Tanzania contains some 20 percent of the species of Africa's large mammal population, found across its reserves, conservation areas, marine parks, and 17 national parks, spread over an area of more than 42,000 square kilometres (16,000 sq mi) and forming approximately 38 percent of the country's territory. Wildlife resources of Tanzania are described as "without parallel in Africa" and "the prime game viewing country". Serengeti National Park, the country's second largest national park area at 14,763 square kilometres (5,700 sq mi), is located in northern Tanzania and is famous for its extensive migratory herds of wildebeests and zebra while also having the reputation as one of the great natural wonders of the world. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, established in 1959, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and inhabited by the Maasai people. Its Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact caldera in the world. The national parks are also part of the wetlands of Tanzania. The wild animals tend to be closer to the wetlands, particularly the water loving species such as the hippopotamus, waterbuck, common warthog, elephant, crocodile, sitatunga as well as water birds such as flamingoes and ducks.
Background
Since the colonial era, wildlife conservation in Tanzania has been the prerogative of the government. Under this structure, the use of wildlife resources by local communities had always been restrictive, causing increased rural poverty and poaching. In recent years, the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) has initiated corrective actions to involve the local community in conservation efforts, which is aimed at contribution to local economies by way of equitable benefits sharing.
The wildlife resources in Tanzania provide an annual income of US$30 million to the national exchequer, and an income of US$9 million as revenue from the leasing companies. Illegal hunting is estimated to be worth US$50 million. In the 1990s, exports of 1.68 million birds, 523,000 reptiles, 12,000 mammals and 148,000 amphibians occurred, in addition to an increase in wildlife related tourism by about 30%. Fishery resources have also contributed richly to the export revenue of the country, with export value of US$130 million reported in 2003, with the export of the Nile perch accounting for a major share of US$100 million.
National parks Tanzania’s wildlife, extolled as the "finest safari experiences and wildlife spectacles found anywhere on the planet", has 40 national parks and game reserves. There are 17 national parks covering a total area of 42,235 square kilometres (16,307 sq mi). These parks are as follows:
Arusha National Park (552 square kilometres (213 sq mi)) Gombe Stream National Park (52 square kilometres (20 sq mi)) Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park Katavi National Park (4,471 square kilometres (1,726 sq mi)) Kilimanjaro National Park (1,668 square kilometres (644 sq mi)) Kitulo National Park (413 square kilometres (159 sq mi)) Mahale Mountains National Park (1,613 square kilometres (623 sq mi)) Lake Manyara National Park (330 square kilometres (130 sq mi)) Mikumi National Park (3,230 square kilometres (1,250 sq mi)) Mkomazi National Park (3,245 square kilometres (1,253 sq mi)) Ruaha National Park (20,226 square kilometres (7,809 sq mi)) Rubondo Island National Park (457 square kilometres (176 sq mi)) Saadani National Park (1,062 square kilometres (410 sq mi)) Saanane Island National Park (2.18 square kilometres (0.84 sq mi)) Serengeti National Park (14,763 square kilometres (5,700 sq mi)) Tarangire National Park (2,850 square kilometres (1,100 sq mi)) Udzungwa Mountains National Park (1,990 square kilometres (770 sq mi)).
Arusha National Park
Arusha National Park located entirely in Arusha Region is spread over an area of 552 square kilometres (213 sq mi). It is within the riverine, lacustrine, and palustrine wetland ecosystem. It encompasses the montane forests and alpine deserts of Mount Meru, Africa's fifth highest mountain at 4,566 metres (14,980 ft). The park also has marshy areas, rolling grassy hills, and wooded savannah. The Ngurdoto Crater, the Momela Lakes, and one of the sources of the Pangani River are within the park. Wild animals and birds reported in the park include elephant (uncommon), leopard, waterbuck, spotted hyena, giraffe, blue monkey, colobus monkey, turaco, trogon, African buffalo, warthog, klipspringer, and red-hot poker. Water birds are also concentrated in large numbers in the lake areas, particularly flamingos. The park is near the city of Arusha, and the Kilimanjaro International Airport is 60 kilometres (37 mi) away.
Gombe Stream National Park
The second smallest of Tanzania's national parks is Gombe Stream National Park is located in Kigoma District of Kigoma Region, covering an area of only 52 square kilometres (20 sq mi). Its natural topography consists of steep hill slopes, river valleys, and the sandy northern shores of Lake Tanganyika. It is drained by the Gombe River. Access to the park is only through marine vessels from Kigoma. The celebrated animals in the park are mostly primates, including chimpanzee, beach comber olive baboon, red-tailed monkey, and red colobus monkey. The park is the site of Jane Goodall's ongoing study of chimpanzee behaviour, which started in 1960. The study has reported 150 individuals who are familiar with humans. The park has a rich bird life with 200 reported bird species, including African fish eagle and red-throated twinspot.
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park
Katavi National Park
Katavi National Park, having an area of 4,471 square kilometres (1,726 sq mi), is Tanzania’s third largest national park located in Katavi Region . Its geographic setting is in a truncated arm of the East African Rift that terminates in Lake Rukwa. It is an integral part of the riverine and palustrine wetland ecosystem. The Katuma River and associated floodplains, marshy lakes, and brachystegia woodland are part of its habitat. Eland, sable and roan antelopes are found in substantial numbers, and its marshy lakes have Tanzania's densest population of hippopotamus and Nile crocodile. Elephant, lion, spotted hyena, African buffalo, giraffe, zebra, impala, and reedbuck are a common sight during the dry season.
Kilimanjaro National Park
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