What wild animals can you see on a Tanzania Safari

Tanzania stands out as a prime destination for safari adventures, making it an ideal choice for families considering a trip to Africa.As the largest country in the East African region, it boasts of beautiful landscapes with breathtaking scenery and a great range of wildlife in their natural habitat making it the perfect place for a family safari. For optimal wildlife viewing on a Tanzania safari, aim for the dry season, spanning from January to February and June to October.

Wild Animals that can be seen on a Tanzania safari

The Big Cats

Tanzania offers a haven for the big cats which include lions, leopards, and cheetahs. These can be found in Tanzania’s most renowned national park, the Serengeti, as well as the Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, and the Selous Game Reserve. These parks offer breathtaking scenery and the perfect game-viewing experience.
The best time for game viewing is at sunrise and sunset. The type of safari experience you and your family desire will determine the options available. Choices include intimate safaris, like hot air balloons, which offer aerial views of the parks and reserves, or afternoon expeditions.
These parks boast a flourishing population of unique lions known for their tree-climbing abilities. Due to their nocturnal nature, they spend most of their day resting in the fig trees, descending at sunset when the temperature is cool.
Leopards are elusive creatures and are often found deep within the parks and reserves, camouflaged in lush vegetation or perched on tree branches. They blend into their surroundings with their spotted coats.
Cheetahs are more commonly spotted in the Eastern Serengeti, where cat research was previously conducted, resulting in a higher presence of breeding females in the area. They can be seen throughout the year but the peak season runs from mid-January to mid-April.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration, an annual phenomenon, involves the movement of vast numbers of Serengeti wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, and impalas. Its timing depends largely on rainfall patterns. Thus it differs from year to year and it occurs as the animals move in search of fresh water and pastures. You wouldn’t want to miss the migration, as it offers a firsthand experience of this survival-of-the-fittest journey, with crocodiles in the river awaiting the herds.
Wildlife migration also happens in Tarangire National Park during the dry season from June to November though not as significant as the Serengeti migration. Another remarkable season you can enjoy during your Tanzania family safari is the calving season which occurs between January and March. It’s a period in which lots of wildebeest calves are birthed. This will give you front-row seats to the miracle of birth and create lasting memories.

Birds of Tanzania

The central part of Serengeti has rare bird species which are called the “Serengeti Specials”. These include the gray-throated spurfowl, red-throated tit, gray-crested helmet shrike, and the rufous-tailed weaver among others.