Best of Tanzania Wildlife Safari

DAY 2 AND 3: TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

The Best of Tanzania Wildlife Safari will then proceed to the mighty and famous Tarangire National Park. The landscape here is full of large Baobab Trees that tower above all the animal giants of Tarangire. Tarangire is mainly comprised of woodlands of varying composition with some sections having grasslands or rocky outcrops. There are also major wetlands in Tarangire National Park, including the mighty River Tarangire and Silale Swamp.  

Highlight mammals found in Tarangire National Park include African Elephant, African Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Common Zebra, African Buffalo, Common Hippopotamus, Bohor Reedbuck, Common Impala, Maasai Giraffe, Common Warthog, White-bearded Wildebeest, Bushbuck, Ugogo Dikdik and Klipspringer.

Highlight birds in Tarangire include Common Ostrich, White-bellied Bustard, Rufous-bellied Heron, Red-and-yellow Barbet, Superb Starling, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Yellow-collared Lovebird, Red-necked Spurfowl, Spur-winged Goose, Knob-billed Duck and Southern Ground Hornbill.

Exciting reptiles here include the Dodoma Rock Agama and Nile Monitor Lizard.

Nights in Tarangire.

DAY 4: LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK TO NGORONGORO HIGHLANDS 

We shall then head to the Great Rift Valley system where our target with be the magical Lake Manyara National Park. This park hosts a soda or alkaline lake surrounded by both mixed forest and acacia woodland. Large Baobab and Tamarind trees illuminate the landscape, as they tower over the escarpments.  

Lake Manyara National Park is famous for hosting one of the largest primate groups in Africa. Top on the list are Olive Baboons and Manyara Monkeys. Lake Manyara National Park has also become famous for tree-climbing African Lions.

Other mammals found in Lake Manyara National Park include African Elephant, Vervet Monkey, Common Warthog, Common Zebra, White-bearded Wildebeest, Common Impala, Bushbuck, Leopard, African Buffalo, Common Hippopotamus and Maasai Giraffe.  

Birds found here include Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Southern Ground Hornbill, Purple-crested Turaco, Blacksmith Lapwing, Lesser Flamingo, Greater Flamingo, Black Bishop, African Jacana and Yellow-billed Stork.

Exciting reptiles here include the Dodoma Rock Agama and Nile Monitor Lizard.

We shall then move higher to the Ngorongoro Highlands, as we enjoy Tanzania’s beautiful countryside.

Night at the Ngorongoro Highlands.

DAY 5: NGORONGORO CRATER

We shall then move onwards to the famous and mighty Ngorongoro Crater; a key highlight location on the Best of Tanzania Wildlife Safari. This massive crater is named as one of the wonders of Africa. A view from the crater’s rim is breathtaking in many ways; as you also get to spot the soda lake known as Lake Magadi.

We shall be able to enjoy the beautiful Highland Forest as we move through the Ngorongoro Highlands. On the higher slopes, beautiful grasslands and open glades pattern this vast forest. We shall then descend down the walls of the crater through a scenic winding road. At the bottom, a vast savannah grassland awaits us, full of African wildlife. We shall also explore some of the local wetlands as we move around the Ngorongoro Crater floor. 

Mammals in the Ngorongoro Crater include African Lion, Serval, Caracal, African Golden Wolf, Black Rhino, Thomson’s Gazelle, Grant’s Gazelle, Common Zebra, Common Warthog, White-bearded Wildebeest, African Elephant, Common Hippopotamus, Spotted Hyena, African Buffalo and occasionally the Cheetah. On the outer fringes of the crater rim, we may get Maasai Giraffes and Common Impala.

Common birds in the Ngorongoro Crater include Kori Bustard, Grey Crowned Crane, Capped Wheatear, Abdim’s Stork, White Stork, Greater Flamingo and Lesser Flamingo.

Reptiles in the Ngorongoro Crater include Striped Skink and Nile Monitor Lizard.

Night in Ngorongoro.

DAY 6, 7 AND 8: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK; VIA OL DUVAI GORGE MUSEUM

We shall enjoy a morning in the famous Ol Duvai Gorge Museum; also known as Ol Dupai Gorge Museum. Ol Dupai is the Maasai name for a local sisal-looking plant known as Sansevieria. Many paleontology and archeology projects have been conducted here at Ol Duvai, mainly led by the Louis and Mary Leakey family. Their discoveries include Zinjanthropus, Homo habilis and Homo erectus.

Our Best of Tanzania Wildlife Safari will then proceed to the mighty Serengeti National Park. This endless plain forms a wildlife haven like no other. The savannah grassland with mixed woodland and bush mosaic is the perfect recipe for African Wildlife. We shall also explore the local rivers and swamps, seeking the water-dwelling creatures of the wild. Huge rock outcrops dot the grassy plains of Serengeti and are often known as kopjes. These massive rocks form perfect resting sites for predators as they also scan the plains for potential prey.

Serengeti National Park has been made famous by the annual wildebeest migration. Here we shall enjoy many game drives as we seek to follow the local herds of White-bearded Wildebeests. Hot on their heels are multiple herbivores such as Common Zebras, Thomson’s Gazelles and Common Elands. Predators and scavengers also take advantage of the bounty and concentrate around the moving herds. This spectacle is always a great highlight on our Best of Tanzania Wildlife Safari.

Mammals in Serengeti National Park include African Lion, White-bearded Wildebeest, Maasai Giraffe, African Elephant, Common Hippopotamus, Cheetah, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Serval, Black Rhino, African Buffalo, Topi, Oribi, Thomson’s Gazelle, Grant’s Gazelle, Common Warthog, Common Zebra, Black-backed Jackal, Caracal and African Wild Cat.

Common reptiles of Serengeti National Park include Nile Crocodile, Mwanza Flat-headed Rock Agama, Nile Monitor Lizard and Marsh Terrapin.

Common exciting birds of Serengeti include Southern Ground Hornbill, Secretarybird, Superb Starling, Lappet-faced Vulture, Martial Eagle, African Fish Eagle and Lesser Flamingo.

Nights in Serengeti.

DAY 9: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK TO ARUSHA

After some more game drives this morning, we shall start our journey back to Arusha. On the way, we shall pass through the Ndutu Plains and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

In the afternoon, we shall reach Arusha and connect with our flights home marking the end to our lovely Best of Tanzania Wildlife Safari.

You may also choose to join one of our safari extensions, such as the Zanzibar Island Beach Holiday.

 

 

Highlight mammals and others

African Lion, White-bearded Wildebeest, Maasai Giraffe, African Elephant, Common Hippo, Cheetah, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Serval, Black Rhino, African Buffalo, Topi, Thomson’s Gazelle, Grant’s Gazelle, Common Warthog, Common Zebra, Caracal, Nile Crocodile, Nile Monitor Lizard

Highlight birds

Southern Ground Hornbill, Secretarybird, Superb Starling, Lappet-faced Vulture, Martial Eagle, African Fish Eagle, Lesser Flamingo

Habitats covered

Savannah, Highland Forest, Wetlands, Semi-arid Bushland

Photographic opportunities

Excellent

Special moments

The Great Rift Valley, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Baobab Trees