Traditional Tanzania

Resting at the foot of Mount Meru, the sprawling city of Arusha is known as the safari capital of northern Tanzania. It serves as an excellent base from which to explore the remarkably scenic surrounding area which includes majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as the Manyara, Tarangire and Ngorongoro National Parks. Arusha is a good spot to take a day or two off from the safari circuit as it features a temperate climate and lush surrounds. Visitors can look forward to exploring the wildlife-abundant Serengeti National Park; the magnificent Arusha National Park; and taking on the challenge of climbing Mount Meru, Africa’s fifth highest mountain.

Lake Burunge is one of three major lakes in the Manyara Region of Tanzania. Located in the migratory corridor of Manyara and Tarangire, Lake Burunge serves as an ideal base for exploring the area, as it is just a stone's throw from the impressive Tarangire National Park. There are several tented camps along the lake's shore, from which guests can enjoy uninterrupted views of the lake and surrounding wilderness. Visitors can look forward to enjoying sun downers from their lakeside deck, going on thrilling game drives in the national park, and relaxing around a roaring open fire in the evenings. Other popular activities include guided nature walks and cultural visits to a number of neighboring Mbugwe villages.

Lake Eyasi basin is remote; a dry area of desolate beauty, which offers a great natural experience. Across the shallow lake and the dry salt beds the dramatic Alipi escarpment wall rises 650 meters up into the Endulen area of the Ngorongoro conservation area. To the north of the Alkaline lake, springs surrounded by ground water forest and woodland abound, supporting a new influx of Tanzanian farmers growing onions and beans, while the hill ridges surrounding the Lake valley to the east and north support a wild and scenic area dominated by ancient Baobabs, Gnarled Commiphoras and huge rock kopjes. The area is the home to a group of traditional tribes, offering an intriguing chance to glimpse their lifestyles. The pastoralist Datoga people in their traditional mud huts, their women decorated with beautifying facial scarification and the young and fierce warriors who stand guard over their herds, are easily visited, as are the traditional Hadzabe, a nomadic tribe that hangs on tenaciously to their hunting and gathering life style. Apart from cultural activities, the area offers superb hiking, bird watching and scenic beauty.

Travelers heading for the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater will inevitably 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, colorful 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 Iraqw homestead, or taking a guided walk through the Ngorongoro Forest in search of waterfalls and elephants 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 Serengeti, together with Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Park, forms Africa’s most famous wildlife park. The image of acacia trees on an endless grass plain epitomises Africa for many. The annual wildebeest migration through the Serengeti and the Masai Mara is the largest mass movement of land mammals on the planet – with more than a million animals following the rains. But that is not where the game viewing ends; large prides of lions, elephants and giraffes in grasslands, gazelles and eland to mention but a few.