Tanzania’s natural endowment as a wildlife safari destination is second to none. Wild animals roam vast areas as God intended on that sixth day of creation. These areas are designated as national parks and game reserves and have a great reputation for being unpopulated and unspoiled. The magnificent collection of game sanctuaries in the north of the country, near the Kenyan border, is known as The Northern Circuit. This is the most popular and accessible wildlife safari route in Tanzania. I can positively say that this is one of the best game viewing areas anywhere in the world.
Game aside, the spectacularly diverse group of ecosystems and habitats is a dazzling experience for many visitors. The stars of the Northern Circuit are the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro, much loved by nature lovers. But no less brilliant and indeed complementing the two are the other members of the circuit: Arusha, Tarangire and Lake Manyara. In terms of wildlife, the abundance and diversity of wildlife here is hard to imagine.
At the top of the heap are the highly regarded “big five”: elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros, leopard and lion. And then a wide variety of simple animals: wildebeest, zebra, antelope, antelope, oryx, reedbuck, giraffe, Thompson’s gazelle and many more of the same genus. But do not forget about ruthless predators: cheetah, wild dog, jackal, hyena and vultures. The Northern Circuit is also an ornithologist’s paradise, and more than 500 species of birds have been recorded. On safari, you will witness the shocking and fascinating dance of life and death in the daily game of this combination of animals.
The starting point for northern safaris is usually the city of Arusha. The city sits near the base of Mount Meru and overlooks mighty Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest mountain. From Arusha, the closest protected area for wildlife viewing is Arusha National Park, just 32km away. In this 137-square-kilometer park, you’ll see baboon, colobus and vervet monkeys, duikers, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, hippos, leopards, hyenas, zebras and a wide variety of antelope. More than 400 species of birds have been recorded, including Eurasian migrants, who visit between October and April. One of the unique attractions of the park is that walking safaris are allowed and you can get out of your vehicle for a nature walk. Due to its proximity to Arusha, the park is very popular for day trips.
Wildlife aside, Arusha National Park is a treasure with a rich tapestry of habitats including grasslands, montane forests, alpine heaths and deserts, and freshwater and soda lakes. Three spectacular features stand out: the Momela Lakes, Mount Meru and the Ngurdoto Crater. Mount Meru stands at 4,575m and is the fourth highest mountain in Africa. However, it is dwarfed by nearby Kilimanjaro, which towers over it by more than 1,300m. It is unfortunate that the snobbish instinct of many climbers makes them overlook Mount Meru. The mountain can be climbed in three to four days with overnight accommodation in alpine huts.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve, is located in the Great Rift Valley, that monumental fracture in the earth’s crust. The area is full of volcanoes, mountains, plains, lakes and forests. Covering 8,288 square kilometers, its main features are the Ngorongoro Crater, the Empakai Crater, the Oldonyo Lengai Mountain, and the Olduvai Gorge archaeological site. Olduvai Gorge is the prehistoric site where Dr. Louis Leakey discovered the remains of Homo habilis (“Handy man”) considered by scientists to be humanity’s first step on the path of human evolution. Take a look at the remains of our worthy predecessor, whose courageous industry, driven by necessity, led him to make simple stone tools.
Unlike national parks, the colorful Maasai people, their livestock, and wildlife co-exist within the conservation area. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest caldera in the world with its walls intact. The crater floor is a 600 m drop and covers an area of 260 km2 with a diameter of 19 km. This magnificent natural amphitheater is a stunning attraction in its own right and is one of the wonders of the natural world. The crater supports a year-round resident population of a variety of wildlife. You will have no problem seeing lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo and many simple animal species: wildebeest, zebra, reedbuck, Thompson’s gazelle and many more. The crater floor is dotted with waterholes and has almost 30,000 wild animals. Ngorongoro is four hours by road from Arusha or one hour by air. And from Lake Manyara or Tarangire you will be on the road for two hours.
Lake Manyara National Park stretches between the bluff of the Great Rift Valley and Lake Manyara, a shallow soda lake. The park covers 330 square meters. km, 70% of which is occupied by the lake. The varied ecosystem consists of groundwater forests, acacia forests, and open grasslands along the lake shore and supports an abundance of wildlife, including the Big Five: lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, and buffalo. Other animals that can be seen in the park include baboons, impalas, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, ostrich, and hippos.
Lake Manyara is famous for the elusive tree-climbing lions, which can occasionally be seen along the branches of the acacia trees. It is also a paradise for ornithologists and is home to more than 400 species of birds. Waterfowl that flit around the lake include pelicans, spoonbills, Egyptian geese, and hammerheads. Also, migratory flamingos arrive in the millions upon thousands creating a spectacular sight over the soda lake. You will reach Lake Manyara after driving from Arusha for two hours or flying for only half an hour.
Tarangire National Park is an hour and a half drive from Arusha, making it very popular for day trips. Tarangire is a park of giant baobabs, rolling savannah and acacia parkland. It is famous for its dense population of wildlife, which is most spectacular in the dry season between June and September. It is during this period that thousands of animals: wildebeest, zebra, antelope, antelope, antelope, giraffe, impala, gerenuk, buffalo and oryx migrate from the dry steppe of the Maasai to the Tarangire River in search of water. The predators – lion, leopard and others – as is customary in the savannah follow them closely. If you’re lucky, you’ll see the rare tree-climbing python, kudu and roan antelope, a rare experience on the northern safari circuit. Birds also abound here and more than 550 species have been recorded.
Serengeti National Park is the most famous wildlife sanctuary in Africa and the largest national park in Tanzania. The park is located 6 hours by road from Arusha or one hour by air. It lies on a high plateau between the Ngorongoro Highlands and the Kenya-Tanzania border and almost touches Lake Victoria in the west. Appropriately named “endless plains” by the Maasai people, it features short-grass and long-grass plains, acacia savannah, and forests in parts of the north and east.
Within its 15,000 square kilometer area, the Serengeti is home to 3 million large mammals. More than 35 species of simple animals are found here: zebras, wildebeests, antelopes, giraffes and others. And so for the big five: elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros. The park is the staging ground for one of the most spectacular events in the natural world: the annual wildebeest migration. This starts around June when more than 1 million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle head to the Maasai Mara in Kenya in search of grazing. Hot on their heels are the predators of the savannah lion, cheetah, wild dog, jackal, hyena and vultures.
If you have the money to spare, watching the migration afloat in a balloon is an unforgettable experience. The best time to watch the game is from December to May, when the grass is short. Avoid late June-October when most animals will have evacuated with the migration and are best seen in the adjacent Masai Mara in Kenya. The keen ornithologist will have fun trying to spot the 500 recorded bird species.
Camping sites can be found in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and in all the national parks of the Northern Circuit. The facilities are quite basic and this is where budget travelers prefer to spend their nights on safari. If you can afford it, spend the night in the luxurious safari lodges and tented camps. In this accommodation class, expect to find all the amenities associated with classified accommodation. You can check online some of the Tanzania hotels and lodges available for your safari.
It is generally recommended to take a companion Tanzania safari package which includes transportation, guide, entrance fees to the park and lodging. The tour guides have valuable local knowledge about the animals, where to find them, and how to get where you are going. But if you know the country well and have a good knowledge of animals, then self-drive car rental in Tanzania is an option.
The relatively high elevation in northern Tanzania means it never gets too hot. In fact, the nights and early morning hours can be quite cold. It is recommended to bring a thick sweater and a windbreaker or jacket. Expect average temperatures of 15°C from May to August and 22°C from December to March. The weather is best between June and September, but don’t bet on seeing any animals in the Serengeti. For a safari covering all the parks in northern Tanzania, September to March is a good time. But remember that some of the other parks in the region offer game viewing opportunities almost year-round. April and May can be a challenging time to go on safari as this is when the weather is at its rainiest.
On safari, brightly colored clothing can get you into trouble with wildlife. If you’re smart, you’ll pack brown, beige, and khaki clothes. Short-sleeved shirts, shorts, and pants for men are suitable. For ladies, short-sleeved tops, pants, and skirts are ideal. Although the northern region is quite far from the predominantly Muslim coastal areas and the ladies do not have to dress
Overly conservative, modest dress is still a good idea. Remember to bring a pair of sunglasses to protect yourself from the sometimes severe tropical glare. Binoculars will come in handy
useful for detecting animals.
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