Tanzania Safaris in the Northern Circuit open up another world. The country is one of the richest in Africa for wildlife, not only for the famed Big Five-elephant, leopard, buffalo, lion, rhinoceros-but many more.
The Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater, in the Northern Circuit, are without doubt the most popular destinations on your Tanzania Safari. The density and diversity of the animal population of these two parks has made them in a way the emblem of the dark continent . The Mt. Kilimanjaro dominates the Tanzanian landscape; though many imagine the sacred mountain to be in Kenya, it is actually entirely within the Tanzanian boundary. Then there’s Lake Manyara, Arusha and Tarangire parks-and in the south of the country several lesser-known parks where you don’t meet another soul all day, except in the lodges.
Depending on the time of year you are travelling for your Tanzanian Safari, the animal species you see will vary. The dry season, stretching from the end of December to the beginning of March, is generally considered the best time to visit, as the animals gather around the dwindling watering holes and are therefore easier to observe. Migrating birds, fleeing from the European and Asian winters, are more numerous then, too. However, summer and autumn are particularly interesting if you want to watch the fantastic migration of the gnu (wildebeest), escorted by hordes of zebra and antelope and all the predators who survive on them for their food.
On safari (a Swahili word meaning journey), you drive through the brush in an open-topped minibus or jeep, sometimes getting very close to the animals. There are generally several game drives a day: at dawn, when nature begins to stir; after breakfast, before it gets too hot; and in late afternoon, after the siesta. Dusk is a magical moment. The sun takes just a few minutes to sink below the horizon, and the animals get ready for their nightly prowls. The big game hunt all through the night until dawn.
Some of the lodges on your Tanzania safari are extremely well located, overlooking a waterhole or a river, so that you can observe the wildlife without having to stir from the side of the swimming pool.
Arusha, the second largest city, is surrounded by Arusha National Park which sums up all national parks as an Africa in miniature. It is centred around Mount Meru (4,565 m or 14,980 ft), one of the volcanoes created by the formation of the Rift Valley, and has three distinct zones. Your Tanzania safari in the Northern Circuit starts from Arusha.
To the Southeast, the crater of Ngurdoto shelters buffalo and antelope, which you can observe at a distance from the trail. To the Northeast, the partially alkaline Momela Lakes provide welcome refuge for many bird species, pink flamingos in particular. As each stretch of water has a different chemical composition, they all harbour different species. The region also boasts an incredible number of giraffe.
Lastly, in the west, Mount Meru fitfully sleeps (it last erupted in the 19th century). It takes three days to climb to the summit and back. Numerous animals range across its slopes, notably monkey, antelope, buffalo, hippopotamus and elephant.
For watching games you move south to Tarangire, the acacia-strewn savannah of Tarangire National Park is the habitat of most African species, easily spotted along the banks of the Tarangire River. In the east of the park is a marshy area that’s a favourite meeting place for buffalo. At the end of the summer, thousands of migrating gnu and zebra cover the plains. The only drawback here is that the region is infested with tsetse fly: make sure you keep your windows closed.