Nothern Tanzania
Northern Tanzania is home to some of East Africa's most famous parks in Tanzania.
The main parks in the north are the Serengeti National Park, The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park, Aruha National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, and Mkomazi National Park
Serengeti National Park
Home to the Great Migration
Serengeti National Park? the name that means ‘endless plains’ in the Maasai language, the Serengeti National Park has become famous as a scenic and classical safari destination!
Serengeti National Park is undoubtedly the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world, unequalled for its natural beauty and scientific value, it has the greatest concentration of plains game in Africa. It is Tanzania’s oldest park on the planet and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to the spectacular wildebeest migration and offers top-class wildlife viewing throughout the year, referred as Great Migration, takes place every year which includes some six million hooves cross the open plains, as more than over 1.5 million white-bearded (or brindled) wildebeests and 250,000 zebra and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelle join the trek for fresh grazing.
Top Destinations, ranking at the top of the safari lover’s top destinations the park is home to numerous wild animals and it most visited national parks in Tanzania, and the largest national parks covering around 14,750km2. Safari lovers come to Serengeti National Park to experience truly wild African Safari. Africa safari Big Five animals includes, lion, leopard, rhinoceros (both black and white species), elephant, buffalo, and small cats’ family i.e. 3,000 lions, 1,000 leopards, 300 cheetahs 8,000 Hyenas, Jackal and bat-eared for can be spotted in the park, the Home for Africa big five & the best natural events in the world.
The Park is situated in the Serengeti Ecosystem in the Mara and Simiyu regions. The Park spans, 12,000 square miles of grassland plains, savanna, riverine forest, and woodlands and considered as one of the largest national parks of Tanzania. The true fame Serengeti gained after getting framed in a book and film named “Serengeti Shall Not Die” by Bernhard Grzimek and his son Michael in the 1950s. The Park holds a good variety of wildlife like blue wildebeests, gazelles, zebras, and buffalos inhabit the region, along with lions, spotted hyenas, and many more. The Park is probably the cheapest one that enables a large number of herbivores as well as carnivores. Over 500 birds’ species are found in the park including ostrich, secretary bird, bustard, crowned crane, marabou, martial eagle, lovebirds, and many more.
Near......!
To all the major spots of Tanzania like, Kilimanjaro, Manyara, Tarangire and Ngorongoro enabling and border with Maasai Mara easy transfers between them all means
The Park offers a great view which is iconic for photography safaris
Great Migration Trend
The Migration trend standard is probability due to unpredictable Nature when the Wildebeest migrations dependent on rain. They usual follow the path of the rain in order to feed off the new grass whilst also being close to a good water supply.
Late November and December,
The herds of the wildebeest migration arrive on the short-grass plains of the Serengeti. These are south and east of Seronera, around Ndutu and include the north of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Dispersed across these plains, Wildebeest and zebra are everywhere – feeding on the fresh, nutritious grasses.
January, February and March,
With most wildebeest calves born in a short window around February.
Gradually they spread west across these plains (Ndutu Ngorongoro & Ndutu Serengeti), then around April they start their great migration north Serengeti.
By May
the Serengeti's wildebeest all seem to be moving north and west of Seronera area, migrating to seek fresh grazing and water.
June the wildebeest migration,
Is often halted on the south side of the Grumeti River, which has some channels which block or slow their migration north.
The wildebeest then congregate there, in the Western Corridor, often building up to a high density before crossing the river.
July and August,
The migration continues moving northwards, often spreading out across a broad front: some heading through Grumeti Reserve and Ikorongo. Others north through the heart of the Serengeti National Park
September
Sees the herds spread out across the northern Serengeti, where the Mara River provides the migration with its most serious obstacle. Watching the frantic herds of the wildebeest migration crossing the Mara River can be very spectacular; it's common to see herds cross the Mara River north on one day, and then back south a few days later.
By October
The wildebeest herds are migrating again with more accord: all are heading south, through western Loliondo and the Serengeti National Park's Lobo area, returning
GETTING THERE
The majority of safaris to Serengeti National Park began from the town Arusha, also from Mwanza as a newly option point. The best option to get there is to fly into Kilimanjaro International airport (JRO) just about an hour drive from Arusha. Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), Zanzibar international airport (ZNZ), Mwanza International airport, Dodoma airport and use a domestic flight to get into Arusha Airport (ARK) or Direct to Serengeti National Park from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar. Or fly direct to Kenya’s capital Nairobi and you can board a bus to Arusha.
By road,
The best option to access all parks of the northern circuit is from Arusha, Moshi, and nearly future will start from Mwanza airport or Dodoma airport, it is a bumpy ride but it’s scenic and you’ll see some wildlife on the way. As the trip takes you through the Ngorongoro Conservation area, a popular option is to fly one way, and drive the other way taking in an overnight stop to visit the Ngorongoro Crater
By regular scheduled or chartered flights,
Is to fly into Serengeti airstrips, options from Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Mwanza and also from Maasai Mara or Wilson Nairobi airport and you will be picked up from Serengeti airstrips by our safari vehicle
Best Time to Visit
Wildlife viewing in Serengeti National Park is good throughout the year. But certain areas are better at specific times
Dry season (June to October)
The best wildlife viewing and wildebeest migration as its absolute highlight.
Animals are easier to spot since they concentrate around waterholes and rivers and the vegetation is less thick, time for Serengeti migration crossing of the Grummeti river and Mara River
Wet season (end December to February)
Great Ndutu Migration crossings the time to see the wildebeest calving, and this is a superb time to see predator action and the scenery is lush
Peak wet Season (March to May),
Referred to a low season, less crowded, Migratory birds are present and bird-watching is at its best, rains are mostly short
WHAT TO DO
The main attraction here is the wildlife. Serengeti National Park houses the highest concentration of large mammals in the world.
Birding Safari
Hot air balloon Safari
Wildlife Safari Big Five
Super luxury Experience
Camping Safari Experience
Great Wildebeest Migration
Helicopter Safari Experience
Photographic Safari Experience
Bush breakfast, bush lunch, bush dinner, sundowner,
ACCOMMODATIONS
Serengeti has various accommodation located in five specific migration focused areas in the park including lodges, permanent tented camps, campsite and seasonal mobile camps that tracks the season wildebeest migrations movement. Range from Budget, Semi-luxury and Luxury traveler
With a warm hospitality.
Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater “Garden of Eden”, the Ngorongoro crater in Tanzania is one of Africa’s Seven Natural wonders, deserved tittle considering the long list of an amazing places on this continent and also on the list of the ten Natural wonders of the world and UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, the area covers up 8,292km2 of Northern Tanzania. Ngorongoro Crater which had a massive super-volcano that stood higher and mightier than Kilimanjaro. The jewel in Ngorongoro's crown is a deep, volcanic crater, the largest un-flooded and unbroken caldera in the world. About 20kms across, 600 meters deep and 300Km2 in area, the Ngorongoro Crater is a breath-taking natural wonder.
Garden of Eden
Area is considered as the” Garden of Eden” of Africa and have a glorious landscape that’s teeming with about 25,000 animals including four of the Big Five and other large mammals, including ungulates, buffalo, warthog, hippo, and elephants and an amazing population of lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, and leopard, the area has the world’s largest fully intact caldera which makes it the eighth wonder of the world.
Mankind Existence
The conservation area is known to hold the earliest evidence of the existence of human ancestors which includes the fossilized footprints at Laetoli.
Home to Africa Big Five
Home to the king of the beast “Maasai Lions” the Conservation guarantees the tourists to spot critically endangered animals like black rhinos, golden cats and wild hunting dogs. And during the wildebeest calving season, you will be able to witness thousands of baby wildebeests being born at the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Amazing birdlife can be spotted which includes 500 birds’ species out of which 400 can be found in the crater itself.
GETTING THERE
Most travellers will visit the Ngorongoro Conservation Area as part of a bigger package, including a visit to the Serengeti, Tarangire and Manyara.
The best option to access all parks of the northern circuit is from Arusha, Moshi and you get to Arusha is to fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is situated about 46km/29mi from Arusha. It is also possible to fly into Julius NyerereInternational Airport (DAR) or Zanzibar international airport (ZNZ), Mwanza airport, Dodoma airport and fly on to Arusha Airport (ARK) or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
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By road, you can drive by our safari vehicle from Arusha
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By fly small aircraft on chartered or scheduled flights, is to fly into to near airstrip Manyara or Serengeti, and you will be picked up from airstrip
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Wildlife viewing inside the Ngorongoro Crater is fantasticall year around. But the seasonal climate fluctuations, migration and breeding patterns have a great influence on the choice of the best time to visit, However,
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June to September, dry season, grass on the crater floor is short and this makes animal spotting easier.
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November to May, Wet Season the scenery is lush and spectacular
ACCOMMODATIONS
There is a varied choice of accommodation in Ngorongoro inside area and nearby Karatu city from budget, Sem-luxury and Luxury lodges and camp. This offers a great variety of food, amenities, activities, guided standards, location, service and privacy for a great life experience.
WHAT TO DO!
Culture tour (Maasai Village)
Biking & Walking Safari
Wildlife Safar, within crater tour
Wedding and anniversary Safari
Mountain trekking, Birding Safari, Camping Safari
Olduvai Gorge (archaeology and mysterious stories)
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is said to be the hidden gem of Tanzania. The name was derived from the Tarangire River that crosses the park which is a primary source of fresh water for the animals residing in the regionduring the annual dry season. The Park was established in 1970, covers up an area of approximately 2,850km2(1,100 square miles.) which is composed of granitic ridges, river valley, and swamps.
The Park is quite famous for its high density of elephants and baobab trees, and can be easy to reach, from Arusha and it’s possible for a day trip safari from Arusha
The Elephants and the baobab trees are one of the unique attractions of the park. African Pythons are spotted on the baobab quite often the is home to iconic animals most spotted animals in the national park are Africa elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, various primates, ostriches, flamingos, giraffes, zebras, gazelles, buffaloes, wildebeests, pythons, hartebeests, elands, and impalas. The Park is claimed as the region that holds the largest elephant population in Tanzania. In the dry season herds, up to 300 elephants can be seen digging dry riverbed. The Park is a home to more than 550 species of birds, including Stocking-thighed Ostrich; the world’s largest bird, the Kori Bustard; the heaviest flying bird in the world, and smaller groups of hornbills. The baobab trees, living up to 600 years, these venerable trees are spotted in Tarangire National Park.
Known as the Tree of Life, the baobab tree can store anywhere between 300 and 1000 liters of water within its bloated trunk.
WHAT TO DO
Tarangire National Park offers many activities to the safari tourists.
Wildlife Safari
Birding Safari
Walking Safari
Outdoor Lunch and Dinner
Night game drive
Photographic Safari
Hot air balloon Safari
GETTING THERE
Most travelers visit the Tarangire National Park from Arusha town, Kilimanjaro airport or as part of a bigger package, including a visit to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Manyara.
The best option to access all parks of the northern circuit is from Arusha, Moshi, Dodomaand you get direct to Arusha is to fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is situated about 46km/29mi from Arusha. It is also possible to fly into Julius NyerereInternational Airport (DAR) or Zanzibar international airport (ZNZ), and fly on to Arusha Airport (ARK) or Mwanza International Airport (JRO)
By road, you can drive by our safari vehicle
By chartered or scheduled, small aircraft on chartered or scheduled flights, is to fly into Tarangire airstrip and you will be picked up from airstrip by our safari vehicle
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Wildlife viewing in Tarangire is fantasticall year around. But the seasonal climate fluctuations, migration and breeding patterns have a great influence on the choice of the best time to visit
June and October which is the dry season, there are unimaginable herds of animals that can be spotted.
November to May, the scenery is lush and spectacular in the Wet season
ACCOMMODATIONS
The national park offers a good range of safari lodges, tented camps, campsite within the park itself as well as the areas surrounding it. There is a varied choice of accommodation in Tarangire inside and outside the park and nearby Mto wa Mbu and Karatu city from all level of budget, Sem-luxury and Luxury lodges and Camps.
Lake Manyara National Park
The Park is situated between Manyara Escarpment and Great Rift Valley, offers varied ecosystems, incredible bird life, and breathtaking views. The Lake Manyara name is derived from the Maasai word “Maa”. My-People”
Located on the way to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, and is worth a stop in its own right. Its ground water forests, bush plains, baobab strewn cliffs, and algae-streaked hot springs offer incredible ecological variety in a small area, rich in wildlife and incredible numbers of birds.
The Park covers an area of 352, it described as “the loveliest Place of Africa” is an unspoiled paradise of groundwater forest and teeming with wildlife such as elephants, hippos, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, adorable Kirk's dik-dik, mongooses, hippos, buffaloes, antelopes, gazelles, and and some of the largest baboon troupes in Africa.
Undoubtedly the tree climbing lions are the most unique and iconic attraction of the Lake Manyara National Park, and the parks provides Africa's largest concentration of elephants, Easy spotting animals and birds as there is vast diversity residing in a small area. And a great opportunity for the night safari.
The slightly salty water of Lake Manyara hosts a great amount of wildlife like hippopotamus, flamingos, and a large variety of aquatic life. During the wet season, the best attraction of the lake is canoeing safari, also a unique attraction of the area that is Maji Moto; a natural hot spring.
The spring offers clear waters and sun-dappled shady picnic spots to enjoy and relax.
Lake Manyara is an Alkaline Lake which has no outflow fed by underground springs and by several permanent streams that drain surrounding Ngorongoro Highlands, over 670 flowering plants, the flora of Lake Manyara National Park is quite diversified.
Its home to a larger number of mammals which includes plains zebra, bushbuck, waterbuck, Grant's gazelle, impala, Thomson's gazelle, Cape buffalo, giraffe, hippopotamus, baboon, warthog, and African bush elephant.
If you are a bird-loving person this can be the best place for you in the whole of Africa as this park has to offer 400 species of birds.
You would spot wide varieties of trees which include sausage trees, umbrella trees, baobabs, yellow fever trees, and doom palms.
ACCOMMODATION
The popular stop-off national park on the way to Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater offers several accommodations options budget, mid-range and to Luxury, A luxury treehouse-style camp, public bandas and campsites inside the park, One luxury tented camp and three lodges perched on the Rift Wall outside the park, Several lodges, camps and guesthouses and campsites in nearby Mto wa Mbu
WHAT TO DO
Lake Manyara National Park offers many activities to the safari tourists.
Birding Safari
Culture tour (Maasaiboma)
Wildlife Safari (Day and Night game Safari)
Mountain biking, Forest walk, Canoeing Safari
Natural Walking Safari and treetop walkway
Camping Safari, Horse and camel riding
Sundowners, Bush Lunch and Dinner
GETTING THERE
Most travelers visit the Tarangire National Park from Arusha town, Kilimanjaro airport or as part of a bigger package, including a visit to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Manyara.
The best option to access all parks of the northern circuit is from Arusha, Moshi, Dodomaand you get direct to Arusha is to fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is situated about 46km/29mi from Arusha. It is also possible to fly into Julius NyerereInternational Airport (DAR) or Zanzibar international airport (ZNZ), and fly on to Arusha Airport (ARK) or Mwanza International Airport (JRO)
By road, you can drive by our safari vehicle
By chartered or scheduled, small aircraft on chartered or scheduled flights, is to fly into Tarangire airstrip and you will be picked up from airstrip by our safari vehicle
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Wildlife viewing in Tarangire is fantasticall year around. But the seasonal climate fluctuations, migration and breeding patterns have a great influence on the choice of the best time to visit
June and October which is the dry season, there are unimaginable herds of animals that can be spotted.
November to May, the scenery is lush and spectacular in the Wet season
Mkomazi National Park
Mkomazi National Park is located in on the Kenyan border, in Kilimanjaro Region and Tanga Region established as a game reserve in 1951. The Park covers up more than 3,234km2area, it’s a set of the verdant slopes of the spectacular Usambara and Pare Eastern Arc Mountain Ranges and overseen by iconic snow – capped peak of Kilimanjaro, Mkomazi is a virgin breath-taking beauty exhibiting unique natural treasures and immense sense of space – which adds to the fulfilment of high visitor’s enjoyment expectations – a much needed bridge between northern circuit and coastal attractions.
The name Mkomazi is the combination of two words, ‘Mko and Mazi’. Mako “means” a traditional tiny wooden spoon used by the Pare people for eating and Mazi “means” water. The Park is known best for its black rhinos but is also home to oryx, dik-dik, eland, and many birds and butterflies.
Diversity of Flora and Fauna, the only protected area where the large and visible population of Gerenuk can be spotted, and the large population of various mammals can be spotted including Wild Cats, Silver Backed Jackals, Lions, Cheetah, Leopards, Lesser Kudu, Giraffes, Grant’s gazelle, Hyenas, Hartebeest, Warthogs, Buffaloes, Elephants, and Zebra, with a good number of reptiles can be spotted including Python, crocodiles, and Agama Lizards. The Park has more than 450 bird’s species makes the place a great spot for bird viewing
Hiking at Mbula Hill Trait (5KM) which takes about 4hours to ascend and descend,
BEST TIME TO VISIT
June – early September is the best time for large mammal and bird watching.
March –Earl June, Scenic beauty is at its peak
ACCOMMODATION
There are few semi – permanent tented camp and lodge near the park headquarters and few designated basic campsites. And there are several small campsite, lodge, hotels and guest houses in Same and Hedaru town.
GETTING THERE
By road, Mkomazi is easily accessible via same, which lies on the surfaced highway connecting Arusha to Dar es Salaam. The Park is also easily accessible on special arrangement from Kilimanjaro airport, and the nearby existing tourist attractions in Eastern Arc Mountains, The Coast and Kilimanjaro Mountain.
Charter flights are available to Kisima airstrip.
WHAT TO DO
Wildlife Safari
Natural walk and bird watching Safari
Mountain Biking, Trekking at Mbula(uphill) trail
Photographic Safari, Camping Safari, Outdoor dining, picnic spots
Lake Eyasi
Lake Eyasi is the home of an authentic Tanzania tribes, and a seasonal shallow salt-lake on the floor of the Great Rift Valley at the base of the Serengeti Plateau on south of the Serengeti National Park and southwest of the Ngorongoro Crater in the Crater.
The home to the Datoga tribe, Hadzabe and bushmen (watindiga), some of the last remaining hunter-gatherers on the continent.
HADZABE TRIBE
Is also known as bushmen (watindiga). They are a very prehistoric people, who have no fixed abode. They have their own language which consists of tongue clicking sounds. They are hunters and use bows and arrows to kill their food, their favorite being baboon. They make their bows and arrows from a native willow tree which grows in the bush where they live, the arrows have metal tips which they get from the Datoga tribe.
DATOGA TRIBE
Also known as the barbaing, also referred to Manga'ti in Swahili, are agro-pastoral nomadic Melodic speaking people and craftsmen (blacksmith). They are more sedentary and live-in groups in mud huts. They grow their own food, keep cattle and the men craft earrings, bracelets, arrow heads, etc from metal melted on an open fire using hand bellows to stoke the fire. The Datoga consider themselves the oldest tribe in Tanzania and proud as first and foremost Faeroe warrior's, known for their stealth ability to eliminate their enemy.
A visit with the bushmen and blacksmith is worthwhile and they will graciously show you where and how they live and hunt. They subsist entirely off the bush and by bow hunting. Everything they use is made from local materials, including their bows which are strung with giraffe tendon and their arrows which are coated in lethal poison. Their language resembles that of Kalahari bushmen tribe (who were featured in the 1980 film ‘The Gods Must Be Crazy’) with clicking noises used.
The Datoga and Mbulu people are pastoralists, like the Masai people.
The scenery of Lake Eyasi differs dramatically to that of the surrounding areas. Palm trees border the lake and make homes for birds such as Fischer’s lovebird. Other trees in this area include the umbrella thorn acacia and sand paper bush. The rift is thought to have opened over 65 million years ago, shortly after dinosaurs became extinct.
Lake Eyasi water levels vary greatly between the rainy and dry seasons. During the dry season the lake is virtually nonexistent and animals are forced to share what water is left, which makes for easier wildlife viewing. The lake can get quite deep during the rainy season and it attracts hippos who like to cool off in its brackish waters.
Bird lovers will be in paradise here, as the lake attracts vast numbers of birds of all sizes and colors. Include, Africa spoonbill, flamingos, gray headed gulls, great white pelicans, pied avocet and yellow-billed storks. The main fish found in the lake are catfish and lungfish.
Lake Eyasi palm trees sunset this region is particularly suited for exploring on foot, and day or half day hikes are highly recommended. You can Join a hunting trip with the Hadzabe, and visit the other tribes.
GETTING THERE
Most travelers visit the Tarangire National Park from Arusha town, Kilimanjaro airport or as part of a bigger package, including a visit to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Manyara.
The best option to access all parks of the northern circuit is from Arusha, Moshi, Dodomaand you get direct to Arusha is to fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is situated about 46km/29mi from Arusha. It is also possible to fly into Julius NyerereInternational Airport (DAR) or Zanzibar international airport (ZNZ), and fly on to Arusha Airport (ARK) or Mwanza International Airport (JRO)
By road, you can drive by our safari vehicle
By chartered or scheduled, small aircraft on chartered or scheduled flights, is to fly into Tarangire airstrip and you will be picked up from airstrip by our safari vehicle
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Lake Eyasi is good all year round. Although the rainy season (March to May) might affect walking trails but still can be done.
ACCOMMODATION
Lake Eyasi has only a few accommodations from budget to Semi-luxury Lodge, and nearby Karatu city from budget, Sem-luxury and Luxury lodges and camp.
WHAT TO DO
Birding Safari, Camping Safaris
Biking tour, walking Safari, Canoeing Safari
Sundowners, Bush Lunch and Dinner
Culture and village tour (Datoga, Bushmen, Hadzabe, Blacksmith)
