From the highest mountains in Africa to endless plains, lush tropical forests, huge lakes and gushing rivers the northern safari circuit is as diverse as they come and by far the most popular safari destination in Tanzania.

Serengeti

Tarangire

Arusha National Park

Lake Manyara

From the Maasai word 'siringet' meaning 'endless plain', the Serengeti has one of the highest concentrations of wildlife left on earth.

Formed 3-4 million years ago, ash blown from volcanoes in the Ngorongoro highlands covered the Serengeti landscape producing rich and fertile soils which now support the southern grasslands. It is home to countless species of mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. It is also, of course, home to one of the greatest spectacles in the world - the annual wildebeest migration, which also includes a number of zebra and some large antelope as well as being closely followed by lions, cheetah, hyenas and large birds of prey looking for easy pickings. The Serengeti is also famous for its rocky outcrops or kopjes where you can sometimes spot the elusive leopard lounging in the shade or a python curled up on a rock.

The best time to visit Serengeti for the migrations is May to June when the animals leave the plains to head north for the woodlands and the Maasai Mara during the dry period, or November to December when the animals return to the plains at the start of the rains. During February and March the wildebeest give birth to thousands of newborn calves which flood the plains causing a feeding frenzy among the carnivorous species. However the unpredictability of the weather in Africa can also upset migration routes making them equally unpredictable. Generally the best time overall to visit the southern plains is from December to May when there is a wide variety and abundance of animals and June to October for predators.

Visible from the road before meeting the rift valley wall, Lake Manyara’s lush, green forests and rocky outcrops are home to an abundance of wild life, from baboons, elephants, hippos and giraffe to its many flamingos and other birds, the elusive leopard and the famous tree climbing lions whose behaviour was once thought to be unique to this national park. From the top of the rift valley escarpment, Lake Manyara is a spectacular sight with forests, pools and open plains encompassing it.

The best times to visit Lake Manyara are June through to October for large mammals and November to June for bird watching.

Lake Manyara is perfect for a day trip as part of a lengthier safari or combined with a cultural program. Ranger led walking safaris of the forested escarpment overlooking the national park or a tree top canaopy walk can be organised on request, as can night-game drives inside the park. Contact us for more info.

Tarangire is one of the driest of the national parks, but because of this supports an abundant variety of acacia and baobab trees and is therefore one of the best places to visit for bird watching. It is also the only national park in Tanzania where high concentrations of elephants can be seen all year round. It also has a large population of baboons, vervet monkeys and has an abundance of plains animals such as warthog, wildebeest, antelope and zebra. It is the nearest of the national parks to the proposed world heritage site of the Kolo rock paintings which are early examples of the rock art of hunter-gatherers from pre-historic times.

Tarangire is a wonderful park to visit as part of a longer safari as it is in such great contrast to the environments of Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti.

Situated just outside Arusha city, and including the majestic Mount Meru, Arusha national park is the smallest of the four national parks in the northern circuit. Despite its size it still has lots to offer in terms of wildlife as zebra, warthogs, elephants and antelope. It’s one of the easiest places to view giraffe and is the only national park where the black and white colobus monkey can be easily spotted.

Its location makes this park great for a day trip and a taster safari for those on a limited time-scale or a tight budget or even returning visitors who perhaps feel they have exhausted Serengeti, Manyara and Tarangire!

We also highly recommend walking safaris, which are led by an armed ranger and can be arranged on request.

The Ngorongoro conservation area (NCA) covers approximately 8,300 sqkm and boasts some of the world's finest geological formations, landscapes, wildlife and archaeological sites. The conservation area is where Tanzania's two great rifts meet with the nine volcanoes of the Ngorongoro highlands, the most famous, of course, being Ngorongoro crater - a caldera or collapsed volcano. These volcanoes make up a large chain that stretches far to the east to include Mt Meru and Kilimanjaro. Of the nine volcanoes in NCA only Oldonyo Lengai ("Mountain of God" in the Maasai language) is still active. Tremors from the rift valley and Oldonyo Lengai can still be felt today all the way along the volcanic chain and beyond.

The conservation area has shared its landscape with humans as well as animals for millions of years. Today modern humans still continue to be a part of its ecosystem in a pioneering experiment in multiple land use, which aims to "maintain the co-existence of humans and wildlife in a natural traditional setting".

The crater itself is the largest unbroken caldera in the world. Coupled with the surrounding conservation area and Serengeti plains it supports the greatest concentration of wildlife on earth. There are four major habitats within the crater: grassland, the soda lake Makat, swampland and the Lerai forest. It is the only annexed wilderness area in Tanzania where it is possible to see all of the "big five" (lion, leopard, elephant, cape buffalo and the elusive and critically endangered black rhino) in one place. Other easy to spot animals include hyenas, jackals, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, ostrich, hippo and baboons. There are also several hiking trails to explore; a great way to get out of your vehicle and connect with wildlife.

There is no "best" or "worst" time to visit Ngorongoro since many of the inhabitants rarely leave the conservation area itself making it a perfect all year round option.

Kilimanjaro, the tallest free standing mountain in Africa towers over the forested foothills, villages and towns of the region. It is possible to explore “Kili’s” foothills, hiking trails, rivers and waterfalls without having to step foot in the park. However if you would like to push yourself there are numerous routes to the summit from less well trodden paths such as Machame (which you can combine with a culturally immersive tour to the more remote but spectacular route of Lemosho. All in all there are 5 main routes to choose from, all with different scenic value, length, steepness and varying summit success rates.

Contact us for more information on Kilimanjaro trekking.

Lake Eyasi is probably most well known for it’s human inhabitants. Home to the Hadzabe for millenia the lake forms an important part of the ecosystem in this area. Encircled by valley walls on all sides and neighbouring Ngorongoro Conservation Area it’s the perfect place for off the beaten track hikes and for exploring the cultures and way of life of a number of tribes. Learn more about our culturally immersive programs and contact us for more info on hikes in the Lake Eyasi area.

Small by African standards (which is to say, not that small at all!), Lake Babati is a little known lake situated in the heart of the Lake Manyara region. Well know for it’s large population of hippos and sat in the shadow of Mt Kwaraa, the lake area is perfect for canoeing trips, short walks in the surrounding agricultural communities and through the yellow barked acacia forests along the lakes edge, as well as mountain hikes. Depending on the season it is also possible to fish and cook your own catch at our rustic campsite on the forested waters edge.