When you are thinking of going on your first African safari, Tanzania is one of the destinations you should give serious consideration. This is because the country is endowed with some of the finest wildlife parks and reserves in Africa, as well as many other great tourist attractions.
Located in southern East Africa, Tanzania neighbors Kenya in the north, Uganda in the north-west, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the west, Zambia in the south-west, Malawi and Mozambique in the south, and the Indian Ocean in the east.
Some of the most famous attractions in Tanzania include the Serengeti national park, Mt. Kilimanjaro, and the Ngorongoro crater. These three are all in the country’s northern safari circuit, which is the most popular safari route in the country. The southern safari circuit is less visited, but has some equally great, if not better, destinations like the Selous game reserve and the Ruaha national park.
Serengeti National Park
You have probably heard of the great wildebeest migration, an event regarded as the most spectacular natural event in the modern world. The migration consists of about two million wildebeest, gazelles, zebras, and other plains herbivores crossing from the Serengeti into the Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya. Hot on the trails of these herbivores are a horde of lions and other predators looking for quick prey. Many dramatic moments occur during the migration, the most fascinating being when the animals cross the crocodile infested waters of the Grumeti river in Serengeti, and the Mara river in Masai Mara.
Most people associate the wildebeest migration with the Masai Mara, yet the bulk of it takes place in the Serengeti. In fact, the wildebeest are in an almost constant migration within this vast national park, only stopping briefly for calving in the south-eastern part of Serengeti.
Besides the migration, Serengeti’s diversity and high density of big game makes it one of the best wildlife viewing destinations in Africa. All the big five animals (lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and buffaloes) are present here, although there are only very few rhinos. Other animals include giraffes, Thomson’s gazelles, several other antelope species, cheetahs, jackals, hyenas, and many more.
Mount Kilimanjaro
With an altitude of 5,895 meters at its tallest peak, Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa. That fact alone makes it one of the most popular destinations in Tanzania. The mountain consists of three main volcanic cones – Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. Kibo is the tallest of the three, with Uhuru peak being the highest summit.
Naturally, Kilimanjaro’s biggest draw is the thrill of climbing to the roof of Africa. Surprisingly, and pleasantly so, it is relatively easy to trek up to Uhuru peak even if you have little or no mountain climbing experience. To climb the rugged Mawenzi peak however, you need specialized rock climbing and ice climbing kit, and extensive mountaineering experience.
The best times for climbing mount Kilimanjaro are during the dry seasons, June to August and December to March.