At the heart of Tanzania’s northern safari destinations is the renowned Lake Manyara National Park. Accessed by road or air from Arusha, with the Ngorongoro Crater the next natural stopping point, the park offers the chance for excellent game viewing and the chance to be active as well.Wildlife viewing opportunities are centred around the lake, which at its peak water level covers 70% of the park’s 325 square kilometres. The nutrient-rich water is a magnet for birdlife, with large flocks of flamingos often found here, along with 350 other species of bird. Leopard and spotted hyena are amongst the predators found here, along with lion who can often be found climbing in the trees – a big draw for visitors to Manyara.The bulk of lodges are found on the escarpment overlooking the park, although one lodge can be found in the park itself. Adventurous visitors can enjoy time exploring the tree canopy walk at the village of Mto wa Mbu in the northern part of the park.
The least-celebrated of the parks on Tanzania’s well-trodden ‘Northern Circuit” the Tarangire National Park is arguably the most rewarding of them all to visit, offering an amazing wildlife viewing experience in an incredible landscape studded with baobab trees and termite mounds. Perennial rivers run through the park and help to attract a huge volume of wildlife.
A short drive down the road from Kilimanjaro airport, sitting in the shadow of Mount Meru, the safari town of Arusha is the starting point for all safaris through northern Tanzania, with all visitors spending at least the first night of their trips here. Safari operators base themselves here, as do guides so it is a natural spot to start and end any trip.
The westernmost of all Tanzania’s National Parks, the Mahale Mountains overlook Lake Tanganyika and to the D.R.
Found in the remote western part of Tanzania, the Katavi National Park undoubtedly qualifies for “hidden gem” status, with its annual visitor total of around 1000 being less than the Ngorongoro Crater receives during a day. Best combined with the Mahale Mountains and sometimes the Ruaha National Park, Katavi is at the heart of Tanzania’s western safari circuit.
When it comes toblissful hammock-lounging beaches, the mainland can teach the islands a thing or two. Pretty much every coastal town and hamlet fronts tropical turquoise waters and crystal-white sands, and in between are hundreds of other beaches known only to the odd passing fishermen.
Mount Kilimanjaro, with its three volcanic cones, “Kibo”, “Mawenzi”, and “Shira”, is a dormant volcano in Tanzania. It is the highest mountain in Africa, rising to approximately 5,895 metres above sea level.
Ruaha National Park is the largest national park in Tanzania, almost 50% bigger than the Serengeti, yet with a fraction of the visitors. The park is rich in its flora and fauna, making for an exceptional game viewing experience.
The Selous is one of the largest game reserves in Africa and holds one of the most revered strongholds of animals on earth. Wildlife enthusiasts love the Selous, a huge area in Southern Tanzania with millions of acres of bush, woodland, hills and grasslands.
If you are looking to get off the beaten track then Western Tanzania is a great destination. Rarely a choice for the first time safari, Katavi National Park and the Mahale Mountains National Park receive only a tiny fraction of the visitors to Tanzania’s more famous reserves.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area spans vast expanses of highland plains, savanna, savanna woodlands and forests. Established in 1959 as a multiple land use area, with wildlife coexisting with semi-nomadic Maasai pastoralists practicing traditional livestock grazing, it includes the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest caldera.
In the vast plains of Serengeti National Park, comprising 1.5 million hectares of savannah lies the worlds greatest wildlife spectacles.
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