Nature in Tanzania

Tanzania's natural landscapes include the Serengeti-Ngorongoro savanna and migration system, miombo woodland in the south and west, Eastern Arc montane forests, the Great Rift Valley, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru, Ngorongoro's volcanic landscape, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Lake Natron, river floodplains, Ramsar wetlands and the Indian Ocean coast. Coastal ecosystems include coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves and coastal forests. They support species such as elephants, black rhinos, wild dogs, cheetahs, giraffes, lions, hippos, crocodiles, chimpanzees, sea turtles and migratory birds. Tanzania also protects rare and locally endemic species including the Sanje crested mangabey, kipunji and coelacanth. Nature protection is divided among several systems rather than one single nature authority. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism provides national oversight. Tanzania National Parks Authority manages national parks, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority manages the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority manages game reserves, game-controlled areas and wildlife management areas. Tanzania Forest Services manages forest reserves, nature forest reserves, mangroves and bee reserves. The Marine Parks and Reserves Unit manages marine protected areas, including marine parks and marine reserves. On Zanzibar, the Zanzibar Environmental Management Authority regulates environmental matters, while the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar manages marine conservation areas and other protected natural areas. Tanzania has publicly listed 21 national parks through the national parks authority, while tariff material has contained 22 park entries. The current park and tariff information should therefore be checked for the specific destination. Forest protection includes about 465 forest reserves and 25 nature forest reserves within a wider reserve system covering approximately 14.5 million hectares. Nature forest reserves generally prioritize research, education and nature tourism and do not allow ordinary wood or wildlife extraction. Marine protection includes 18 marine protected areas, comprising three marine parks and 15 marine reserves. Menai Bay, Mnemba Island and the Pemba Channel are prominent Zanzibar examples. Tanzania also has three natural UNESCO World Heritage sites and one mixed cultural-natural site, as well as four Ramsar wetland sites covering approximately 4,868,424 hectares. Activities include game viewing, bird watching, photography, camping, hiking, mountain climbing, chimpanzee trekking, canoeing, kayaking, balloon safaris, sport fishing and cycling. Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority also regulates activities such as tourist hunting, game meat use and other forms of wildlife utilization. Wildlife management areas can combine conservation, village participation, benefit sharing and livelihood activities, but hunting, fishing, collecting biological material and removing forest products are not automatically free activities. The area category and the required permit, licence or user right determine what is allowed. Tanzania National Parks commonly use online reservation and GePG payment systems. Conservation fees apply for a 24-hour period, and activity, guide, gate and vehicle charges vary by park and activity. The published tariff material identified for this research covered financial year 2023/24 and was stated to remain valid until June 2024, so current prices must be verified before booking. The material listed free entry for children under five and a child rate for ages five to fifteen, with access categories that can distinguish East African Community identification, resident status and expatriate permits. Ngorongoro, forest reserves, marine areas and wildlife management areas can use different booking, guide, permit and fee arrangements, and the conditions of the responsible authority or approved provider apply. Wild animals remain dangerous even inside managed visitor areas. Visitors should keep their distance, avoid feeding animals and loud behaviour, follow speed limits, stay on permitted roads and use designated campsites. Walking safaris require marked trails and an armed ranger. Water activities require a life jacket and guide. Mountain activities require gradual acclimatization, sufficient water and a guide; children under twelve should not be taken above 3,000 metres according to the supplied research rules. Chimpanzee trekking requires a guide, excludes people who are ill and does not admit children under fifteen. Crocodiles, hippos, altitude illness, heavy rain, flooding, fires and drought can create additional risks. Nature protection also creates conflicts over land, access and livelihoods. Human-wildlife conflict can cause crop, livestock and property damage, injuries or deaths, especially near protected areas, wildlife corridors, dispersal areas and watercourses. Settlement, farming, grazing and infrastructure can block corridors. Tanzania's national strategy addresses prevention, rapid response and compensation or kifuta jasho mechanisms, while the wildlife management area strategy emphasizes local protection, benefit sharing and income-generating activities. Other conflicts involve tourism and investment versus habitat integrity, fishing and resource extraction versus marine no-take zones, forest use and charcoal production versus watershed protection, and wildlife trafficking versus enforcement. Projects that fall within prescribed categories require environmental impact assessment before construction or project financing. The National Environment Management Council process can include registration, screening, scoping and terms of reference, assessment, review, public participation and an environmental certificate. Zanzibar applies its own environmental framework through the Zanzibar Environmental Management Authority. Wildlife research is coordinated by the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, while forest research, education and fire-awareness services are supported by Tanzania Forest Services. For research involving wildlife or biological material, the relevant scientific, permit and clearance requirements must be checked before work begins.