Tanzania is a surprisingly big country. A vast land of wilderness and raw beauty, Tanzania is also one of the best destinations for a memorable safari. However, planning a safari in Tanzania can be quite a challenge. Home to the legendary Serengeti National Park, but hiding numerous secret gems, this amazing country captures Africa’s beauty, passion, and untamed splendor.
The main safari destinations are located either in the north or the south. While the north houses the sensational Serengeti, the scene of the breathtaking great wildebeest migration, the south is less popular but as magnificent with safari destinations like the Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park. The west of Tanzania is one of the country’s best-kept secrets, a destination more difficult and more expensive to reach.
Safaris in the north
70% of the tourists who visit Tanzania head to the north. Here lies the overwhelming Serengeti that offers the chance to witness the grandeur of the wildebeest migration. The national park is also home to the biggest concentration of predators in the world and an abundance of magnificent wildlife and breathtaking scenery.
If you want to capture the majesty of the calving season, plan your safari in Tanzania between December and March. This is when the Ndutu region of the Serengeti becomes the scene of thousands of baby wildebeest taking their first steps into the world.
Those eager to admire the big cats of Africa often meet in the Seronera region of the park, the perfect place to enjoy a luxury safari in Tanzania while encountering lions and leopards. Serengeti is the land of extraordinary creatures, like topi, eland, elephants, giraffe, buffalo, as well as baboons, cheetah, hyrax, and colobus monkeys.
Mwiba River Lodge pampers its guests with luxury accommodation in the middle of all this wilderness. Set away from it all, above a rocky gorge, the lodge’s stylish tented rooms create a relaxing ambiance.
The accommodation is in perfect harmony with the environment and delights guests with a swimming pool, private wooden decks, and infinite views across the south of the Serengeti.
While the calving season is popular with the tourists and benefits from great weather, the peak season brings even more curious visitors to Tanzania. From June to September, Tanzania sees a bigger influx of travelers due to the spectacular wildebeest migration that takes the herds from the Southern Serengeti to the neighboring Maasai Mara in Kenya. This is when the crowds gather hoping to admire a Mara River or Grumeti crossing.
As expected, the lodges are more expensive, but the experience makes it all worth it. The Grumeti region is situated in the west part of the Serengeti and is a perfect destination if you want to witness the wildebeest crossing without the tourist crowds.
Game drives are superb in the Ngorongoro Crater, in the north of Tanzania, taking travelers on the plains of the Serengeti and face to face with rhinoceros, lions, buffalo, hyenas, hippos, and elephants. Game viewing is extraordinary in these parts but the prices match the splendor. The Ngorongoro Highlands offer the chance to discover the fascinating Masai culture and to visit the local coffee farms.
Safaris in the south
The south of Tanzania is less crowded but as exciting and captivating as the north. The Selous Game Reserve is a popular destination during the dry season when the weather is perfect for walking safaris, boating, and fly-camping.
Home to spectacular wildlife, including elephants, buffalos, hippos, lions, and wild dogs, the Selous has the advantage of being a hidden gem. It offers the chance to admire Tanzania’s beauty while enjoying its tranquility and peacefulness. The south is the perfect place to discover the authentic Africa and enjoy a variety of safari activities. Boating safaris are among the favorites including trips along Siwandy, Beho Beho and Sand Rivers.
For an unforgettable stay and splendid views of the Rufiji River, discover the luxurious, yet relaxed Sand Rivers Selous. The lodge blends beautifully with the surroundings, inviting guests to spend their days in an airy and stylish décor. The rooms and suites create a pleasant open space and the sublime feeling of absolute freedom, with outdoor en suite bathrooms and beds protected by mosquito nets. Those longing for a touch of decadence should book a suite with private pool and fabulous hillside views.
A splendid red-earth park, Ruaha National Park is home to 10% of the whole world’s lions, as well as leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, sable antelopes, Grant’s gazelles, zebras, and impala. More inaccessible than the other parks, Ruaha National Park is as glorious as its neighbors but more serene and untamed. With baobab studded hills and gorgeous red rocks, this park is home to an impressive cheetah and wild dog populations. Ruaha is the largest national park in Tanzania, overwhelmingly vast and even more remote than the Selous Game Reserve. However, it’s also the realm where you’ll discover more dramatic sights, spectacular wildlife and unforgettable safaris.
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