andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge

Burchell zebras (Equus quagga) crossing a swamp in the Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania, Africa

One of Tanzania’s smallest national parks, Gombe Stream, is also one of its most famous, thanks to the work of iconic chimpanzee researcher and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall. Travelers can embark on a multiday chimp-tracking experience here, watching as our close relatives leap between the trees and sit around grooming one another. In Arusha National Park, many tourists visit to hike Mount Meru, but the park is additionally home to a variety of wildlife—including cheeky colobus monkeys, which can also be found in abundance playing on the slopes. Ninety minutes west of Arusha, troops of baboons spend their days voluntarily greeting guests at the gates of Lake Manyara National Park.

No trip to Tanzania is complete without trying to spot the African Big Five—elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, and leopard—on safari. The Serengeti National Park is the most famous place to see all five, particularly lions; it boasts a thriving population of more than 2,500 roaring beasts. Lion fans will also want to head to Lake Manyara National Park, which is particularly special because it’s home to big cats who have a fondness for climbing trees. (This behavior is not often seen elsewhere in the country.) Guests staying in the space-age domes at the Highlands lodge in the Ngorogoro Crater stand the best chance of glimpsing huge herds of feisty buffalo. To witness the elusive leopard hunt, it’s best to take an early-evening drive, catching them when they’re most active.