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WHERE SHOULD YOU GO FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE SAFARI? As East Africa’ s largest country, Tanzania’ s topography and its wildlife can vary greatly. However, planning a trip needn’ t be daunting, with land safaris generally divided into two main circuits: northern and southern.
The north loop across the Serengeti is by far the most popular. Mobile camps set are up along the Great Migration route to give visitors a front-row seat as the hooves of around 1.8 million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle kick up dust, charging northward in search of fresh pastures. With the national park home to one of Africa’ s highest densities of apex predators, lions, cheetahs and leopards lie in wait for the mass arrival. Expect plenty of heart-in-mouth moments— particularly during peak wildebeest calving season in February and March, when as many as 500,000 mothers give birth on the move.
June brings the howls and hoots of rutting season, along with the first river crossings, as the beasts face off with Nile crocodiles patrolling the Grumeti River. Smaller in scale, the Grumeti crossing is
With the Mara’ s ferocious crocodiles poised in the water and predators awaiting on either bank, it’ s a sight both spectacular and gruesome in equal parts
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less known than the famously deadly Mara River crossing further north. By August, desperate, densely packed herds are prepared to risk everything to cross its deep, fast-flowing currents. With the Mara’ s ferocious crocodiles poised in the water and predators awaiting on either bank, it’ s a sight both spectacular and gruesome in equal parts.
A trip to the Serengeti is often combined with the adjoining Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Here, lodges perch around the rim of the world’ s largest intact caldera, 2,000 feet above the swamps, springs, forests and plains that sustain the highest concentration of mammals in Africa. The surrounding highlands are also a popular base, providing plenty of opportunity for meaningful cultural experiences hosted by the local Maasai community, who have farmed the area for centuries.
Tarangire National Park— the Northern Circuit’ s other draw card— is sometimes overlooked by its limelight-stealing neighbours, but makes an equally deserving addition to any itinerary. Lower visitor numbers, particularly to the park’ s south, mean half-day game drives through regions with an array of birdlife and otherworldly baobab trees can often happen without seeing another vehicle. Rhinos are the only‘ Big Five’ species that don’ t reside here; however, most visitors come for the park’ s 2,500-strong African elephant population— the highest concentration in the country. July to November heralds the dry season, with herds congregating at the central Tarangire River, alongside pods of ornery— and fiercely territorial— hippos.
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Right: A lion with an
impressive mane in
Serengeti National Park
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image: awl images |
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