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Camping & lodging safaris We offer tailor-made safaris around Tanzania’s Northern Circuit and Southern Circuit. Whether you would like to experience the great outdoors by camping or you would like to travel in greater comfort by staying in of the various National Parks’ lodges, safaris are often seen as the “must-do” activity whilst in Tanzania. No other way will you be able to see so much wildlife, such beautiful landscapes or sunsets. Our camping safaris differ from other operators in that we allow our guests to participate entirely in their trips. You can be as involved as you like: help get camping gear ready, visit the markets with your guide to buy the food and other consumables, learn to cook local meals whilst on your trip etc. Moreover, we encourage much more communication between our guides, porters and our guests. This allows you to get to know them better and, in turn, their families and cultures. However, they want to learn about you too! So if you wish to share stories from your own family traditions or even wish to cook them a meal from your own country the gesture will be received with open arms and a smile. All our safaris start in Arusha and then continue on to the respective National Parks. Each park is unique and a visit to each one is recommended. Many of the parks also offer alternative activities such as walking and hiking safaris, canoeing, climbing and night game drives. Click on the left-hand menu or scroll down to read brief introductions of each park, and then go to our itineraries and rates section for some example safaris and our rates.
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Tarangire
retains a certain air of the undiscovered Africa and features an
impressive array of bird, plant and wildlife. Covering an area of approximately
2,600 sq. Km, its close proximity to Arusha (118 Km southwest) means that it is,
as a rule, the first National Park that we visit on a standard Northern Circuit
safari. Tarangire boasts the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem and the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as the fringe-eared Oryx and long-necked gerenuk are regularly observed. The park also offers views of grass and floodplains with impressive baobab and flat topped acacia trees scattered throughout. Tarangire is one of the relatively few parks that also offer the possibility of a guided walking safari. Back to top View over Tarangire River and drinking elephants
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Lake Manyara
has been described by many as a “scenic gem”, Ernest Hemmingway himself
described the area as “the loveliest” he had seen in Africa. As you approach the
village Mto wa Mbu from Arusha, the rift wall provides spectacular viewing. The
compact game-viewing circuit offers a virtual microcosm of the Tanzanian safari
experience where one can see giraffes, elephants, zebra, buffalo, hippopotamus,
waterbuck and many more. Manyara is also known for its tree-climbing lions. The
close, winding route means that visitors are often able to see all these
creatures at a very close range.
Lake Manyara is particularly well-known for its birdlife. Over 400 species have been recorded here, and even a first-time visitor to Africa might expect to observe 100 of these in just one day. Highlights include thousands of pink flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large water birds such as pelicans, cormorants and storks. The park also offers alternative activities such as canoeing on the lake and the possibility of night-game drives. Manyara's hippo pool
Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Crater ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area lies what many consider to be “the eighth wonder of the world”: the Ngorongoro Crater. It is the world’s largest un-broken and un-flooded volcanic caldera measuring 22.5 Km across and over half a kilometre deep. The entire area possesses a blend of landscapes, wildlife, people and archaeology that is simply unsurpassed in the African continent.
Apart from herds of zebra, gazelle, and wildebeest, the crater is home to the "big five" of rhinoceros, lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo. The crater is host to almost every individual species of wildlife in East Africa, housing an estimated 30,000 animals within the crater as well as a large variety of birds, which rarely move from the area due to the availability of water through wet and dry seasons. The endangered Black Rhino can also be found scattered throughout the base. Back to top Herd of buffalo and zebra inside the crater
______________________________________________________________________________________________________ The world-renowned Serengeti with is vast abundance of wildlife, is visited by over 90,000 tourists each year; and it is not difficult to see why. The Serengeti, after the Masai word Siringitu, means "the endless plains." Its sheer immensity of its plains- at 14,763 sq. Km - must truly be seen to be believed.
The Serengeti ecosystem is also one of the oldest on earth. The essential
features of climate, vegetation and fauna have barely changed in the past one
million years. Early man himself made an appearance in Olduvai Gorge about two
million years ago. The gorge, dubbed “The Cradle of Mankind” is situated on the
way to the National Park and is one of the most important pre-historic,
archaeological sites in the world, instrumental in the understanding of human
evolution.
However, it is the migration for which Serengeti is perhaps most famous. Approximately 1.5 million wildebeest and about 250,000 zebras flow south from the northern hills and Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Reserve to the southern plains for the short rains every October and November, and then turn west after the long rains in April, May and June. So strong is the ancient instinct to move that no drought, gorge or crocodile infested river can hold them back. Wilderbeest migration
______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Arusha National Park is an area of outstanding beauty. It is situated on the foothills of Mt. Meru, giving visitors an exquisite view of its imposing summit. Despite its small size, the park has a wide range of habitats: from the string of crater lakes where many water birds can be seen, through to the highland mountain forests and of course Mt. Meru itself.
Game viewing around the Momela Lakes Along the lower slopes, paths to rivers and waterfalls make a relaxing day hike for visitors who don’t want to attempt the rather arduous climb of Meru. Ancient fig-tree forests, crystal clear waters cascading from mountain streams, and a chance to see colobus monkeys are the attractions and pleasures of this park. Gate to Arusha National Park
______________________________________________________________________________________________________ In the south of Tanzania, within an area equal to the size of Denmark, lies the Selous Game Reserve. Accounting for 5% of the land mass of the country, it has a total area of approximately 55,000 sq. Km and provides visitors with a very unique and unusual safari environment.
Its vastness and relative inaccessibility means visitors can experience the
solitude of this game reserve in its most pristine form. This has Interesting places in the park include the river of Rufiji, which flows into the Indian Ocean in front of the Mafia Island and the Stiegler, a canyon 100 metres deep and 100 metres wide. Selous was designated a 'World Heritage Site' by the United Nations due to its unique ecological importance. View of the Selous Game Reserve from the air
______________________________________________________________________________________________________ The forests of the Udzungwa Mountains seem positively enchanted. Udzungwa is the largest of a chain of a dozen forest-covered mountains that rise imposingly from the flat coasts of eastern Tanzania. Collectively, these are known as the Eastern Arc Mountains. The archipelago has also been dubbed the “African Galapagos” for its treasure-trove of endemic plants and animals.
Udzungwa is not a conventional game viewing destination. There are no game driving routes for vehicles in this park; game viewing is done on foot via the excellent network of forest nature trails. A magnet for hikers. Waterfalls of Udzungwa
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The remote Ruaha National Park derives its
name from the Great Ruaha River which flows along its Eastern boarder thus
creating spectacular gorges and scenery. Ruaha remains the largest elephant
sanctuary in the country with an estimated 10,000 of them roaming the park.
The park is a birdwatcher’s paradise with over 430 species identified including Hornbills, Kingfishers and Sunbirds. It is also the only east African park with both Greater and Lesser Kudu, as well as roan and sable antelopes One of the joys of Ruaha is that it is relatively unknown and so receives comparatively few visitors. This fact, together with its size and fascinating landscape, means it is an ideal place for the adventurer to take part in longer safaris. Here visitors also have the opportunity to go on day walks or hiking safaris through untouched bush.
The great Baobab tree
______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Forming the northern border of the Selous, Mikumi National Park is the fourth largest park in Tanzania and only a few hours drive from Tanzania’s largest city, Dar Es Salam. The open horizons and abundant wildlife - including lion, zebra, giraffe, impala and herds of buffalo - of the Mkata Floodplain, the popular centrepiece of Mikumi, draw frequent comparisons to the more famous Serengeti Plains. A good circuit of game-viewing roads also means the floodplain is perhaps the most reliable place in Tanzania for sightings of the powerful eland, the largest antelope in the world. The park is a popular option for weekend visitors due to such an abundance of wildlife so close to the capital.
The Mkata Plains in Mikumi
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is at a laid-back and quiet pace, and the Ngurdoto Crater - 20 Km across and 100 metres deep – has steep, rocky cliffs
surrounded by forest that contain a wealth of birds and other animals.
also turned
Selous into an exceptional refuge for animals, birds, insects and reptiles. It
contains the greatest concentration of big game left on earth: elephant,
buffalo, rhino, antelopes, hippos and lions.
Of six primate species recorded here, the Iringa red colobus and Sanje Crested
Mangabey both occur nowhere else in the world – the latter remained undetected
by biologists until 1979.
