Undoubtedly, Tanzania’s northern safari circuit is the most celebrated safari area in Africa. The most popular areas include the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tarangire, Lake Manyara National Park, Mount Meru, and its neighboring “big brother”, the tallest, free-standing mountain in Africa, the majestic snow-capped Kilimanjaro. The endless golden Serengeti declared a World Heritage Site in 1981 is undoubtedly the most visited area. Here the legendary hikes of the wildebeest and zebra herds take place, accompanied by lions and hyenas. In addition to the biggest spectacle in the world, there is a variety of wildlife to see, including the “Big Five“.
A visit to Serengeti is worth a visit with a combination of Ngorongoro Crater, a 20 km wide unbroken caldera created by the collapse of a volcano consisting of a saline lake, marsh, plains, and forest. The crater provides a space for elephants, leopards, endangered species of Black Rhino, wildebeests, zebras, buffaloes, hyenas, and lions to roam around the crater rim. The crater also offers an insight into the life of the local population: outside the crater, the Maasai people and their herds of cattle live in a conserved area.
A visit to Serengeti and/or Ngorongoro is complemented by a visit to Lake Manyara and/or Tarangire National Park. The Rift Valley Lakes of Eyasi and Natron is the home of the last bushmen of Tanzania, the Hadzabe tribes, and the breeding grounds for the largest flocks of flamingo on earth. On the northwest bordering Kenya, 100 kilometers away from Loliondo is the largest deposit of carbonatite volcano erupted from “Oldoinyo Lengai” which means “The Mountain of God” in the Maasai language. The summit of this strato-volcano is 2962 meters above sea level.
Home to the second highest peak in Tanzania, Mount Meru, Arusha National Park has abundant animal and birdlife. Opt to participate in a full-day safari tour of the area with views of Mount Kilimanjaro in the background. Activities in this park include walking tours, canoe safaris, trekking, and bird and animal watching. While in Arusha you may take a guided walk to nearby villages, visit a local home, a coffee plantation, or banana plantation, or both.
