Serengeti National Park:

MountKilimanjaro/MountMeru-Arusha /OlDonyo Lengai /L.Natron
Tarangire/L.Manyara/Serengeti/Ngorongoro Crater National Parks
Saadani/Selous/Mikumi/Ruaha National Parks
Gombe Stream/Katavi/Usambara/Mahale Mountains
Lake Tanganyika/L.Victoria/L.Rukwa/Rubondo Island

The Serengeti National Park lies in Northern Tanzania and covers an area of about 14,760 square kilometres. It was first established in the 1920's and was made a National Park in 1951. It is renown throughout the world as an area of great wildlife viewing. It is particulary famous for the huge herds of wildebeest and zebra that migrate. Every year following the rains in search of new grass. The word Serengeti comes from the Masai language and means endless plains. The park lies on a high plateau between the Norongoro Highlands to the east and Lake Victoria to the west. To the north lies Kenya and the Masai Mara Game Reserve, which forms the northern part of the Serengeti ecosystem.

Ngorongoro Crater:

Ngorongoro comes from a Masai word, llkorongoro which was the name given to the age group of Masai warriors who wrested the highlands from the datong, their previous occupants. The datong had in turn taken them from their predecessors the Hadzabe (bushmen/hunter-gatherers). The name llkorongoro echoed the sound of the battle bells the Masai warriors wore when they first occupied the highlands in the year 1800.
This sound "koh-rohngoroh" struck terror into the hearts of their enemies. The wa-masai have also given their own names to the walls and floor of the crater, the walls are known as en tiak which means sheer drop- while the floor is ramat meaning health- land. Being a conservation area rather than a National Park the Masai are allowed to bring in their animals to graze and water, making it possible to see wild animals and domestic livestock in the crater together. We normally camp on the rim of the crater, (simba campsite) and from here, it is about one hours drive around the rim to the point where we reach the descent road. from here there are spectacular views across and down into the crater. It can be very cold at this height (2300 mts) so it is advisable to wear warm clothes until we reach the floor of the crater. the road follows a winding and very steep route known as the Seneto Descent.

Lake Manyara:

ake Manyara was made a National Park in 1960 and covers an area of 330 square kilometres, of which some 230 square kilometres are lake. it lies at the foot of the western wall of the Rift Valley escarpment, and is particularly famous for its elephant and tree climbing lions. It is also well known for its rich variety of birdlife in both the forest and along the lake shore. the name Manyara comes from the Masai word for the plant euphorbia tirucalli which they use to build their livestock stockades.

Tarangire National Park:

Tarangire National Park is probably the least visited of the northern Tanzanian game parks, and retains a real air of undiscovered Africa, particulary in the south of the park.Tarangire National Park has some of the highest population density of elephants anywhere in Tanzania, and its sparse vegetation, strewn with baobab and acacia trees, makes it a beautiful and special location. Located just a few hours drive from the town of Arusha, Tarangire is a popular stop for safaris travelling through the northern circuit on their way to Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. The park extends into two game controlled areas and the wildlife are allowed to move freely throughout.
Before the rains, droves of gazelle, wildebeest, zebra, and giraffes migrate to Tarangire National Park’s scrub plains where the last grazing land still remains. Tarangire offers unparalleled game viewing, and during the dry season elephants abound. Families of the pachyderms play around the ancient trunks of baobab trees and strip acacia bark from the thorn trees for their afternoon meal. Breathtaking views of the Masaai Steppe and the mountains to the south make a stop at Tarangire a memorable experience.