Close to the Kenyan border lie some the most beautiful game sanctuaries in the world. Diverse eco-systems and spectacular wildlife are easily accessible making this region the most popular in Tanzania.
The most logical point of origin for Northern Safaris is Arusha town. From here it’s a short drive to Arusha National Park which encompasses 137sq km of grassland, heath & alpine desert and soda & fresh water lakes. In addition to these varying landscapes visitors can see baboon, colobus and vervet monkeys, duikers, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, leopard, hyena, zebra and a wide range of antelopes. The park also contains the Momela Lakes, Mount Meru, and the Ngurdoto Crater.
Four hours away from Arusha is the Ngorongoro Crater. Covering an area of 260sq km, the crater is 600m deep and holds a population of nearly 30,000 animals. This is the largest caldera in the world with intact walls and features wildlife ranging from lion, elephant, rhino, and buffalo to wildebeest, zebra, reedbuck and Thompson gazelle all year round.
If you don’t want to spend a lot of time on the road, Lake Manyara National Park and Tarangire National Park are no more than 2 hours away from Arusha. Located between Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley, Lake Manyara National Park is home to a wealth of wildlife including the Big Five. But it is particularly known for the elusive tree-climbing lions that live there. Tarangire is a great destination in the dry season lasting between June and September.
By far the largest with 15,000sq km to itself, Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s most famous wildlife sanctuary. Home to more than 3 million mammals, this is also the staging ground for the 1 million strong annual wildebeest, zebra and gazelle migration which takes place in June. The park has several lodging option and visitors are advised to research these option before their arrival, as the park is 6 hours away from Arusha town.