DESTINATIONS
Here are some of our favorite places to go to, rich with wild animals, nature, exotic bird species and a variety of awesome activities to do.
Arusha National Park
This is a very convenient park to get to, less than one hour drive from Moshi or Arusha. But the park is not heavily visited. It has a lovely landscape and contains Tanzania’s second-highest mountain, Mt Meru. It has large numbers of giraffe and antelope but lacks lions, cheetahs, rhino, and other tourist favorites. Walking safaris are an option here, with a mandatory armed park ranger. And we typically offer this destination as a day trip
Serengeti National Park
The oldest national park in Tanzania, the word Serengeti is derived from the Maasai word meaning “endless plain”. With a reputation so huge, it might seem impossible for the park to live up to its hype. But it does indeed deserve its fame. As host to most of the continual cycle of the animal great migration, this is a very good start. The Mara River crossing in the north (Kogatende portion of the Serengeti) is the most famous and spectacular portion of this cycle (Little known fact: both sides of the Mara River where the wildebeest crossings occur are in Tanzania). If you want a chance to witness this, August – September are the best bets. But there is also an excellent spectacle in February – early March
Lake Eyasi
This shallow soda lake located to the east of Ngorongoro Conservation area and to the southwest of Lake Manyara is home to one of the most fascinating culture tours – a visit to the Hadzabe and Datooga tribes. The Datooga are pastoralists’ who have also turned to some agriculture. They are a very isolated tribe, resisting outside influence and education. Only 5% speak Swahili and their literacy rate is at 1%. They are skilled craftsmen and are experts at melting scrap metal and molding arrowheads and knives which they trade with the Hadzabe tribe. Outside of this interaction, they are not a friendly tribe towards outsiders typically but will welcome your visit with a local guide. In the past young Datooga warriors would improve their status by killing any outsider. Fortunately, this no longer is the case. They are a shy tribe but, when escorted by a local guide, welcome visitors.
Lake Manyara National Park
Located along the Great Rift, this park includes the shallow soda lake Manyara. During wet season (March – May, November) this lake hosts many flamingos. The chemistry of the lake is changing so that in drier months there are no longer many flamingos at all. The park is favored greatly by bird watchers, with over 400 species of birds present. The most numerous animals present include giraffe, zebra, lions, leopards, gazelle, hippos, elephants, impala, baboon and monkeys. Typically spending half day here is sufficient time. We prefer the accommodations that are found just outside of the park.
Tarangire National Park
This is a beautiful and underrated park with plenty of elephants and giraffe. This park is at its best during dry months (January – February, July – October) since the only water source in the area is the Tarangire River which winds its way through the park. The landscape is dotted with massive and unusual baobab trees and huge termite mounds. In addition to the numerous elephants and giraffe, it is possible to find lions, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, various antelope, impala, gazelle, leopard, warthog, monkeys, baboon, and ostrich. You won’t find rhinos and it is not guaranteed to see cheetahs.
Zanzibar
Zanzibar is the semi-autonomous part of Tanzania in East Africa. It is composed of the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean; 25–50 kilometers (16–31 mi) off the coast of the mainland, and consists of many small islands and two large ones. Unguja: The main island, referred to informally as Zanzibar) and Pemba: The capital is Zanzibar City, located on the island of Unguja. Its historic center is Stone Town, which is a World Heritage Site.
Zanzibar’s coastline boasts of some of the best beaches in the world, the geography of white-sand beaches with palms swaying lazily in the sea breeze.
Ngorongoro National Park
Along with the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater is a destination not to be missed. Named as a World Heritage Site, the NCA is not a national park. Unlike national parks, the indigenous population is still allowed to be in the area but with certain restrictions, balancing preservation, human development and tourism. The highlight is Ngorongoro Crater, the largest unbroken caldera in the world. Winding your way down the 600m walls brings you into an area amazingly dense with animals. Most of the animals here are non-migratory so this is a reliably great destination.