Tanzania Safari And Zanzibar

Tanzania's Northern Safari Circuit is truly Africa at its most epic. Vast plains scattered with huge herds of wildebeest stretch into hazy horizons, deep extinct calderas contain dense concentrations of wildlife, and lions can be seen climbing trees. Add to this the possibility of also witnessing the Great Migration crossing the Serengeti Plains depending on when you are holidaying here, coupled with the opportunity for some relaxation on a white sandy beach afterwards, it really is no wonder that a holiday here is second to none.

Game Drive Sighting of a Lion © Travel ButlersThe Northern Circuit is the biggest draw for first-time visitors as it passes through some of Tanzania's most famous wildlife National Parks. This loop includes the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater as well as the less frequented but very beautiful Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara.

The Ngorongoro Crater is on many peoples bucket list of places to see and visit. This natural wonder is the largest unflooded, intact volcanic caldera in the world. The actual crater is about 20 km across and 600 meters deep, and covers 300 sq km. Within the rim there are an estimated 30,000 animals, making this one of the densest concentration of wildlife within Africa.

The Serengeti is probably one of the most famous safari destinations in the world, and offers what many people consider to be some of the best game viewing in Africa. It is excellent for seeing predators such as lion, leopard and cheetah, along with elephant, giraffe, hyena, hippo, rhino, and many varieties of antelopes and birds.

Depending when you travel here, with careful planning it is also possible for visitors to be at the right place to witness the amazing annual Great Migration, as millions of wildebeest and zebra trek across the Serengeti Plains on a round 1,800 mile trip constantly in search of fresh grazing land. You may well have seen this wildlife phenomenon on one of the many documentaries, but there is only one real way to fully appreciate this and that is to be part of it yourself.

Sun Loungers on the Beach The Tarangire National Park is especially renowned for its large herds of elephants, tree-climbing lions and huge pythons, but also for its rock paintings which were done by early man tens of thousands of years ago. The Lake Manyara National Park in particular is renowned for its excellent bird-watching opportunities in general, as more than 400 different bird species have been recorded.

Getting around the Northern Circuit safari Parks normally involves the services of an experienced driver-guide and a private 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop up roof for easy game viewing, and sliding windows for that all important ‘low down’ photo angle. It will be just your group on the vehicle – so whether you are a couple or a family or a group of friends travelling together, the vehicle will be yours and yours alone – giving you all the flexibility in the world.

The driving distances between the different Parks and camps can be long, however, and if you feel this may not be for you, then there are other options we can look at - such as flying part or even flying to every destination. Flying part of the way is certainly recommended if you are thinking about heading to either the Western Corridor or the far Northern Plains after visiting the Ngorongoro Crater/Manyara/Tarangire to hopefully catch the migrating herds when they are in these areas.

But there's even more to this safari circuit than its wildlife and birdlife. The island of Zanzibar is a pocket-sized piece of paradise just 25 miles off the Tanzanian coast and 6 degrees south of the equator. It's a sultry little spice island surrounded by impossibly azure waters and it offers simple, sun-kissed bliss. Here, you can dive and snorkel through a kaleidoscope of coral or stretch out on soft, white sands as the island breeze rustles through the coconut palms. It's a totally tropical way to end a totally unforgettable trip to Tanzania.

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