AAC Office Manager Brooke recently returned from her first safari, where she explored Tanzania’s Northern Circuit. The Northern Circuit in Tanzania is home to spectacular wildlife in national parks and private reserves, including Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Serengeti National Park. With so many truly amazing natural wonders within close distance, it is no wonder Tanzania’s Northern Circuit is such a popular and well-loved safari destination. Welcome to the blog, Brooke!
A safari in Tanzania is such an adventure and I was lucky to be able to experience it! The combination of wildlife, landscapes and Maasai culture truly makes Northern Tanzania the most special place.
"I was so excited to go on safari for the first time. I couldn't wait to see the wildlife in their natural environment and experience the culture of Tanzania firsthand."
My journey began in Tarangire National Park, known for its massive elephant herds, tree climbing lions, remarkable baobab trees and impressive wildlife variety. My accommodation in Tarangire National Park was the stunning Kuro Camp. With day and night game drives, walking safaris, incredible views, delicious food and hospitable staff, this camp is the place to be and a fantastic place to kick off a circuit!
“Our game drives in Tarangire were a great way to see large mammals, especially elephants and big cats. But the walking safari gave me an incredible view into the smaller parts of safari. Hearing the guide describe animal tracks and plants really rounded out my experience in the park. And the post walk sundowner spot was a gorgeous way to end the day!”
From Tarangire National Park, I headed to the Ngorongoro Crater. My stay here was right on the crater rim at Entamanu. The views from Entamanu were magnificent and the camp is just a short 20-minute drive from the Crater gate. Entamanu was a perfect place to stay to beat the crowds getting into the crater. On top of that it has a really comfortable, cozy atmosphere. The crater can get very cold, but Entamanu is protected against the strong winds and offers roaring fires and cozy blankets for guests.
The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest inactive and intact volcanic caldera. It was formed from a volcano that collapsed on itself two to three million years ago. It is 2,000 feet deep and its floor covers 100 square miles. The Crater is one of the most unique safari destinations on the planet! During my exploration, we saw hippos in swamps, massive herds of zebras, thousands of flamingos in the soda lake, big tusker elephants and hyenas, among other wildlife. The Crater is an astounding natural wonder and a safari experience that should not be skipped!
After the Ngorongoro Crater, I traveled to Serengeti National Park. Serengeti means ‘the place where the land moves on forever’ or ‘endless plains’ in Maa, the Maasai language, and they couldn’t have picked a better name. It is most famous for its ongoing wildebeest migration. I was lucky enough to witness two different migration crossings of wildebeest and zebra on the Mara River. My absolute favorite wildlife sightings from the trip were in the Serengeti – we truly saw everything, from crocodiles to serval! If you’re looking for the Big Five, you can see them all: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalos.
I stayed at two different camps in the Serengeti: Serengeti Safari Camp and Lamai. Serengeti Safari Camp is a mobile camp that makes you feel completely immersed in nature, from hyenas barking right next to my tent in the dark to nights sitting around the fire and star gazing. It moves with the wildebeest according to the season, allowing the mobile camp to be in the heart of the migration.
“Both camps were wonderful. The mobile camp experience was so unique and made me feel at one with nature while still providing comfortable accommodation. The service at Lamai was impeccable. The staff anticipated our every need and the food and drinks were top notch. I felt like royalty!”
While Serengeti Safari Camp is a mobile camp that moves to follow the Great Migration, Lamai is a permanent camp located in the Northern Serengeti. It is in a perfect spot, perched high on a kopje with jaw dropping views at every turn. Even though it’s a permanent camp, you still feel very connected to the environment around you. I heard lions roaring both evenings which was the perfect way to end my trip.
“My time in Northern Tanzania was an absolute dream and a trip that will never be forgotten. I will continue to talk about this life changing trip for a very, very long time!”
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Photos courtesy AAC Office Manager Brooke Dare and Nomad Tanzania