Tanzania is home to vast tracts of untouched wilderness and many magnificent wildlife areas.
During the greener months - from December to May - the great wildebeest migration takes place in the southern Serengeti and on the short grass plains of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where the animals in their tens of thousands come to calve. This incredible spectacle is played out on the vast horizonless plains and offers an unparalleled safari experience. Combine this with a visit to the Ngorongoro Crater, the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world, and Olduvai Gorge, where Lara’s grandparents, Drs. Mary and Louis Leakey made many of their initial discoveries of early hominids.
In the dry season - from late July to mid–October - southern and central Tanzania come into their own. Our favourite dry season areas in Tanzania include Ruaha, Tarangire, Katavi and Nyerere National Park. As the surrounding areas become parched, vast numbers of animals move in towards the last remaining water, resulting in concentrated numbers of animals. There are some excellent opportunities to walk in true wilderness.
If you go to southern Tanzania, a trip to the Mahale Mountains National Park to see the chimpanzees is well worth the effort. Hiking through the forest and tracking the chimps is an incredible experience, and spending time with them is a privilege. The mountains rise from the shores of Lake Tanganyika, whose crystal clear water is full of dozens of different species of fish and whose beaches are tranquil and picturesque.
Tanzania is different in the dry and wet seasons, and the best itineraries reflect this.
