Tanzania (Northern)
Tanzania contains some of the most spectacular attractions in Africa including the Serengeti National Park, home to the greatest concentration of plains game in Africa. During the short rains, around November, up to 2 million wildebeest migrate to the southern sector of the Serengeti (in what is known as the wildebeest migration) where they spend 3-4 months and then follow the seasons around the rest of this massive ecosystem. Tanzania has a veritable legion of reasons to visit amongst which are the game-rich north, stunning south, Kilimanjaro (Africa's highest mountain), and a magnificent Indian Ocean coastline and islands. It is a wonderful country and our safaris in Tanzania are made better by our ability to organise, in the north, private 4x4s for each client group, accompanied - again privately of course - throughout the safari by the finest of Tanzanian guides.
This is wonderful, one develops a real rapport with one's guide, thus being able to access so much more information than just the basics. There are other, less obvious, benefits such as total flexibility! One of the best ways to experience our safaris in Tanzania is by private "mobile", especially at the time of the wildebeest migration when camp is located as close as it is possible to be to the masses of game. When one links the Serengeti with Tarangire, which has its own migration at certain times of year as well as big concentrations of elephant, and Lake Manyara with its magnificent birdlife, Tanzania represents probably the finest game viewing in Africa!
The Ngorongoro Crater is a World Heritage Site and there is little to rival the beauty of the sun setting against the rim of the Crater wall, not to mention the abundance of wildlife and the birdlife of Lake Magadi. But what we offer in the north goes much further than just the spectacular wildlife.
Tanzania is very much multi-tribal and one can spend time with ancient huntergatherers such as the Hadzabe of Lake Eyasi. The tribe is, bizarrely, of bushman origin (in a region where the inhabitants are predominantly semi-nilotic) and a pre-dawn walk with the hunters is a superb experience before spending time watching and, perhaps, participating in the morning settlement routines. Whichever way you do it there will be plenty of time to walk or choose whatever you want to do. On foot, this is a dry and rugged landscape which is still inhabited by these small groups of Bushmen. The Hadzabe (also called the Watindiga) still live in bands, hunting with bow and arrow. They gather roots, tubers and wild fruits, much as early man lived 10,000 years ago.
Down here, below the Crater Highlands, you can stay at a small, tented camp in the most beautiful setting. One can also walk with Masai in the Loliondo region of the Serengeti, which is beautiful. Between the Serengeti and Ngorongoro is Olduvai Gorge where, in 1959, Dr Louis Leakey and his wife found the remains of Australopithecus Boisei, an early form of Homo Erectus, there is a small museum about this and the finds further south at Laetoli. For the intrepid traveller, there is always Mount Kilimanjaro (as well as Meru and, for the real adventurer, Ol Donyo L'Engai) to conquer. We will always recommend the Shira route up "Kili"; better acclimatisation, far less used and glorious views - surely reason enough in itself! Whatever you decide upon though, a safari in Tanzania will offer a very genuine, down to earth experience with the most extraordinary array of wildlife!
