Tanzania Northern tourist circuit
Tanzania Northern tourist circuit: The northern tourist circuit of Tanzania refers to the different destinations in the northern part of the country which includes Serengeti national park, Ngorongoro conservation area, Lake Manyara national park, Tarangire national park and Arusha national park.
These destinations are popular among tourists and are also famous for wildlife viewing and offer the best safaris for tourists visiting the northern part of Tanzania. Apart from the safaris, the northern tourist circuit is also home to different cultures including the Maasai people who are known for their unique culture and way of life.
The safari destinations which tourists visit in the northern part of Tanzania include the following;
Serengeti national park
Serengeti national park is a popular wildlife viewing destination in Tanzania which is also the oldest national park in the country. This national park covers 14750 square kilometers and is also one of the natural wonders of the world.
The wildebeest migration also takes place in Serengeti national park and it is the annual movement of over 2 million wildebeests across the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem.
Serengeti national park consists of savannah grasslands, woodlands, kopjes, rivers like Seronera river as well as riverine forests in the western part of the national park. Other parts of Serengeti national park include the central Serengeti or Seronera area, northern Serengeti.
There are also various activities which are carried out in Serengeti national park during safaris and they include game drives like morning game drives, afternoon game drives as well as night game drives, bird watching, hot air balloon safaris, walking safaris among others.
With over 4000 lions and many other wildlife species, Serengeti national park is a safari destination which can be visited all through the year to enjoy seeing wildlife species and also exploring the destination. The dry season from June to October is recommended for wildlife viewing experiences.
Wildlife species in Serengeti national park include the big 5 such as elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalos. Other wildlife species in Serengeti national park include cheetahs, giraffes, antelopes, zebras, gazelles, hippos, waterbucks, dik dik, hyenas, cheetahs, hartebeests among others.
Serengeti national park can be accessed by flight from Arusha to the different airstrips in the national park such as Seronera airstrip, Fort Ikoma airstrip, Sasakwa airstrip, Kogatende airstrip, lobo airstrip and Kirawira airstrip.
Another way to get to Serengeti national park is by driving from Arusha which is about 6 to 8 hours’ drive.
Ngorongoro conservation area
The Ngorongoro conservation area is another safari destination which is located in the northern part of Tanzania. The world’s largest inactive caldera can also be seen at this destination and is the Ngorongoro crater.
The wildebeest migration can also be seen in Ngorongoro conservation area during the calving season when about 8000 wildebeests are born daily in the grassy plains. The calving season takes place during the months of December to March.
During safaris in Ngorongoro crater, tourists engage in game drives and descend 600 meters into the crater which is home to various wildlife species such as the big 5 like elephants, rhinos, buffalos, lions and leopards.
Other wildlife species which can be seen in Ngorongoro conservation area include zebras, impalas, waterbucks, gazelles, hippos, hyenas, warthogs, hartebeests, kudu, wildebeests, cheetahs among others.
Apart from game drives, other activities which tourists can engage in during their safaris in the Ngorongoro conservation area include walking safaris around the crater rim, cultural tours with the Maasai people and also birding.
Lake Manyara national park
Lake Manyara national park is also part of the northern tourist circuit and is famous for the tree climbing lions which can be seen during a safari around the national park which has many other wildlife species.
Tourists visiting Lake Manyara national park can also enjoy seeing the rift valley during their safari. The national park also has diverse habitat where the different wildlife species can be seen and it is made up of forest, savannah plains, woodland and a lake which covers about two thirds of the national park.
Some of the activities which tourists can engage in during their safaris in Lake Manyara national park include game drives at different times of day such as in the morning, in the afternoon and also in the night.
Walking safaris are also carried out by tourists during their safaris in Lake Manyara national park. Another activity which takes place in this national park is bird watching and canoe rides or boat rides are also among the activities which tourists engage in as they explore Lake Manyara national park.
Treetop walkway in Lake Manyara national park is a unique safari experience which tourists get during their visits to this destination. The treetop walkway is carried out along a suspended bridge which is about 18 meters off the ground.
Community visits in Mto wa mbu town which is located near Lake Manyara national park are also part of a safari experience during a visit to this national park. Tourists interact with the local communities during their stops in Mto wa mbu town and get to know more about their way of life and traditions and also visit the craft shops where local art and craft work is displayed.
This national park can be accessed by both driving from Arusha which is about 2 hours’ drive and another way to get to lake Manyara national park is by flight from Arusha to lake Manyara airstrip.
Tarangire national park
Tarangire national park is also in the northern tourist circuit and is a safari destination which is known for having many elephants which can be spotted in their herds during a safari around the national park.
There are also over 600 bird species in Tarangire river which is named after Tarangire river which flows through the national park and is also a major water source for the different wildlife species in the national park.
Wildlife species which can be seen during a safari in Tarangire national park include klipspringers, buffalos, giraffes, zebras, gazelles, hippos, antelopes, impalas, waterbucks and many others.
Tarangire national park is also made up of savannah plains, acacia woodlands and baobab trees which can be seen as the tourists explore the national park during their wildlife viewing experiences.
Activities which are carried out in Tarangire national park include game drives at different times of day (morning, afternoon and night) as well as bird watching which is best done from November to April.
Tourists can access Tarangire national park by driving from Arusha which is a 2 to 3 hour drive to the national park.
Arusha national park
Arusha national park is part of the wildlife viewing destinations in the northern part of Tanzania which is located close to Arusha town.
This national park’s location is convenient for tourists since it is located in Arusha town which is a starting point for most safaris in the northern part of Tanzania and is often referred to as the gateway to the northern part of Tanzania.
Activities which are carried out in Arusha national park include horse riding, walking safaris, hiking and bird watching. Wildlife species which can be seen during a safari in this national park include black and white colobus monkeys as well as many other bird species.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is another destination which is visited by tourists and is located in the northern part of Tanzania. This mountain is visited all year round for hiking by tourists from different parts of the world.
This mountain is the highest in Africa at 5895 meters and to get to the summit, the hiking routes which are used include Marangu route, Machame route, Rongai route, Lemosho route, Shira route.
Different accommodation facilities such as luxury accommodations, midrange accommodations, budget accommodations.
Visit the northern tourist circuit of Tanzania and experience amazing cultures and wildlife viewing at its best at some of the popular safari destinations.
