Tanzania's Highlights

The magnificent game-laden lands of Africa are unique. Some of the best of them are in Tanzania. Here, Lions and Cheetahs may still enjoy a meal, free from the gaze of all-encircling tourist buses, and the largest concentrations of mammals anywhere in the world may be found. With a remarkable 35% of its area set aside for the preservation of this unique heritage, Tanzania offers such globally threatened species as the Black Rhinoceros a measure of protection that hopefully may save them from extinction.

On this tour we concentrate on northern Tanzania, an area of superlatives and variety. We explore beautiful soda and freshwater lakes, the great grasslands of the Serengeti, and the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater. Covering such a range of habitats and altitude zones, we will encounter a great variety of mammals, and also birds, for conveniently the national parks harbour the best of African birdlife, from the giant Ostrich to tiny finches and colourful weavers.

We begin our holiday in Arusha National Park, a microcosm of Tanzanian scenery. Spectacularly set between the huge volcanic peaks of snow-capped Kilimanjaro and rugged Mount Meru, the park is a verdant wilderness where monkey-filled rainforest encompasses the undisturbed Ngurdoto Crater and the beautiful Momella Lakes that hold Hippos, waterbirds, and the reflection of Mount Kilimanjaro. African Buffalo, Olive Baboon, Bushbuck, Warthog, Maasai Giraffe and Guereza Colobus may be seen; whilst, amongst an abundant birdlife, we will look out for African Pochard and Maccoa Ducks on the lakes, and White-eared and Brown-breasted Barbets in the woodland.

We drive next to Tarangire National Park, where thousands of animals from the southern Masailands must come regularly in search of water from the Tarangire River. In the park’s rolling bushland and savannah, punctuated with spectacular Baobab trees, African Buffaloes, Eland, Impala, Elephants and Lesser Kudu may be found, together with such bird species as Crested Francolin, Yellow-collared Lovebird, Brown and Orange-bellied Parrots, Northern Pied Babbler and Magpie Shrike. Next we visit the legendary Ngorongoro Crater. Permanently watered, the crater’s 260 square kilometres support a year-round residential population of thousands of mammals. Amongst great herds of Blue Wildebeest, African Buffalo and Plains Zebra, we will see Lions, Black-backed Jackals and Spotted Hyenas. Most notably, the crater is perhaps the best place in all of Africa to see the endangered Black Rhinoceros.

Birdwatching is excellent at Ngorongoro; the lakes and rivers attracting abundant wetland species, and the grasslands holding Ostriches, bustards, Secretary Birds, eagles and vultures. On the crater rim the lush montane forest holds an entirely different range of species which we may encounter around our lodge and on early morning and evening walks. Here we will also meet the people of the Maasai tribe, proud, elegant and well attuned to their environment.

The Serengeti National Park’s 14,750 square kilometres of acacia-dotted plains hold 1.3 million Blue Wildebeest and 2,000 Lions; its selection of other mammals and birds is mouth-watering. We have four full days to sample the wealth of this great African wilderness.

Leaving the Serengeti we will stop at the Olduvai Gorge —‘Cradle of Mankind’ — the famous archaeological site where Dr. Leakey discovered the 2-million-year-old remains of the Nutcracker Man, alongside those of prehistoric elephants and giant ostriches. Even today it is an area teeming with game.

Lake Manyara is our last port of call. Its hotel and pool, beautifully perched on the wall of the Great Rift Valley, overlook the forest, plains, and flamingo-lined lake of the national park where we will search for its particularly large Elephants, tree-climbing Lions, and abundant birdlife.