Tanzania is, without a doubt, a fabulous introduction to Africa and all things safari. It’s the largest country in East Africa, and almost a third of the vast lands are protected for game viewing, so safari opportunities are endless and always exciting. It’s got game drives galore, but don’t be fooled into thinking that’s all you can do on a Tanzania safari: what about trekking for chimpanzee in Mahale, walking and fly camping in Tarangire, boating in Selous or relaxing on the magical Indian Ocean coastline? And no description of a Tanzania safari would be complete without a mention of the Great Migration in the Serengeti, one of the natural world’s most spectacular wildlife shows.
Tanzania Safari
The Serengeti tops most Tanzania safari itineraries. A Masai word meaning “endless plains,” this protected ecosystem sprawls across 10,000 square miles.
With a network of rivers ensuring year-round water, the region is incredibly rich in wildlife, though specific experiences, such as the Great Migration,
vary with the seasons. Exceptional safari opportunities exist in the private reserves adjacent to Serengeti National Park, many of which are the exclusive
domain of the camps we use. In addition to classic destinations like Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire, famed for its elephants and baobabs, Tanzania offers
vast, little-visited reserves such as Ruaha and Selous, true wilderness with striking scenery where you’ll encounter droves of animals but few other visitors.
Mahale Mountains National Park on Lake Tanganyika is home to some of Africa’s last wild chimpanzees. For the perfect finale to your safari adventure, add a
few days to relax on the beaches of Zanzibar.
Tanzania Wildlife
Tanzania is famed for its wildebeest migration, the largest mass movement of land animals on the planet. The entire Serengeti ecosystem depends on the migration, with felines, hyena and birds of prey feasting on the young and weak while crocodiles lie in wait at each river crossing. Plains animals abound, including giraffe and gazelle. Ngorongoro Crater is often called a wildlife Eden. Zebra graze on its rim, while plenty of lion, flamingos and the endangered black rhinoceros are found within. Tarangire is famed for its enormous elephant herds. So is remote Selous, home to 3,000 lion, cheetah, hippo, black rhino and many of Africa’s last wild dogs, often sighted here and in Ruaha National Park. Vast Ruaha sustains buffalo, sable and roan antelope, elephants and rich birdlife. In the rainforests of Mahale and Gombe in western Tanzania, we find chimpanzees and colobus monkeys in their last wild habitat.