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Write a User ReviewThree Safari Circuits, Endless Adventures
Having travelled extensively across Africa, I’m often asked, “What’s your favourite country?” It’s an impossible question, because every destination has its own character and appeal. But if I’m pushed for a single answer, I usually say Tanzania. Few countries can rival the sheer quality, diversity and scale of its protected areas, from world-famous wildlife spectacles to remote wildernesses where you can spend days without seeing another vehicle.
Most first-time visitors follow the celebrated Northern Circuit, home to iconic destinations such as Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks, with the snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro rising above the plains. Even on this well-trodden route, I always recommend venturing a little farther. The hauntingly beautiful shores of Lake Natron, with their vast flocks of flamingos and fascinating Maasai culture, are well worth the detour, while climbing the active volcano Ol Doinyo
The less-visited Southern Circuit offers a very different safari experience. Here, the emphasis is on vast, untamed landscapes rather than concentrated wildlife viewing. Nyerere National Park is one of my favourite places to combine traditional game drives with boat safaris along the Rufiji River and guided walks through the bush, while rugged Ruaha National Park is renowned for its thriving predator populations, particularly African wild dogs, and its magnificent baobab-studded scenery.
For those willing to venture even farther, the Western Circuit feels wonderfully wild and remote. During the dry season Katavi National Park's shrinking rivers create one of Africa's most extraordinary wildlife spectacles, as thousands of hippos are squeezed into the few remaining pools, where constant jostling, grunting and dramatic territorial clashes provide an unforgettable display. Many visitors combine Katavi with Mahale Mountains National Park, where tracking wild chimpanzees through the forested slopes above Lake Tanganyika ranks among Africa's most unforgettable wildlife experiences.
Whichever safari circuit you choose, Tanzania offers an extraordinary variety of landscapes, wildlife and experiences. And when it's time to unwind after the dust and excitement of safari, the white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and rich Swahili culture of Zanzibar are never far away.
Most first-time visitors follow the celebrated Northern Circuit, home to iconic destinations such as Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks, with the snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro rising above the plains. Even on this well-trodden route, I always recommend venturing a little farther. The hauntingly beautiful shores of Lake Natron, with their vast flocks of flamingos and fascinating Maasai culture, are well worth the detour, while climbing the active volcano Ol Doinyo
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Lengai remains one of my most memorable African adventures.The less-visited Southern Circuit offers a very different safari experience. Here, the emphasis is on vast, untamed landscapes rather than concentrated wildlife viewing. Nyerere National Park is one of my favourite places to combine traditional game drives with boat safaris along the Rufiji River and guided walks through the bush, while rugged Ruaha National Park is renowned for its thriving predator populations, particularly African wild dogs, and its magnificent baobab-studded scenery.
For those willing to venture even farther, the Western Circuit feels wonderfully wild and remote. During the dry season Katavi National Park's shrinking rivers create one of Africa's most extraordinary wildlife spectacles, as thousands of hippos are squeezed into the few remaining pools, where constant jostling, grunting and dramatic territorial clashes provide an unforgettable display. Many visitors combine Katavi with Mahale Mountains National Park, where tracking wild chimpanzees through the forested slopes above Lake Tanganyika ranks among Africa's most unforgettable wildlife experiences.
Whichever safari circuit you choose, Tanzania offers an extraordinary variety of landscapes, wildlife and experiences. And when it's time to unwind after the dust and excitement of safari, the white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and rich Swahili culture of Zanzibar are never far away.
African Safari Clichés at their Best
Tanzania is everything you ever thought Africa would be. Perhaps nowhere else on the continent has such huge expanses of animal packed savannah grasslands or areas of wilderness where it’s still possible to imagine how East Africa looked a hundred years ago.
The Tanzanians know they have some of the finest wildlife terrain on the continent and have devoted a huge amount of land to wildlife preservation and developed an impressive array of safari facilities. There are stunning and exclusive lodges, some of the best wildlife guides in the business and an array of ways to enjoy this wilderness be it on foot, by hot air balloon or a customised safari jeep.
Tanzania is big enough (it covers 947,000sq km2, which isn’t that far off double the size of Kenya) that you need never be bothered with a crush of other safari tourists. Even in the Serengeti; the one park that everyone visits, it’s easy to have great swathes of grassland almost completely to yourself
Tanzanian safari tourism can be divided into three neat circuits. Far and away the most popular is the northern circuit which concentrates on the world renowned Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, Tarangire and Arusha national parks as well as Mt Kilimanjaro, the loftiest peak in Africa. A safari in this area will give you the full portfolio of classic East African safari experiences: massive herds of migrating wildebeest, luxurious lodges, lions on the prowl, huge herds of elephants and red-robed Maasai and their cattle kicking up the sunset dust. The next most popular area is the southern circuit taking in the hot, dry, baobab studded countryside of the south. It’s all a lot wilder down here – and bigger – parks such as Nyerere (formerly Selous) and Ruaha could swallow some countries. There’s some spectacular wildlife as well including huge numbers of elephants (although numbers have recently been dramatically reduced in Nyerere due to uncontrolled poaching in some parts) and rivers full of hippos and crocs and, for those who like to feel and touch the bush as well as just see it, some of the camps down here run excellent walking safaris. Finally, there’s the little visited west of the country. Katavi National Park is stuffed full of elephants, lions and mud pools bubbling in hippos yet it receives a fraction of the visitors of the Serengeti. For me though, the best thing about a safari out west is chimpanzees. Mahale Mountains and the Gombe Stream national parks are, arguably, the two best places on the planet to see habituated wild chimpanzees and nobody who goes to the (quite considerable) effort and expense of visiting these two parks will likely regret it.
But, good as it all is, there’s a catch. Tanzania is one, if not the, most expensive country in eastern Africa to go on safari in. Yes, by joining an organised budget camping safari in Arusha you can see the wonders of Tanzania for a price that’s affordable to mere mortals but if you want any kind of exclusivity (and to really get the most out of a safari you do need to aim this high) then you’re going to pay considerably more for it than in say Namibia, South Africa, Zambia or even Kenya.
For me though, despite the expense, Tanzania will always remain the best place in Africa for the classic safari experience – and the beaches aren’t bad either!
The Tanzanians know they have some of the finest wildlife terrain on the continent and have devoted a huge amount of land to wildlife preservation and developed an impressive array of safari facilities. There are stunning and exclusive lodges, some of the best wildlife guides in the business and an array of ways to enjoy this wilderness be it on foot, by hot air balloon or a customised safari jeep.
Tanzania is big enough (it covers 947,000sq km2, which isn’t that far off double the size of Kenya) that you need never be bothered with a crush of other safari tourists. Even in the Serengeti; the one park that everyone visits, it’s easy to have great swathes of grassland almost completely to yourself
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while in lesser visited areas you can relish the wilderness vibe. Not just is Tanzania big, but it’s also a very varied country. As well as the classic savannah country there are endless stretches of light woodland, rainforests buzzing with bright birds, mountain meadows criss-crossed with hiking trails and some of the most breathtaking beaches in Africa.Tanzanian safari tourism can be divided into three neat circuits. Far and away the most popular is the northern circuit which concentrates on the world renowned Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, Tarangire and Arusha national parks as well as Mt Kilimanjaro, the loftiest peak in Africa. A safari in this area will give you the full portfolio of classic East African safari experiences: massive herds of migrating wildebeest, luxurious lodges, lions on the prowl, huge herds of elephants and red-robed Maasai and their cattle kicking up the sunset dust. The next most popular area is the southern circuit taking in the hot, dry, baobab studded countryside of the south. It’s all a lot wilder down here – and bigger – parks such as Nyerere (formerly Selous) and Ruaha could swallow some countries. There’s some spectacular wildlife as well including huge numbers of elephants (although numbers have recently been dramatically reduced in Nyerere due to uncontrolled poaching in some parts) and rivers full of hippos and crocs and, for those who like to feel and touch the bush as well as just see it, some of the camps down here run excellent walking safaris. Finally, there’s the little visited west of the country. Katavi National Park is stuffed full of elephants, lions and mud pools bubbling in hippos yet it receives a fraction of the visitors of the Serengeti. For me though, the best thing about a safari out west is chimpanzees. Mahale Mountains and the Gombe Stream national parks are, arguably, the two best places on the planet to see habituated wild chimpanzees and nobody who goes to the (quite considerable) effort and expense of visiting these two parks will likely regret it.
But, good as it all is, there’s a catch. Tanzania is one, if not the, most expensive country in eastern Africa to go on safari in. Yes, by joining an organised budget camping safari in Arusha you can see the wonders of Tanzania for a price that’s affordable to mere mortals but if you want any kind of exclusivity (and to really get the most out of a safari you do need to aim this high) then you’re going to pay considerably more for it than in say Namibia, South Africa, Zambia or even Kenya.
For me though, despite the expense, Tanzania will always remain the best place in Africa for the classic safari experience – and the beaches aren’t bad either!
Big name parks for big game viewing
With the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro positioned within Tanzania's borders, this is a safari destination par excellence. Big Five encounters are common and vistas are far-reaching, with mountains and gorges adding interest to the flat savannah lands. Don't forget to explore the oceans for animal life too – Zanzibar's paradise-like waters are the perfect place to glimpse turtles and tropical fish on a snorkeling or scuba diving trip. It's well-known that luxury lodges can be found throughout Tanzania, almost always with the big bonus of a knowledgeable guide on hand to teach you your topi from your Thomson's Gazelle, but there are also options for those on a tighter budget. Sleeping with nothing but canvas to separate you from the all-enveloping sounds of the bush is a wondrous experience and there’s nothing quite like crawling out of your tent in the middle of the night to find your torch beam resting on a pair of unidentified eyes...