Tanzania Safari
“Africa is mystic; it is wild; it is a sweltering inferno; it is a photographer’s paradise, a hunter’s Valhalla, an escapist’s Utopia. It is what you will, and it withstands all interpretations. It is the last vestige of a dead world or the cradle of a shiny new one. To a lot of people, as to myself, it is just home.”
* Beryl Markham (British-born Kenyan aviator, adventurer, racehorse trainer and author; extract from “West with the Night”)
Nyerere National Park
Remote, raw, and filled with wildlife, the Selous is Africa’s largest game reserve. Yet, unlike the iconic destinations of Tanzania’s Northern Safari Circuit, it remains relatively unknown to outsiders. It sprawls over 5 million hectares, comprising miombo woodlands and open plains. At the heart of the Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania’s largest river, the Rufiji, forms a complex network of channels, lakes, and swamps that create one of East Africa’s most unique ecological systems. The park has a higher density and diversity of species than any other miombo woodland area. It is a crucial landscape for endangered wild dogs, which share the reserve with plenty of crocodiles, lion, leopard, hippo, elephant, black rhino, buffalo, and more than 400 bird species. The spectacular wildlife, immersive experiences, and simple comforts await guests at the Selous Impala Camp.
Mikumi National Park
Mikumi is like the smaller brother at the northern border of the Selous. Located between the Uluguru Mountains and the Lumango range, Mikumi is the fourth largest national parkin Tanzania. The most popular centrepiece of the park is its open horizons and abundant wildlife. Its grasslands support large herds of zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, impala, giraffe, and elephant. Sighting predators may be less frequent, but lions may be seen lazing below shady acacias. Endangered African wild dogs occasionally range across Mikumi from the Selous. Mikumi is a great little reserve offering some good wildlife viewing and away from the road.
Serengeti National Park
Serengeti is the most celebrated and visited park in Tanzania. Marked by the presence of wildlife in astounding numbers and variety, the sense of space in the park is incomparable. The headline event is its annual wildebeest migration, the Great Migration, and being able to experience it marks an unforgettable moment. The experience at Grumeti River, where gigantic crocodiles lay in wait for hesitant and feeble wildebeest to stumble, is beyond anyone’s imagination. About 250,000 wildebeest die during the migration from thirst, exhaustion, hunger, and predation. The park is known for its high density of predators, and a chance to watch lions and other cats is a great treat. The quieter side of the park is rich in birds and nature-filled stillness. Serengeti is faultless as a safari destination that every adventurer should plan to visit.
Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Crater in Northern Tanzania is a breathtakingly beautiful setting to see the Big Five. Once a gigantic volcano, it is the world’s largest inactive, intact & unfilled volcanic caldera. The crater is a perfect example of Mother Nature in Africa as it is home to ample wildlife & bird species. The volcanic crater forms stunning backdrops to some of the richest and fertile grazing grounds in Tanzania. Ngorongoro is just one of the continent’s most famous safari destinations. There is no perfect time or wrong time to visit the crater since the wildlife stays all year round. The crater has the best lodges at its bottom, and there is no need to add a hymn of praises. Tourists make their visit to this Tanzania’s “Garden of Eden” due to its dazzling beauty and paradise of animals.
Ruaha National Park
Located in the centre of Tanzania, the park takes its name from the Hehe word for a river. The park is notable for its unique wilderness scenery–rugged, arid vistas punctuated by massive baobabs and backed by purple-hued hills. It has an eponymous Ruaha River, which serves as a lifeline for the park’s wildlife. It is the largest national park in the country, rich in wildlife, although it is one of the least busy places to visit in Tanzania. Its exceptional and unique landscape in Ruaha is best explored on a walking safari. When it comes to wildlife, Ruaha certainly has some bragging rights. It is home to 10% of the world’s remaining lion population and is known primarily for the large size of the pride – some numbering more than 20 individuals. The park is home to the largest elephant population in Tanzania, numbering around 20 000, and being home to one of just four large cheetah populations remaining in East Africa. Ruaha is the best safari away from the crowds.