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Destinations

Explore where are safaris touch in the Heart of Tanzania Beauty

Wildlife

Serengeti National Park

“Land of Endless Plains and the Great Migration”

         Location: Northwestern Tanzania
         Size: Approximately 14,750 km²
         Best time to visit:

  • June to October – Best for general wildlife viewing (dry season)

  • January to March – Calving season in the southern Serengeti

  • July to September – Best for river crossings in the north

               

                    Overview

Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s flagship safari destination and one of the most famous wildlife reserves in the world. Known for its vast open plains, iconic acacia trees, and astonishing wildlife density, the Serengeti offers the ultimate African safari experience. The name "Serengeti" comes from the Maasai word “Siringet,” meaning “the land that runs forever” — a fitting name for this boundless wilderness.

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Ngorongoro Conservation Area

“Africa’s Garden of Eden”

Location: Northern Tanzania, west of Arusha
Size: 8,292 km² (includes the crater and surrounding highlands)
Best time to visit:

  • June to October – Dry season: Best for wildlife viewing

  • November to May – Green season: Lush landscapes, birding, fewer crowd

             

                     Overview

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of the most spectacular safari destinations in Africa — a unique blend of breathtaking natural beauty, abundant wildlife, and vibrant Maasai culture. At its heart lies the Ngorongoro Crater, the largest intact and unflooded volcanic caldera in the world, often referred to as “Africa’s Garden of Eden” due to its rich biodiversity and enclosed ecosystem.

Fierce Lion
Flamingos

Lake Manyara National Park

“Where the Forest Meets the Flamingos”

Location: Northern Tanzania, en route to Ngorongoro and Serengeti
Size: 330 km²
Best time to visit:

  • June to October – Best for wildlife viewing (dry season)

  • November to June – Best for birdwatching and scenic beauty (green season)

       

             Overview

Nestled at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara National Park is a hidden gem that offers an incredible diversity of landscapes and wildlife within a relatively small area. It is often the first stop on the Northern Circuit for travelers heading to Ngorongoro and Serengeti.

Despite its size, the park is rich in biodiversity and scenery, with habitats ranging from lush groundwater forests and acacia woodlands to open grasslands, hot springs, and the alkaline lake that gives the park its name.

         

        Unique Wildlife Experiences

Lake Manyara is most famous for its tree-climbing lions — a rare behavior that fascinates visitors. You’ll also encounter:

  • Large troops of baboons (some of the biggest in Africa)

  • Elephants moving through forest paths

  • Hippos wallowing in pools and rivers

  • Giraffes, zebras, warthogs, impalas, and bushbucks

Predator's Love

Tarangire National Park

“The Land of Giants and Ancient Baobabs”

Location: Southeast of Lake Manyara, about 2 hours from Arusha
Size: 2,850 km²
Best time to visit:

  • June to October – Dry season: Best for wildlife concentrations

  • November to May – Lush and scenic, great for birdwatching

         

           Overview

Often overshadowed by the more famous Serengeti and Ngorongoro, Tarangire National Park is a hidden gem that surprises visitors with its dramatic landscapes and impressive elephant populations. It's named after the Tarangire River, which winds through the park and becomes the primary water source for wildlife during the dry season.

Tarangire is known for its ancient baobab trees, towering termite mounds, and wide-open plains. It offers a quieter, more intimate safari experience — with fewer crowds and rich wildlife diversity.

           Wildlife Highlights

Tarangire is particularly famous for its massive elephant herds, often seen in groups of 50 to 300 individuals during the dry season. Other key sightings include:

  • Big Cats: Lions (often seen lounging in trees), leopards, and cheetahs

  • Large Herbivores: Giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, elands, waterbucks, kudus

  • Buffaloes and warthogs

  • Rare antelopes: Fringe-eared oryx and the graceful gerenuk (long-necked antelope)

  • Python sightings – sometimes spotted coiled in trees

Image by Uzuri Safaris Tanzania

LAKE Natron

“The Flamingo Sanctuary of East Africa”

Location: Northern Tanzania, near the Kenya border
Size: Approximately 1,040 km²
Best time to visit:

  • June to October – Dry season: Best for flamingo viewing and hiking

  • November to April – Scenic with lush surroundings; good for birding

       

        Overview

Lake Natron is one of Tanzania’s most otherworldly and hauntingly beautiful landscapes. This shallow alkaline lake lies in the Rift Valley, at the base of the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai, and is known for its vibrant red waters and salt-encrusted shores.

The lake’s high mineral content creates an extreme environment inhospitable to most wildlife — except for one: the lesser flamingo. Over 2.5 million flamingos flock here to breed, making it the largest breeding site in East Africa for this elegant bird. Wildlife and Natural Wonders

  • Lesser Flamingos – Nest and breed on the salty lake islands

  • Other bird species – Pelicans, avocets, stilts, and plovers

  • Salt flats and red water tones – Created by microorganisms in the highly alkaline water

  • Hot springs and natural pools – Found around Engaresero village

           Activities at Lake Natron

  • Birdwatching: View thousands of flamingos against a surreal volcanic backdrop

  • Hike to Engaresero Waterfalls: A scenic canyon hike leading to a hidden freshwater waterfall

  • Cultural Tours: Visit Maasai villages and learn about traditional life in the Great Rift Valley

  • Photography: Capture surreal landscapes — cracked salt flats, red water, and volcanic peaks

  • Stargazing: Clear skies and no light pollution make it ideal for night sky photography

     Ol Doinyo Lengai

“The Mountain of God”

Location: Just south of Lake Natron
Elevation: 2,962 meters (9,718 feet)
Best time to climb:

  • June to October – Dry season, safer trail conditions

  • Avoid during rainy months (March–May) due to slippery volcanic ash

Arusha National Park

“A Green Jewel Beneath Mount Meru”

Location: Just 40 minutes from Arusha town
Size: 552 km²
Best time to visit:

  • June to October – Dry season: Ideal for walking safaris and clearer mountain views

  • November to May – Lush scenery and excellent for birding

       

           Overview

Nestled between Mount Meru and the city of Arusha, Arusha National Park is one of Tanzania’s most accessible parks — perfect for those with limited time or looking to start their Northern Circuit journey with a scenic and relaxing escape.

Despite its small size, the park offers a remarkable variety of landscapes: from lush montane forests and sparkling crater lakes to open savannah and alpine highlands. It’s also home to Mount Meru, Tanzania’s second-highest mountain (4,566m), and a popular alternative or warm-up trek to Kilimanjaro.

 Wildlife and Nature

While Arusha National Park does not host large predators like lions, it offers rich wildlife encounters in a peaceful, less crowded setting. You can expect to see:

  • Giraffes in large numbers (some of the highest densities in Africa)

  • Zebras, warthogs, waterbucks, bushbucks

  • Blue monkeys and black-and-white colobus monkeys in the forest

  • Buffaloes, duikers, and sometimes elephants

  • Hippos and waterbirds in the Momella Lakes

Herd of Giraffes
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