Highly underrated, yet bursting with a dense wildlife population, it won’t take you long to appreciate just why we love Tarangire. During the dry season (June to September) thousands of animals including elephant, buffalo, giraffe, wildebeest, kudu, and the rarely seen oryx migrate from the dry Maasai steppe to the Tarangire River in search of water.
Lion, leopard and other predators follow, so be sure to charge your camera battery and empty your memory stick as some unique moments are waiting to be captured. With dramatic landscapes dominated by baobab trees, an enormous elephant population and over 550 varieties of bird, Tarangire offers visitors excellent game viewing opportunities.
Travellers heading for the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater will pass through the town of Karatu in the green hills of Tanzania’s northern highlands. Presided over by the towering Ol Deani Volcano, this small, colourful town serves as a popular overnight stop for visitors exploring the area’s many game parks. The town offers a variety of activities including browsing the bustling marketplace, sampling beer at a local brewery, visiting a traditional homestead, or taking a guided walk through the Ngorongoro Forest in search of waterfalls and caves. Whether you are looking for cultural tours, hiking and biking opportunities, a chance to enjoy an authentic rural Tanzania experience, or simply a break between safari game drives, this underrated town has plenty to offer.
The Seronera region, in the central Serengeti, is set directly on the Great Migration route, and offers excellent viewing of this incredible annual phenomenon, when countless wildebeest flood across the plains. While migratory game populations fluctuate seasonally, Seronera is still a wildlife hotspot at other times of the year, sheltering the Big Five, among many other species. Visitors can enjoy hot air balloon trips and walking safaris as well as guided game drives.
The northern Serengeti stuns with rolling hills, lush riverine forests and dramatic granite outcrops. It’s the hotspot from July to October, when wildebeest and zebras charge across the Mara River in epic crossings. But don’t get obsessed with just the crossings—this beautiful part of the park is packed with wildlife! From elephants and buffalo to leopard, zebra, eland and gazelle, there’s plenty to see. Birdwatching is a treat both around the camp and on game drives, and don’t miss a balloon safari for a breathtaking view.
