THE NORTHERN CIRCUIT OF TANZANIA

The Northern circuit of Tanzania; If there is something so magical that anyone will ever see, it’s the magnificence in Tanzania’s northern circuit.

Probably when Richard Mullin said, “The only man I envy is the man who has not yet been to Africa – For he has so much to look forward to.” with Africa he meant northern Tanzania in particular. From Africa’s highest mountain to one of the most splendid wildlife spectacles on earth.

On reading these, ten to one, Serengeti national park and Mountain Kilimanjaro have filled your mind. Well, these are impressive attractions that nearly everyone dreams to visit. However, these are just starting points or highlights of the many amazing sights that make lifetime experiences.

From the rare tree climbing lions, the big game animals, haunting landscape, a vast bird life to cultures so unique, nothing you can fail to see in the northern circuit of Tanzania. Just to take you through the top experiences in this impressive region of the country.

Serengeti National Park.

Ranked among the ten wonders of the world, Serengenti is East Africa’s most visited national park. Have never known of a tourist who visited this park and forgot its thrilling encounter. It could be the great migration of the wildebeests, gazelles and zebras.

Perhaps a kill you witnessed a lion attack its prey in the wild, or maybe the extensive savanna plains that spread out like eternity. Whatever it maybe, there is that something travelers will never forget about Serengeti national park.

Ngorongoro Crater.

An incredible natural drama in the world’s largest intact caldera is a worthy sight on a safari in Northern Tanzania. This is a wildlife paradise covering almost a surface area of 264 square kilometers enclosed in steep walls. More often called Africa’s Eden, tourists to Ngorongoro spot over 30000 different wildlife species in just one place, both preys and predators.

You will watch huge herds of elephants, buffaloes, zebras, waterbucks, gazelles and many others grazing, as well as lions, leopards and cheetahs watching on their prey closely before that attack them. On the crater walls, there are also numerous bird species for bird watchers.

Tarangire national park.

Despite the park’s beauty in the huge baobab trees and the elephant kingdom, Tarangire is one of Tanzania’s underrated national parks. However, its proximity to the famous destinations of Serengeti and Ngorongoro, Tarangire is usually included in the northern circuit itineraries even if assigned just a day.

This amazing park is famous for the highest population of elephants you will ever see in Tanzania. Herds of more than 300 elephants are not difficult to spot here, Tarangire is the only park where elephants dot the plains like cattle. Note that, you can still see other wildlife species like lions, zebras, hartebeests, wildebeests, elands, oryx and many others.

Mountain Kilimanjaro National Park.

Even if Kilimanjaro park is unlike all other national parks in the Northern circuit of Tanzania, its not a park travelers go to for wildlife, but rather to gaze at the highest free standing mountain in Africa and to climb to the top of the continent. Millions of adventurous tourists have come to the park to summit the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi along Mount Kilimanjaro.

Hiking to the top takes through five different vegetation types. On lucky days, hikers even spot several wildlife species in the lower slopes of the mountain as they start their hike to the top.

Lake Manyara national park.

This is famously known for its tree climbing lions that are only known here and in Uganda’s Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth national park. These lions are one of the most sought after wildlife species. Besides the tree climbing lions, travelers to Lake Manyara also enjoy Tanzania’s tree top walkway.

Nothing thrills like the magic in climbing up into the canopy and walking amidst tree branches. On lucky days, you can even spot baboons, monkeys and several bird species. But, so far there are no records of beholding tree climbing lions up there, and just a few rare sights of elephants.

Tourists to the northern circuit of Tanzania still visit the Ol Doinyo Lengai – the mountain of God in the Maasai land. Others have also opted to visit Empakaai Crater, Lake Natron and many others.

One most interesting add on any safari to the top attractions in this region is the Maasai Village. It’s only on rare occasions that tourists visit this region and fail to visit these natives.

Tanzania’s northern circuit is a beauty that cannot best be explained in words but rather witnessed with one’s eyes.