Category: Northern circuit

Standing at 4,566 metres high, Mount Meru is Tanzania’s second highest mountain and the fifth highest mountain in Africa. This active volcano erupted only 100 years ago and is located 70km west of Mount Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania in the centre of the Arusha National Park. The fertile slopes rise above the surrounding savannah and support a forest that hosts diverse wildlife, including nearly 400 species of birds and also Colobus monkeys, buffalo and leopards.

With superb views all round, the mountain offers an immense variety of flora and fauna which adds considerable interest to the trek. The ascend is quiet steep, the route to the summit passes over streams, through parkland, montane forest and moorland.

A guide/ranger is mandatory on every trek because of the significant numbers of buffalo commonly encountered. There is one official route up to the summit and huts along the way offer simple, comfortable beds. Acclimatization is important and while you won’t need oxygen, spending at least 4 days on this trek is highly recommended. The best time to trek is June – October and December – February.

The climb of Meru is very much justified on its own merits but is also a great way to acclimatise for Mount Kilimanjaro. The views from Meru to Kilimanjaro, and of the Meru crater itself, give plenty of inspiration for another mountain climb!

If you liked Mount Meru – Tanzania, you might also like Family Safari.

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• 4564 meters in height. Second tallest mountain in Tanzania!
• Fewer people have been at the top of Mt. Meru than on Mt. Everest.
• Very rewarding ascend at SUNRISE
• Different vegetation zones over several days
• Socialist Peak (Meru’s main peak)
• Little Meru (Meru’s second highest peak at 3800m)
• You can climb Meru by yourself or in a small team (not possible on Kilimanjaro)

Mount Meru can be climbed all year around. For the highest chance of succes, it’s best to take on the mountain during the dry season. The dry season is from June to the beginning of March. This runs from June to early March. For the best weather conditions and incredible views of the snow-covered peak of Mt Kilimanjaro, also known as ‘the Roof of Africa’, we recommend climbing the mountain from late December to February.

If you’re considering a Mount Meru trekking tour during November till halfway December, you should expect occasional rains. This is called the ‘light rain season’.

April and May are the so-called ‘heavy rainy season’ in Tanzania. Try to avoid climbing in these months. If it rains too much during the climb, it might be cancelled if the guide finds it too dangerous. This does not happen often, but it is definitely something to keep in mind if you plan to reach the summit.

International travellers can get to Arusha by flying to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is around 45 minutes away from city.

Arusha has a small airport, but this is only used by domestic planes, especially those linking to safari or beach destinations. Some travellers choose to stay in Moshi, a town on the border with Kenya.

Moshi is a 45-minute drive from Kilimanjaro International Airport, and it is quieter and easier to navigate than Arusha. Most trekkers decide to stay for a night either side of their trek.

Mount Meru’s slopes are home to an impressive range of wildlife.

You will pass through several climate zones during your ascent, including grasslands, tropical rainforest, moorlands, desert, and ice and snow at the top.

400 species of bird, buffalos, antelopes, white colobus monkeys, and leopards could all cross your path on your trek.

Mount Meru treks combine a conventional trek with a walking safari through a diverse variety of ecosystems.

Today Mkomazi National Park is easily accessible and is a truly spectacular wilderness! In the northwest, you can see Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. And in the south the Pare and Usambara mountains create a dramatic backdrop. To the north, Kenya’s Tsavo National Park borders the Mkomazi National Park. These two parks form one of the largest and most important protected ecosystems. They provide a common base for herds of elephants, oryx and zebras. Mkomazi is located on the southern tip of the Sahel. It has a classic arid area with gray-green nyika bush, old baobab trees, and isolated rocky hills. In other places the scrub seas give way to savannah forests with umbrella acacias and mbugas – flat grassland valleys.

Famous for:

The Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary has attained international renown for rehabilitating rhino, and it offers viewing and educational opportunities for visitors. Mkomazi is a fascinating destination for bird watchers, boasting more than 450 avian species including some Eurasian migratory species.

• The park is not well known and because of that it has its charme. It’s not crowdy and the animals are acting natural.
• Almost all species can be found.
• Mkomazi is vital refuge for two highly endangered species, the charismatic black rhino and sociable African wild dog
• It’s a cheap alternative for the northern national parks

• Best time: From June to October ( dry season).
• High Season: Tourists visit Mkomazi National Park all through the year
• Low Season: From March to May

The best way to get to Mkomazi is by road from the town of Moshi or Arusha.

Most people fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is situated halfway between Arusha and Moshi and about 30km/19mi from Moshi. It is also possible to fly into Dar es Salaam and fly onto Arusha Airport (ARK) or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). In most cases, your tour operator will pick you up from the airport.

• Wildlife; common animals are :  oryx, zebras, giraffes, lion,leopard,cheetah, antelope, kudu impalas and gazelles,  buffalos, etc
• Birds; Hornbills, weaver birds, guinea eagles, purple eurasian hoopoe, kori bustards, ostriches,etc
• Exotic  vegetation

• Game viewing
• Birdwatching
• Walking Safaris
• Mountain biking
• Hiking ( uphill)

Mid Range accommodation: Babu’s camp, Pangani river camp

Luxury hotels: Mambo viewpoint

• Best Weather: From June to October
• Worst Weather: Between March and April

If you liked Mkomazi National Park, you might also like Katavi National Park.

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Lake Natron, lake in northern Tanzania on the border with Kenya, lying in the East African Rift System, 70 miles (113 km) northwest of Arusha. The lake is 35 miles (56 km) long and 15 miles (24 km) wide and contains salt, soda, and magnesite deposits. The lake’s warm water is an ideal breeding ground for the Rift Valley flamingos. The Gelai volcano (9,652 feet [2,942 m]) is at the lake’s southeastern edge. Just west of Lake Natron at Peninj, archaeologists discovered the Peninj, or Natron, mandible—an almost perfectly preserved fossil hominid jaw containing a complete set of adult teeth. The specimen has been assigned to Australopithecus boisei.

Famous for: 

Lake Natron, the perfect breeding place for Flamingos

Every year, more than two million flamingos come here to lay their eggs and chicks hatch between September and April. Cyanobacteria are increasing with the salinity of the water, and the lake can carry more nests. Larger flamingos also breed in the Wadden Sea.

Interesting Facts About Lake Natron

Soda Lake

• Located in Tanzania, Lake Natron is a soda lake or a salt lake that can be found in Arusha Region.
• It is a dead-end lake which means that the lake doesn’t drain into any river or sea.
• The principal feeder of this lake is Southern Ewaso Ng’iro River that originates in Central Kenya.
• The lake is extremely salty. The alkalinity of the lake stays at an average level of 10.5 but there are times when the pH levels can reach as high as 12.
• The bed rock surrounding the lake belongs to the Pleistocene period and is composed of trachyte lava that is dominated by sodium content.
• The lava has low levels of magnesium and calcium and high levels of carbonate which makes the lake water a concentrated caustic alkaline brine.

Shallow Lake

• This shallow lake is also fed by hot springs that are rich in minerals. When we say shallow, we mean pretty shallow. The maximum depth of the lake is 9.8 feet or 3 meters only.
• Despite its shallow depth, the lake is quite big in length and breadth. It runs 57 kilometers in length and 22 kilometers in width but the width can occasionally vary depending on water level.

High Temperature of The Lake Water

• The lake is known for its consistent high temperature. The average temperature of the lake is 40˚C or 104˚F but occasionally, its temperature peaks at 60˚C.
• During summer months, the lake water evaporates significantly, thus increasing the overall salinity of the lake. This is when halophile organisms thrive. Halophiles are microorganisms that thrive in salty conditions and use photosynthesis for making food.

The Cyanobacteria

• Most abundant halophile microbe at Lake Natron is the cyanobacteria. This bacterium has a red pigment that it uses for photosynthesis.
• It is this red pigment of the cyanobacteria that gives the characteristic red color to the open waters of the lake and orange color to the shallow water of the lake.
• The lake also supports a few other life forms that include some endemic birds, invertebrates and algae.

Flamingos

• About 2.5 million lesser flamingos (a species of flamingos) use the lake as their regular breeding ground. They thrive on the cyanobacteria which grow in numbers when the salinity of the lake increases. Increased numbers of cyanobacteria means more nests of lesser flamingos.
• The reason these birds choose Lake Natron as their breeding ground is that the extremely harsh and inhospitable conditions keep away predators. The evaporite islands that form seasonally are the most preferred nesting grounds for these birds.

The best time to visit Lake Natron are: the coolest ones from June to August.

Dry season is perfect for walking and trekking around the lake. During the dry season, the water in the lake evaporates and concentration of salts and microorganisms gets higher, creating amazing colours.

The most logical route is to visit the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti first and then continue to Lake Natron. Return via Mto wa Mbu to Arusha. Not everyone is aware though of the driving times to Lake Natron.

• Hominid Footprints at Lake Natron
• Birds eg: flamingos
• Lake Natron’s Natural Pools eg: plunge pool
• Ngare Sero Water Falls
• Oldonyo lengai mountain
• Rift valley

• Climbing the Oldonyo Lengai mountain.
• Guided walks around the destination include walking to the hominid footprints.
• Flamingo and bird watching experiences
• Trekking
• Maasai cultural experience
• Rift Valley Day Hike (6 hours)

The two accommodations are:

• Moivaro Lake Natron Tented Camp
• Ngare Sero Lake Natron Camp.

Both camps are located near the lake, so you always have splendid views of the volcanic landscape and lake.

If you liked Lake Natron, you might also like Mikumi National Park.

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Welcome to Kilimanjaro National Park, popular with both – experienced hikers and the first-time adventurers because it’s the easiest of the seven summits.

About Kilimanjaro National Park

Covering an area of some 75,575 ha, Kilimanjaro National Park protects the largest free-standing volcanic mass in the world and the highest mountain in Africa, rising 4877m above surrounding plains to 5895m at its peak.

With its snow-capped peak and glaciers, it is the highest mountain in Africa.

Famous for:

Mount Kili is very popular with both experienced hikers and first-time adventurers because it is considered to be the easiest of the seven summits.

Kilimanjaro is not only Africa’s tallest peak, it is also the world’s tallest free-standing mountain.

Interesting Facts

It is one of the seven summits. Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa, making it one of the seven summits. Here are the seven summits in order from highest to lowest.

1. Asia: Everest (29,035’/8850m)
2. South America: Aconcagua (22,834’/6960m)
3. North America: Denali (20,310’/6,190m)
4. Africa: Kilimanjaro (19,340’/5895m)
5. Europe: Elbrus (18,513’/5642m)
6. Oceania: Carstensz Pyramid (16,023’/4884m).

Mount Kilimanjaro

• Kilimanjaro stands on its own. Kilimanjaro is not only Africa’s tallest peak, but also the world’s tallest free-standing mountain. The summit, named Uhuru Point, is 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level.
• The mountain is on the equator, yet it has glaciers on its top.
• Three volcanoes created it, – Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira.
• Kibo is the tallest cone and also the central cone. This is where Kilimanjaro’s summit lies. It was formed 460,000 years ago.
• Mawenzi is a craggy peak that ranks as the third highest peak in Africa, after Kibo and Mount Kenya (12,549’/3825m). You will have good views of Mawenzi on the Rongai and Northern Circuit routes.
• Shira is no longer a peak. It is estimated to have been about 16,000 feet high before it collapsed, creating the Shira Plateau on the western side of the mountain. The Machame, Lemosho and Shira routes trek across this feature.

Stratovolcano

• Kilimanjaro isn’t dead, it is dormant. Mount Kilimanjaro is a stratovolcano – a term for a very large volcano made of ash, lava, and rock. Shira and Mawenzi are extinct volcanoes, meaning that there is no activity underneath these cones. In short, they are cut off from their supply of lava.
• Mount Kilimanjaro was first climbed in 1889 by German geologist Hans Meyer, Austrian climber Ludwig Purtscheller and a local guide Yohani Kinyala Lauwo.

Best Time to Visit Kilimanjaro National Park

The best times to climb Kilimanjaro are the months of January through early March and June through October. The clear skies, great views, and sunshine make it the best comfortable hiking conditions.

However, there is always the possibility of weather changing dramatically, regardless of the season.

You can climb Kilimanjaro at any time of the year, but certain months are better than others. We recommend best to climb Mount Kilimanjaro during the dry months.

We avoid April and November as these are the main rainy seasons, making the trails more dangerous.

Getting There

To get to Kilimanjaro you need to fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO): which is served daily by many airlines. The closest major cities to Kilimanjaro National Park are the city of Arusha and the town of Moshi. Depending on where you are travelling from, you can usually fly direct to Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) via the Gulf (Qatar airlines, Emirates) or via Europe (KLM). Follow this link for flight option:

Alternatively, you can fly into Tanzania’s capital, Dar-Es-Salaam (DAR), for a short internal flight to (JRO), or to Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO) airport for a connection to JRO (Kenya Airways, Precision Air).

Things to See in Kilimanjaro National Park

• Mountain  Kilimanjaro
• Uhuru peak
• Kikuletwa hot spring (maji moto)
• Kilimanjaro summit
• Mont shira
• Kibo peak
• Chagga museum
• Ndoro waterfalls
• Mawenzi peak
• Marangu falls kinukamori
• Arrow glacier
• Lemosho route
• Maundi crater
• Chagga villages in mount kilimanjaro cycling day trip
• Private Materuni waterfall

Things to Do

• Hike to Materuni Waterfall and swim in its pool.
• Go on a Kilimanjaro coffee plantation tour.
• Take a dip in Kikuletwa Hot Springs.
• Explore the treasures of Moshi.
• Visit Olpopongi Maasai Cultural Village.
• Mountain bike or hike in Rau Forest Reserve.
• Climb kibo peak.
• Walk with shira plateau.
• Witness chala crater lake.
• Bird watching
• Animal viewing
• Hiking to Uhuru peak

Mid-range accommodation:

Babylon lodge,  Chanya lodge, Mount Kilimanjaro view lodge, Barafu hut campsite, Barranco campsite, Kibo crater campsite

Luxury hotels:

Kilimanjaro white house hotel, Panama garden resort, Kaliwa lodge.

If you liked Kilimanjaro National Park, you might also like Ruaha National Park.

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Easily accessible, Arusha National Park is the perfect place for a day trip so this makes it a convenient getaway either at the beginning or the end of one’s broader safari itinerary.

About Arusha National Park

At just 552 square kilometers, there’s no doubt that Arusha National Park is a small but adventure-laden wildlife paradise.

With a mountain, lakes, a crater and an incredibly diverse amount of birdlife covered mostly by green, it has a wonderful feeling of tranquility and solitude. It is dominated by Mount Meru, which at 4,566 m is the 5rd highest free-standing mountain in Africa.

You will be driven from Arusha at 8:00 am heading to Momela gate, get an armed ranger and head out on an easy paced walking safari that will give you the chance to experience tremendous amount of wildlife in the park. Picnic lunch on one of the picnic spots inside the park.

Interesting Facts

Location: Approximately an hour to an hour and a half’s drive from Arusha. Approximately ninety minutes from Moshi.

Best Time to Visit Arusha National Park

Game viewing is at its best during the dry season from June to October.

The park is excellent year-round for birding, and especially between November and April when migratory birds from Europe and North Africa are present and the local birds have their breeding plumage on display.

Getting to Arusha National Park

The Park can be accessed by road or air.

By Road: From Arusha town to Ngongongare gate, it is about 32 km.

By Air: It is about 40 km from Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Things to See

Serengeti Ndogo

The name means “Little Serengeti”, describes the open grassland, a place in the park where various animals in large numbers can easily be seen such as buffaloes, warthogs, zebras, waterbucks, giraffes, etc.

Wildlife

It’s a wildlife treasures secretly hidden in its endowment in diverse wildlife attractions too enormous and much is available here for exploration eg Black and White Colobus Monkey, Giraffes, Blue monkeys, warthogs, etc

Mount Meru

Ranked fifth highest mountain standing on an altitude of 4,566 m (14,990 feet) making it the second highest in the Tanzania. With limited ice and mist around its peak, this mountain is visible throughout the year.

Ngurdoto and Meru Crater

Densely filtrated by numerous wild animals’ variety and it’s the mostly known as the point for stop overs during game drive activity.

Birds

The park is also a home for birds for the bird watching enthusiasts thus making Arusha national park packed with a lot of incredibly diverse bird’s species, giving it a rank in the birding list in Africa. Birders your favorites place is here. The park boasts an incredibly diverse variety of bird-life, making it a popular stop for birding enthusiasts.

Tululusia Hill and Water fall

A popular hiking site that affords visitors with an excellently beautiful view of the lower reaches of the Arusha National Park as well as the two mountains of Kilimanjaro and Meru.

Lake Longil and Momella Lakes

Lake Longil is the only fresh water lake in the park, inhabited with Tilapia fish and also there are Papyrus and Mace reed floating as Islands. The Momella Lakes are alkaline lakes with considerable algae growth, each of these lakes is a different shade of green or blue.

Fig Tree Arch

A striking feature of the Fig Tree Arch (Ficus thoningii) with its roots reaching the ground while leaving behind an arch enough for a car to drive through.

Ngarenanyuki River

This river originating from the montane forest and meru crater contains a blackish water resulting from brown/alkaline water sources from the streams which joins the main river outside the park.

Things to Do

• Game drives
• Walking safari,
• Canoeing,
• Mountain Climbing
• Horse Riding

Weather & Climate

Arusha National Park’s climate is normally pleasant and mild. It is usually cool to cold at night and in the early morning and it rarely gets hot during the day. It is important to pack warm clothing for use in the evenings and game drives in the early morning.

The Dry season is from June to September,

And there are two Wet seasons: the ‘long rains’ (March to May) and the ‘short rains’ (November to December).

If you liked Arusha National Park, you must also like Kilimanjaro National Park.

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Covered by green vegetation, there’s no better place in the country to enjoy wildlife than in Lake Manyara National Park.

About Lake Manyara National Park

The park is considered to be among the most beautiful natural parks on the planet. In the shadow of the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, the park is referred to as an introduction to amazing East Africa safaris. The scenic beauty of this park makes it worth enough for a visit, the game viewing is highly exceptional when compared with that of Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and Serengeti.

Famous for its tree-climbing lions, flamingos, impressive scenery, and the soda-ash lake at the center, Manyara offers a spectacular safari. The Park has more than 400 bird species, thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration and other large water birds such as pelicans & storks are simply a joy to watch.

The park is often visited for an afternoon game drive on the way to Ngorongoro Crater or Serengeti National Park. Its greener natural forests make the park so specia compare to other parks in Tanzania which are dominated by savannah vegetation.

Famous for

• Tree climbing lions
• Amazing bird life especially flamingos
• Baboons

Interesting Facts

Tree-climbing Lions & Elephants

• Lake Manyara national park is famous for its tree-climbing lions, not very common to the kings of the jungle.
• Lake Manyara covers two-thirds of the total area of the national park
• Since the park was initially established to protect the elephants from extinction due to excessive poaching, it is not uncommon to see a large number of elephants on a safari.

Migratory Birds & Pink Flamingos

• Every year, Lake Manyara National Park receives migratory birds from Europe and North Africa making it the best bird viewing spot.
• Lake Manyara is home to over 400 species of bird including pink flamingos.

Baboons & Game Drives

• Wildlife spotting opportunities such as tree-climbing lions, elephant herds, and huge numbers of baboons can be seen here.
• One of the few parks where the night game drives are permitted
• Game drives in the park are best done very early in the morning to view predators before going back to their hiding areas or during the afternoon in the grassland and woodland plains.

Canoeing & Mountain biking

• Canoeing is an exciting activity in the park where you will paddle close to animals like hippos in the water, view elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, giraffes, and warthogs among others drinking water along the shores, water birds like pink flamingos, and have beautiful views of the scenery, sunrise or sunset among others.
• Mountain biking in Lake Manyara National Park is an incredible activity where you will be able to explore the park (by) bicycle

When to Visit Lake Manyara National Park

Best time to visit: Dry season from June to October

Better time: Short  season from November to February

Fair: Wet season from March to May (Best time for birdwatching)

Since the park is beautiful all year round, April and May can be a bit challenging due to heavy rains that may force the wild animals to gather (deeper in) the bush looking for a proper shelter hence making the wildlife viewing somehow difficult.

However, this is the best time to see the flocks of birds. You can see the migratory birds such as flamingos, cormorants, white pelican, yellow-billed stork, pink-backed pelican, and many other bird species that are likely to be found in Lake Manyara.

How to Get There

Two airways lead you to Tanzania & Lake Manyara

Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)

Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA)

However, for your safari goals, Kilimanjaro International Airport serves you the best.

Kilimanjaro International Airport

Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is situated 46km/29mi east of Arusha, the gateway of Tanzania’s most popular Northern safari circuit including Serengeti.

From Arusha, it is a scenic 2-3 hours drive to Lake Manyara National Park.

Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR)

Tanzania’s main airport is Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) located 13km/8mi southwest of Dar es Salaam. This is the entry-point for visitors to the southern parks (Mikumi, Selous, Ruaha national parks).

Moving on from Dar es Salaam to Arusha you can fly or drive. However, a drive will take 10-12 hours via public transport. You can also get a transfer from Dar es Salaam to Arusha via private vehicle, however…this is expensive.

There (are) llocal flights from Dar es Salaam to Arusha which land at JRO Airport or Arusha Airport.

We usually advise guests to minimize unnecessary costs by flying to Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Things to See in Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara Wildlife

Although the concentration of games in Lake Manyara is not high as compared to its neighboring destinations such as Ngorongoro and Serengeti, the presence of many unique species gives strong reasons for a safari in Manyara.

The park is famous for Lake Manyara’s climbing lions. The event of tree climbing Lions is still a long and unfinished debate. This is not an experience to miss at all.

Lake Manyara National Park is also famous for the herds of elephants and a huge number of baboons. The varied landscape attracts a range of other games including wildebeest, buffalo, hippo, flamingo, zebra, warthog, waterbuck, giraffe, dik-dik, Impala, and more.

The birding here is also very good, especially Flamingos whereby guest can enjoy their natural vocals (on) the lake while having their picnic lunch and possibly celebrating the best moments of their African Safari.

How many flamingos are there on Lake Manyara?

Depending solely on the time you will visit the Lake Manyara National park, you may spot a thousand flamingos flocking on this soda-ash Lake. The predictions for the number of Flamingos are quite impossible as they flit between here and other East African lakes.

Things to do in National Park

The main visitor’s activity is daytime game driving, although Manyara has started to offer night safaris recently.  Set in the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, the park has a lot of activities to explore such as game drive, Canoeing, Cultural tours, Mountain bike tours, treetops, and Bird watching

A game drive

Game drives in Lake Manyara National park give you a chance to maximize your safari experiences. Just relax and explore the uncounted number of wildlife during your safari. The game drives can be done in the early morning, afternoon, and early evening.

Night game drives

Night game drives are only permitted in very few parks in Tanzania, with Lake Manyara being one of those rare parks with such an event, you have the opportunity to see wildlife more awesomely. The night game drive is usually magnificent as you will get the chance to see nocturnal animals like leopards and more.

Bird Watching

Speaking of bird-watching safaris in Lake Manyara National Park, nothing to hide when approaching this scenic park. If you are lucky enough you may spot the flocks of birds specifically the migratory birds like; flamingos, cormorants, white pelican, yellow-billed stork, and pink-backed pelican.

Canoeing

When the water level in Lake Manyara is high, visitors may experience the impressive landscape and beautiful nature through canoeing.

Cultural tours

Lake Manyara National Park is surrounded by many cultural activities, just to highlight here are some of them; visiting community development projects, visiting local communities, and farm tours

Mountain bike tours and the Treetop

Biking around the slope of Lake Manyara is another memorable event not to miss. Maximize your safari experiences in this scenic Park full of activities to explore.

Weather & Climate

The weather may get cold in Lake Manyara National Park due to its high altitudes hence warm clothes are highly recommended.

Dry season

From June to October.

Wet Season

From November to December.

Mixed dry weather and the wet season

One can experience mixed weather during January and February.

Wetter Season

Predominantly is from March to May.

If you liked Lake Manyara National Park, you might also like Arusha National Park.

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Lies slightly off the main northern Tanzania safari route, Tarangire National Park is an adorable and Fantastic Park to visit.

About Tarangire National Park

Reputed for its highest concentration of elephants, buffalos, birding, and authentic safari atmosphere, the park has a lot to offer.

Tarangire is the 7th largest National park of Tanzania behind Nyerere, Ruaha, Serengeti, Mikumi, Katavi, and Mkomazi National parks. Tarangire is often referred to as small Serengeti due to its superb cat life.

Tarangire River

Tarangire River which runs from north to south acts as the main source of life during the dry season and the name of this reputable park originates from the Tarangire River.

The presence of this river is of paramount importance especially during the dry season as it attracts many predators who remain around the river surroundings to ensure themselves with a water supply and the majority of prey who comes to drink water. Apart from the main Tarangire River, the park has several water sources which also act as good wildlife viewing points.

The park has a game viewing area that is about ten times the size of its neighbor park the Lake Manyara National park. The concentration of games from July to October is so exceptional in the Tanzania Northern Safari circuit. During these seasons of the year, Tarangire offers an exceptional atmosphere and habitats which are quite different from the other parks. With its wide area, visitors can relish their safari experiences through the quietest game viewing opportunities.

Famous For:

The herds of elephants up to 3,000

Interesting Facts About Tarangire National Park

Tarangire River & Baobab Trees

• Leopards and pythons also like to lounge in the branches of the sausage tree and other species in the park.
• Tarangire River flows through the park and becomes the only water source for thousands of migrating animals in the dry season.
• Baobab trees, common in Tarangire National Park, can grow to have trunks reaching more than 100 feet in circumference. One of these trees was once found that proved to be 1275 years old, although not in this park.

Termite mounds & Wildlife

• Termite mounds are often seen in the park. Dwarf mongooses make use of the termite mounds once the termites have abandoned them.
• Wildlife found in Tarangire National Park includes lions, leopards, cheetahs, various primates, ostriches, flamingoes, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, gazelles, buffaloes, wildebeests, pythons, hartebeests, elands, and impalas.

Elephants of Tarangire

• Tarangire National Park is believed to have the largest elephant concentration in the world. After Serengeti National Park has the second-highest wildlife concentration in Tanzania.
• Elephant herds in Tarangire National Park often reach 300 or higher in terms of population numbers.

White Giraffe & Birds

• Some of the more interesting birds that can be found in Tarangire National park include the Yellow-collared lovebirds, the Kori bustard (the heaviest flying species of bird), and the largest bird – the stocking-thighed ostrich, and hornbills.
• A white giraffe was spotted in Tarangire National Park in 2015. The white color is due to leucism – partial loss of pigmentation.

Best Time to Visit

June to October (Animals congregate around the Tarangire River)

The game viewing opportunities from June to October (dry season) are exceptional but for the rest of the year, the majority of the games are probably out of the park, either onto the floor of the Rift Valley or to the grazing grounds. Hence, in off-season months there are few expectations on high concentrations of games, but for those who want to avoid the crowds, we would recommend them to travel during off-season months.

High Season

June to October (The Park is full of tourists.)

Low Season

April and May (Rates might be lower).

Getting There

Tarangire National Park is among the most popular destinations for day tours and game drive safaris. The park can be reached by road or flight depending on your safari preferences. Although flights to the park are commonly less used as the journey to the park can take only about a 2 hours drive from Arusha City which is the starting point of all Northern Tanzania Safaris.

Two airways lead you to Tanzania & Tarangire:

Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)

Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA)

However, for your safari goals, Kilimanjaro International Airport serves you the best.

Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)

Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is situated 46km/29mi east of Arusha, the gateway of Tanzania’s most popular Northern safari circuit including Tarangire.

From Arusha, it is a scenic 3 hours drive to Tarangire national park.

Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR)

Tanzania’s main airport is Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) located 13km/8mi southwest of Dar es Salaam. This is the entry-point for visitors to the southern parks (Mikumi, Selous, Ruaha national parks).

Moving on from Dar es Salaam to Arusha you can fly or drive. However, a drive will take 10-12 hours via public transport. You can also get a transfer from Dar es Salaam to Arusha via private vehicle, however…this is expensive.

There’re local flights from Dar es Salaam to Arusha which land at JRO Airport or Arusha Airport.

We usually advise guests to minimize unnecessary costs by flying to Kilimanjaro International Airport. The only exception for this is when someone has to go to Dar es Salaam first for various areas.

Things to See in Tarangire National Park

Tarangire Wildlife

During the dry months, the concentration of animals around the Tarangire River is almost very high. The ecosystem of the park is balanced by a migration pattern that is followed by the majority of games in the park. Elephants are the main attraction in Tarangire, with up to 3,000 during the peak season.

In the Peak months, you will also see a good number of animals such as wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, buffalo, Thompson’s gazelle, greater and lesser kudu, eland, dwarf Mongoose, spotted hyena, leopard, and cheetah.

Visitors can see colonies of medieval baobab trees, these incredible trees that are more than 100 years old.

Birding Paradise

Tarangire is one of Tanzania’s finest birding destinations, hence you will have a chance to spot as many bird species as possible.

The park is among the most birds’ concentrated destinations in the country. With more than 500 species of birds recorded currently, the park is truly a perfect birding destination.

The presence of a good number of water sources attracts hundreds of birds such as colorful Yellow-collared lovebirds, flamingos, the Kori bustard, hornbills, and many more, hence making the park an ideal birding destination for bird watchers.

Things to Do

When comes to things to do in Tarangire, the park has a lot of attractions to explore. You can go on guided walking safaris, game drives, and cultural visits to neighboring villages. Tarangire is also among a very few destinations that give you the opportunity for a night game drive.

Generally, Tarangire is the best destination where you can visit and explore;

• Magnificent wildlife viewing
• High concentration of elephants in the park
• Excellent birding experiences that you can find nowhere else.
• Impressive scenery formed by uncountable baobab and acacia trees

Weather & Climate

Tarangire has a bimodal rainfall averaging 650 mm per annum

Short rains are from November to February

Long rains are from March to May

The rains, particularly the short rains, are very unreliable and often fail.

The dry season is from June to October

If you liked Tarangire National Park, you might also like Lake Manyara National Park.

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Welcome to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a cradle of life!

About Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The Ngorongoro Crater is a spectacular destination in Africa to see the Big Five animals. It is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera and the best destination to spot the big games in Africa. Over 2 million years ago, Ngorongoro was a volcanic mountain with an equal height to the roof of Africa “The mount Kilimanjaro”. It was then transformed into a gigantic inactive volcano as a result of the eruption. The collapse of the highest mountain many years ago has made us today speak of a bowl measuring 20 kilometers wide with sides up to 610 meters deep.

The Ngorongoro Crater and stunning landscape around, together form one of the World’s most beautiful tourist destinations. It is a great point to start your Tanzania safari adventure. It offers most of the best wildlife viewing opportunities during your Safari.  Many northern Tanzania Safari itineraries and probably all should include a visit to Ngorongoro Crater. It was chosen as one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders and is one of the most magnificent natural wildlife safari destinations in the world due to its abundant wildlife and scenic landscape.

Famous for:

Big Five animals such as Rhinos, Leopards, Elephants, Lions, and Buffalos

Interesting Facts About Ngorongoro Conservation Area

One of The Sevens Natural Wonders of Africa

• If it had not collapsed, today Ngorongoro would be a mountain similar size to Mount Kilimanjaro
• Known as the Garden of Eden due to its beauty, it’s also one of the Sevens Natural Wonders of Africa
• More than 80,000 people and 30,000 animals ranging from leopard, cheetah, elephant, and hyena to warthog, buffalo, and impala live in the conservation area in harmony.
• Giraffes are not present as they cannot walk down the steep sides of the crater. Nonetheless, they’re available around the crater rim.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

• At more than 600 meters deep, Ngorongoro is the biggest volcanic caldera in the world
• The Ngorongoro Crater was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979
• Inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area lies the world celebrated Olduvai Gorge, where the remains of probably among the earliest human beings were discovered by Dr. Leakey and (Mrs. Leaky.).
• More than 800,000 people from all over the world come and explore the reputed Ngorongoro every year.
• Some of the world’s (biggest celebrities) have paid a visit to Ngorongoro. That includes;- Prince William, Bill Clinton, and the Queen of Denmark just to name a few.
• Ever watched the Oscar-winning movie named Out of Africa was filmed partly in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Best Time to Visit

Ngorongoro is among the few destinations in the world where wildlife viewing is at its best the whole year-round.

Since the wild animals stay in the crater all year round, indeed, there is no good or bad time to visit this natural wonder.

However, during the peak season the crater floor might get very busy with safari vehicles, it can be more pleasant to visit during the off-season to avoid too many crowds.

Sufficient water levels in Lake Magadi result in higher concentrations of flamingos.  Whenever you visit Ngorongoro crater, exceptional safari experiences are guaranteed.

All in all, you can decide to visit Ngorongoro any month of the year. You won’t regret your choice as almost the majority of crater animals are residents and they don’t move too much as everything they need is available.

Getting to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Two airways lead you to Tanzania & Ngorongoro

Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)

Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA)

However, for your safari goals, JRO serves you best.

Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)

Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is situated 46km/29mi east of Arusha, the gateway of Tanzania’s most popular Northern safari circuit including Ngorongoro.

From Arusha, it is a short scenic 3 – 3.5 hours drive to Ngorongoro.

Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA)

Tanzania’s main airport is Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) located 13km/8mi southwest of Dar es Salaam. This is the entry point for visitors to the southern parks (Mikumi, Selous, and Ruaha national parks).

Moving on from Dar es Salaam to Arusha you can fly or drive. However, a drive will take 10-12 hours via public transport. You can also get a transfer from Dar es Salaam to Arusha via private vehicle, however…this is expensive.

There’re local flights from Dar es Salaam to Arusha which land at JRO Airport or Arusha Airport.

We usually advise guests to minimize unnecessary costs by flying to JRO airport. The only exception to this is when someone has to go to Dar es Salaam first for various reasons.

Things to See

Wildlife of Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater is the best place in Africa for (spotting) the big five.  An area acts as a perfect location to spot black rhinos and some of the largest tusker elephants left on the African continent.

The crater is also home to good populations of big cats such as lions and leopards without forgetting the herds of wildebeest, buffalo, and zebra.  Other wildlife here includes serval cats, cheetah, hyenas, jackal, Grant’s and Thompson’s gazelle.

Birds of Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro has more than 400 species of birds such as ostrich, white pelican, flamingo, and many others. Other species of birds can be viewed on Lake Magadi within the crater, Lake Ndutu which is outside the crater as well as in the Empakai Crater Lake.

Plants of Ngorongoro Crater

The presence of natural forests in the crater ensures a sufficient number of plants and flowers within the area. The scenic forest in the crater consists of lush vegetation, desert plants, scrub heath, peacock flowers, yellow wood, and sweet olive. Other plants include acacia, yellow fever trees, Africana trees, zebrawood, and pillar wood.

Ngorongoro crater has got a lot of things to do and the best thing you would like the most is that you will explore the activities within some hours of the day with greater satisfaction than ever due to the abundance of wildlife.

The following are among the best things to do when you visit Ngorongoro Crater:

• Game Drive
• Guided Nature Walks
• Bird watching Safari
• Big five spotting

However, if you would like a full range of activities the wider area of Ngorongoro Conservation Area is highly recommended, including walking tours, trekking, cultural exploration at Olduvai Gorge Museum & Laitoli footprints, excursions to Empakai & Olmoti Craters, and a visit to Masai and other tribes.

Weather & Climate

The weather may get cold in Ngorongoro due to its high altitudes hence warm clothes are highly recommended.

Dry season: from June to October

Wet Season: from November to December

Mixed dry weather and the wet season: January & February

Wetter Season: from March to May

If you liked Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you might also like Tarangire National Park.

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The Serengeti National Park is Africa’s most famous tourist destination.

About Serengeti National Park

The word Serengeti comes from the Maasai word Siringet which means “endless plains”. The whole Park is a UNESCO world heritage site and covers 14,763 square kilometers.

Serengeti is among the richest grazing grounds in African bush composed of endless grassy plains. The park is well known for an incredible number of predators, over 500 species of birds, and a concentration of more than two million grazers of the great migration.

Serengeti is the most outstanding wildlife reserve in the world, nowhere else to match its awesome experiences. The formation of Kopjes in the north, endless plains in the south, breathtaking sunset, and concentration of animals makes a safari in the Serengeti so remarkable.

Famous for:

Annual Wildebeest migration

The Annual Wildebeest Migration in Serengeti

More than two million animals migrate from Serengeti National Park to Maasai Mara Game Reserve every year. The annual movement of wildebeests is accompanied by other animals such as zebras (the leaders of migration), Grant gazelles, Thomson gazelles, and Impalas. The annual wildebeest migration is the greatest reason that has made Serengeti national park one of the world’s natural wonders.

The annual wildebeest migration takes place in four main areas as follows:

Serengeti South/Ndutu area (The Calving season)

Duration: December to March

The early stages of Migration commence when the herds are in Calving. The calving season event takes place in Ndutu the Southern part of Serengeti in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Once the calving season is over and the calves have already fed on the nutrients of the Ndutu area, the migration  to the central part of Serengeti.

Serengeti Central/Seronera area

After the calving season, the great migration proceeds to the central part of Serengeti known as Seronera. The area is filled with enough grasses, water sources, and nutrients to feed the herds of migration. Exceptional big games are guaranteed in this area due to the high concentration of animals. The herds spend some time in this area to gain more strength before proceeding with their journey to the North via western corridors.

The Western Corridor and Grumeti

Duration: May to Mid-July

The Western Corridor follows the path of the Grumeti River. This region provides great wildlife action around May and June when the migrating herds cross the shallow water of the river Grumeti and proceed their journey to the North. The western corridor is a great area for unspoiled wildlife viewing.

 Serengeti North/Mara river Crossing

Duration: July to October

The great migration of wildebeest in Serengeti’s Northern part involves the Mara River crossing. This event takes place from around August to late October (sometimes the crossing may prolong to early November). The migration will stay in Masai Mara Game reserve before coming back to South Serengeti for the Calving season in February.

Interesting Facts About Serengeti National Park

Africa’s Leading National Park

• Serengeti was rated as the best safari park in 2015 & 2018 by Safari Bookings which analyzed more than 3,000 reviews from safari tourists and industry experts alike.
• Serengeti was crowned Africa’s Leading National Park of 2020 by World Travel Awards. That was the second time in a row.
• In 2021 TripAdvisor announced Traveler’s choice for the best National Parks in the world where Serengeti topped the list.
• The name Serengeti is derived from the Maasai word siringet, meaning “endless plains due to its hugeness.

The Great Migration

• The Serengeti migration involves more than 1.7 million wildebeest, 500,000 zebra, and 200,000 Impala
• The Great Migration of the Serengeti was selected in 2013 as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa
• During its peak, more than 8,000 young wildebeests are born daily for up to 3 weeks.

When to Visit Serengeti National Park

All-year-round depending on interests.

Mara River crossing by wildebeests for example is from July to October

Wildebeests calving season – January through March

Big cats – January through December

To focus solely on the wildebeest Migration would be the best idea for a visit to Serengeti. Even taking the wildebeest Migration out of consideration, still Serengeti can be argued as the finest park in Africa.

In a nutshell, you can see the Great migration year-round. The park can be visited any time of the year depending on what event exactly you would like to experience during the circular movement of the great migration. Exceptional big games from predators are guaranteed during the great migration safaris.

A month-by-month guide to the migration movement

Let’s break down some ideas that will give you a better understanding of a visit to Serengeti National park. Below is a month-by-month guide that shows exactly where to find the herds of migration.

From December to March

During this period of the year, the migration herds are likely to be found in the Southern parts of Serengeti on the upper parts of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Ndutu Area). This place is considered the best ground for calving season.

Why southern Serengeti is the best ground for calving season?

In the Southern Serengeti, there are shorter grasses that make it an ideal ground to give birth. The open plains ensure security as the herds can see the predators very easily, hence protecting their Calves.

Southern Serengeti land is so fertile due to the remains of the volcanic ashes after the eruptions. The grounds provide grasses with enough nutrients to feed the calves. Therefore the herds won’t leave the area until their calves have got enough nutrients from the fresh grasses of Southern Serengeti.

April and May

This is the period when some of the migration herds start to move from Southern Serengeti towards other parts of Serengeti. During this time of the year, the Ndutu area is still the best place to be as the herds can be witnessed in a bit dispersed way.

In April Cat viewing becomes another awesome experience in Southern Serengeti due to the presence of resident Cats in the Ndutu Area. Nevertheless, this zone offers an amazing live predatory action.

From May, most of the Migration herds will proceed with their journey to reach the Northern Parts of Serengeti, however, this time of the year is the best moment to experience the migration in the central parts of Serengeti.

Other herds move to the Western corridor around the Grumeti area. In May you will experience heavy rains in many areas of Serengeti hence forcing the herds to disperse and probably won’t see them in large concentration.

June and July

The mating period brings together the herds of the migration in the Northern part of Serengeti. Before they give birth in February, the wildebeests gestation period.

During these months some of the herds are herding to the Western Serengeti, where you may witness wildebeest crossing the Grumeti River as the herds leave the park to enter the Singita Game reserve.

In July, the Kogatende area is the best place to be. During this period herds can be seen anywhere around Central, West, and Eastern Serengeti.

August, September, and October

Even though Migration can be experienced the whole year round, this is arguably the best month for the Mara river crossing.

Kogatende area is again the best place to be during this period as it gives you the best experience to see the huge number of wildebeest crossing the Mara River full of hungry crocodiles. You will also witness the big cats closely on the sidelines waiting to capture the herds.

On the contrary, not necessarily that the herds will go to the North after they have stayed in the central and western corridor of Serengeti. Some may decide to go back to the South or proceed to the north and cross the Mara River depending on the direction of Rainfall.

From November

Since rains are the main determinant of the great migration movements, there is no fixed rule for this memorable event. Hence during November, you may still be lucky to witness some of the wildebeest crossing the river, though during this time the herds start their journey to the South ready for calving season in early February.

Getting to Serengeti National Park

Two airways lead you to Tanzania & Serengeti

Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)

Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA)

However, for your safari goals, Kilimanjaro International Airport serves you the best.

Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)

Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is situated 46km/29mi east of Arusha, the gateway of Tanzania’s most popular Northern safari circuit including Serengeti.

From Arusha, it is a long but scenic 6-7 hours drive to Serengeti. There are also local flights from Arusha to different airstrips in Serengeti Park.

Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA)

Tanzania’s main airport is Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) located 13km/8mi southwest of Dar es Salaam. This is the entry-point for visitors to the southern parks (Mikumi, Selous, Ruaha national parks).

Moving on from Dar es Salaam to Arusha you can fly or drive. However, a drive will take 10-12 hours via public transport. You can also get a transfer from Dar es salaam to Arusha via private vehicle, however, this is expensive.

There’re local flights from Dar es Salaam to Arusha which land at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport.

We usually advise our clients to minimize unnecessary costs by flying to Kilimanjaro International airport. The only exception to this is when someone has to go to Dar es salaam first for various reasons.

Things to See in Serengeti National Park

Serengeti has several attractions to explore and each attraction is very unique compared to the other. Serengeti is one of the Wildlife Reserves in the world with a huge number of attractions, this has made Serengeti one of the most visited parks in Africa. Below is the list of the most spectacular things to see in Serengeti national park:

• More than 2 million animals of great migration including the herds of Wildebeests, Zebras, Gazelles, and Impallas
• More than 3,000 lions live in this ecosystem
• More than 20,000 African Buffalo
• Up to 500 species of birds
• Leopards, Cheetahs, and other Cats species
• Hippos, Crocodiles, Giraffe, and many other animal species

Things to Do

Serengeti has  (countless) activities to explore and every activity is very impressive. This has left visitors with no option rather than visiting Serengeti a whole year-round. Below is the list of the most extraordinary things to do in Serengeti national park:

• Great wildebeest migration Safari
• Hot air balloon
• Big Game viewing
• Bird Watching
• Calving season experience
• Live predation
• Maasai rock paintings
• Guided walking safari

Weather & Climate of Serengeti National Park

While the weather is moderately cool in Serengeti, it may get cold at night

Dry season: from June to October

Wet Season: from November to December

Wetter Season: from March to May

If you liked Serengeti National Park, you might also like Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

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