TANZANIA
The Serengeti
Probably the most famous protected area for wildlife in the world. The park itself covers 5,700 square miles of incredible beauty and is home to the famed wildebeest migration that moves clockwise, primarily, through the park and the ecosystem as a whole. The ecosystem covers 20,000 square miles and includes Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the Masai Mara region in Kenya, and other protected and unprotected areas within this last stronghold for wildlife. The region is also home to the Maasai tribe who maintain a traditional lifestyle across many areas of the landscape as they have for generations.
1.5 million wildebeest, 250,000 zebra, 400,000 gazelle, 3,000 lions, 1,000 leopards, over 7,000 hyena, 7,000 elephant, healthy population of cheetah, and so much more await the safari traveler. As one would expect, Serengeti National Park is a highly sought after destination. This is why we use select camp to ensure your experience is unhurried and not sullied by an influx of too many tourists at an animal sighting. Our preferred provider, Nomad-Tanzania, offers a variety of properties and mobile camps to put you in position to witness the marvel that is the Serengeti without the crowds.
Even the vastness of the Serengeti is not enough to ensure a long term future for wildlife. Climate change, poverty, habitat loss, livestock conflicts, poaching, over-tourism, and the threat of a proposed highway across the park threaten this precious gift of the natural world.
There was a human cost to this conservation success story. Native Maasai were forced out of the Serengeti during the park’s formation. Conserving areas for wildlife in the future will have to become more collaborative with local communities and tribes.
Safari Partner Nomad-Tanzania
Ngorongoro Crater
This protected area covers over 3,000 square miles, with the Ngorongoro Crater as the main draw for safari travelers. The crater is the largest intact and inactive volcanic caldera in the world. The volcano that formed Ngorongoro was active 2 million years ago. From the rim of the crater down to the crater floor is 2,000 feet. The floor of the crater is massive and covers over 100 square miles. Approximately 25,000 large animals call the crater floor home. The dominant predators are hyena (in huge clans) and lions. The dominant herbivores are the blue wildebeest (the herds that make up the migration are white-bearded wildebeest) and zebra. Gazelle, eland, and Cape buffalo are also common. It is home to the rare black rhino and you just may get lucky and see one during a safari here.
Unfortunately, tourism into the crater is very busy and a wildlife sighting can be inundated by numerous vehicles. We recommend a private vehicle and guide so you can avoid the crowds or slip away when things get too hectic.
The western edge of the conservation area borders Serengeti National Park. The wildebeest migration congregates in the SW in the Ndutu Lake region from December to March, with peak calving occurring in February. It is a sight to behold witnessing a herd that stretches out to the horizon.
The conservation area, outside of the crater, is home to the Maasai whose population has grown ten fold since the mid 20th century. This is creating many challenges in trying to protect wildlife and people. Tourism numbers have grown exponentially, but the amount of tourist dollars going back into the local communities has not. Tourism is vital to wildlife and people, but poorly managed, it can begin to do more harm, especially with the loss of support from the people that call it home.
Safari Partner Nomad-Tanzania
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire is part of Tanzania’s northern circuit of parks along with Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Lake Manyara. Tarangire should be at the top of your list when visiting Tanzania. The best time to go is during the dry season where big herds of elephant, zebra, wildebeest (not part of the great migration herds) and buffalo congregate near water. Lots of other animal and bird species are found here as well. There are healthy numbers of lion, leopard, cheetah, and African Wild Dog.
The park is located approximately 2 hours south of Arusha by car. Tarangire covers 1,100 square miles and it is named after the Tarangire River which is the primary water source for wildlife, especially in the dry season (June to November). The park is well known for the number of baobab trees that dot the landscape; large and incredible trees that are important ecologically and culturally.
For those that want to get out and venture on foot or observe wildlife after dark, Tarangire offers great opportunities to walk the bush and go on night game drives to see rarer species such as honey badger, aardvark, porcupine, as well as lion and leopard as they become more active.
We recommend a minimum 4 night stay in Tarangire to take advantage of a less busy park with an incredible amount of animals to see and to experience authentic bush walks that you won’t get in Ngorongoro or the Serengeti.
Safari Partner Nomad-Tanzania
Lake Manyara National Park
This small park and the surrounding areas form the Lake Manyara Biosphere that protects vital habitat for many of Tanzania’s important wildlife and migratory birds, especially massive flocks of Lesser and Greater Flamingos.
The park is only 125 square miles, but contains a diverse habitat of forests, woodlands, swamps, and grasslands. It is home to many of the iconic species such as elephant, giraffe, zebra, hippo, lion, and leopard.
The lions of Manyara have gained notoriety for the amount of time they spend in trees. Though capable of climbing trees, lions usually do not spend much time in trees due to their large size which can make descending a bit clumsy and ungraceful.
Though the reason why lions spend so much time in the trees has been studied at nauseum, no one really knows the “Why?” Sometimes not knowing and just enjoying is all one needs to do when viewing these big felines drooped over a big beam of a sausage tree, umbrella thorn acacia, or the desert date.
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha is home to 10% of the remaining lions left in Africa. It is Tanzania’s 2nd largest national park at over 7,000 square miles and part of a larger ecosystem of 17,000 square miles. The landscape is varied and beautiful. The Great Ruaha River is the lifeblood of the park. The landscape is classic bush country dotted with baobab trees with rocky escarpments providing stunning backdrops, especially during sundowners.
The park is located in the south central part of the country. This is a great park to escape the busier northern parks and to experience some wild bush country. It is open year round, but it is a classic dry season park where massive herds of elephant and buffalo congregate near water as this precious commodity becomes more scarce as the dry season progresses.
Ruaha is home to one of the most dense populations of elephant in Eastern Africa. As mentioned before, it is lion country, but it shares its domain with cheetah and leopard. You may even see African Wild Dogs since it is home to the third largest population of this very endangered canid. Hyenas are common. A variety of antelope can be seen here including roan, sable, and kudu.
Unless you really have your heart set on seeing the Great Migration, a long and extended trip to Ruaha along with Katavi and Mahale Mountains would be the ultimate and most wild safari itinerary you can imagine.
Safari Partner Nomad-Tanzania
Katavi National Park
If you want to experience Africa as it was hundreds of years ago, Katavi is the park. For the intrepid and safari purest, this should be on your safari bucket list. Katavi is remote and not the easiest park to get to, but that is why it is a quiet and little visited jewel of Africa. It is unspoiled wilderness at its best in the remote western corner of the country.
Katavi’s 1,700 square miles is home to a great diversity of mammals and birds. As the dry season progresses and the Katuma River recedes, the two seasonal lakes of Chada and Katavi become a magnet for wildlife. Buffalo herds that can reach 1,000. 4,000 elephants converge into the surrounding floodplains. Large predators are ever present including lion, leopard, cheetah, and hyena. Pods of hippos swell into the remaining pools of water of the Katuma and seasonal lakes. Katavi is home to Tanzania’s most dense population of hippo and croc.
Safari accommodations are classic style tented camps, but the real thrill of a stay in the park is getting out deeper in the wilderness for traditional tent camping or fly camping as it is referred to in Africa. Activities are amazing game drives and memorable walking safaris. A trip to Katavi is usually a part of a longer itinerary that includes chimp trekking at Mahale Mountains.
Safari Partner Nomad-Tanzania
Nyerere National Park
The majority of what was once Selous Game Reserve is now Africa’s largest national park; Nyerere. in 2019, almost 12,000 square miles became protected from trophy hunting. A common argument in support of trophy hunting is that it discourages and prevents poaching. That was unfortunately not the case in the Selous where poaching was epidemic. The future is brighter for wildlife in Nyerere.
Nyerere is easily accessible from Tanzania’s capital city, Dar es Salaam, but the vastness of this park allows for the safari traveler to still escape the crowds and connect with the wilderness that makes this new park so appealing. Many travelers will combine Nyerere and Ruaha into their safari itinerary, especially those who want to escape the busier northern circuit parks.
Nyerere is a dry season park with the best time for visitation from June through October. The main river, the Rufiji River, is the lifeblood of this park, especially as the dry season progresses. This park offers game drives, walking safaris, and boating. Though poaching has taken a toll on the elephant population here, there is still a large and robust population and reports it is growing since the park’s establishment. There is a healthy lion and African Wild Dog population as well as healthy numbers of other animals typically seen on safari.
Safari Partner Nomad-Tanzania
Photo courtesy of Nomad-Tanzania
Mahale Mountains
A remote and stunningly beautiful park in the west part of Tanzania on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Home to 1,000 chimpanzees and other amazing primates, Mahale offers the opportunity to walk the lush forest in search of our closest wild relative. In the 1960’s, Japanese researchers began studying chimps in Mahale. With the presence of researchers over time, some of the troops became habituated to the presence of humans thus allowing visitors the opportunity to walk with and be in close proximity to them. The chimp population in Mahale continues to flourish due to its remote location and few visitors. Walks are strictly monitored and limited to ensure we keep the chimps safe and to prevent unnecessary disturbance.
Most people combine a trip to Mahale with Katavi National Park. Our preferred provider, Nomad-Tanzania, operates a simple, rustic, and quaint luxurious lodge set on the edge of the forest and the sandy beach of Lake Tanganyika. Besides walking with chimpanzees, one will enjoy amazing sunset views and sails, fishing, snorkeling, birding, and more during a 3-4 day stay.
Safari Partner Nomad-Tanzania
Photo courtesy of Asilia
Zanzibar
Zanzibar is an autonomous archipelago of islands off the cost of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean. Rich in history, culture, cuisine, and marine life, Zanzibar has become a major tourist destination. Stone Town is a popular area to delve into the culture and history of the island. The crystal clear and biologically rich waters surrounding the islands offer incredible opportunities for snorkeling and diving.
We recommend staying in the less busy areas of Zanzibar to escape the crowds. Unfortunately tourism threatens the very things people come to see and enjoy. Many safari travelers visiting Kenya or Tanzania will do a post safari stay of 3-4 days in Zanzibar. Our recommendation is Asilia’s Matemwe Lodge.