Tanzania's Game Reserves

Protected Areas that are not National Parks

Tanzania's Game Reserves and other protected areas are less well know than its National Parks but many offer spectacular wilderness experiences. Together, they cover a far greater area than the Parks (see map above). Game Reserves are mostly allocated to tourist hunting companies for exclusive use by their clients, however some are dedicated to non-comsumptive tourism and are increasingly accessible for general tourism use. Some Game Controlled Areas, Wildlife Management Areas and Forest Reserves, are also important tourist areas.

Important Game Reserves accessible to non-hunters

Selous (the northern blocks), Grumeti, Ikorongo and Maswa Game Reserves. These reserves are accessible and offer spectacular wildlife viewing and can be easily combined with visits to the parks.

Other important protected areas accessible to non-hunters

Loliondo GCA, Makao GCA, Manyara Ranch Conservancy, Longido GCA (Sinya), Ndarakwai Conservancy, Lolkisale GCA, Burunge WMA and Lake Natron GCA.All of these areas are accessible with flights or by road which is why they have become important safari destinations.

GCA: Game Controlled Area - WMA: Wildlife Management Area

Game Reserves almost exclusively used for hunting

Ugalla, Kizigo, Muhesi, Moyowosi / Kigosi, Rungwa, Rukwa, Rumanyika, Ibanda, Burigi, Luafi, Usangu, Lukwati, Lukwika and Lumesule. These areas are remote and can be very difficult to reach unless you want to charter a private aircraft to et there and back. Road access can take several days, much of which is on poor roads.

Unless you are participating in a hunting safari (Tanzania does allow this), it is unlikely you will visit any of the places in the list immediately above although it cannot be arranged. Generally, hunting areas have a low density of wildlife when compared to National Parks but many offer true wilderness, far off the beaten track.

Low animal density has two main causes;

  • Firstly, the areas never had high densities of wildlife and hence were not categorized as National Parks

  • Secondly, these are remote areas that cannot be easily protected due to their shear size and remoteness and the limited funds available to patrol them. Poachers often operate here with relative ease much of the year, especially when the hunting season is closed. Contrary to what many may believe, the presence of Tourist Hunting actually helps protect these wildlife areas by deterring poachers. It is not in the interest of most hunting companies to deplete their stock of wildlife. Uncontrolled poaching very negatively affects the wildlife and forests in Tanzania.

    • Tourist hunting is controversial, but without it, many areas would already have lost their wildlife. This does not mean that some hunting areas have not been damaged (destroyed) by the companies who hold licenses to operate hunts there. This is a problem related to ethics and conservation practices in general which we can discuss elsewhere.