Tanzania is undoubtedly Africa top big cat destination. The country boasts the world’s largest lion population with over close to 15000 of the 23000 global population found in the country. The country also boasts a healthy population of cheetah, leopard and less common golden cat. In this guide we shall cover some of the top locations in Tanzania where you can find these interesting animals and possibly encounter a hunting scene.
- Serengeti national park
Serengeti is the most sought after and the oldest game park in Tanzania. The park is home to the fascinating Serengeti migration which is the world largest overland migration. The park is also home to over 3000 lions, about 1000 leopards and 300 cheetahs. With the migration leading to sudden influx of potential prey, Serengeti is one of the destinations where you have great chances of encountering hunting in action. Central Serengeti seronera region which has the biggest wildlife population is the best location in the park where you are likely to come across the lions. On the other hand, riverine woodland on the seronera valley and the Ndutu woodlands are popular locations for the cagier leopards. The eastern Serengeti region marked by endless savannah plains dotted with rocky outcrops offer the best sites in East Africa where you can spot cheetahs.
Ngorongoro is one of the world’s most fascinating natural wonders. The 21 km wide depression is home to an impressive population of about 75 lions. In as much the number are quite few compared to other major parks in Tanzania, the fact that all the 8 Ngorongoro lions prides do not leave the small floor plain makes it the best park where you can come into an encounter with different groups of lions in a single drive. The park also has some of the best chances to encounter hunting in action. The floor of the crater is also a dwelling for a good population of cheetahs. Even though there are no leopards inside the crater hikers in the nearby ol moti and empakaai craters still within Ngorongoro conservation area would occasionally find them, though there are quite hideous and prefers staying inside the deep forest.
Grumeti game reserve
Bordering Serengeti national park to the west grumeti reserve falls within the Serengeti – mara ecosystem which boast one of the biggest big cat numbers in Africa. The reserve itself is a permanent residence of over 50 lions. Besides the park boast an impressive population of cheetahs more common in the Sasakwa savannah plains. Nyasirori pride which is a coalition of 7 male lions is the most common lion sighting in the reserve others can be found in the Sasakwa plains. Leopards are the hardest to sight but you may be lucky to come across one of these cagey cats in the wooden Sasakwa hills or in riverine setting.
Ruaha national park
Ruaha is one of Tanzania largest parks with a size of over 20000 square kms of untamed wilderness. The southern park is one of the only 3 park in Tanzania with over 3000 lions over 10 % of the entire global population. What fascinate about ruaha lions is their large hunting prides going to over 20 individuals. The area around ikuka camp in Mwagusi escarpments offer some of the best sight in the park where you are guaranteed of encountering a hunting epic. The park also one of the only four remaining cheetah destinations in the entire east Africa region with over 200 individuals having been found in the vast wilderness. Despite the impressive big cat and other predators population Ruaha is one of the least explored parks in Tanzania and has unmatched sense of exclusivity and authentic wild safari.
Selous game reserve
Selous also known as Nyerere national park is Tanzania largest park and a home to over 4000 lions the largest population in Africa. The park is also home to a healthy population of cheetah and leopards. Being very diverse and with large wildlife population, Selous is also a perfect destination for guests seeking to sight predation action. Large coalitions of lions can be easily be found hunting in the Rufiji delta and in the vicinity of the lush lake basins surrounding different oxbow lakes in the northern end of the park. Curiously a large number of the male lions in the park are mane-less.
Lake manyara national park
Lake Manyara is a small lake park in northern Tanzania region. The park is famous for its tree climbing lions only comparable to the lions in Queen Elizabeth national park in Uganda. Though this awing behavior could also be spotted in other parks like Serengeti and Ngorongoro, it is more common in the two parks. Sometimes you may encounter a whole pride scampering the giant acacia tree that dominate sections of the diverse Manyara ecosystem. You have great chances to encounter a tree climbing scenes in the late morning hours and afternoon when the nocturnal cats are relaxing off the hot sun. Importantly, Lake Manyara is also a dwelling for a few leopards and cheetahs.
Tarangire national park
Tarangire national park also in Lake Manyara ecosystem is a home to an impressive 250 lions. The park in central Tanzania is also a dwelling for a few leopards and cheetahs. Like in Lake Manyara, Tarangire lions have the habit of tree climbing and you have greater chances encountering one dangling the panoramic ancient baobab trees relaxing off the scorching sun. With most of the wildlife moving to the Tarangire floodplains in the prolonged dry season, you are almost guaranteed of coming across a hunting scene during your safari drive in Tarangire national park. Tarangire is also one of the few national parks in Tanzania where you can go for night game drives when the big cats are actively hunting.
Mikumi national park
Mikumi is a small park in southern Tanzania just a short distance from the coastal city of Dar Es Salaam . Though the par predators population is not as big as in Ruaha and Selous, Mikumi has an impressive number of lions and leopards. Here there are two main varieties of lions the common lions or land lions which has the biggest population and can oftenly be found strolling along the Dar Es Salaam highway. The other variety, tree climbing lions are mainly in the northern part of the Park. The lions have tree climbing characteristics like those in Lake Manyara, Tarangire and Queen Elizabeth national parks. The places of woodlands across the park also form a great habitat for the cagier leopards.
Katavi mational park
Katavi national park is one of the least explored and remote parks in Tanzania. The large and diverse wilderness is in the southern western part of Tanzania. The park is home to close to a 100 lions and an impressive number of cheetahs and leopards. Chada pride in the lake chada plains and in the vicinity of chada tented camp is the easiest lion pride to come by during your visit in the park. The Katuma riverine woodlands are also quite popular with leopards and you may be lucky to come across one of these sneaky cats scampering in the trees during your safari drives.
Saadani national park
Though the park set along the Tanzanian coastline have not been a major big cat destination its number are significantly increasing due to translocation activities carried from other parks with bigger population. The park is currently home to over 100 lions and an impressive number of cheetahs and leopards. Some individual lions in 3 prides in the park has already been collared making the process of tracking them quite easy. Importantly, the park is situated at a close distance from Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar making it a perfect escape for guests on a beach holiday.
