Tanzania Safari Highlights
Tanzania Safari Highlights; Tanzania is a popular destination among tourists known for its amazing wildlife viewing experiences and diverse scenery in different parts of the country especially in the northern part where there is an abundance of wildlife.
The destinations and national parks which are among the highlights during Tanzania safaris include;
Serengeti national park
Serengeti national park is famous for its endless plains and for hosting a variety of wildlife species in its different parts such as the central part or Seronera area, the northern plains as well as the western part.
This national park covers about 14,750 square kilometers with over 1.5 million wildebeests, 250,000 zebras and many other wildlife species such as zebras, gazelles, impala, hartebeests, topi, hippos, buffalos, waterbucks, elephants, giraffes, lions, dik dik, leopards and many others.
Another highlight in Serengeti national park is the wildebeest migration which takes place annually between Serengeti national park and Masai Mara national reserve in the south western part of Kenya. This migration involves movement of over 1. 5 million wildebeests in search of greener pastures.
The game drives which also take place in Serengeti national park during safaris include morning game drives, afternoon and evening game drives. There are also hot air balloon safaris which tourists can engage in during safaris in this national park.
The Wildebeest migration
The great wildebeest migration is a natural wonder which takes place in Serengeti national park and Masai Mara national reserve. It involves the annual movement of over 2 million wildebeests as well as zebras and gazelles across the Masai Mara eco system.
A major highlight during the great wildebeest migration is the river crossings which involve the herds of wildebeests crossing through the Mara and Grumeti rivers to get to the other side and sometimes predators such as lions also attack the wildebeests.
It is also said that the movement of wildebeests across the savannah plains in Serengeti national park and in Masai Mara national reserve is also determined by weather. The birth of the wildebeests is another highlight during the great wildebeest migration in the months of January and February.
Different lodges are located along the migration route and this makes it easier to witness the great wildebeest migration. Another way to see the movements of the wildebeests is from a hot air balloon which is an unforgettable experience. Alternatively, during game drives in Serengeti national park, you can also see the wildebeest moving in their herds.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is a major attraction which is located in the northern part of Tanzania and is the highest mountain in the Africa at about 5895 meters with a snow capped summit. This mountain has 3 peaks which include Kibo peak, Mawenzi peak and Shira peak.
This mountain is also the highest free standing mountain in the world and hikers from different parts of the world take on the challenge of hiking Mount Kilimanjaro using the different routes such as Lemosho route, Marangu route, Umbwe route, Machame route and Shira route.
After completing a hiking experience on Mount Kilimanjaro, hikers are rewarded with certificates and they can proceed from the entrance gates back to Moshi or Arusha town. The choice of the hiking routes to use during an adventure on the mountain may also depend on the fitness level of a person since some routes are more challenging than others.
Hot air balloon experiences
Hot air balloon safari experiences are among the unique ways through which someone can witness the beauty of Serengeti national park and its different attractions from an aerial view while on a safari.
This activity starts in the morning and may be booked in advance through a tour operator organizing a safari in Serengeti national park. The hot air balloon safaris take place in the central part of Serengeti, in the western part and also in the northern part of Serengeti.
These hot air balloon safaris take about 1 hour before returning to the briefing point for a delicious breakfast with fellow passengers in the open savannah plains of Serengeti national park.
Zanzibar
Zanzibar is among the top destinations visited in Tanzania and it is an island in the Indian Ocean which is known for its beautiful beaches and spices as well as a variety of beautiful resorts. There are also a variety of activities which take place on this island and they include snorkeling, diving, swimming and also boat trips.
The shoreline of the Zanzibar Island is the perfect place to relax and watch sunsets and also to enjoy sundowners. Some of the other islands which tourists visit during their Tanzania safaris include Mafia and Pemba.
Some of the locations to visit during a trip to Zanzibar include the stone town, Nungwi, Mnemba island and many other offshore beaches which are famous for their white sand, corals, palm trees and beautiful cultures.
Ngorongoro crater
The Ngorongoro crater is a famous tourist attraction which is located in the northern part of Tanzania and is referred to as the world’s largest inactive volcanic caldera. The Ngorongoro conservation area is a good location to see the big five such as elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalos during a safari.
Many other wildlife species can also be seen in big numbers in the Ngorongoro crater which is about 600 meters deep with over 25000 wildlife species and also a variety of over 400 bird species such as flamingos which can be seen along the shores of Lake Magadi at the center of the crater.
The Ngorongoro crater is also home to Maasai people who are known for their colorful and unique nomadic culture and they share their home with the various wildlife species. During visits to the Maasai villages, you are able to get to know more about their ways of life as well as their culture and traditions.
The Ngorongoro conservation area is also characterized by diverse landscapes which act as habitat for the numerous wildlife species such as elands, wildebeests, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, gazelles, jackals, hippos, hyenas, warthogs among others.
Tree climbing lions in lake Manyara national park
Tree climbing lions are another highlight to look forward to during a Tanzania safari. These lions behave differently from other lions and can be seen in Lake Manyara national park as well as in Queen Elizabeth national park in south western Uganda.
Lake Manyara national park is not only famous for the tree climbing lions but also for other attractions which can be seen during a safari in the national park such as the forests, lake Manyara and also the different wildlife species like black and white colobus monkeys, elephants, lions, baboons, gazelles, bushbucks, waterbucks and many others.
The treetop walkway is another attraction to look forward to seeing during a visit in Lake Manyara national park and this is found in the forested part of the national park. This walkway is about 18 meters above the ground and it also has different viewing points from where you can observe the trees and see various bird species and also wildlife species.
Mto wa mbu town
Mto wa mbu town is a small town located about 120 km from Arusha on the way to Lake Manyara national park located in the northern part of Tanzania. There are different cultures which can be found in this town and these include the Maasai people.
A number of activities take place during a village tour in Mto wa mbu town and these include watching and participating in traditional dance performances, tasting the traditional food prepared by the locals, visiting the local farms, visiting the Masai homesteads, visiting the local market among others carried out in the company of a village guide.
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is a national park which is part of the northern tourist circuit and is a short drive from Arusha town. This national park is known for its large herds of elephants as well as the ancient baobab trees which can be seen during a safari in the national park.
Other wildlife species in Tarangire national park include gazelles, elands, hartebeests, buffalos, lions and many others which can be spotted in the varied landscape of the national park which is also home to over 500 bird species such as the ashy starlings, yellow collared lovebirds, rufous tailed weavers among others.
Arusha National Park
Arusha national park is an attraction which is conveniently located in the town of Arusha with spectacular landscapes and offering a variety of activities too tourists on safari at the destination such as game drives, guided nature walks, hiking adventures on Mount Meru, horseback rides among others.
Wildlife species which can be seen in Arusha national park include black and white colobus monkeys, giraffes, buffalos, zebras, warthogs, bushbucks and many others. The national park also has attractions such as the Momella lakes, the Ngurdoto crater and Mount Meru.
Many other attractions and national parks and reserves can also be seen during a safari in Tanzania and these include Mahale national park, Ruaha national park, Katavi national park, Selous national park, Mkomazi national park, Mikumi national park and many others located in the western, southern and eastern parts of Tanzania.
There are different ways of getting to these wildlife viewing destinations to engage in these activities such as air transport means as well as road transport means.
Tanzania as a country offers amazing safari experiences in its different locations for wildlife viewing and many other adventurous activities as highlighted above.
