Your safari in the Northern Circuit

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The most popular safari destinations of Tanzania, such as the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, are part of the Northern Circuit. This is the mainstream touristic area of the country, where you will find as well a wide choice of lodges and camps belonging to the most important international chains. 

If you want to see the Great Migration, this is the area to be.

Arusha National Park

This national park lies about 45km east of Arusha town, the “safari capital” of Tanzania. In this area stands the Mount Meru, Tanzania’s “other mountain” aside Kilimanjaro. Despite its relatively small size, this park has a lot to offer such as Colobus monkeys, flamingos, elephants, giraffes, buffalos, plus a variety of bird and plant species. A visit to this park can be a one-day excursion, part of a Mt Meru hike or a broader safari itinerary that will continue to other national parks.

Lake Manyara National

Park 60% of this park’s total area is covered by the Lake Manyara, and the remaining 40% is a forest where you can find over 350 species of birds and an array of mammals such as elephants, giraffes, hippos, blue monkeys, impala, lions and leopards. The forest at Lake Manyara is always green due to ground water that finds its way from the Ngorongoro highlands. Due to its close proximity to Arusha, a day visits to this park can be arranged.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro is a unique place, UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. It is part of the broader Serengeti ecosystem, often regarded as the 8th wonder of the world. From stunning landscapes, wildlife concentrations to the “cradle of mankind”, Ngorongoro has everything you might want to see. Its intact caldera is home to the very rare black rhino and the largest concentration of wildlife per square kilometre anywhere in the world. We recommend 2 days at Ngorongoro.

Serengeti National Park

This is the ultimate park for safari experience, it is every visitors' desire to see the “land of endless plains” as it is known by the nomadic Masaai who are found here. Serengeti is famous for the annual wildebeest migration but also because of the huge number of species living in this area. Due to the distance from Arusha, this park is seldom planned as a visit on very first day of a safari unless flights to Serengeti are planned. Depending on the time of visit, we recommend a minimum of two or more nights.

Tarangire National Park

The Northern Circuit’s best kept secret, it offers a unique landscape compared to any park in the Northern Circuit. The presence of a permanent source of water makes Tarangire especially good during the dry season (June-Oct, Dec-Feb) as plenty of wild animals migrate here. Tarangire is best known for its baobab trees, large concentrations of big mammals, including leopards and other carnivores. We recommend 2 days in this park.

Your safari in the Southern Circuit

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Deep into the wilderness and quite off the beaten track… this is the Southern Circuit of Tanzania, that we consider anyway one of the best safari location for those who want to see animals on the short distance.

You can include in your itinerary important parks and reserves – such as Mikumi, Ruaha and Selous. Great game drive, but easy hiking as well.

Selous Game Reserve

Selous is one of the largest game reserves in the world, with a unique environment crossed by Rufiji River - so your trip will be richer, with a nice boat safari. This is also one of the few locations where walking safaris are allowed. You will see a variety of herbivores, predators and bird species.

Ruaha National Park

The second largest national park in Tanzania, bordering with the Ruaha River and its spectacular view points. From July to December wildlife is concentrated along the river banks, so you will easily see herds of elephant, giraffe, lions and kudu… Walking safaris and game drive are possible in this area.

Mikumi National Park

The park is small but rich in wildlife – buffalo, hippo, baboons, sable antelope, lions, wild dogs, wildebeest, zebra, impala, giraffe, warthogs, and elephants which can easily be viewed all the year round. Reptiles including crocodiles, monitor lizards and pythons are also resident in the park as are over 400 recorded species of birdlife. Perfect for a short & easy safari.

Udzungwa Mountains National Park

The Udzungwa forest is part of the Eastern Arc, which extends from the Southern Highlands through the Uluguru and Usambara mountains northwards to Pare. Vegetation on these mountains is exceptionally variable, ranging from lowland forests, through montane and to upper montane forests. Five distinct trails cover the forests and mountain peaks and offer different levels of difficulty from beginners to experienced trekkers.

Kitulo Plateau

Kitulo Plateau hosts one of the greatest floral spectacles of the world. This Park is known for its flora is home to 350 species of vascular plants, including 45 varieties of terrestrial orchid many of which are endemic, which erupt into a riotous wildflower display of breathtaking scale and diversity during the long rains from January through to May. Located in the beautiful Southern Highlands of Tanzania, Kitulo is a botanists’ and hikers’ paradise.

Kitulo… the surprising “Serengeti of flowers”!

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Just a few people know about Kitulo National Park… and we really want to talk about it today, as it is a really unique place in Tanzania.

Its remote location is probably the reason why a small number of tourists go there every year, but still Kitulo is important, because it’s the first national park established in Africa with the aim of conserving flora.

It is located in the Southern Highlands of Njombe Region, an area where you can see amazing landscapes of alpine grassland and montane forest… and most of all, that is home of more than 350 species of vascular plants, and among them 45 varieties of terrestrial orchid. A unique environment!

No surprise that locals call this area “Bustani Ya Mungu” (The Garden of God in Swahili language) or even “Serengeti of Flowers”...

Aside the amazing flora, in Kitulo it is also possible to see uncommon animals like chameleon, lizards, butterfly and different species of birds.

You can combine this destination in an itinerary passing by Ruaha and Katavi National Parks. If you are now curious and want to discover this place, contact our safari experts to arrange a trip there!

Once upon a time in Tanzania

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You love digging the past, and maybe you don’t know that Tanzania is a good place where to discover ancient memories… Just on the mainland you can find a number of archaeological sites, some of them very famous, right along the way to the most famous safari itineraries.

So, why not to add a short cultural escape to an historical spot to your holidays? Have a look at our list, and if you’re interested contact our experts!

Olduvai

 

 
Located in the Great Rift Valley in Arusha Region, this is one of the most famous paleoanthropological sites in East Africa, maybe also because of its position on the way to Ngorongoro and Serengeti. Here have been found many important evidences in the understanding of early human evolution - Mary and Louis Leakey unearthed the first well-dated artifacts and fossils of some of our earliest human ancestors, including Homo habilis, Paranthropus boisei, Homo erectus and finally Homo sapiens.

Laetoli

 

Let’s move to the west side of Ngorongoro Crater, where hominid footprints are preserved in volcanic rock 3.6 millions years old and represent some of the earliest signs of mankind in the world. The location was excavated by archaeologist Mary Leakey in 1978 and others followed, finding in this area many tracks of the presence and remains of hominids.

Engaruka

 

Great Rift Valley of northern Tanzania. You can pass by Engaruka, an abandoned system of ruins, that is famous for its irrigation and cultivation structures and it is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in the Great Lakes region. Sometime in the 15th century, an iron age farming community, housing several thousand people, developed this complicated system. For an unknown reason Engaruka was abandoned at latest in the mid-18th century.

Kaole

 

A small town, located three miles east of Bagamoyo, on the Indian Ocean coast. The Kaole Ruins, dating back to a period between the 13th century and the 16th century, are what remains of an ancient muslim Shirazi settlement: two mosques and 30 tombs. One of the buildings is the most ancient known mosque in East Africa. Tombs are built with coral rag.

Kondoa Rock Art Sites

 

Nine kilometres off the main highway from Kondoa to Arusha, it is possible to visit a series of caves carved into the side of a hill. The caves contain paintings, some of which are believed by the Tanzania Antiquities Department to date back more than 1500 years. The exact number of rock art sites in the Kondoa area is currently uncertain, however estimates are of between 150 and 450 of the decorated rock shelters.

Lake Natron, what a unique place!

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Let’s fly to Ngorongoro Crater, one of the most famous game drive locations of Tanzania. And from here to the border with Kenya, to explore a very special and remote area: the Lake Natron, not far from the active volcano Oldoinyo Lengai.

If you have the chance, don’t miss a visit to one of the most fascinating corners of the World, even though well off the beaten tracks. Its water can reach temperatures up to 60 °C and has an alkalinity between pH 9 and pH 10.5. Unlike the major lands of Tanzania, this environment is not suitable for most of the species.

The chemical composition and the geological setting of this place, on the other hand, are the cause of some phenomena that you can see walking nearby the lake.

Most of predators cannot survive there, but this is the reason why other species settled in this area – such as flamingos returning yearly for the breeding season. The hot and salty water doesn’t harm them, but it keeps their enemies away.

The hot and salty water can be home for creatures, such as cyanobacteria that are typical here, and this is the reason why the lake looks red in some areas. Other flora growing in the Lake Natron is Spirulina, an algae which is food for flamingos.

Thousands pink flamingos, corners where the water is red and minerals are the main actors on the scene… landscape and atmosphere are very unusual here, and this is one of the reasons why it is worthing a trip, if you want to be surprised!

Lushoto. Let’s go mountainside!

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When you talk about hiking in Tanzania, the first thought is the super-challenging Kilimanjaro - quite expensive and requiring to be trained to get to the top… a trip for many people, but not for everybody indeed.

But as we wrote several times, the offer of mountainside destinations in Tanzania is much wider, and includes amazing spots and routes which can be enjoyable for a wider target, even if considered well off the beaten tracks.

Have you ever thought, for instance, to relax in an African mountain village instead of at the beach? It’s quite a singular choice, but it makes sense as well: to wake up in a chalet with view on forests and plantations nearby Usambara Mountains is a very nice experience.

We are in the extreme North-East of the Country, the area including Mkomazi National Park and bordering with the famous Tsavo in Kenya. Travelling a little bit to South we are in the West Usambara Mountain Reserve, better known as Lushoto.

Here we can forget for a while Tanzania as we usually figure it out. Savannah plains and white sand beaches leave place to beautiful green mountains, where it is possible to hike and explore both with and without guide.

Easier than Kilimanjaro, more relaxing and suitable for all the family - with nice cultural and traditional plus aside. Among the most popular tracks, there is the walk to Irente viewpoint, where it is possible to stop and share a tasty meal made of homemade bread, local cheese and jam.

Or, eventually, the steeper climb to the Soni waterfall which leads through high-altitude agricultural land and down a precarious rock staircase.

How long to stay in Lushoto? We advise to visit it as a short trip of 2-3 days. This is a good location to see another face of Tanzania and take a break after a long game drive adventure around the famous parks of the Northern Circuit; and maybe, before the seaside fun in the lively Zanzibar.

Vårt Tanzania!

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The 1st edition of our guide of the best hotels and destinations in Tanzania is out. Karibuni!

Following the Great Migration...

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A wildlife safari following the Great Migration is without any doubts one of the best experiences that Tanzania can offer. Every year, the endless Serengeti National Park becomes the scenic frame where more than 2 millions wildebeest, zebra and gazelle migrate looking for greener pasture.

This amazing natural show is a good reason to plan your trip paying attention to the calendar! If seeing the Great Migration is the main goal of your safari, it's better to contact directly our specialists... but in the meantime, have a look at some quick guidelines.

December - March 

Don't miss Ndutu region and Ndutu Lake, part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This is the place where big herds of herbivorous concentrate in these months. This area is the continuation of Serengeti South.

For accommodation, the most famous place is Ndutu Safari Lodge, but there are also several mobile camps that stop here in this period.

April - May

Despite the wet weather typical of the rainy season, these months are still a good option for people looking for a real adventure in the low tourist season. The migration moves from Ndutu to Serengeti South, Western Corridor and Serengeti central.

This is also the area where most of hotels are located, so you can easily choose between a small and intimate tented camp and a big lodge like Sopa or Wildlife.

July - October

The Great Migration congragates in Northern Serengeti, most of all along Mara River. This is one of the less visited areas of park. You can reach it from Arusha, the starting point of many safaris in the Northern Circuit.

Going to unspoiled area of Serengeti, it is possible to combine the safari with a visit to the majestic Lake Victoria and the nice Mwanza town.

October - December

Once reaching Northern Serengeti, the herds of herbivorous enter in Masai Mara Park (Kenya) and then, from the end of October, they start their travel back to Southern Serengeti and Ndutu area, where they can be seen from December.

You can find our special 'Great Migration Map' on our website. Have a look!

Exploring the lakes of Tanzania

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Many travel routes in Tanzania are not so obvious... this is why we are here, and today we want to talk about something different from the classic safaris and beach holidays.

With this short guide, we want to introduce the many and different lakes that you can visit in Tanzania. Some of them are very famous and right along the most famous itineraries; others are off the beaten tracks... and are amazing surprises as well!  

Lake Victoria 

 

The most famous lake of Tanzania is the Lake Victoria, with its extension of 68.870 km2 and belonging also to Kenya and Uganda. It is the largest lake in Africa. It is mainly a "water crossroad" important for transport services and economic activities - not a typical destination for travelers, but still it there is something to say about.

One amazing tourism spot is a good reason to go there: Rubondo Island National Park, a small protected area along south-west coast... a real hidden paradise! Another chance to enjoy Lake Victoria is to spend one or more days before or after a safari in Northern Serengeti near Mwanza or on the suggestive Lukuba Island, 13 km offshore Musoma, Mara Region.

Lake Tanganyika 

In Tanzania there is also the second largest lake of Africa, the Lake Tanganyika. Its area is shared with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Zambia.

Very important for economic and strategic reasons, it is as well an area rarely visited by tourists. As first it is not very easy to reach, but it becomes a good choice in an itinerary that includes Mahale Mountain National Park, that is known especially for the possibility of tracking chimps.

Not everybody know, but here it is also possible to organize activities on the lake, like fishing and diving. So, why not?

Lake Niassa  

A small part of Lake Niassa (widely known as Lake Malawi) belongs to Tanzania. While the Malawian part is a famous destination for tourism, the Tanzanian side is less known. But still, it offers the chance of discovering amazing places: one for all, Matama Beach.

Lakes Natron and Eyasi

Smaller, but often included in itineraries across the Northern Circuit, the Lake Natron, Eyasi and Manyara are destinations that we highly recommend to visit.

Lake Natron can be a good option for a "break" during a wildlife safari in the most popular national parks. In this area it is possible to have amazing trekking around the lakes, to Ngare Sero Falls or to Ol Donyo Lengai.

Another famous area in Northern Tanzania is the Lake Eyasi, a seasonal salty lake that is home for Hadzabe, one of the last tribe of hunters. Here it is also possible to visit Datoga people and have a complete cultural experience.

Lake Manyara 

The most visited lake during a wildlife safari in Tanzania? The Lake Manyara indeed, part of the national park with the same name. Visiting this area is considered one of the best "appetizers" to start your safari the best way possible.

This is also the area where you can spot the climbing-tree lions. A real unique place in the world!

The best for last? CheCheVule private villa...

It will be thrilling to return to Matemwe tomorrow to try something completly different.

After 1 week of hotels, resorts and lodges on to private villa. This is their own description:

Che Che Vule Villa

Karibu Zanzibar, Che Che Vule - “Welcome to Zanzibar, Welcome to Che Che Vule…”

Welcome to your Private Villa escape in our little piece of paradise on the East Coast.

Located on the sought after Matemwe beach strip and overlooking an azure blue ocean, the Villa provides privacy, private butlers, a vast range of activities and one on one seamless guest service. Our two acclaimed Swahili chefs are fluent in authentic Swahili and fusion dishes and most importantly they adapt the menu to your preferred palate using only the freshest Island ingredients.

Enjoy the tranquility of the surrounding tropical garden, kickback and relax at the pool, dip and play in warm Indian Ocean water and revel in Zanzibar’s mystic Island atmosphere and history… Whilst, we take care of your every need… Karibu!

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La Gemma dell'Est - The Gem of the East...

Hoping my translation is somehow a little justifiable...

Arriving today a little before lunch, getting taken care of with a warm welcome, a cold face cloth and a refreshing juice - and then "We gave you a upgrade!"

The feeling of having a Club Villa - 3 luxury double bedrooms, all with their own terrace plus a living room in the middle - a terrace there too...

Our son TK: "Dad - this room I like - my own TV, fridge and shower... Let's stay here! At least if we can go in the boat!"

Being a "top of the shelf - all inclusive" resort - with a swimming pool like half a football field - for the ones it fit - this is beyond description. Now after a fantastic dinner in a large, but still intimate and welcoming atmosphere - we look forward to keep you updated!

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Special ways to discover Tanzania!

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Time to plan your trip to Tanzania, and your dream is to include something "different" in your itinerary...  something unique that will amaze your friends and family, wheter they're traveling with you or just enjoy stories and pictures later.

Paka Adventures' safari specialists have selected for you something interesting! Let's have a look together...

Balloon Safari

 
The hot-air balloon safari is probably the most unforgettable and exciting experience that you can try during a safari in Tanzania: just after sunset, your driver will come to pick you up at the lodge or tented camp where you have spent the night and will drive you to the balloon site. Here you will meet the pilot and get ready to start the flight. After the take-off, the wind will drive you to discover breathtaking landscapes and to watch the fauna in their natural habitat from a unique perspective. After landing you will celebrate the flight with the traditional champagne toast and enjoy a full English breakfast under the acacia trees. The most popular balloon safari in Tanzania is the flight over Serengeti and it is recommended especially during the period of the Great Migration.

Biking Safari

Bikers cannot loose the opportunity to join the amazing itineraries lasting one or more days, discovering the amazing rural area of Northern Tanzania by bike. Cycling is an uncommon way of travelling for tourist in this country, but offers the chance not just to visit some of the most authentic and less touristic areas but also to experience directly the local culture and lifestyle.

Railway Adventure

Not everybody know, but it is as well possible to cross Tanzania by train! Of course, this is something for the most adventurous travelers... but if have this kind of attitude, why not? Tazara is the railway line that connects Dar es Salaam to Zambia and offers weekly travels that stop in many Tanzanian small towns. Travelling by train in Tanzania is a unique experience, but a big quantity of patience and ability to adapt is required, as unforeseen events might happen everyday. For people looking for a luxury experience, but still fascinated by trains, we recommend instead to check Rovos Rail, that offers extraordinary itineraries around Africa including stopovers in Tanzania.

Unique Accommodations

If the plan is to stick to a classic classic itinerary and just add a special touch to your holiday, we suggest to try one of the "non standard" accommodations available around the country. A special mention goes to the "underwater room" of Manta Resort in Pemba, a real undersea room in the Indian Ocean that offers a magnificent view on the marine life. Instead, if you prefer a "outdoor" option, we recommend the new tree-top room in the Rubondo Island Camp (www.asiliaafrica.com) or - if you prefer to visit the most classic Northern Circuit - the Tarangire Treetops Camp (www.elewanacollection.com).

Have a good trip!