Major national parks won in the recent Tanzania World Travel Awards 2025. It was the first time that the coveted Indian Ocean and Africa awards Gala Ceremony was held in East Africa.
Tanzania won big in this 32nd edition of the WTA held in Dar es Salaam. What stood out was that major Tanzanian parks won big and steadily. They retained their charm and magic to attract both international and local travellers who cast their votes, affirming their love for these destinations.
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Who are the Winners of Tanzania World Travel Awards?
These six national parks took home the 32nd edition of the Tanzania World Travel Awards 2025.
1. Tarangire National Park
A herd of elephants grazing at the Tarangire National Park in Tanzania – Tanzania Odyssey
World Tourism Awards 2025 named Tarangire National Park Africa’s Leading Elephant Paradise National Park. This is the first major title for the ‘elephant paradise’ famed for its high elephant population in the country, with herds of 300 elephants trotting the park.
Tarangire is close to Arusha, home to the highest mountain in Africa, Mt Kilimanjaro. Elephants in this park play an important role in the ecosystem. They clear vegetation and also naturally dig watering holes near river beds during the dry season, which also benefits other wildlife in this park.
Moreover, ancient baobab trees dot the entire park, marking a very unique aspect of its ecosystem. They add to the Tarangire National Park’s natural beauty, which is characterised by dramatic landscapes and a diverse array of wild animals, including buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, and others. Silale Swamp within the park unveils its magic by providing wildlife with water throughout the year.
2. Kitulo National Park
Kitulo National Park in Tanzania. Photo/Serengeti Park Tanzania
Tanzania World Travel Awards 2025 named Kitulo National Park Africa’s Leading Honeymoon Destination. Kitulo is famously called the ‘Serengeti of Flowers’ found in Southern Tanzania. Its raw beauty makes it a preferred romantic getaway and honeymoon destination in Tanzania.
Lying on Poroto and Kipengere Mountain Ranges that cut across Njombe and Mbeya regions, Kitulo is a flower paradise between November and April. It has over 350 wildflower species, and at least 45 orchid types that make for nature photography. Rare bird species such as Denham’s bustard and blue swallow live here. The wild floral scenery, misty mountains and quiet landscapes live up to its fame as the ‘Garden of God (Bustani ya Mungu)
3. Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park in Tanzania. Photo/Yellow Zebra Safaris
Ruaha National Park is WTA’s choice for Africa’s Leading Cultural National Park. Ruaha represents Tanzania’s wild heritage with its high population of lions. Statistics reveal that 10% of African lions live at Ruaha National Park. Further, it has a huge pride of leopards and the highest number of African wild dogs on the continent.
Other predator sightings that you will spot include hyenas and jackals. Ruaha National Park has an additional population of 10,000 elephants easily spotted at the Great Ruaha River. Its unique ecosystem provides refuge to rare wildlife species such as the Lichtenstein’s hartebeest greater kudu, roan and sable antelopes.
4. Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti National Park. Photo/Eastern Vacation Tours
For the seventh time in a row, Serengeti National Park retained its status as Africa’s Leading National Park as per the World Travel Awards. The Serengeti is home to the famous Wildebeest Migration/Great Migration. It’s estimated that 1.5 million wildebeest cross over to and from Kenya’s Masai Mara every year in a beautiful wildlife spectacle. WTA first named Tanzania as the best African national park in 2018, and it now completes the Tanzania World Travel Awards 2025.
5. Nyerere National Park
If you’re looking for natural scenery that will fascinate you, think about Nyerere National Park, Africa’s Leading National Park according to the 2025 World Travel Awards. The park is huge, covering 31,000 square kilometres and is largely remote. Its remoteness offers a perfect off-the-beaten-path safari experience.
The remote nature of Nyerere National Park provides a home to over 400,000 wildlife species, among them elephants, lions, rhinos, wild dogs, giraffes, crocodiles and hippos. The historic Rufiji River cuts through this park, offering amazing boat safaris and sunset rides.
6. Kilimanjaro National Park
Mt Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania. Photo/Safaribookings
The naming of Kilimanjaro National Park as the Leading Mountain National Park in Africa completes the list of parks that made it to the list of Tanzania World Travel Awards list. It’s here that Mt Kilimanjaro starts and rises 5,895m (19,341 ft) to become the tallest mountain in Africa. You experience a range of ecosystems while at the park, among them montane forests, farmed foothills (coffee farming) arctic summit and an alpine desert. Although the park is famous for its trekking experiences, it’s also home to buffalo, leopards, and elephants.
