All you need to know about the Tanzanian safari
Is your interest about African safaris then today choose to visit Tanzania; an East African country full of beautiful natural wonders and national parks with thousands of wildlife including the BIG FIVE. Visiting Tanzania while on holiday is an assured deal of viewing wild cats, climbing Africa’s highest mountain; Kilimanjaro, watching the Great migration of the wildebeests and also having a great time chilling on the beaches along the coast or on the Islands.
Due to the country’s vastness, you can choose to take a holiday in one of the four distinct areas which have different attractions. They include; the parks in the
Northern circuit
, the ones in
Southern Tanzania
,
islands and beaches along
the coast
and the distant safaris in
Western Tanzania
. A safari to any of these areas is worth going for as the experiences you get from each are different and unforgettable.
The Northern Circuit
It is one of the famous safari destinations in Tanzania and it is made up of four national parks located in the North of the country. They include;
The Serengeti
which is home to an overwhelming number of game and is one of the busiest parks with many visitors. It’s where you can watch the migration of wildebeests especially between months of June and September. Spotting the Big 5 is guaranteed and other animals like cheetahs, zebras, buffaloes, antelopes a well as birds like the fish eagles, ostriches, vultures and many more.
The Ngorongoro conservation Area
is also a great area for game viewing as it is where you find the Ngorongoro crater which accommodates over 7,000wildebeests, 3,000 gazelles, 4,000 zebras, over 3,000 elands and about 500 bird species. Game viewing is best enjoyed between May and October though at any time of the year you can visit the area.
Tarangire
is an extraordinary park with diverse birdlife over 550 species and abundant wildlife famously known for huge numbers of elephants. Also other animals like rhinos, hartebeests, gazelles can be spotted.
Lake Manyara national park
is a small park but rewarding and most of its area is covered by the alkaline huge lake where its name is derived from, it is not far from Arusha Town and harbors a lot of pink flamingos, storks and animals like impalas, giraffes, wildebeests buffaloes, elephants among others.
Southern Tanzania
Parks in this part give out the best since most of them are good for wildlife viewing. They include;
Selous game reserve
which is Africa’s biggest reserve; it is home to big game and small mammals.
Also other parks like
Ruaha, Udzungwa
and
Mikumi National Parks
provide a unique game viewing experience.
Western Tanzania
The parks here are a bit remote hence have lesser visitors but all that does not fade away the unique wilderness experiences got by those that visit them. The main parks are
Katavi
which is great for game viewing and
Muhale Mountains
which carries a unique of hikes and nature walks done through the forested areas and mountains, you can also watch chimpanzees there.
The coast and Islands
After a great time of game viewing in the different national parks, you could crown your trip with a visit to the coast or the islands. There you find amazing sand beaches. The islands include;
Zanzibar, Mafia Archipelago, Pemba
and
Ras Kutani
, they are easily accessed since they are located a few kilometers from
Dar es Salaam
. They have facilities that are comfortable and affordable by the tourists. Also the culture and great history behind each is a something you wouldn’t want to miss out on.
Note:
Traveling to the parks in the Northern Circuit gives you an open invitation as you can visit all of them on one safari because they are not located far from each other and not far from Arusha town. You can access them by air or on road though use of road can be slower since the roads are dusty, long and bumpy but it is also an experience of its own. Therefore you are advised to use a 4×4 vehicle with a pop-up roof to enable you watch animals clearly.
Whereas the parks in the West and South of Tanzania are accessed easily by flying in because they are in the distant areas. So you can make flight bookings on the daily scheduled aircrafts that fly in and be picked up still in a 4X4 vehicles as you drive through the parks.
What to pack
Ensure that you pack a camera with its batteries and film, also enough clothes which are washable, light weight and warm. Because during early morning or evening game drives you might need a warm sweater, endeavor to pack sun glasses, hats, long sleeved trousers and shirts plus insect repellents.
In case you would like to take photos especially of the local people ask for their permission because some might not want. Those in for hiking and mountain climbing should pack lighter bags, wear sturdy shoes, good socks, rain jackets, sweaters, long sleeved trousers, and enough drinking water among other things.