offer a taste of Africa that is rarely offered by | | | | walking safaris are allowed in Tanzania and this is |
| most other safari destinations. These National | | | | one of them and this park also boasts a unique |
| Parks offer exceptional safaris and they are not | | | | night walk trail. A highlight here is the green turtle |
| just off the beaten track but well and truly in the | | | | nesting sites along this beach. |
| wilds of Africa. These parks are home huge herds | | | | Katavi National Park. A year or two ago the |
| of animals; predators; innumerable birds and best | | | | Serengeti had 100,000 visitors; in contrast the |
| of all few tourists. Some parks boasting one million | | | | Katavi National Park in the remote and inaccessible |
| hectares with one lodge and a handful of guests. | | | | west of Tanzania had only 83 guests. It is |
| First of all I must mention two parks very briefly; | | | | rumored that when a guest arrives at the park |
| these parks are well known but underrated and | | | | gates the wardens there are shocked and |
| largely ignored. They deserve better and | | | | bewildered, so rare are tourists to this park. Here, |
| therefore are worthy of a mention here. The first | | | | in this park the only other people you will meet |
| is Arusha National Park; a small park about 53 | | | | are other guests and the staff at the one |
| square kilometers. It is very accessible situated on | | | | [tented] lodge in the entire park. Here you have |
| the slopes of Mount Meru on the outskirts of | | | | one million hectares to yourself and the largest |
| Arusha town. It is a beautiful park, and offers | | | | herds of buffalo in Africa; and where there are |
| canoeing and walking safaris; it is well worth a | | | | buffalo the lions are not far behind. |
| visit. The other park is Tarangire National Park, | | | | There is a high plateau in Southern Tanzania called |
| most northern safaris will use this park as a | | | | the Kitulo Plateau National Park and here high |
| jumping off point en-route to the Serengeti. If it is | | | | above the madding crowd is a secret sea of |
| the dry season, this park should be visited for | | | | orchids. This National Park of wild flowers in all its |
| two days at least, and choose a lodge deep in the | | | | glorious color is a delight to anyone who |
| park such as the elegant Swala Camp. Many | | | | appreciates and loves the orchid in its natural |
| animals come to Tarangire in the dry season as | | | | setting. The Kitulo Plateau became Tanzania's |
| this park has a year round water supply. | | | | fourteenth National Park, however, unlike the |
| Tarangire may be Tanzania's most underrated | | | | Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater, this park was |
| park. | | | | not created for the protection of fauna but for |
| Mafia Island Marine Park - this is the lesser known | | | | the protection of the flora and in particular the |
| sister island to Pemba and Zanzibar. This island is | | | | orchid. |
| surrounded by a barrier reef and is only reached | | | | Udzungwa National Park is a park without roads. |
| by flight from Dar es Salaam or the nearby | | | | After arrival the visitors must get out of the |
| Selous Game Reserve. The sea around Mafia is a | | | | safari vehicles and walk. This is a National Park |
| tropical Marine Park ranging from coral reefs, | | | | with a difference and is best visited in the dry |
| sea-grass beds, mangroves and inter-tidal flats. | | | | season; as the paths and trails in the mountains |
| Most of the marine park is less than twenty | | | | tropical rain forests become quite slippery in the |
| meters bellow the mean tide levels. | | | | wet season and crossing the swollen mountain |
| Saadani National Park is 100 km north of Dar es | | | | rivers can become dangerous. |
| Salaam. Saadani is where the bush meets the sea. | | | | These few parks only scratch the surface of the |
| This colorful clash of ecosystems is found | | | | many National Parks of Tanzania. Tanzania has so |
| nowhere else along the coast of East Africa. | | | | much to offer take your time when planning a |
| Imagine - this is the place where the | | | | visit to make sure you make the most of this |
| hippopotamus compete with coral reefs, lions roar | | | | wonderful country. It is not difficult to get away |
| at the surf and baboons race along the beach. | | | | from the madding crowd; there are many |
| Elephants have even been spotted enjoying the | | | | destinations that offer the safari of a lifetime. |
| surf. Game viewing is in open 4x4 vehicles, | | | | |