Northern Zone of Tanzania is the Tanzania greatest destination, home of the classic safari experience and it is the most popular Tanzania destination.
Ajubatus Safaris is ideally positioned to arrange your safari here. The northern circuit parks have long formed the heart of our business. With years of experience in planning and leading customized safaris throughout Tanzania, we at Ajubatus Safaris are passionate about what we do. We are committed to providing our guests an unforgettable experience. We offer a wide range of safari itineraries to meet everybody’s expectations.
The northern circuit is the home of the classic safari experience from the endless short-grass plains of Serengeti to the dense river lying forest of Tarangire to the blended ecosystem of the Ngorongoro Crater, offering an abundance of wildlife.
Its name means “endless plains” in the local Maasai language. Serengeti may be the world’s best-known wildlife sanctuary, and it is one of the top destinations for Ajubatus Safaris as well.
The Serengeti National Park has probably been the subject of more books, television documentaries, pictures, photos and digital images on African wildlife animals, than any other African national park. Hosting the annual wildebeest migration across its grassy plains – arguably the world’s greatest wildlife animal’s spectacle. At the peak of migration in May and June, central Serengeti is filled with over one million wildebeest, plus thousands of Zebras and other plains animals.
Lions sun themselves on kopjes while cheetahs stalk through tall grass. Birdlife abounds, with white backed vultures soaring overhead, secretary birds standing by the road side and colorful Fischer’s lovebirds in the grasslands.
Perhaps uniquely among the East African parks, the Serengeti has no low season. I t is a “must see” and highly rewarding at any time of the year. This Park is without a doubt a defining image of East Africa and more specifically Tanzania. Let Ajubatus Safaris advise you on the best parts of the park to focus on during your visit.
Tarangire National Park is probably the least visited of the northern Tanzania game parks, and retains real air of undiscovered Africa, particularly in the south of the park. Much of the park is grassland together with swamplands and flood plains, which feed the Tarangire River.
Tarangire in Northern Tanzania is a park that remains calm and quiet and is a good park for a day visit. It is a superb little park that offers great value compared to its high rated neighbors such as the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro. The breathtaking scenic beauty that is displayed with the acacia woodland, open bush and groves of palm trees are superb to enjoy. Most amazingly you would find some of the trees aged to be more than 100 years. Due to its proximity to some of the high rated parks in Tanzanian it never lags behind in game viewing. Enjoying the African games in a quite atmosphere is an experience of difference. Another attraction of Tarangire is elephants that follow age-old migration routes through the park in enormous numbers. In season it is common to see several hundreds of elephants in a single day.
Tarangire can be visited year around, but August through October is best months for elephants and other wildlife.
The Ngorongoro conservation area covers 2286sq km and encompasses the volcanic area around Ngorongoro crater including the still active Oldonyo Lengai, and the famous Oldvai Gorge. The Ngorongoro conservation area is quite simply the most spectacular tourist destination in Africa unequaled in its magnificence, its wildlife and its atmosphere. Added to the beautiful scenery, the archaeological wealth and the wildlife, is a proud people – the Maasai – a pastroral tribe.
Ngorongoro crater is hard to beat for its beautiful scenery, its animal densities and its wildlife – watching opportunities. The crater – actually a caldera or collapsed volcano – has been declared a Unesco World Heritage site and the open grasslands on the crater floor host an astounding amount of wildlife. Highlights include the black rhinoceros and a large number of lions. Only giraffes and impalas seen not to find the crater to their liking. The surrounding Ngorongoro highlands offer many hiking routes to combine with your crater safari.
Lake Manyara National Park covers about 330km square, of which about two-thirds is underwater, it is a small park by African standards. However, it is also very beautiful and contains a tremendous diversity of habitats and wildlife. Set beneath the spectacular backdrop of the Great Rift Valley’s steep western escarpment, this long, narrow park protects an area between the escarpment and Lake Manyara.
Being with Ajubatus Safaris at Lake Manyara means the chance to spot the park’s famous tree-climbing lions, thousands of flamingos and amazing variety of other birds. Over four hundred species have been sighted here.
Binoculars are a must in Manyara, partly for birds, and partly to allow you to keep track of all the wildlife activity in the lake from the terrace of your lodge or from vantage points around the shoreline. Manyara can be visited at any time of year, but wildlife is most abundant during the dry months from June to October.
The oft-overlooked Arusha National Park offers some of the most breathtaking scenery in North Tanzania Safari Destination. Arusha National Park includes Mount Meru, and game highlights include giraffe, cape buffalo, elephant, zebra, flamingo and hippo. Several primate species including black and white colobus monkey, Syke’s monkey and vervet monkey thrive in the tropical forests. The patient ornithologist will be rewarded with opportunities to spot elusive forest birds such as Hartlaub’s Turaco. Bush walks and canoe safaris are permitted in Arusha National Park.
Lake Eyasi is a mildly alkaline lake about 50 km in length. It takes a little over an hour to get there from Ngorongoro Crater, and is mostly visited as a cultural tour to see the Hadzabe and Datoga Tribes. The highlight of a visit to Lake Eyasi is an early morning hunt with the Hadzabe. One of two remaining hunter-gatherer tribes in Tanzania, the Hadzabe speak a unique click language.
Lake Natron is off the beaten track, with attractions including a river walk with two waterfalls, a hike across a soda lake with flamingos, and a trek up Ol Doinyo Lengai, an active volcano. Ol Doinyo Lengai is located in the heart of the Great Rift Valley and has erupted at least a dozen times over the last century. A challenging hike to the top of the “Mountain of God” offers an opportunity to view molten lava. Visitors to Lake Natron can also interact with the local Maasai community.
Mkomazi National Park lies just south of the Kenya border in the shadows of the Pare Mountains. Although it is difficult to spot game in Mkomazi, its dry savannah is one of the best spots to bird watch in Northern Tanzania. There are more than 400 bird species and virtually no tourists or safari vehicles, even during peak safari season. The reserve is also home to the Mkomazi Rhino Project, a conservation effort that is reintroducing black rhinos and African wild dogs to the area. Walking safaris are allowed in Mkomazi.
