Arusha National Park is a perfect trip for day safaris, as it is close to both Arusha and Moshi. With terrain that ranges from open savannah to tropical rainforest, the park is dominated by the shadow of Mt. Meru, whose summit offers an unparalleled view of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Buffalo Springs National Reserve is popular with tourists because of its diverse and unique wildlife. Among the vegetation, which is mainly acacia woodland and bush-lands and river-line forests, there are plenty of elephants, the rare Reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra (cousins to Burshel Zebra), and Beisa Oryx.

A short drive from Arusha, the Tarangire National Park offers a fantastic game driving experience all year round. Home to Tanzania's largest population of elephants, Tarangire is the best place to see these gentle giants in their natural habitat - from the adorable calves all the way up to the intimidating bulls. It is also an ideal place to snap photos of the boabab tree (the Tree of Life), as it grows in great numbers throughout the park.

One of the most important watersheds for the Great Ruaha River, Kitulo is well known for its floral significance – not only a multitude of orchids, but also the stunning yellow-orange red-hot poker and a variety of aloes, proteas, geraniums, giant lobelias, lilies and aster daisies, of which more than 30 species are endemic to southern Tanzania.

When you think of Africa, the picture in your mind’s eye is quite likely a single acacia tree silhouetted on the savanna against a flame-red horizon, inching towards infinity. That classic image is almost certainly from the Maasai Mara.

The Ruaha National Park is a fantastic place for those with a thirst for blood to see predators and prey interacting as they have for millennia.

As wild as Katavi but considerably more accessible, the Ruaha National Park is a fantastic place for those with a thirst for for blood to see predators and prey interacting as they have for millennia.