Tanzania

Tanzania offers some of the most famous safari scenes on earth — and some of the least visited. Knowing which is which is the key to a great trip.

The northern circuit

The Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Lake Manyara make up the northern circuit, reached from Arusha and Kilimanjaro. The Serengeti is home to the great migration of wildebeest and zebra; the Ngorongoro Crater is a collapsed volcano with dense wildlife on its floor; Tarangire is known for elephants and baobabs in the dry season.

Following the migration

The herds move in a broad annual loop. Roughly: calving on the southern Serengeti plains around January to March; moving north and west through April to June; crossing the Grumeti and Mara rivers in the northern Serengeti from about July to October; and returning south with the short rains around November and December. Timing varies with rainfall, so build in flexibility, and choose seasonal camps that move with the herds.

The south: Ruaha and Nyerere

Southern Tanzania sees a fraction of the visitors. Ruaha National Park is big, wild and rich in predators, with excellent walking. Nyerere National Park (formerly part of the Selous Game Reserve) is built around the Rufiji River and its lakes, ideal for boat safaris and walking. Both are reached by light aircraft from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar.

When to go

June to October is the classic dry season. January and February are excellent for calving in the southern Serengeti. The long rains, around April and May, bring lower prices and closures in some southern camps. See when to go.