Tanzania Best Safaris
What you need to know about Tanzania Best Safaris 2023.
Speaking of Safaris in Tanzania, it is the best one you can ever experience but only if done right i.e. right time, right price and right tour operator (see what other clients say about us on TripAdvisor and SafariBookings Reviews). Despite having three major safari circuits, we will dive into the Northern Safari Circuit in Tanzania and know exactly the best route you should take on your upcoming adventure.
Tanzania wins tourism awards for its fabulous National Parks and amazing destinations. Being the best also means that Tanzanian safaris are the most expensive within East Africa because it offers the best safaris in the world. Loaded with numerous accommodations of different levels of service ranging from budget,mid-range, luxury to premium; gives room to all sorts of travelers looking to explore Tanzania within their cost margins and leave fully satisfied.
The major Safari Circuits in Tanzania
There are three Safari Circuits in Tanzania: Northern Circuit, Southern Circuit & Western Circuit.
1. Northern Circuit
This is the most popular Tanzania safari route comprising the Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park and Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. Located at the northern part of the country covering three major regions of Arusha (circuit’s tourists’hub), Kilimanjaro and Manyara.
2. Southern Circuit
Southern Tanzania Safari delivers the most authentic wildlife safaris in Tanzania, while presenting the best chance for the rare safari extras that one may miss in the Northern Tanzania Circuit. The southern parks of the Nyerere Nationa Park (formerly known as Selous Game Reserve) and Ruaha National Park are easily accessed by small plane with Nyerere National Park being around a 30 minute flight from Dar es Salaam, and Ruaha being another hour and half on from there.
3. Western Circuit
This circuit takes you to the hidden gems of Katavi and Mahale for the ultimate off-the-beaten-path Tanzania safaris. Located in the far west of the country on the shores of Lake Tanganyika and home to the best chimpanzee viewing in Africa, Mahale would stake its claim as one of the most exceptional and unique safari destinations on the continent. Often combined with nearby Mahale, Katavi receives very few travelers due to its relative inaccessibility and significant high cost of flights. Travelers who spend the time and money to get here, however, are richly rewarded – Katavi is nothing short of magical.
Let’s explore the Best of The Northern Circuit
What the Northern Safari Circuit provides is a favourite among first-time and experienced safari goers alike. It is a home to the best renowned safaris destination in the world, let’s have a glimpse of it!
1. Serengeti National Park: A Safari Superstar
The Serengeti, synonymous with safari is where to go in Tanzania for game viewing at its most dramatic.Hosting the annual show of the Great Wildebeest Migration (from about January to September), the Serengeti’s endless plains, accessibility, top-quality lodges and camps, and year-round abundance of wildlife make it one of the best safari destinations in Africa. Young children will, in turn, be thrilled to experience the place that inspired the makers of “The Lion King”.
2. Ngorongoro Crater: Haven for the Big 5
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most unique places on the planet and a not-to-be-missed attraction for travelers to Tanzania. A safari tour to the Ngorongoro Crater is your chance to see the greatest number of wildlife species per square kilometer. Take about 30,000 animals and place them inside the crater of an extinct volcano. Add wetlands, forest, grasslands and some out-of-this-world cliff-top accommodation, and the result is the Ngorongoro Crater. This superb Tanzania safari destination offers excellent game viewing in an unbelievably unique setting. It’s renowned for delivering the easiest and most reliable Big 5 sightings in East Africa, and it provides what is arguably the best safari in Tanzania.
3. Tarangire National Park: An Elephant Empire
Close to Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire is worth much more than the usual day visit. During the June to October dry season, animals – especially elephants – concentrations along the Tarangire River are among the highest in the country. The park’s bird count of more than 500 species means that a visit here is one of the most rewarding Tanzania safaris for twitchers, while its full range of large predators complete the appeal. Tarangire is a beautifully diverse wilderness featuring riverine forest, huge swamps and open woodlands that include Africa’s iconic baobab trees. Ranking as the 6th largest National Park in Tanzania and covering an area of 2,600 square kilometers, The Tarangire National Park is most popular for its large elephant herds and mini-wildlife migration that takes place during the dry season which sees about 250,000 animals enter the park.
4. Lake Manyara National Park: Home to Tree-climbing Lions
Part of Tanzania’s famed Northern Safari Circuit, Lake Manyara offers easy game viewing in a beautiful
setting. The park is home to a good range of heavyweight species, including buffalo, hippo, giraffe,
elephant, leopard, and its famous tree-climbing lions. Lake Manyara is an exceptional bird-watching
destination. You’ll often see flocks of pelicans and flamingos in the middle of the lake, and the
floodplains, woodlands and evergreen forests with an inbuilt treetop walkway are equally vibrant.
5. Mount Kilimanjaro: The Roof of Africa
At 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain in the world; it is one of the Seven Summits. The snow-capped peak of Africa is a dormant volcano and can be found inside the Kilimanjaro National Park of Tanzania.
There are Seven main Mount Kilimanjaro routes which lead to the summit, Uhuru Peak, one of which starts on the Northern side of the mountain and the rest on the Southern side. The routes are Marangu,Machame, Lemosho, Shira, Rongai, Northern Circuit and Umbwe.Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro takes between five to nine days in order to reach the Summit and then descend to the finishing point. The more days spent on the mountain the more likely you will summit successfully because you will become more acclimated to the altitude. Read Kilimanjaro FAQs.
6. Lake Natron & Mt Ol Doinyo Lengai: The Home of Lesser Flamingos
Lake Natron, found in a dry, northern part of Tanzania, is like no other lake you’ve ever seen or heard about. Or perhaps even imagined. Why? Well, for starters, parts of it sometimes turn red! And we bet you’ve never seen a red lake before. Mt Ol Doinyo Lengai (or Oldoinyo Lengai) is a perfectly conical, active volcano just to the south of Lake Natron. The name Ol Doinyo Lengai means “Mountain of God” in the Maasai language. An exciting challenge on offer to the ambitious hiker is summiting Mt Ol Doinyo Lengai.
7. Lake Eyasi: Meet the ancient gathers & hunters
It is situated at the southwestern end of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area between Great Rift Valley Eyasi escarpment and Kidero Mountains, just 133 km (95 miles) west of Lake Manyara. The lake covers an area of about 1,050 square km (400 square miles). The lake is as all the other lakes in the Rift Valley a soda lake. Lake Eyasi, which has one principle spring, the Sibiti River, is enclosed with walls consisting of purple lava. The main attraction of Lake Eyasi are the Hadzabe Bushmen, the indigenous inhabitants and the last community of hunters and gatherers in Africa. Observing an early morning hunting display, gathering honey, and traditional dance performances are all part of the experience.It is a cultural experience not to be missed, and it all happens against the backdrop of beautiful Lake Eyasi.
Tanzania Best Safaris Itineraries
The itineraries covers from 1 day up to 14 days duration safari in the northern circuit and Zanzibar
Islands.
Day trips to one of the following destinations:
- Tarangire National Park
- Arusha National Park
- Lake ManyaraNational Park
- Ngorongoro Crater
Price for the day trips starts from $287 for Ngorongoro Crater and $199 for the other destinations.
2 Days/1 Night Itineraries:
If you have a limited time to explore but still want to spend a night during your safari, then either of the
following selections would suit your demand:
- Tarangire & Lake Manyara National Park
- Tarangire & Ngorongoro Crater
- Lake Manyara & Ngorongoro Crater
3 Days/2 Nights Itineraries:
These are among the famous itineraries for the travelers who are on budget but still want the most
out of what a Tanzanian Safari has to offer:
- Tarangire, Lake Manyara & Ngorongoro Crater
- Tarangire & Serengeti (2 days)
- Lake Manyara & Serengeti (2 days)
- Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti (2 days)
- Serengeti (3 days)
4 Days/3 Nights Itineraries:
A classical safari itinerary in the northern, gives you enough time to explore the Serengeti.
- Tarangire/Lake Manyara & Serengeti (3 days)
- Tarangire, Lake Manyara & Serengeti (2 days)
- Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti (2 days)
- Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti (2 days)
5 Days/4 Nights Itineraries:
- Tarangire, Lake Manyara & Serengeti (3 days)
- Arusha National Park, Tarangire, Lake Manyara & Serengeti (2 days)
- Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti (3 days)
- Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro & Serengeti (3 days)
- Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti (2 days)
6 Days/5 Nights Itineraries:
- Arusha National Park, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti (2 days)
- Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti (3 days)
- Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Natron/Eyasi & Serengeti (2 days)
- Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti (2 days) to Zanzibar Island (2 days)
- Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater & Zanzibar (3 days)
- Serengeti (3 days) & Zanzibar (3 days)
- Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater & Zanzibar (4 days)
7 Days/6 Nights Itineraries:
- 3 days safari & 4 days Zanzibar
- 4 days safari & 3 days Zanzibar
- 2 days safari & 5 days Zanzibar
- 4 days safari & 3 days Zanzibar
14 Days/13 Nights Itineraries:
- 7 days Kilimanjaro Climbing, 4 days safari & 3 days Zanzibar
- 6 days Kilimanjaro Climbing, 4 days safari & 4 days Zanzibar
- 7 days Kilimanjaro Climbing, 3 days safari & 4 days Zanzibar
- 8 days Kilimanjaro Climbing, 2 days safari & 4 days Zanzibar
- 8 days Kilimanjaro Climbing, 3 days safari & 3 days Zanzibar
Safari Nuggets is specialized in organizing private expeditions for honeymooners, couples,
family and small groups. Here are sample itineraries you can consider booking today. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for a free quote and book your
lifetime adventure with us!
