The most popular among tourists, Tanzania’s northern circuit features some of the country’s most famous destinations, including the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. It also features some of the most Western accommodations; those looking for an African safari as big on comfort as it is on adventure should consider the northern route.
Parks featured in the northern circuit include:
Serengeti
The most famous park in Tanzania, the Serengeti boasts some 15,000 square kilometers of protected land. Visitors will see large prides of lions, elephants, giraffes, gazelles, monkeys and more roaming through the vast open space.
Though travel in most of Tanzania’s national parks is heavily controlled, hot air balloon safaris have become popular in the Serengeti, allowing visitors to absorb not just the beauty of the area, but the absolute size, as well. Schedule your trip between December and April to witness the annual wildebeest migration, the largest mass movement of land mammals on the entire planet.
Arusha National Park
Those looking for a hike should consider Arusha National Park, which is rich with lakes and forest, and features great views of Mt. Meru. Monkey-watching is popular at this spot, where ambitious visitors can make the three-day climb to Mt. Meru’s summit, and others can opt to take it easy on one of the many less-intense paths in the park.
Lake Manyara National Park: En route to the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti, visitors will find the bush plains, cliffs and hot springs of Lake Manyara National Park, an area filled with birds and other wildlife that thrive on its brackish waters, including the pink flamingo and yellow-billed storks. Also popular are the area’s tree-climbing lions, and one of the largest concentrations of baboons in the entire world.
Tarangire National Park
Elephant lovers will enjoy Tarangire, which boasts the highest density of elephants in the country, as well as numerous gazelles, wildebeests, zebras and giraffes.
Located just a few hours from Arusha, many safari companies will stop in both Lake Manyara and Tanargire en route to larger venues.
In southern Tanzania visitors will find some of the wildest and most remote reserves in the entire country. The largest of these, Sealous Game Reserve, is actually larger than the entire country of Denmark and covers some 5 percent of Tanzania’s total land area.
Because it is a game reserve, and not a national park, Sealous allows visitors to engage in more activities than they’d be able to at other locations in the country, including boating safaris, hiking safaris and fly camping. Still, despite the wealth of rivers, hills, plains, elephants, wild dogs, and rhinos roaming the area, there is a dearth of transportation to the region. Visitors will find that it is most easily accessible via aircraft.
Though not one of the most popular tourist circuits, the Western circuit in Tanzania is spectacular in its own right. Full of rugged terrain, and bordering the shore of Lake Victoria, visitors can spend time tracking chimpanzees, boating, hiking, and fishing in one of the most remote areas of the country.
Parks featured in the Western circuit include:
Gombe Stream National Park
On Tanzania’s western border with Congo, Gombe Stream National Park is one of Tanzania’s most famous, largely due to famed researcher Jane Goodall, who studied endangered chimpanzees in the forest. Visitors can take guided walks to view and sit with the chimpanzees in the park for an entire morning, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get up-close to these amazing creatures. Other animals sure to be seen in Gombe include monkeys, baboons, forest pigs and antelope. Note: Children under 7 not permitted.
Katavi
The third largest park in the country and one of the most pristine, Katavi is full of varied wildlife, bush and views, from flood plains full of hippos and birds to woodlands full of buffalo and elephants. The area also features numerous seasonal lakes where all types of animals gather to drink, offering an unforgettable spectacle at certain times of the year.
Mahale Mountains National Park
Also only accessible via small aircraft or lake taxi, Mahale Mountains National Park is located in one of most remote parts of Tanzania, bordering Congo. Though Gombe is more famous, Mahale actually boasts more chimpanzee sightings, and its hikes to chimp habitation areas are reasonably accessible for the average visitor. Note: Children under 7 not permitted.
Even if you’re staying in the urban center of Dar es Salaam, you will still have a chance to check out the wildlife in Tanzania’s Eastern Circuit. Parks featured in the circuit include:
Mikumi
Just a few hours from Dar via paved road, Mikumi National Park is the fourth largest park in Tanzania, and offers amazing wildlife viewing opportunities, including large hippo pools, cheetahs, elephants, buffalos and rhino. The park borders Selous Game Reserve and Udzungwa National Park and is a perfect day-trip from Dar.
Saadani
Part beach, part bush, you may actually find elephants running in the sand at this unique park location. Located just 70 km north of Bagamoyo and accessible by road from Dar, Saadani is a great day trip from beach resorts along the northern coast. The park’s Wami River offers numerous opportunities for viewing hippos, crocs, flamingos and birds.
Though there are a range of safari packages or budget, moderate and high-end travelers, as with most things in life, you’ll get what you pay for in planning your park or safari adventure. Do your research in finding a reputable tour company.
