Tanzania | Wildlife Oasis

Images of exotic wildebeests, zebras, giraffes, cheetahs and lions come to life in national parks in the Eastern African nation of Tanzania. A dream come true for many visitors, Tanzania’s wildlife refuges offer an opportunity for once-in-a-lifetime experiences for tourists, particularly animal lovers.

First, stop at the Tarangire National Park, where large herds of eland, oryx, wildebeest and zebra, along with a sizable elephant population may be on display. Its terrain ranges from swamps to open grasslands and acacia parkland. The Tarangire River runs through the landscape, providing thirsty animals with a year-round supply of water. Moving onto to the Ngorongoro Crater, created by the collapse of an ancient volcano, visitors will see more wildlife, including buffalo, flamingo, lion and leopard.

A flight away, Serengeti National Park, the largest and most fabled in Tanzania showcases one of the largest concentrations of wildlife in the world, such as antelope, hyena, leopard, giraffe, lion, buffalo and cheetah. Each year, the Serengeti is the scene of the spectacular Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra.

While many visitors flock to Tanzania for the exotic wildlife, they may be surprised to find that the culture of the people of Tanzania offers another wonderful reason to visit this country. There are opportunities to visit Maasai villages and experience their culture. Zanzibar, an island off Tanzania, with beautiful beaches and a culture that is a mixture of Africa and the Middle East, provides a great companion side trip to the safaris.