Tanzania’s first safari areas were in the north, and this ‘northern circuit’ remains its most famous safari area. The Ngorongoro Crater and the Rift Valley’s Lake Manyara are names to conjure with – whilst the Serengeti’s great migration is one of the world’s great wildlife spectacles; no wonder it attracts hundreds of thousands of human visitors every year!
Sadly, sometimes the mini-buses out-number the animals here; you can find the side of mass tourism to Africa that we don’t like. Hence we’ve strived to find ways of visiting these areas, whilst avoiding the human hotspots.
The main parks here are:
Arusha National Park.
Considering its small size (137 sq km) Arusha National Park boasts a remarkable range of habitats – a miniature volcanic crater, highland rain forest, acacia woodland and a string of attractive lakes, as well as hosting Africa’s fifth highest mountain, Meru. Also take into accountArusha National park‘s close proximity to Arusha Town and you can reasonably expect the park to be heaving with tourists. That is not the case however, and apart from Rubondo Island, Arusha National Park is the least visited park on the Northern Circuit. Read more »
Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Tanzania’s greatest wildlife showpiece, the Ngorongoro Crater has breath-taking views, phenomenal game and a lot of visitors. Look out for elephants, buffalo and black rhino on the crater floor; the large lion population is far from camera shy. Read More »
The Serengeti National Park.
The Serengeti’s vast ecosystem covers several different reserves, and includes overwhelming amounts of game. Many areas are very busy; others are harder to reach, but worth the effort for their exclusivity. It is still possible to visit have the migration to yourself – but getting the timing right is a science in itself! Read More »
Lake Manyara National Park.
This small, yet spectacular park sits between the Great Rift Valley’s steep Western escarpment and the Lake Manyara, a shallow alkaline lake. It is easily visited from Arusha by 4WD, and often on the way to Ngorongoro Crater and/or the Serengeti. Read More »
Tarangire National Park.
At its best when it’s dry, Tarangire is an excellent park: with abundant game and very varied bird-life. The bulk of it is also relatively quiet, with few people reaching the southern regions where you can still find a sense of ‘wilderness. Read More »
