On Safari in Northern Tanzania - Back to The Sixth Day of the Creation
Tanzania's natural endowment as a wildlife safari destination is
unrivalled. Wild animals roam in vast areas as God intended on
that sixth day of the creation. These areas are designated as
national parks and game reserves and have a high reputation for
being uncrowded and unspoilt. The magnificent collection of game
sanctuaries to the north of the country, near the border with
Kenya, is referred to as The Northern Circuit. This is the most
popular and accessible wildlife safari route in Tanzania. I can
positively say that this is one of the finest game viewing areas
anywhere in the world. The game aside, the spectacularly diverse
cluster of eco-systems and habitats is a dazzling experience for
many a visitor.
The stars of the Northern Circuit are the Serengeti and
Ngorongoro, very dear to the hearts of nature lovers. But no
less sparkling and indeed complementing the two are the other
members of the circuit: Arusha, Tarangire and Lake Manyara. In
terms of wildlife, the abundance and diversity of the wildlife
here is difficult to imagine. On top of the heap are the highly
regarded "big five": elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard and lion.
And then a wild array of plain animals: wildebeest, zebra,
eland, hartebeest, oryx, reedbuck, giraffe, Thompson gazelle,
and many more of the same genre. But do not forget the merciless
predators: cheetah, wild dog, jackal, hyena and vultures. The
Northern Circuit is an ornithologist's paradise too, and over
500 species of birds are on record. On safari, you will be a
witness of the shocking and fascinating dance of life and death
on daily play by this combination of animals.
The starting point for northern safaris is usually Arusha town.
The town sits near the base of Mount Meru and is in sight of
mighty Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain. From Arusha, the
nearest protected area to see wildlife is Arusha National Park,
just 32 km away. In this park of 137 sq km area, you will see
baboon, colobus and vervet monkeys, duikers, elephant, buffalo,
giraffe, hippo, leopard, hyena, zebra and a wide range of
antelopes. More than 400 species of birds have been recorded,
including Eurasian migrants, who visit between October and
April. One of the unique attractions of the park is that walking
safaris are allowed and you can get off your vehicle for a
nature walk. Due to its proximity to Arusha, the park is very
popular for day trips.
Wildlife aside, Arusha National Park is a treasure with a rich
tapestry of habitats including grassland, montane forest, heath
and alpine desert and soda and fresh water lakes. Three
spectacular features stand out: the Momela Lakes, Mount Meru,
and Ngurdoto Crater. Mount Meru stands at 4,575 m and is
Africa's fourth highest mountain. It is however overshadowed by
nearby Kilimanjaro, which rises above it by over 1300 m. It is
regrettable that the snobbish instinct of many climbers makes
them to overlook Mt Meru. The mountain can be scaled in three to
four days with overnight accommodation in alpine huts.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
and an International Biosphere Reserve, is located in the Great
Rift Valley, a monumental fracture of the earths crust. The area
is filled with volcanoes, mountains, plains, lakes and forests.
Covering 8288 sq km, its main features are the Ngorongoro
Crater, the Empakai crater, the Oldonyo Lengai Mountain and the
archeological site of Olduvai Gorge. Olduvai Gorge is the
prehistoric site where Dr. Louis Leakey discovered the remains
of Homo habilis ("Handy man") regarded by scientists as
mankind's first step on the path of human evolution. Be sure to
have a look at the remains of our worthy predecessor, whose
valiant industry spurred by necessity, got him making simple
stone tools.
Unlike in the national parks, the colorful Maasai people, their
livestock and wildlife coexist within the conservation area. The
Ngorongoro Crater is the largest Caldera in the world that has
its walls intact. The crater floor is a drop of 600 m and covers
an area of 260 sq km with a diameter of 19 km. This magnificent
natural amphitheatre is a stunning attraction in its own right
and is one of the wonders of the natural world. The crater
supports a year round resident population of a variety of
wildlife. You will have no trouble spotting lion, elephant,
rhino, buffalo and many species of plain animals- wildebeest,
zebra, reedbuck, Thompson gazelle and many more. The crater
floor is dotted with watering holes and holds almost 30,000 wild
animals. Ngorongoro is four hours by road from Arusha or one
hour by air. And from either Lake Manyara or Tarangire you will
be on the road for two hours.
Lake Manyara National Park spreads between the cliff of the
Great Rift Valley and Lake Manyara, a shallow soda lake. The
park covers 330 sq. km, 70% of which is occupied by the lake.
The varied ecosystem consists of ground water forests, acacia
woodland and open grassland along the lakeshore and sustains a
wealth of wildlife, including the Big Five -lion, elephant,
leopard, rhino and buffalo. Other animals to be seen in the park
include baboons, impala, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, ostrich and
hippo.
Lake Manyara is famous for the elusive tree-climbing lions,
which can occasionally be seen along the branches of the acacia
trees. It is also an ornithologists' paradise and is host to
over 400 species of birds. The water birds hovering around the
lake include pelicans, spoonbills, Egyptian geese and
hammerkops. In addition, migratory flamingoes arrive in hundreds
of thousands creating a spectacular sight over the soda lake.
You will arrive at Lake Manyara after driving from Arusha for
two hours or flying for just half an hour.
Tarangire National Park is a one and half hour drive from Arusha
making it very popular for day trips. Tarangire is a park of
giant baobab trees, rolling savannah and acacia parkland. It is
famous for its dense wildlife population, which is most
spectacular in the dry season between June and September. It is
during this period that thousands of animals- wildebeest, zebra,
eland, hartebeest, waterbuck, giraffe, impala, gerenuk, buffalo
and oryx migrate from the dry Maasai steppe to the Tarangire
River in search of water. The predators -lion, leopard and
others- as is the custom in the savanna follow closely by. If
lucky, you will spot the peculiar tree-climbing python, kudu and
roan antelope, a rare experience in the northern safari circuit.
Birds are also abundant here and over 550 species have been
recorded.
Serengeti National Park is Africa's most famous wildlife
sanctuary and Tanzania's largest national park. The park is
located 6 hours by road from Arusha or one hour by air. It lies
in a high plateau between the Ngorongoro highlands and the
Kenya/Tanzania border and almost touches Lake Victoria in the
west. Appropriately named "endless plains" by the Maasai people,
it features short and long grass plains, acacia savanna and
woodland in parts of the north and east.
Within its 15,000 sq km area, Serengeti hosts 3 million large
mammals. More than 35 species of plain animals- zebra,
wildebeest, eland, giraffe, and others are found here. And so
for the big five: elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard and rhino.
The park is the staging-zone for one the most spectacular events
in the natural world- the annual migration of wildebeest. This
commences around June when over 1 million wildebeest, zebra and
gazelle head for the Maasai Mara in Kenya in search of pasture.
Following on their heels are the predators of the savanna- lion,
cheetah, wild dog, jackal, hyena and vultures.
If you can spare the money, viewing the migration afloat a
balloon is an unforgettable experience. The best time to view
game is from December to May when the grass is short. Avoid late
June-October, when most of the animals will have evacuated with
the migration and are best seen in the adjacent Maasai Mara in
Kenya. The keen ornithologist will have a good time trying to
sight the 500 species of birds on record.
Camping sites can be found in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
and all the national parks of the northern circuit. Facilities
are pretty basic and this is where budget travelers prefer to
spend their safari nights. If you can afford it, overnight at
the luxury safari lodges and tented camps. In this class of
accommodation expect to find all the creature comforts
associated with rated accommodation. See our Tanzania Hotels &
Lodges page for info and book accommodation for your safari.
It is generally recommended to take an escorted tour package
that includes transport, guide, park fees and accommodation.
Tour guides have valuable useful local knowledge about the
animals, where to find them and how to get where you are going.
Check out our very good value escorted Tanzania Safari offers of
various durations and budgets. But if you know the country well
and have good knowledge of animals, then hiring a self-vehicle
is an option. See our Tanzania Car Rental page to do your
reservation for a self-drive or chauffer driven vehicle.
The relatively high elevation in northern Tanzania means that
it never gets too hot. Indeed the nights and early mornings can
be quite chilly. You are well advised to take along a heavy
sweater and a windbreaker or jacket. Expect temperatures to
average from 15°C in May to August and 22°C over December to
March. The weather is best between June and September, but do
not bet on seeing any animals in the Serengeti. For a safari
covering all the parks of northern Tanzania, September to March
is a good time. But remember that some of the other parks in the
region offer nearly year round game viewing opportunities. April
and May can be a challenging period for dong a safari for as
this is when the weather is at its rainiest.
On safari, bright coloured clothing may get you in trouble with
wild animals. If you are wise you will pack brown, beige and
khaki clothing. Short sleeve shirts, shorts and trouser for men
are adequate. For ladies, short sleeve blouses, slacks and
skirts are ideal. Though the northern region is well outside the
predominantly Muslim coast areas and ladies do not have to dress
too conservatively, modest attire is still a good idea. Remember
to bring along a pair of sunglasses to shield you from the
sometimes harsh tropical glare. Binoculars will come in very
handy for spotting animals.
About the author:
Andrew Muigai is editor of AfricaPoint Insider online
newsletter. It is part of Africapoint.com - the Africa travel
website that has helped thousands of travelers discover Africa.
You can view more info on Tanzania safaris at the website. http://www.
africapoint.com/tours1/tanztour.htm
andrew muigai
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