Tanzania’s northern parks circuit : Flying vs. driving circuit : The northern circuit is undoubtedly among the greatest possibilities to think about as a starting point if you’re thinking about going on a safari in Tanzania. The Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park, and Serengeti National Park are typically included in this safari circuit. The northern Tanzania circuit is among the best in Africa, offering superb game viewing in all game reserves.
From a logistical perspective, you can travel by vehicle or by plane to combine these national parks. You will have an amazing safari experience with either option, but depending on your preferences and the time of year you travel, one may be better suitable for you.
Driving safari.
It is feasible to drive between Tanzania’s national parks and reserves because the northern parks are closer to one another than the southern parks. Tarangire National Park may be reached by vehicle from the Arusha/Kilimanjaro region in around two hours. The area near the park entrance might occasionally get very crowded because of the accessibility, which does tend to draw day visitors to the park. That being said, you will have a lot fewer visitors if you stay in tented camps farther into the park, such as Olivers Camp or Kuro Camp. On the road to the Ngorongoro Crater, a diversion to Lake Manyara National Park after Tarangire is frequently an excellent way to break up the drive. A wildlife drive in this area offers breathtaking views of the Great Rift Valley, abundant birdlife, and opportunities to see lions that climb trees. Beautiful observation locations can be found the route to the Ngorongoro Crater, which is a few hours’ drive from Lake Manyara.
It is possible to combine a driving itinerary of the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti; however, we would advise doing it from November/December through April. The Great Migration herds are frequently the northern circuit’s high point, which explains why. The herds begin their migration up to the northern plains of the Serengeti when the rains arrive in April, and then continue into Kenya from July through October. We wouldn’t advise driving up to the northern plains because it takes a full day and the Serengeti National Park is very big. It is feasible to drive between the Ngorongoro Crater and the Ndutu plains while the herds are in the southern plains (about a 3-4 hour drive with game-watching on route).
Flying safari.
On the other hand, modest internal flights between Tanzania’s national parks provide another means of connecting the country’s northern parks. These are a compact Cessna Caravan aircraft that can hold no more than thirteen people at most. One advantage of using aero planes to travel between these national parks is the significant time savings. In addition, it is a fresh safari experience in all of itself, and for those who have never flown in a light aircraft, it is a safari that many people have always wanted to have.
Your safari will begin when you touch down at the national park’s airstrip, accompanied by camp staff members and their personal vehicles. In contrast to closed cars used for driving itineraries, these vehicles will mostly certainly be open-sided if they are in the Serengeti National Park. Since the safari resort guides typically reside there for the whole year or season, they are well-versed on the whereabouts of any surrounding wildlife sightings, including the whereabouts of lion prides, leopard cubs, and the precise movements of migratory herds.
Many safari operators, including like Focus East Africa Tours will suggest a flight schedule for Tanzania’s northern parks throughout the months of June through October. As previously indicated, this is because flying from the Ngorongoro Crater (Manyara airstrip) to the northern plains of the Serengeti saves a significant amount of time and fits in well with an itinerary. Whether you fly or drive will determine how many individuals you go on a game drive with. In the event that you choose a driving route, your safari will be accompanied by a private safari guide and vehicle.
This has the advantage of allowing you to take your time enjoying the safari. You will employ the camp’s native safari rangers and vehicles for the flying safari; each vehicle can hold up to 4 passengers. The advantages of this are that you will probably go on your safari in an open-sided vehicle and you will have the opportunity to interact with other safari aficionados. You are free to select the kind of safari accommodation you want to stay in either scenario. We can accommodate your preferences for accommodation, whether it’s a fly camping experience, a safari lodge, or a luxurious mobile camp. When feasible, we will suggest additional activities like visiting nearby towns or going on a walking safari in addition to providing advice and setting up the ideal logistics for your Tanzania safari.
