Northern circuit National parks in Tanzania
Serengeti National Park
The world’s most famous wildlife sanctuary is without a doubt the Serengeti National Park, which boasts the highest concentration of plains game in Africa and is unparalleled in terms of natural beauty and scientific importance.
Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park opened for business in 1952. The world’s largest animal display, the great migration of zebras and wildebeests, takes place there. Not to mention the remarkable resident population of birds, lions, cheetahs, elephants, and giraffes. There is a large range of lodging options, including mobile campers and opulent resorts. With a maximum of a few hundred cars, the park is larger than Connecticut, spanning 5,700 square miles (14,763 square kilometres)
There are three portions to the Park. The Maasai referred to the popular southern/central region (Seronera Valley) as the “serengit,” or the country of unending plains. It’s a typical savannah, full with fauna and scattered with acacias. The Grumeti River demarcates the western corridor, which is home to more densely forested areas. The least frequented location is the north, the Lobo area, which connects to Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve.
Within the 30,000 km2 area, two World Heritage Sites and two Biosphere Reserves have been established. Its distinctive environment served as an inspiration for many authors, including Ernest Hemingway and Peter Mattheissen; filmmakers, like Hugo von Lawick and Alan Root; and scientists, including a number of whom contributed their works to the creation of this website.
Among the oldest ecosystems on the planet is that of the Serengeti. The past million years have seen very little change in the fundamental characteristics of the climate, vegetation, and fauna. Approximately two million years ago, early man himself made an appearance in Olduvai Gorge. Certain migratory, adaptive, and living patterns are as old as the hills themselves.
Perhaps the most well-known aspect of the Serengeti is its migration. Every October and November, during the brief rains, over a million wildebeest and over 200,000 zebras migrate south from the northern hills to the southern plains. Following the long rains in April, May, and June, the animals spiral west and north. The innate desire to relocate is so powerful that it can overcome any obstacle, be it a river teeming with crocodiles or a gorge.
The wildebeest traverse a wide range of habitats and parks, reserves, and protected areas. Come along as we examine the various vegetation types and ecosystems of the Serengeti and get to know some of its most fascinating residents.
Mount Kilimanjaro National Park
Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, stands at 5896 metres and is a breathtaking sight. The mountain is composed of three main volcanic peaks: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. Even the name “Kilimanjaro” is shrouded in mystery. It could refer to the Mountain of Caravans, the Mountain of Greatness, or the Mountain of Light.
The snow-capped top of Mount Kilimanjaro rises over the gently rolling hills and plateaux of northern Tanzania, its slopes and glaciers gleaming above the gathering clouds. Kilimanjaro is close to the town of Moshi and is a highly controlled, protected region where climbers can enjoy themselves without leaving any evidence of their visit. The ecosystems of the mountain are as numerous and varied as they are breathtakingly beautiful. A large portion of the mountain is agricultural on the lowland slopes, where products like maize, coffee, bananas, and cassava are farmed for both personal consumption and commercial sale. On the lower slopes, there are still a few larger coffee farms, but the majority of the land outside the national park is divided into tiny parcels. Once inside the park, the lower elevations are covered with dense lowland woodland, which transitions into alpine meadows as the air gets thinner. At the top, the scenery is bleak and arid, with ice and boulders dominating the terrain above an amazing perspective of Africa.
For most tourists visiting Tanzania, summiting Mount Kilimanjaro is the ultimate experience. Kilimanjaro is one of the few mountains that can rival its magnificence and breath-taking vistas of the Rift Valley, the Masaai Steppe, and Kenya’s Amboseli National Park.
Hiking on the “rooftop of Africa,” which is the highest point on the continent at 5896 metres, is an incredible experience. This is because, with the right speed, anyone can climb the snowy mountain, regardless of experience level. See the “Mountain Climbing” section under “Things to Do” for additional details.
“The Kilimanjaro” The name itself is shrouded in obscurity. It could refer to the Mountain of Caravans, the Mountain of Greatness, or the Mountain of Light. It might not, though. The Wachagga people who live there don’t even have a name for the entire massif; Kipoo, which is now called Kibo, is the name given to the well-known snow-capped peak that dominates the continent and serves as Africa’s summit.
Arusha National Park
One of Tanzania’s most accessible parks, Arusha National Park is conveniently located near Arusha and Moshi. It’s an excellent place to spend a day trip and may serve as a fantastic starting or finishing point for any itinerary that includes Tanzania.
Arusha National Park is home to a diverse range of environments, including large savannah and rainforests, acacia woodlands, and alpine plants found on Mount Meru’s higher elevations.
The world’s highest giraffe population is at Arusha National Park, which is slightly over 200 square miles and home to high wildlife densities. Monkeys such as the Vervet monkeys, the black and white colobus, hippos, giraffes, buffalo, and bushbucks; also, red forest duikers. Leopards are not common. It is a fantastic option for those who enjoy birds, as it is home to over 400 different species.
Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park, which is accessible from the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, is worth visiting on its own. Its algal-streaked hot springs, baobab-studded cliffs, groundwater forests, and bush plains provide remarkable natural diversity in a compact area, abundant in species, including a remarkable number of birds.
Lake Manyara is a picturesque treasure that stretches for 50 kilometres along the foot of the 600-meter-tall Rift Valley escarpment. Ernest Hemingway described the surrounding scenery as “the loveliest I had seen in Africa.” The small-scale game-viewing route in Manyara provides an almost perfect representation of a Tanzanian safari.
One of the biggest draws of the park is the jewel, which is well-known for its tree-climbing lions.
Ngorongoro Crater
One of Africa’s most well-known locations is the Ngorongoro Crater, which is also thought to contain the continent’s highest wildlife population. The Crater, sometimes referred to as the “eighth wonder of the world,” has gained international recognition and is seeing an annual increase in the number of visitors. While it is unlikely that you would avoid other cars in this area, you can be sure that you will see amazing wildlife in an absolutely breathtaking setting. No other place in Africa compares to Ngorongoro!
According to geological records, the volcanic caldera’s cone collapsed inward, creating what is today known as a crater. “Big Bowl” is the Maasai expression “orgirra le kkorongorro,” which inspired the site’s name. Ngorongoro Crater is the product of earlier documentation of the area spelling the name “kkorongorro” incorrectly into today’s Ngorongoro with its complex depth “caldera/crater.”
Tarangire National Park
One of the most well-known national parks in Tanzania’s northern circuit is Tarangire National Park. It is well-known for its enormous, old baobab trees and sizable herds of enormous elephants. Indeed, some of the biggest elephants in the world may be found in Tarangire.
It’s common to visit Tarangire National Park along with the Serengeti or Ngorongoro. In contrast to these parks, Tarangire is the only national park in Arusha where you may see a wide range of animals, including some predators. Tarangire is hence the ideal national park for a day excursion as well.
The national park is also rather extensive, with a total area of over 2,850 square kilometres (1,100 square miles). The “Tarangire River,” a lengthy river that runs through the centre of Tarangire National Park, is the source of the park’s name.
Mkomazi National Park
The park is situated in Tanzania’s northern region, between the Tanga and Kilimanjaro regions. The park has a northern boundary with Kenya’s Tsavo West National Park.
The climate of the park is semi-arid with a bimodal pattern of rainfall distribution. The Park has the Acacia-Commiphora species-dominated southern extension of the “Sahel” ecosystem.
The Umba River provides the majority of the park’s water. Throughout the year, there is some rainfall, which keeps the park new and appealing to visit. The park is a part of the second-largest trans boundary ecosystem in East Africa, the Mkomazi-Tsavo Ecosystem. Following the well-known Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem.
