The parks in the north of country are some of the most popular safari destinations in Tanzania; partly because of the opportunity on offer to view one of the grandest wildlife extravaganzas in the world – the annual migration of millions of wildebeest and zebra from the Serengeti to Masai Mara in Kenya. This doesn’t mean that there are no animals to be seen during the rest of the year; this is one of the prime wildlife viewing areas of the world.
The northern parks include the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara and Tarangire and they all boast unique attractions including animals and habitats. This region is home to both the Maasai and Hadzabe tribes and most safaris will include a visit to a local village so that you can experience life through the eyes of a local.
The Serengeti is classic safari country with its grasslands and abundance of animals. Divided into five sections each offering a unique eco-system and its inhabitants, the Serengeti calls you to come and experience the heart of Africa by indulging in a luxury stay combined with excellent game-viewing. Head to the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation area, bordering the Serengeti, to see the world’s largest crater and the myriad of animals enclosed inside including the world’s densest lion population and the rare black rhino. This is one of the few places in Africa where you will see such an intense concentration of game. Home to Olduvai Gorge where some of the earliest traces of man have been discovered, Ngorongoro is also a favoured destination for photographers.
For elephants, as well as tree-climbing lions, leopards, giraffes and over 400 species of birds you need to head to Lake Manyara National Park. A relatively small park compared to the others but with a diverse wealth of wildlife to be seen and of course thousands of flamingos inhabiting the shallow waters of the scenic lake. Strewn with ancient baobab trees and the best place to see enormous herds of elephants is Tarangire National Park where the river beds teem with animals in the dry season.
Whatever you choose there is an abundance of luxury safari accommodation in the area as well as an amazing diversity of wildlife including the Big Five.
The Northern Safari Circuit is best known for:
The Great Rift Valley
This ‘geographic trough’, visible from space, runs close on 6 000km from Syria in Southwest Asia, passing through all of East Africa to Mozambique in Southern Africa. The depth varies from a few hundred to a few thousand metres; it contains some of the deepest lakes and tallest mountains in the world and is home to an incredible diversity of plant and animal life.
Off the beaten track on the Northern Safari Circuit:
Walk in the footprints of ancient man
Just 30km from the Ngorongoro Crater Rim and on the way towards the Serengeti is Olduvai Gorge where the remains of hominids dating back more than 3.5 million years were discovered by Mary Leakey. The most famous is the footprints of a family of those times. You are welcome to explore the attractive landscape of the Gorge but to see what has been discovered there, head to the museum on site.
Hotels & Lodges in Northern Safari Circuit
