Where to go on a Tanzania Safari
TANZANIA SAFARIS
Tanzania is a country full of astounding wildlife, incredible natural beauty, gorgeous beaches and some of the world’s greatest geological splendours like Ngorongoro Crater. The ideal bush and beach safari destination, Tanzania is home to the Greate Wildebeest Migration for most of the year, Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain and the ancient spice island of Zanzibar.
A Tanzania Safari will delight first time travellers as well as guests who have been on safari numerous times. With a high number of returning guests, Tanzania has everything you could want on a safari.
While some people do choose to just go to one area, like the Serengeti, most will do a circuit.
The most popular is the Northern Circuit. Combining the vast plains of the Serengeti with the unique Ngorongoro Crater along with Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park are the more popular choices.
The less popular but equally rewarding Southern Tanzania safari circuit. Combing vast reserves create a safari off the beaten track visiting Ruaha or Nyerere (Selous) National Parks provide an incredible safari experience, with a fraction of the tourists that the northern parks see.
Suggested Safaris to Tanzania
Tanzania
andBeyond Tanzania Safari
Tanzania
Tanzania Sky Safari
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Safari in Southern Tanzania
NORTHERN TANZANIA SAFARI CIRCUIT
Serengeti National Park
Arguably one of the finest safari experiences in Africa, the Serengeti covers a vast area. Home to a wide variety of animals and abundant birdlife, you can expect extraordinary wildlife sightings. Renowned for predators, the Serengeti has large numbers of lions, cheetahs and leopards. The wide-open plains make spotting these big cats easier and perhaps catch a kill. Varied terrains of grasslands, vast plains, rivers, forests and rocky outcrops make for a very picturesque trip.
Combined with the Ngorongoro Crater area and the Masai Mara in Kenya, this massive ecosystem covers 30000 square kilometres of wilderness. Where you stay in the Serengeti depends on what you are hoping to see on your safari. If you want to see the annual spectacle of millions of wildebeest and zebra migrating through the plains, then you can read our guide on where to be throughout the year. The Central Serengeti is excellent all year round, with the resident game and large numbers of predators.
The best time to visit the Serengeti is for most of the year! From June to February you can enjoy a trip. March is also pleasant. But April and early May have long rains and many camps close for 6 weeks.
Ngorongoro Crater
Few places in Africa can boast the wildlife density that the Ngorongoro Crater can, where it is not unheard of to see the big 5 in one day. Surrounded by the 600m crater wall, the Ngorongoro Crater is a stunning mix of forest on the crater walls, flamingo filled lakes and rolling grasslands. It is one of the few places to see the critically endangered resident black rhino in Tanzania.
On the crater rim and surrounding areas, it can be quite cold at night, but the days are mild on the crater floor. There are a handful of luxury lodges around the crater rim, with spectacular views. In the town of Karatu, you will find a wide range of smaller hotels and more comfortable lodgings.
You can visit Ngorongoro Crater at any time.
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is the land of giants, home to huge herds of elephants and swaths of massive baobab trees. This park is also a wonderful birding destination, with twitchers flocking to spot some of the over 500 species recorded here. The Tarangire River is the only water source in the dryer months, providing excellent game viewing opportunities. Tree-climbing lions, the elusive leopards, and other predators can be found in this area.
The closest park to Arusha, Tarangire is often the first stop on a Tanzania Safari and is great to visit throughout the year.
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Lake Manyara National Park
This small and picturesque park is home to large herds of elephants who are relaxed and easy to spot. Lake Manyara is a superb birdwatching destination and the scenery is spectacular. En route to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, it features on many a safari. Lake Manyara is a shallow, alkaline lake with numerous habitats from a pretty groundwater forest, grassy floodplain, acacia woodlands and rocky escarpment. It is great to visit for most of the year with temperate weather. Mornings are quieter than the busy afternoons to visit.
Mount Kilimanjaro
The highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro is a free-standing peak of a dormant volcano consisting of three volcanic cones called Kobo, Mawenzi and Shira. Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the seven summits serious climbers need to conquer, th4th highest after Mount Everest.
Climbers summit the tallest cone, Kibo with numbers routes to take. Climbing Kilimanjaro is a goal for many people around the world and you do not need to be a super athlete to do so. You do however need to choose the right route and do your best to avoid the altitude sickness that affects so many climbers.
We cannot stress enough how important it is to use a reputable company, with top guides and porters, who also have great gear you can rent. Day hikes can also be arranged for those staying in nearby Arusha.
TANZANIA COAST
Zanzibar
Bustling with history and culture, Zanzibar Island is a fabulous place to visit. Palm-lined white sand beaches, ancient architecture and rich culture create a unique experience. Stone Town lies on the west coast and it is here that the Omani Arab and Portuguese influences are most seen. Numerous hotels and resorts line the beaches, offering a myriad of water sports including snorkelling, scuba diving, dhow sailing and more.
SOUTHERN TANZANIA SAFARI CIRCUIT
Ruaha National Park
Pristine, untouched and the biggest reserve in Tanzania, Ruaha National Park is an iconic safari destination. The Great Ruaha River is the lifeline of the area, with excellent fishing, deep gorges and swirling rapids. A true wildlife paradise, Ruaha is home to a plethora of wildlife and birdlife. Lions, leopards, cheetah, wild dog and hyena are found on the grasslands, attracted by the kudu, gazelle, impala and waterbuck that drink from the river. The birdlife is excellent all year round but really shines in the first few months of the year when the migratory birds arrive. May to October is the long dry season, the best time to see the big cats and mammals as animals congregate around the river.
Nyerere National Park (formerly The Selous Game Reserve)
The Selous is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with dramatic landscapes, undisturbed wilderness and a large diversity of wildlife. Explore the Selous on foot with experienced walking trail guides. The vast landscape covers miombo woodlands, open plains, wetlands and has the Rufiji River running through it. The area teems with wildlife from hippo and crocodile to lions, leopards, elephants, black rhino and wild dogs. The dry season runs from June to August and is the time when animals are easier to find.
Mikumi & Udzungwa
Mikumi National Park and the Udzungwa Mountains National Park are far off the beaten track and rarely visited. Mikumi shares a border with Selous, so while small there is a wide variety of wildlife. The Udzungwa Mountains are part of “The Eastern Arc” a group of ancient mountain ranges stretching across Tanzania and Kenya. The deep forests are home to many endemic species including primates. the Uhehe red colobus, the Matunda galago and Sanje crested mangabey are all found here and the park protects their environment.
WESTERN TANZANIA SAFARI CIRCUIT
Katavi National Park
Located in the far western reaches of Tanzania lies the Katavi National Park. This vast wilderness is home to dramatic and pristine scenery. The park has large waterways and flood plains that team with huge pods of hippo and birdlife. Large herds of buffalo and elephants are also common as are the rare sable and roan antelope. Towards the end of the dry season, the flood plains are littered with thousands of animals looking for water, with hippos crammed into the last remaining pools. It is a truly spectacular sight to behold and is when most visitors go to the park.
Mahale Mountains National Park
The densely forested slopes of the Mahale Mountains and the banks of Lake Tanganyika form the Mahale Mountains National Park. Amazing sunsets over the lakes and thousands of chimpanzees attract safari enthusiasts. Forests, alpine bamboo, woodlands, grasslands and lakeside beaches support a plethora of wildlife and birdlife, while over 90 species of fish are found in the crystal clear waters of Lake Tanganyika. This is one o the best places in Africa for a chimpanzee safari, with over 1000 recorded individuals. Other primates include the red colobus, yellow baboon and cheeky vervet monkeys. This is a stunning park to visit and should be on safari bucket lists!
Gombe National Park
Jane Goodall spent many years in the forests of Gombe National Park, studying the behaviour of endangered chimpanzees. The area has steep forested mountain slopes and sandy lakeside beaches, similar to Mahale, along the banks of Lake Tanganyika. It is the smallest park in Tanzania but offers an extraordinary safari. Explore the area on foot in search of chimpanzee families, other primates and tropical birdlife.
Rubondo Island National Park
Lake Victoria is home to many small islands, including Rubondo and the Rubondo Island National Park. A picturesque piece of paradise with white sand beaches. Rubondo is covered in pristine equatorial forest and is home to chimpanzee, elephant, giraffe and sitatunga antelope. This is the perfect beach destination after a safari!
