Are park fees included in a safari price?

Yes, on any TanzaLux safari — park entrance fees, conservation fees and any applicable crater service fees are built into your quote, not charged separately at the gate.

Is Ngorongoro Crater a national park?

No — it's part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, managed by a separate authority (the NCAA) as a multiple-land-use area that still permits Maasai grazing. It's sold and visited as part of the same northern circuit as the national parks nearby, but it's legally a different kind of protected area.

Which circuit should a first-time visitor choose?

The Northern Circuit, for almost everyone — it has the highest wildlife density, the shortest drives between parks, and includes the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. The Southern and Western circuits are better suited to repeat visitors or those specifically after a quieter, more remote experience.

Can I combine parks from different circuits in one trip?

It's possible but usually not efficient — the circuits are geographically separated enough that combining, say, the Northern and Southern circuits typically means a domestic flight between them, adding real time and cost. Most itineraries stay within one circuit.

Vast golden plains of the Serengeti with wildebeest herds stretching to the horizon

Parks & Reserves

22 national parks, three circuits, and one important distinction most guides skip.

22National parks (TANAPA)

~104,661km²Total protected area

3 tourism circuitsTourism circuits

Managed separately (NCAA)Ngorongoro Crater

The basics

Parks, reserves & who manages what

The Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) officially manages 22 national parks, covering roughly 104,661km² of savanna, forest, mountain and wetland habitat. TANAPA organizes them into four administrative zones — Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western — though the tourism industry usually talks in three looser "circuits": Northern, Southern and Western, grouped by which parks sit near each other on the ground. One distinction worth getting right: Ngorongoro Crater is not a national park. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is managed separately by its own authority (the NCAA), as a multiple-land-use area that still permits Maasai communities to live and graze cattle within it — a genuinely different legal and conservation model from a national park, even though it sits right alongside Serengeti National Park and is sold as part of the same circuit.

Explore by circuit

Three ways to see Tanzania

Northern Circuit

Tanzania's most visited region, and for good reason — the Great Migration, the highest wildlife densities, and the shortest drives between parks of any circuit.

Serengeti
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Tarangire
Lake Manyara
Arusha

Southern Circuit

Larger, quieter parks with a fraction of the northern circuit's visitor numbers — a genuine wilderness feel, at the cost of longer flights or drives to reach.

Nyerere (formerly Selous)
Ruaha
Mikumi
Udzungwa Mountains

Western Circuit

The most remote of the three, built around chimpanzee trekking rather than classic game drives — reached almost exclusively by light aircraft.

Mahale Mountains
Gombe
Katavi

All parks

Every premier park, side by side

Park	Circuit	Known for	Best for
Serengeti National Park	Northern	The Great Migration & endless plains	First-time visitors, migration timing
Ngorongoro Conservation Area	Northern	Crater floor wildlife density, Big Five in one loop	Concentrated game viewing in a single day
Tarangire National Park	Northern	Elephant herds & ancient baobabs	Dry-season elephant viewing
Lake Manyara National Park	Northern	Tree-climbing lions, Rift Valley scenery	A compact, scenic add-on day
Arusha National Park	Northern	Momella Lakes, closest park to Arusha	Time-limited travelers, day trips
Nyerere National Park	Southern	Tanzania's largest protected area, boat safaris	A quieter, off-the-beaten-track safari
Ruaha National Park	Southern	Wild dogs, large elephant & lion populations	Serious wildlife watchers avoiding crowds
Mahale Mountains National Park	Western	Chimpanzee trekking on Lake Tanganyika's shore	A genuine chimp-trekking expedition
Gombe National Park	Western	Jane Goodall's chimpanzee research site	Chimp trekking with real research history
Katavi National Park	Western	Remote, dense dry-season game concentrations	Travelers who've done the northern circuit before

Good to know

Parks & Reserves FAQ

Are park fees included in a safari price?
Yes, on any TanzaLux safari — park entrance fees, conservation fees and any applicable crater service fees are built into your quote, not charged separately at the gate.
Is Ngorongoro Crater a national park?
No — it's part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, managed by a separate authority (the NCAA) as a multiple-land-use area that still permits Maasai grazing. It's sold and visited as part of the same northern circuit as the national parks nearby, but it's legally a different kind of protected area.
Which circuit should a first-time visitor choose?
The Northern Circuit, for almost everyone — it has the highest wildlife density, the shortest drives between parks, and includes the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. The Southern and Western circuits are better suited to repeat visitors or those specifically after a quieter, more remote experience.
Can I combine parks from different circuits in one trip?
It's possible but usually not efficient — the circuits are geographically separated enough that combining, say, the Northern and Southern circuits typically means a domestic flight between them, adding real time and cost. Most itineraries stay within one circuit.

Traveller stories

The proof should come from people who went.

Dorine M11 months ago

Grateful experience

As a solo female traveler, I felt super safe and well taken care of the entire time.

Dagmar P1 month ago

Private Safari 6 days

I can only highly recommend the young company Tanzalux for organizing a private safari.

Sylvanus T9 months ago

An unforgettable vegetarian journey with Tanzalux Safaris

I highly recommend Tanzalux for anyone wanting a special, personalized safari.

Lucas G2 months ago

Our 3-day camping safari with Tanzalux was simply fantastic! Everything was perfectly organized.

Victoria Goodluck3 months ago

★★★★★

Posted on Google

Back in April, I joined a day trip to Tarangire National Park with Tanzalux Safaris, and it was truly one of the best experiences I have ever had…

Danai Vicha5 months ago

★★★★★

Posted on Google

I've had an amazing experience with Tanzalux Safaris, would 1000% recommend! Thank you for making my trip so special🫶

ikigo simbila5 months ago

★★★★★

Posted on Google

I recently visited Meru Waterfalls in Arusha and got to do some of the activities there, honestly it was such a great experience and I really enjoyed it.

Hadija Shebe5 months ago

★★★★★

Posted on Google

Our guide Dullah Mr Rastaman had the best vibe. I would like to recommend other people not to miss it, Tarangire is the best national park.

Tumain Hope4 months ago

★★★★★

Posted on Google

Our tour guide Nasri was very friendly and welcoming from the first day we met him. He knows Tarangire very well and explained many things during the safari.

Linnah Kimaro4 months ago

★★★★★

Posted on Google

As a grandmother in the group, I would like to share my happiness with Tanzalux Safaris. Me, my daughters, and my grandson went on a short trip to Tarangire National Park…

Ready to plan your route?

Tell us which parks interest you — we'll build the right circuit around your dates.

Juma AmaniTanzania Luxury Safari Expert

Hey! What are you looking for?

Parks & Reserves

Parks, reserves & who manages what

Three ways to see Tanzania

Northern Circuit

Southern Circuit

Western Circuit

Every premier park, side by side

Parks & Reserves FAQ

Are park fees included in a safari price?

Is Ngorongoro Crater a national park?

Which circuit should a first-time visitor choose?

Can I combine parks from different circuits in one trip?

The proof should come from people who went.

Ready to plan your route?