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Tanzania has more land devoted to national parks and game reserves than any other wildlife destination in the world. Everything from pristine coral reefs to the Crater Highlands, remote game reserves and the famous national parks are protected by government law and placed in trust for future generations to marvel at in wonder and awe. In addition to a listing of the main attractions of Tanzania, we have included many parks that are largely neglected in favour of the big names like Serengeti and Ngorongoro. It is our hope that in writing up these lesser-known locations, visitors may be tempted to include them on their itineraries and encourage tourism to other equally beautiful, parts of the country.

Most hunting reserves have been omitted due to restricted access for safari vehicles and wildlife tourists. Tanzania has incredible biodiversity, so wildlife populations and bird species often vary according to the season and region. A visit to one of the smaller game reserves for a short hiking trip or a day excursion is well worth the effort of an extended itinerary. Off the beaten track, the sights and sounds of Africa truly come alive.

With so many parks and itineraries to choose from, safaris to Tanzania are often divided into regional circuits, or groups of game parks whose geographical proximity and topographical variations make up a varied and diverse group. Some of the circuits are of course more travelled than others. Tanzania’s northern circuit alone easily attracts the majority of tourists. But the northern circuit’s fame and popularity means that other equally stunning but less well-known locations remain little-visited attractions whose beauty is known to only a select few. The southern circuit contains the Selous Game Reserve - Africa's largest game reserve which is bigger than Denmark! Although the northern circuit is the most famous, venturing off the familiar path inevitably rewards visitors with the phenomenal scenery and wildlife experiences.

What follows is a brief write-up of the main attractions of each region in Tanzania, divided into circuits accordingly. Although the western and eastern circuits are not developed as full itineraries per se, there is much in each region that warrants a discerning visitor’s attention. Of course, none of these circuits are a complete itinerary in itself, nor is it set in stone. Rather, they are regional suggestions for travellers wishing to explore a certain part of the country, or for return visitors to travel someplace new. Most safari operators will encourage you to select regions and areas to incorporate into your safari from a few or all of the circuits. Longer descriptions of each of the locations can be found in the ‘National Parks and Reserves’ section of the tourism attractions in tanzania

source:tanzania tourist board