Tanzania Northern Destinations
The Northern Circuit is the crown jewel of African wildlife. Some of the popular tourist attractions in Northern Tanzania includes the world-famous Serengeti plains, the Ngorongoro Crater, the Big 5, the Great Wildebeest Migration, and the majestic views of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru.
Serengeti National Park
Located 335 kilometers away from the town of Arusha, this park is part of the larger Serengeti ecosystem covering about 14,763 km². It borders Lake Victoria to the West, and this vast savannah plain is known to host a huge number of wildlife including the wildebeest, gazelles, and zebras, along with the densest population of lions in Africa.
The landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is characterized by its "endless plains" and iconic granite rock formations known as kopjes, which serve as crucial lookout points for predators.
The annual wildebeest migration, involving over 1.5 million animals, and the permanent water holes for the herbivores is what make Serengeti a unique safari destination.
In February and March, experience the birthing season of the wildebeest in the Ndutu area, where roughly 8,000 calves are born every single day. This attracts a high concentration of cheetahs and leopards, making it a prime time for witnessing predator-prey interactions.
Beyond the migration, the park is a sanctuary for the "Big Five" and over 500 species of birds, ranging from the oversized ostrich to the vibrant lilac-breasted roller.
Activities: Wildebeest migration viewing, photography, picnics, bush lunch/dinner, nature walks, game viewing, bird watching, and balloon safaris.
Serengeti Tours:
- 4 Days of Serengeti Fly-In Safari
- 6 Days of Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
- 7 Days of Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti by Road & Flight
- 7 Days of Serengeti & Ruaha Fly-In Safari
- 7 Days of Serengeti & Ruaha Fly-In Safari
- 8 Days of Serengeti Fly-In Safari & Zanzibar Beach
- 10 Days of Ngorongoro, Serengeti & Zanzibar
- 11 Days of Masai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Amboseli
- 12 Days Kenya and Tanzania Luxury Safari
- 15 Days of Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania & Zanzibar
Ngorongoro Crater
Sitting on the North-East of Tanzania region, Arusha National Park is a small park yet carries beautiful sceneries in it. The park host Mount Meru with a height of 4,566m. Mount Kilimanjaro is just 60 kilometers away forming an amazing backdrop and view from the park.
The Meru crater which funnels the Jekukumia River, the Ngurdoto Crater and the shallow alkaline Momella Lakes are outstanding features to look out for. The Momella lakes are famous for wading birds and its different algal colors. Animals found here are buffalos and giraffes.
This park is just a 40-minute drive from Arusha and approximately 1½ hours from Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Activities: Picnics, nature walks, and game viewing
Tarangire National Park
Located 118 kilometers away from Arusha with an area of 2,850 km² Tarangire National Park is located in the Manyara region of Tanzania. The name Tarangire originated from the Tarangire River that cuts through the park which is also the major water source for wild animals harbored here especially during the dry season.
This park is diverse when it comes to its landscapes and vegetation characterised by hilly landscapes scattered with a large number of baobab trees, long grasses, and thick bushes.
What makes Tarangire famous and unique is being home to tree climbing lions, huge number of elephants and the baobab trees. This park also has other wildlife including waterbuck, giraffe, and olive baboon and carries over 500 recorded bird species making it a bird watchers paradise.
Activities: Game viewing and nature walks
Lake Manyara National Park
Located approximately 126 kilometers (78 miles) southwest of Arusha, Lake Manyara National Park is situated between the alkaline Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley in the Arusha and Manyara Regions of Tanzania. The park covers a relatively compact area of about 330 km² (127 sq mi), with the shallow Lake Manyara covering up to two-thirds of its surface area depending on the season.
The park features remarkable ecological diversity despite its size, featuring a narrow strip of land that includes a dramatic gradient from the towering Great Rift Valley escarpment to the eastern-lying soda lake. The landscape includes lush groundwater forests fed by underground springs, open grasslands, acacia woodlands, and the expansive lake and its fringing marshes.
What makes Lake Manyara famous and unique is being home to the rare tree-climbing lions, a behavior not commonly observed elsewhere. It also hosts one of Africa’s largest concentrations of elephants and is a true birdwatcher’s paradise with over 400 recorded bird species.
During the wet season, the lake is painted pink by vast flocks of lesser and greater flamingos.
Other wildlife includes large troops of baboons, hippos, giraffes, buffalo, and various antelopes.
Activities: Game Drives (Day and Night), Guided Walking Safaris, Canoeing (seasonal), Treetop Walkway, and Cultural Tours to the nearby Mto wa Mbu village.