Rob Mileto was an excellent leader: patient, very cheerful and helpful. Nothing was too much trouble.
Mr & Mrs J. Hampshire
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The Best of Northern Tanzania
Tour Code: TZA03A 14-day safari through the national parks of northern Tanzania including the spectacular scenery and wildlife of Lake Natron and the vast herds of Wildebeest in the southern Serengeti.
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Summary
Northern Tanzania is home to some of the largest herds of game left on Earth, as well as their attendant predators, and the region’s flagship reserves are deservedly world famous. After a flight to Kilimanjaro airport, this tour begins with a day exploring Arusha National Park, where we should see our first Elephants, Masai Giraffe, Buffalo and Waterbuck, plus a wonderful variety of birdlife against the snow-capped backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. Next we head north to Lake Natron, a huge soda lake set amongst some of Africa’s most breathtaking scenery, before beginning our journey through the world-famous Serengeti National Park, where we hope to enjoy the vast herds of Blue Wildebeest and Plains Zebra that carpet the southern Serengeti at this time of year. We end our holiday with a 2-night stay on the rim of the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater, where Buffalo, Grant’s and Thompson’s Gazelles, and prides of Lions should be among the highlights, as well as the crater’s small population of Black Rhino and birds including Grey-crowned Crane, the beautiful Rosy-breasted Longclaw and Golden-winged Sunbird.
- Visit the world famous Ngorongoro Crater
- Witness the Wildebeest migration on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti
- Stunning scenery of Lake Natron and Ol Doinyo Lengai
- Game drives in Arusha & Lake Manyara National Parks
- Abundant birdlife
- Lion, Cheetah & Bat-eared Fox all likely
- Masai Giraffe, Black Rhino, Elephant & Buffalo
- Comfortable landcruisers with opening roof & guaranteed window seat
- Led by expert naturalist guides
Grading
A traditional vehicular safari but including several long drives on poor roads.
There are few regions of Africa that are blessed with such an abundance of wildlife and spectacular landscapes as northern Tanzania. Here, watched over by the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro — the highest mountain on the continent — some of the largest herds of game left on Earth, and their attendant predators, roam unhindered across such flagship reserves such as the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Arusha National Park. Millennia of geological turmoil have fashioned a breathtaking and dramatic landscape, one that is arguably at its very best amongst the calderas, mountains, plains, volcanoes and soda lakes of northern Tanzania, and which is the focus of this varied and exciting itinerary.
Our holiday begins with a flight to Kilimanjaro airport on the edge of Arusha. We will then spend the following day exploring Arusha National Park, which is home to our first Elephants, Masai Giraffe, Buffalo and Waterbuck, plus a wonderful variety of birdlife, from the spectacular Tacazze Sunbird to the prehistoric-looking Ground Hornbill. If the weather is clear our memories and photographs of Arusha National Park should be backed by the towering peak of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Next we leave the tarmac behind as we head north through an ever-more dramatic landscape to Lake Natron, a huge soda lake set amongst some of Africa’s most breathtaking scenery. The lake is watched over by the brooding volcanic peak of Ol Doinyo Lengai (which means ‘The Mountain of God’ in Masai) and is not only one of the most important breeding grounds for the Lesser Flamingo, but a refuelling stop for thousands of migrant wading birds. We will spend two nights here in rustic, but comfortable, accommodation as we visit the lake’s shores to enjoy the flamingoes and a host of other species including Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Chestnut-banded Plover, White-winged Tern and perhaps Greater Painted Snipe.
It is a long and bumpy journey to our next destination, the Lobo region of the world-famous Serengeti National Park. This lightly wooded area of the reserve is dotted with rocky outcrops called ‘kopjes’. Although ‘the migration’ is much further south at this time of year, there are still plenty of mammals and birds to enjoy, including prides of Lions which remain here all year, plus Topi, Buffalo, Klipspringer, Verreaux’s Eagle, Black-bellied Bustard and the beautiful Mocking Cliff-chat. The kopjes also provide good look-outs for the ever-elusive Leopard!
Between December and April 1.3 million Blue Wildebeest and tens of thousands of Plains Zebra and Thomson’s Gazelles spread out over the short grass plains of the southern Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area creating one of the world’s great wildlife spectacles. We will now journey south through the Serengeti to base ourselves for three nights at Ndutu Lodge located within easy reach of these great herds. There are few more breathtaking experiences in wildlifewatching than being surrounded by such throngs of mammals stretching from one horizon to the other. Naturally, with such an abundance of prey we will be on the lookout for their attendant predators, in particular Lion and Cheetah which are both frequently seen around Ndutu. Spotted Hyena are also common, whilst on a smaller scale we should keep our eyes open for the attractive Bat-eared Fox. Although the mammals are sure to take centre stage here, there are plenty of birds to enjoy too, including stately Secretarybirds, flocks of Lesser Kestrels and both Tawny and Steppe Eagles.
We end our holiday with two nights at the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest inactive caldera formed by the collapse of a volcano about 2.5 million years ago. Permanently watered, the crater’s 225 square kilometres support a year-round population of thousands of mammals. Buffalo are abundant, as are Wildebeest, Zebra and both Thomson’s and Grant’s Gazelles. Prides of Lions are commonly seen, as are Spotted Hyena, and we will be keeping our eyes open for the crater’s small population of Black Rhino. Birdlife is equally abundant and includes Grey Crowned Crane, Kori Bustard, Golden-winged Sunbird and the beautiful Rosy-breasted Longclaw.
Our time in the Ngorongoro Crater will be a fitting finale to our journey through northern Tanzania and is sure to provide yet more vivid wildlife and scenic memories to savour as we make our way back to Kilimanjaro airport to catch our return flight home.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
We stay in comfortable safari lodges with private facilities and, at Lake Natron, a basic tented camp with private facilities.
- Food:
All meals are included in the price.
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