If there's a place where wildlife thrives and roams freely what is one of the few remaining true wilderness then it has got to be in Tanzania.

Tanzania offers iconic safari destinations such as the legendary Serengeti Plains, the geological marvel that is the Ngorongoro Crater and magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro.

On top of all this, it hosts the greatest show on earth - the annual Wildebeest Migration.

These destinations are well-known and draw thousands of visitors on memorable African holiday safaris, but this beautiful country also has some of the wildest wilderness areas in Africa in the southern region such as Selous Game Reserve - one of the largest game reserves in the world - and Ruaha National Park. These southern reaches of Tanzania provide Africa's wildest safari holidays.

Here is a full list of the national parks and game reserves in Tanzania.

• Arusha National Park

• Gombe Stream National Park

• Katavi National Park

• Kilimanjaro National Park

• Lake Manyara National Park

• Mahale Mountains National Park

• Mikumi National Park

• Mkomazi Game Reserve

• Ngorongoro Crater Conservancy

• Ruaha National Park

• Saadani National Park

• Selous Game Reserve

• Serengeti National Park

• Singita Grumeti Reserves

• Tarangire National Park

• Udzungwa Mountains National Park

Arusha National Park

Arusha National Park is a gem of a nature reserve just an hour's drive from Arusha town. Despite its proximity to the safari capital of Tanzania, this is actually the least frequented of northern Tanzania's parks, making it a treat for nature lovers who are interested in more than just seeing the Big Five.

From the lush swamps of the Ngurdoto Crater to the tranquil beauty of the Momela Lakes and the rocky alpine heights of Mount Meru, the terrain of the park is as varied as it is interesting.

Arusha National Park's Wildlife and Nature & Wildlife Safari Experience.

The setting for Arusha National Park is magical: Zebras graze on the park's red grasslands, and leopards lurk next to waterfalls in the shadowy forest. More than 400 species of bird, both migrant and resident can be found in Arusha National Park alongside rare primates such as the black-and-white colobus monkey. The rewarding climb up Mount Meru passes through forests of dripping Spanish moss, carpeted with clover and rises to open heath, spiked with giant lobelia plants. Delicate klipspringer antelope watch the progress of hikers from the top of huge boulders, and everlasting flowers cling to the alpine desert underfoot. Once astride the craggy summit, the reward is a sight of Mount Kilimanjaro, breathtaking in the sunrise.

The best time to visit Arusha National Park is during the dry season from July-November, or after the short rains from December-March. The best months to climb Meru are June-February, with the best views of Mount Kilimanjaro seen from December-February. The park lies just 25 kilometers east of Arusha, and is ideal for a rewarding day trip from Arusha or Moshi.

Gombe Stream National Park

Gombe Stream National Park is located in western Tanzania, 10 miles north of Kigoma, the regional capital of western Tanzania. Established in 1968, Gombe is the smallest national park in Tanzania, with only 20 square miles of forest running along the hills of the northern shore of Lake Tanganyika.

The National Park is famous as the site of Jane Goodall's groundbreaking investigation into chimpanzee behaviour, the world's longest-running study of a wild animal population.

It's a great place to see chimps up close and personal as many of the family groups are habituated to humans. Perhaps with the possible exception of Mahale Mountains National Park, no other park in Africa can offer such a magnificent experience with chimpanzees.