A Tanzania safari is one of Africa’s greatest wildlife adventures and Tanzania is an iconic safari destination, home to all of Africa’s ‘Big Five’, scores of rare and endangered species, and the great migration, renowned as the greatest show on earth.
There are two main ‘safari circuits’ – the popular Northern Circuit boasts the stars of Tanzania including the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, and offering the unforgettable migration safari while the quieter Southern Circuit offers a remote wilderness experience away from the crowds.
You can take time to visit the most wildlife parks in Tanzania for you to get the best safari on your visit. This is mainly done in Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Kilimanjaro National Park, Lake Manyara National Game Park, Tarangire National Game Park and Arusha National Game Park in the northern circuit as well as Selous game reserve and Ruaha national park in the remote southern circuit.
Serengeti National Park is one of the best places in Africa for wildlife viewing. It’s one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, and a bucket list destination for many travelers and safari enthusiasts. Home to all of Africa’s Big Five, the Serengeti is a wildlife lover’s dream, with the chance to see elephants, lions, leopard, buffalo and rhinos, along with giraffes, zebra, cheetah, spotted hyenas and other favourites from The Lion King. It’s a haven for bird watchers, with over 500 species of bird.
You will be able to sight all kinds of animals including the reintroduced African wild dogs. A variety makes it a wildlife photographer’s paradise, renowned for its beautiful scenery. You’ll roam through grassland plains in the southeast, cross valleys, rivers and forests in the west, and climb the rocky, hilly northern section of the park.
You will join the renown migration phenomenon at the Mara River which involves losing of lives during the Mara crossing. The crocodiles will be eagerly waiting for the crossing animals to get a meal making this journey a battle since every side will be battling to get to the other side. Those who will survive then will again be waited for by the predators around the river banks. The event will be the most memorable since it brings almost all the wild game to your sight.
Enjoy rustic camping with all the modern facilities at Kati Kati Tented Camp, a mobile camp set in central Serengeti. Located just a 40-minute drive from the nearest airstrip, you’ll enjoy delicious food in the charming mess tent, a cozy campfire to gather around at night, and lavish en-suite tents surrounded by the African wilderness. You can choose another camp or lodge in Serengeti of your choice.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of the most extraordinary destinations on the continent. Located in the Crater Highlands of northern Tanzania most famous migration safari hot-spots, home to a remarkable abundance and diversity of wildlife.
While here on a game drive, you are able to see all of the Big Five (elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo) in a single day, and the conservation area protects Tanzania’s last remaining population of the endangered black rhino. This area gives you all the chances to see spotted hyenas, slinking cheetah, the elusive leopard, large herds of buffalo and gazelle, and even the critically endangered African wild dog. Don’t miss out the glittering soda lakes where you will spot hippos and huge pink flocks of flamingo.
Take time to visit the Maasai cultural village, and also Olduvai Gorge, where the discovery of fossilized footprints was made, proving that humans were walking on two legs at least 3,7 million years ago. As one of the most important discoveries in history, which changed our understanding of human evolution, this is an incredible site to witness, and you can see casts of the footprints at Olduvai Gorge Museum.
Set in a unique elevated position on the southwestern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater is the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge one of Africa’s most magical properties. You’ll stay in opulent thatched houses with spectacular views over the region, featuring romantic private dining, attentive personal butlers, a private fireplace, electric blankets and rose petal bubble baths. You can still take on any other lodge or camp of your choice.
Go for the quieter Tarangire National Park, renowned for its incredibly concentrations of wildlife, and stunning natural scenery. During the dry season (June to October), the Tarangire River becomes the only water source for scores of animals, drawing large herds of elephants (sometimes up to 300 strong), zebra, giraffe, impala, eland and warthog there to drink.
Predators, including lions and spotted hyena, gather around the river ready to strike, while leopards, cheetahs and even tree-climbing lions, can also be found in certain areas of the park. African wild dogs have been sighted in the park, although it is rare to spot but be one of the lucky ones to spot them.
Tarangire Treetops would be the ultimate solution for your night since it inspires a sense of romance and adventure in the African wilderness. Located just a three-hour game drive from Kuro airstrip, or a four-hour drive from Kilimanjaro Airport, you’ll arrive to some of the largest rooms in the country, with cozy furnishings and modern amenities. The unique rooms are elevated in the treetops, with panoramic views of the stunning landscape and wildlife.
Lake Manyara National Game Park also should not be left out since it boasts one of the world’s highest concentrations of large mammals. You’ll likely spot huge herds of elephants and the famous tree-climbing lions, along with great populations of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, giraffe, warthog, impala and water buck.
Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge is an exceptional luxury lodge for those in need of such. With spacious rooms, gorgeous manicured gardens, and an infinity pool with the best views over the valley and lake below, the lodge is the perfect place to relax after a day on safari. With a massive range of activities on offer, from night game drives and canoeing, to bike rides and village visits, you’ll have an enriching stay in Lake Manyara.
Try out the remote southern part of Tanzania for the untouched wildlife encounter. This will take you to Selous game reserve by flight, home to all of Africa’s Big Five and an extraordinary amount of wildlife. Take a game drive around the reserve during the dry season, and you’re likely to spot some of the 120,000 buffaloes that inhabit the region, along with the 4,000 lions, one of the largest populations in the world.
You can see elephants, cheetah, leopard, crocodile, giraffe, zebra, impala, wildebeest, eland and hyena. You will even have a chance of spotting the critically endangered black rhino or the African wild dog, with around 50% of their remaining population found in the Selous.
Take a boat safari along the rivers and wetlands to spot some of the 40,000 resident hippos and the huge population of crocodiles. You can also explore the Selous on foot with an exhilarating walking safari, or go off road in your guided safari vehicle in search of the incredible wildlife.
Stay at Selous Serena Camp and enjoy Africa’s largest game reserve in supreme comfort. With luxurious safari tents, a spa tent with massage treatments, a gorgeous infinity pool, romantic sun downers by the river, boat safaris, bird walks and game drives, you will have the perfect mix of adventure and tranquillity. You can even watch elephants walking through the camp, as they make their way to the nearby Simbazi River.
