Covering an area of 13,000 sq km, Ruaha National Park is the country’s third largest park and also its biggest elephant sanctuary. Its name derives from the Great Ruaha River which flows along its eastern border, creating spectacular gorges. Flowing into the Rufiji River, the Great Ruaha is home to hippo and crocodile. Waterbuck, buffalo and reedbuck venture to the river’s edge to drink, attracting the attention of lion, hunting dog, jackal and spotted hyena. Various antelope species, such as grater and lesser Kudu, impala, Grant’s gazelle and the tiny dik-dik thrive in the grasslands bordering the river alongside zebra, warthog, mongoose, wild cat and civet.

Covering an area of about 64,500sq km. Selous Game Reserve is the largest protected wildlife area in Africa. Selous boasts the largest population of elephants as well as large number of buffalo, hippo, rhino and wild dog. Other species commonly seen are lion, bushbuck, impala, giraffe, eland, baboon, zebra and greater kudu.

The topography of the park varies from rolling savannah woodland, grassland plains and rocky outcrops cut by the Rufiji River and its tributaries, the Kilombero and Luwegu, which together cover the greatest catchment area in East Africa. The Selous game reserve is about 45 minutes away by air and 6 hours away by road from Dar es Salaam.

The Gombe National Park in the north-west is the smallest park in Tanzania, covering about 52sq km, but it offers visitors the rare chance to observe chimpanzees. A number of monkey species can also be seen, red colubus, red-tail and blue monkeys. The area is heavily forested, making it an unsuitable habitat to carnivores- so the park is safe for walking safaris. There are rewarding sightings for birdwatchers.