Arusha
Just half an hour from town, this relatively small park covers an area of 137 sq km. It consists of three 'zones': Ngurdoto Crater, the Momella Lakes and Mount Meru. Altitudes range from 1,500m to 4,615m at the summit of Meru. Vegetation varies from a primeval forest on the crater slopes to swampy edges on the floor. In the forest, duikers, bushbuck, buffalo and black and white colobus monkeys can be spotted. Around the lakes, thousands of flamingo and other aquatic birds are found, as well as reedbuck, waterbuck, hippo and giraffe.

Gombe Stream and Mahale
Both parks are accessible by boat from Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika, or by charter flight from Arusha or Nairobi. Gombe is a small reserve dedicated to the preservation of chimpanzees, made famous by the primatologist Jane Goodall in the 1960's. Accommodation here is not luxurious, however a small permanent camp is available. With over 1,000 chimps in the forest, the area is a safe haven for spectacular walking. However trips should be planned in advance.

Katavi
Remote and wild, Kitavi is Tanzania's third largest park and due to its remoteness receives few visitors. It sits on a high watery flood plain that include vast miombo and acacia woodlands, rivers, swamps, palm groves and lakes. There is a high concentration of hippo, crocodile, buffalo, impala, eland, topi and Zebra, whilst lion and leopard are also present.

Lake Manyara
From whichever direction you approach Manyara, the first view is spectacular. From the east, the Rift Valley wall rises several hundred metres, to form an impressive backdrop to the lake. From the west, if one is perched at the top of the escarpment, the park lies far below, with a long green strip of water that glistens in the sunlight. The vegetation around the lake's shores is surprisingly varied and comprises mostly of forest, acacia woodland and open grassland near to the shore. The park covers an area of 330 sq km of which about 230 sq km is the lake itself. You can always find hippo in the Simba River, elephant in the forests, and a resident herd of Cape buffalo on the open plains at Mahali Pa Nyati, which means, 'the place of the buffalo' in Swahili. In addition, there are approximately 400 species of birds and, for the fortunate, tree-climbing lions. Canoeing safaris are also available here.

Lake Victoria
Being the world's second-largest freshwater lake, Lake Victoria covers an area of nearly 70,000 sq km and one of the chief sources of the Nile. Life here has not changed for centuries, the cultures are fascinating, people beautiful and scenery, spectacular.

Mikumi
Covering an area of 3,230 sq km, Mikumi can be seen as simply an extension of the enormous Selous Reserve, just to the south. The surrounding Uluguru and Rubeho Mountains form a striking backdrop to the park, however it is the Mkata flood-plain which attracts the wildlife. Here, large herds of elephant, eland, Lichtenstein's hartebeest and packs of Cape hunting dog are found in large numbers. For the lucky visitor, good spots will also include lion, greater kudu or sable antelope.

Mount Kilimanjaro
Rising in absolute isolation to 5,895m, Uhuru Peak is the highest point in Africa. Snow-capped, mysterious and often wreathed in cloud, it is one of the world's most accessible high summits, although no other can boast lower slopes that are inhabited by elephant, buffalo, leopard and a wide variety of antelope. The mountain attracts thousands of visitors each year, most of them inspired to conquer the summit. There are several routes to reach the summit, the gentlest being the Rongai and Marangu routes. Accommodation on the mountain is in a mixture of huts and high-altitude tents, with base hotels in the foothills.

Ngorongoro Crater
One of the wonders of the world, it is difficult to give a fair description to the enormity and beauty of the Crater. There is nothing one can compare it to, except perhaps the Garden of Eden. A steep wall of thick forest surrounds the circumference, which looks into a natural amphitheatre 260 sq km in size. Here, an incredible ecosystem consists of grasslands, swamps, lakes, rivers, woodlands, forest and an arid area of shifting dunes. Thus the Crater is able to sustain a vast resident population of game, including elephant, buffalo, hippo, wildebeest, gazelle, monkeys, black rhino, leopard and a huge concentration of lion and hyena. The surrounding conservation area is also home to the legendary Maasai tribe. These unique people are seen high on the Crater rim, where young warriors (or children) tend to the cattle, armed with nothing more than a short spear.

Olduvai Gorge
The Gorge acquired its name from the Sansevieria bush that grows profusely in the area, named Olduvai by the Maasai. The Gorge is about 50km long and in some places around 90m deep and is found between the Crater and the Serengeti. It was first discovered by a German entomologist named Professor Kattwinkel, who inspired an expedition just before the First World War. Later, the exploration was continued by Dr Louis Leakey and his wife, who in 1959 found humanoid remains of Zinjanthropus, later renamed Australapithicus Boisei, an early form of man. There is a simple museum on the site overlooking the Gorge.

Ruaha
Not much smaller than the Serengeti, this park is huge. However, only a fraction has been developed for tourism. For those searching adventure, this park should be on the list. Its landscape is fascinating and wilderness vast. Here, rocky outcrops, steep gorges, wooded forests and miombo woodlands all centre around the flood plains of the great sandy Ruaha. This captivating river is lined with tamarind, winterthorn and palm trees, making it a great haunt for hippo, kudu, lion, leopard and elephant. Guided walking safaris are a great attraction in this park.

Rubondo Island
Tucked away in a corner of Lake Victoria, Rubondo is an ideal water retreat with many beautiful sandy beaches, cloaked by virgin forest. The swamps protect sitatunga, whilst waters harbour tilapia and the much sought after Nile perch. Other indigenous species include chimpanzees, elephant, giraffe and many hippo and crocodiles.

Selous
This must be the largest unspoilt game reserve in Africa and until recently, was only really known to a handful of scientists. The reserve is named after the late Captain Frederick Courteney Selous, a famous elephant hunter who was killed by a German sniper in 1917. General accessibility to the 55,000 sq km reserve is difficult, however flights from Dar es Salaam are convenient. The reserve is immense, remote and wild, and no human habitation is allowed within its boundaries. Today it boasts some of Africa's finest virgin bush, unchanged through centuries, and inhabited by three quarters of a million wild animals. The river systems and gorges are fascinating, as are the swamps, woodlands and savannahs, all home to hippo, crocodile, elephant, buffalo, wildebeest, zebras, giraffe, waterbuck, baboon, leopards, lion, rhino, eland, sable and roan, to mention just a few of the species. The bird life is also extremely rich. There are a number of camps in the northern sector of the park, offering a mix of rustic and exotic camps. Game drives are by four wheel-drive vehicle and the boat rides, excellent. Though for a highlight, choose a safari that offers escorted walking and camping trips.

Serengeti
In the local vernacular, Serengeti means 'the endless plains that go up to the sky'. And they do just that. It is therefore easy to understand why this is the most popular and spectacular of all game parks in East Africa. Covering 14,765 sq km, one of the striking features of this park is the series of large granite outcrops that dominate the vast plains, making it very different to the Masai Mara. Life in the park centres on the triangular trek of several million hooves. This movement is constant, it never stops and just follows the good grazing pastures. Every year, after the south's short November rains, wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, eland, topi and hartebeest gather in their thousands on the Serengeti's southern plains and the Ngorongoro Highlands. Then, around April, they head towards the western corridor of the Serengeti, where many overflow into the Masai Mara around July/August. They remain here until late October/November, when Tanzania's new rains prompts the move south again, towards Lake Ndutu and Lagaja. This yearly phenomenon also affects the lives of hundreds of thousands of other species, who rely on the migratory herds for their survival. These include predators, gazelles, birds and lowly insects, not to mention the grasses and trees that are fertilised by droppings. Another of the highlights here, are the early morning balloon safaris.

Tarangire
South of Lake Manyara and just over 100km from Arusha, this is a delightful untamed gem of a park. Covering 2,600 sq km, it abounds with game and the numerous wide-bowed baobab trees create a lasting impression. It is at its finest during the dry season, which is between June and October and from December to March. This is when the Tarangire River and the various swamps attract the highest concentrations of game, therefore providing a lifeline to thousands of species. Best for oryx, kudu, wildebeest, zebra, elephant and eland. Leopards and python are also popular here.

Udzungwa Mountains
Udzungwa is a primeval forest, a hothouse filled with fungus, lichens, moss and ferns, covered by a high tree canopy. There are many primates here and it's Tanzania's richest forest habitat for birds. Hiking is extremely popular, as the walking trails are fascinating and scenery beautiful.