The name Tanzania conjures up images of wildebeest stampeding across vast savannah, rain forests teeming with monkeys and birdlife, and great plains brimming with legions of game. All of these natural wonders and more are on offer in this exceptionally diverse African nation. Visitors typically visit Tanzania to partake in at least one of the four well known Tanzanian tourist experiences: a relaxing seaside vacation on the picturesque island paradise of Zanzibar, an underwater tour of some of the world’s most renowned dive sites around the gorgeous Spice Islands, a safari adventure in some of Africa’s most impressive game reserves, or a hiking excursion around Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. Whichever of these incredible holidays you choose, you will undoubtedly be welcomed by some fabulously friendly and peaceful inhabitants who, despite being divided into 120 different ethnic groups and cultures, live in harmony with one another. With all of this diversity on offer, the most difficult part of your Tanzanian holiday experience is likely to be deciding where to go!
Arusha, Tanzania's safari capital, is located at the foot of Mount Meru, close to Mount Kilimanjaro, the Manyara, and Tarangire and Ngorongoro National Parks. From Arusha, it’s only a short trip to the Serengeti. Just to the north, on the slopes of Mount Meru, is Arusha National Park. Developed by the Germans as a centre of colonial administration because of the temperate climate, Arusha is a good place to take a day off from your safari travels.
After the Serengeti, Tarangire has the greatest concentration of wildlife in Tanzania and in the dry season the Tarangire River is a magnet for thirsty wildlife. Large herds of elephants and migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest and eland gather and not surprisingly the predators follow. This is also the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as oryx and gerenuk are regularly spotted. Tarangire is also known for its spectacular baobab trees, and its breathtaking views of the Masaai Steppe and the mountains to the south. Located just a few hours drive from the town of Arusha, Tarangire is a popular stop for safaris travelling through the northern circuit on their way to Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. The park extends into two game controlled areas and the wildlife are allowed to move freely throughout.
Tucked between the Kidero Mountains in the south and the Eyasi Escarpment in the north, Lake Eyasi is set in a remote, dry, arid landscape just south of Tanzania’s renowned Serengeti National Park. This seasonal lake features dry salt beds and a variety of birdlife, such as Flamingos and Pelicans, and is surrounded by woodlands, forests and ancient Baobabs. Visitors can learn about local cultures and often choose to visit the pastoralist Datoga people and the nomadic Hadza hunter-gatherers. Other popular activities include bird watching, hiking, walking safaris and soaking up the spectacular views. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the nearby Oldeani Mountain, the swampy valley of Yaeda and the spectacular Serengeti.
With the Lake on its east and the Manyara Escarpment to its west the Lake Manyara National Park offers breathtaking views and a large variety of habitats. Acacia woodlands, water forests, baobab strewn cliffs, algae-streaked hot springs, swamps and the lake itself. And thanks to this the small Park is able to support a large number of animal species and incredible bird life. Manyara has the largest concentration of baboons anywhere in the world and the lions here are also renowned for their tree climbing.
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Not to be confused with the Kenyan lake of the same name set only a hundred kilomtres away, the Tanzanian Lake Magadi is an exquisite soda lake in the Ngororongo crater, named the Swahili word for salt. This is a wonderful destination for nature photographers, a scene that changes exquisitely through the seasons, moving through lush greens into striking oranges and bright pinks. Along with the changes come captivating, changing groups of animals including rhino, eland and lion, as well as golden jackals who come to hunt the flamingos. Spread over 11.2 square kilometres, the lake cultivates a unique ecosystem with its blue-green algae, which nourishes the plants and small creatures here. The surrounding crater is filled with incredible other natural attractions and a much wider variety of wildlife.
The rich Acacia-dotted plains of the eastern Serengeti are home to abundant wildlife. Visitors flock here to view the world-renowned Wildebeest migration. We find an unsurpassed display of predators and predator activity among the endless grassy savannah, scattered gnarled Acacia trees, and weathered rocky outcrops. The area is unspoiled, silent, and remote from the busier central Serengeti.
Apart from the Cheetah, for which the area is famed, the area teems with wildlife. Prides of Lion and large packs of Hyenas. Leopards range along the river valleys and wooded hills; Serval Cats hunt in the tall grass, and Caracals at the base of kopjes and the water holes. This exclusive expanse of the Serengeti is among the best places in the world to photograph large cats. The permanent water attracts herbivores en mass - Elephants, Giraffes, Zebra, Warthog, and many more- making for an action-packed game experience.
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The northern Serengeti is a mass gathering hub of the Great Migration. The landscape is characterised by vast stretches of savannah interspersed with Acacia trees and riverine woodlands. Wildlife can be seen along the banks of the Mara River. Visitors can view the annual spectacle of half a million migrating Wildebeest making the treacherous river crossing at certain times of the year. Commonly spotted wildlife includes many plains game such as Buffalo, Zebra, Gazelle, Impala, and Giraffe, as well as Lion and Leopard. Visitors can look forward to bird watching, hot air ballooning, game safaris, and guided bush walks.
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