Northern Tanzania Safari
The best developed of Tanzania's tourism routes is known as the northern circuit though it remains quite unspoilt by over-exploitation. Here there's a change the huge herds of wildebeest or flocks of brilliant pink flamingos emerging from the swirling mist of alkaline lakes, a sight, it is believed, that gave birth to the legand of the phoenix or the "fire bird"
The main base for exploring the Northern circuit is the pretty towns of Moshi & Arusha. The circuit include many of the country's most famous national parks, such us Serengeti, Arusha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, as well as famous landmarks such as the Ngorongoro Crater, the Olduvai Gorge and the African's highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro (The Roof of Africa)
Serengeti National Park
This is Africa most famous game reserve. Covering an area of about 15.000 square kilometers, making it larger than lots of countries, it is famous for the large predator population and for being the arena for the greatest spectacles on Earth: The great Migration. The landscapes are mainly open grasses, patches of acacia woodland and riparian woodland around Grumeti river in the western corridor. In fact, the word Serengeti means Endless Plains in the Masai language, and you will understand why when you experience this magical place.
As you can see in the above map of the great migration, between December and May, the best area of the Serengeti to catch the great Migration is the Seronera region in center Serengeti. Between June and August our attentions should focus in the Grumeti Area. After that, the herds start moving north towards Kenya and return to the Seronera region in December.
Wildlife
The most abundant wildlife in Africa. Millions and millions of antelopes, wildebeest, zebras, etc support a giant big predator population. You will be able to see large predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs, golden and black backed jackals, bat eared foxes and spotted hyenas. Nocturnal predators include Civet, Serval or the Genet and African wild cat. But many other mammals can be found like the rhino, elephant, hippo, waterbuck, bushbuck, eland, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, warthog, baboon, impala, thomson's gazelle and other animals can be seen also!
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is famous for its giant baobab trees as well as the thousands of elephants and giraffes feeding along the banks of the Tarangire River. It is home to large lion prides and boasts around 500 bird species. Tarangire has the largest termite mounds in Tanzania, some of which reach up to fifteen feet in height. Many of Tarangire's animals migrate out of the park during the wet season; thus Tarangire's best game viewing is during the dry months of July through November when wildlife congregates around the Tarangire River. Bush walks and night drives are permitted from some camps in Tarangire.
Lake Manyara National Park
Two thirds of Lake Manyara is water, the other is land. This park has become famous for the the climbing lions and the flamingos in the lake shore. The landscapes of these park are absolutely stunning, very different from the Serengeti for example. The game drives are done along the shore of the lake, providing incredible views of giraffes and buffalos in the foreground with the lake, flamingos and flat plains in the horizon. Great photo opportunities!
Wildlife
Large predators include the lion, the leopard and the hyena. Other mammals include elephants, hippos, waterbucks, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, buffalos, warthogs, dik dik, baboons, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus, blue monkeys and various antelopes.
The park is very rich in birdlife too with up to 400 different species. It's common to say that this park is the only one where you are guaranteed to see at least 100 different bird species in a single day. Some birds include the silvery-cheeked hornbills, bee-eaters, barbet, flamingos, kingfishers, rollers, owls and white-backed pelicans.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Ngorongoro crater is something like you've never seen before. Nowhere in the world is it possible to find a place that looks like this one. It's widely regarded as one of the wonders of the world and included in the list of world heritage sites since 1978. Imagine driving to the rim of a huge crater, which is the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, just to have the see the best landscape of your life, with the steaming lake in the middle. Pick up the binoculars and notice how the crater is full of animals.
You will feel like you have come back in time or that you are in a Jurassic park movie. Then, imagine driving deep into the crater bottom to discover it is the place with the biggest concentration of wildlife in the world. You will have a great chance of seeing the big5 in a single day. It's something that is hard to put into words so please go and see with your own eyes this incredible place on Earth. You can also visit Olduvai Gorge, regarded as the cradle of banking, where hominid fossils with more than 3 million years were found.
Wildlife
The concentration of animals cannot be exaggerated. It's a sanctuary for animal enthusiasts. Large predators include lions, leopards, cheetahs, golden and black-backed jackals and spotted hyenas. But you can also find other mammals like the Rhino (including the rare black rhino), elephants, hippos, waterbucks, bushbucks, elands, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, buffalos, warthogs, baboons, tsessebes, impalas, thomson's gazelles!
There is also an abundant bird life, which of course include the beautiful pink Flamingoes on the shores of lake Magadi. There are also many ostriches, kori bustards, rosy-throated long claws, augur buzzards, crested eagles and the localized Egyptian vultures.
