Tanzania Safaris

Arusha

Situated below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley, the city is the country's safari capital located close to some of Africa's most famous landscapes and national parks, which are Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire, Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) as well as Mt Kilimanjaro - Africa's highest mountain.

Gombe Stream National Park

Gombe is the smallest of all the Tanzania's national parks: a fragile strip of chimpanzee habitat straddling the steep slopes and river valleys that hem in the sandy northern shore of Lake Tanganyika. Its chimpanzees - habituated to human visitors - were made famous by the pioneering work of Jane Goodall, whom in 1960 founded a behavioural research program that now stands as the longest-running study of its kind in the world. The matriarch Fifi, the last surviving member of the original community - only three-years old when Goodall first set foot in Gombe - is still regularly seen by visitors. Besides chimpanzee viewing, many other species of primates live in Gombe Stream's tropical forests. Vervet and colobus monkeys, baboons, forest pigs and small antelopes inhabit the dense forest, in addition to a wide variety of tropical birdlife. Hiking and swimming are also popular activities here, once the day's expedition to see the chimpanzees is over.

Karatu / Ngorongoro Crater

Karatu is a charming highland town perfectly located as a base for visiting the Ngorongoro Crater. Surrounded by rolling hills, coffee plantations, and vibrant local markets, it offers a more relaxed and cultural alternative to staying directly on the crater rim. Just a short drive from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area entrance, Karatu provides easy access for early morning game drives while also offering a variety of comfortable lodges and guesthouses.

Katavi National Park

Quite possibly the wildest place in Tanzania, if not Africa, Katavi National Park can only be accessed by scheduled flights twice weekly, or private charter, or a 2 - 3 day overland trip from one of the main centres of Tanzania. This obviously means that tourist numbers are incredibly limited, and a true adventure awaits anyone who puts in the effort and cost to experience the region. While not coming easy or cheap, the result is a safari experience enjoyed by only a relative handful of travellers, rewarding them with an epic wildlife bonanza. Katavi is most popularly combined with Mahale Mountains National Park, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, and these 2 together offer an unbeatable 7 day adventure. Located along the rift escarpment in western Tanzania, it offers incredible scenery including immense wetlands, roaring waterfalls and original miombo woodlands, where the Sable antelopes often hide.

Lake Manyara / Great Rift Valley

Being a relatively small park, and with Lake Manyara taking up the majority of the area, Lake Manyara National Park can be covered easily on half-day game drives, but these drives are usually very rewarding despite their brevity. The scenery and birdlife are Lake Manyara's major attractions, with the lake being perfectly located to offer spectacular views along the Great Rift Valley.

Lake Victoria Tanzania

Mahale Mountains National Park

Situated in western Tanzania, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Mahale Mountains National Park is one of the best places in Africa to track wild chimpanzees in their natural habitat. The park is home to around 800 chimpanzees, and guided treks through the lush montane forests to observe these fascinating primates are the main attraction. The dramatic backdrop of the Mahale Mountains rising from the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tanganyika creates a stunning and unique landscape. In addition to chimpanzee tracking, visitors can enjoy kayaking, swimming, snorkelling, and fishing in the lake. Access is by chartered flight or boat, and the park's remote location ensures an exclusive and magical experience.

Mikumi National Park

Mount Kilimanjaro

Rising majestically to 5,895 metres, Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest peak and one of the world's most iconic mountains. Located in northern Tanzania, near the town of Moshi, Kilimanjaro is a free-standing volcanic mountain that attracts thousands of climbers each year, many of whom are not professional mountaineers. Several routes lead to the summit, ranging from 5 to 9 days, and each offering different landscapes, from lush rainforests to alpine deserts to glaciers. The Machame and Lemosho routes are the most scenic, while the Marangu route is the most popular due to its hut accommodations. Standing on the "Roof of Africa" at Uhuru Peak is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. While climbing Kilimanjaro is physically demanding, it does not require technical climbing skills, making it accessible to a wide range of adventurers.

Ngorongoro Crater

A unique and fascinating game viewing destination in Africa, the Ngorongoro Crater is a must-see on any Tanzania safari. Being the world's largest intact caldera, and the result of a collapsed volcano thousands of years ago, the 260 square kilometres of crater floor hosts up to 25 000 animals at all times of year. This makes it one of the most dense wildlife areas in Africa, and allows for many memorable sightings. Driving down the steep walls of the Crater early in the morning is an experience in itself, and delivers you into a true Garden of Eden.

Nyerere National Park (Selous Game Reserve)

Originally named after the legendary hunter and explorer Sir Frederick Selous, the Selous Game Reserve, now known as Nyerere National Park, is one of the largest in the world, at over 50 000 square kilometers. Being on the less touristed southern circuit of Tanzania, Nyerere gets you off the beaten path, for an active and exclusive safari. With the Rufiji River delta flowing through Nyerere the park offers activities on the river, including boat cruises and fishing trips, and another plus is that it is well located to take a short flight to one of Tanzania's tropical islands.

Ruaha National Park

Also on the southern circuit, but even further removed than the Selous, Ruaha National Park provides a wild and game rich safari experience, with an incredible dry season concentration of animals. With its variety of landscapes, and excellent sightings, as well as the remote location far from any major human habitation, Ruaha has made a name for itself as one of Africa's great game reserves. A unique mix of species is found in Ruaha, with the park being located in the transitional zone between the acacia savannah of East Africa and the miombo woodland belt of Southern Africa.

Serengeti National Park

The word "Siringit" means "endless plains," and this is understandably from where the Serengeti National Park takes its name. The iconic, endless, golden plains of Africa are nowhere more evident than within this national park, as they stretch off into eternity, dotted throughout with thousands of animals. Located in the north-west corner of Tanzania, alongside Lake Victoria, the Serengeti has earned its place as one of the world's most famous wildlife areas. While best known for the enormous herds of the wildebeest migration, there is far more to the Serengeti than this!

Stone Town

Tarangire National Park

Although great to visit all year round, during the dry months of July through to October in particular, an enormous amount of wildlife is drawn inside Tarangire to access the water from the Tarangire River and the Silale Swamps, allowing for very rewarding game viewing experiences. The park is home to some of the largest elephant herds of East Africa, and the scenery is particularly popular for the wide open, Serengeti-like plains, decorated with enormous and commanding Baobab trees. Being only an hour and a half's drive from Arusha, Tarangire is easily accessible.

Zanzibar, Pemba, Mafia Islands