The oldest national park in Tanzania. Often visiting a place that is so famous it is easy to be let down. That is not the case with the Serengeti. It indeed deserves all its reuputation as the best safari destination in the world. No matter what time of the year you go, there will be excellent game viewing. The park is quite large. In fact the word Serengeti is derived from the Maasai word meaning "endless plain". From north to south is approximately 160 km (100 miles) and covers nearly 15,000 sq. km (5,700 sq. miles). With the neighboring protected areas not officially part of the park it covers more than 30,000 sq. km (12,000 sq. miles). By comparison, Kenya's Maasai Mara covers just 1,510 sq. km. Even in the busiest times, it is easy to find secluded areas for game drives if you desire the solitude, let us know.

Certain portions are at their best at specific times of the year due to the presence of the Great Migration. Central Serengeti (Seronera) is a reliable option year round. Northern Serengeti (Kogatende) is spectacular during the months of July - October when the Great Migration herds are present. Other months there is also good animal viewing, but not worth traveling several hours further to reach there when the same expereince can be found in closer portions of the Serengeti. Kogatende is the location of the Mara River, where the wildebeest cross to reach fresh grazing land. The timing of the crossing is depeendent on the rains so it is a little unpredictable. But during the July - October time period it is highly likely that there will be a huge number of migrating wildebeest, zebra, and antelope. Usually during the month of May, the migration herds are passing though what is called the "Western Corridor", a portion of the Serengeti that estends westward. Here the migration encounters the Grumeti River. This is not as spectacular as the Mara River crossing since the Grumeti is not continuous and herds can find alternatives to swimming through the river (but there are plenty of crocodiles for any that try to make its way across). The huge number of animals during the Month of May - June does make for excellent game viewing regardless. During the months of January - March, the migration herds are in the southern Serengeti in an area named Ndutu which straddles the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. They stay here gathering strength and waiting for the wildebeest to give birth. When conditions are right, in a 3 week period, over 400,000 calves will be born. This is a very active time for predators. Within a few minutes after birth, wildebeest calves are not only standing up, but are able to run.

The Serengeti is one of the few remaining places where it is possible to see black rhino in the wild. The park is also known for its numberous cats. Lions, cheetahs, and leopards are the big cats, with caracals, servals, and wild cats being smaller. You can find elephants, giraffes, zebras, various antelopes, warthogs, hyenas, jackels, buffalos, ostriches, crocodiles, pythons, black mambas, among numerous other animals.

The most used way to get to the Serengeti is to drive across Ngorongoro Conservation Area (but not through the crater). From Arusha this is about a 7 hours drive. Although there are some animals there, the game viewing along the way is not the best. Another way to drive would be to go up near Lake Natron near the Kenyan border then into the Lobo portion of Serengeti (northeastern Serengti). There is some cultural tourism here and Lake Natron and Oldoinyo Lengai (an active volcano) are close to this area. This drive takes about 9 hours from Arusha, but would be best to stop near Lake Natron for overnight and some walking tours/cultural tourism. Don't expect much wildlife viewing along the way. Flying into/out of the Serengeti is an option worth considering. There are several airstrips inside of the park. The planes used are small (usually with seating capacity of 18 - 20 passengers) and luggage is restricted to 15kg (including carry-on). But into central Serengeti (Seronera) there is a larger plane run by Precision Air that allows 1 bag of 23kg weight. Precison Air also flies between Seronera and Zanzibar a few times a week at a very good price.

Accommodations in the Serengeti can range from basic camping to exclusive lodges costing more than $10,000/night. Tented camps and lodges can fill quite early in Kogatende (July - September) and Ndutu (February & March). Campsites are always available for basic camping. If very short on time, it is possible to squeeze in a Serengeti safari in 3 days but it is quite tiring - lots of non-game viewing time on the road, arriving to start the game viewing when you are already tired of being in a vehicle. At least 4 days is better. To drive to the northern Serengeti, an absolute minimum of 5 days is needed. There are no basic campsites in Kogatende nor in Ndutu. You can still include those portions of the Serengeti in your camping safari, but we would have to travel a bit to get to your campsite at the end of the day. Fortunately, there is some game viewing while in transit.

In addition to standard safaris, a balloon safari is also possible. Each balloon holds 12 - 16 people. Departures are daily and the experience runs from 5am- 10am. The actual flying time is one hour. You arrive for a briefing and for the inflation of the balloon. After the flight, there is a picnic breakfast with sparkling wine included. The balloon safari price is $600/person but is a once in a lifetime experience. No night game drives in Serengeti are allowed, but some are available in the neighboring Wilderness Protected Areas. Walking safari options are extremely limited inside of the national park.

Along with the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater is a destination not to be missed. Named as a World Heritage Site, the NCA is not a national park. Unlike national parks, the indigenous population is still allowed to be in the area but with certain restrictions, balancing preservation, human development and tourism. The highlight is Ngorongoro Crater, the largest unbroken caldera in the world. Winding your way down the 600m walls brings you into an area amazingly dense with animals. Most of the animals here are non-migratory so this is a reliably great destination. It is easier to list what you can't find here rather than all you can find. You will not see topi, gazelle and only can spot giraffe rarely inside of the crater. It is possible to spot the "Big Five" in just a few short hours. The crater is only open from 6am until 6pm. All people (including Maasai) and vehicles must be out of the crater except during these hours since the environment is fragile. The crater is only 20km in diameter though so all will be seen in the typical 4 - 5 hours inside.

All accommodations are outside of the crater. There is enough elevation-- 2,286m (7,500 ft) at the top if the crater to feel the difference in oxygen and the chill. It also tends to be quite windy at the top so bringing sufficient layers of clothes is important for your comfort. There is a pubic campsite (Simba Campsite) and a number of lodges/tented camps inside of the conservation area. There are many more just to the east of NCA, a few kilometers outside of the boundary. These are good choices except not practical if coming from the Serengeti (west of the NCA). In addition to the daily conservation fee (entry fee $60/person + 18% VAT = $71/person), there is an additional fee for each vehicle that enters into the crater. At $250 + 18% VAT ($295 total) for each vehicle entering into the crater this makes a Ngorongoro Crater safari more pricey than other destinations. All Ark Adventures prices include all park fees, conservation fees, and taxes, so this is already calculated into any price quote. In addition to the crater itself having a restriction of people being out of the crater between the hours of 6pm until 6am each day, the entire NCA itself does not allow entry or exit from 6pm until 6am daily. Being a 5 hours drive from Moshi (3.5 hours from Arusha), this makes a day safari to Ngorongoro Crater possible but a tight schedule and tiring.

There is more to the NCA than the crater itself. On the way from the crater towards the Serengeti is Olduvai Gorge Museum ($30 + 18% VAT admission per person). Here you can learn about the findings of Drs Mary and Louis Leakey. This can be a 1 - 2 hour stopover on the way to/from the Serengeti. There are also some Maasai villages in the area to visit ($20/person). North of Ngorongoro Crater is a smaller crater, Empakai Crater. There is a chance for a short walk with a park ranger here. There is a public campsite near this area.

Mentioned in the Serengeti section is Ndutu, an area which straddles the Serengeti and NCA. During January through March this is where the Great Migration herds are located. During this time the wildebeest are giving birth. The animals wander back and forth in an unpredictable manner between NCA and Serengeti so it is best to have permits for both destinations during this time as their location can change from morning to afternoon or one day to the next. In this area are some nice tented camps but no public campsites. If on a budget safari you could visit as a day trip from your campsite.

This is a beautiful and underrated park with plenty of elephants and giraffe. In fact, Tarangire has the highest concentration of elephants of anywhere in Africa. This park is at its best during dry months (January - February, July - October) since the only water source in the area is the Tarangire River which winds its way through the park. The landscape is dotted with the massive and unusual baobab trees and huge termite mounds. In addition to the numerous elephants and giraffe, it is possible to find lions, buffaloes, wildebeests, zebras, hippos, various antelope species, impalas, gazelles, leopards, warthogs, monkeys, baboons, ostriches. You won't find rhino and there are almost no cheetah. The park has some nice lodges and tented camps, including some very luxurious ones. There are also some very good tented camps just outside of the park gates that have large numbers of animals wandering through. Selecting a nice accommodation in/near the park, you can spend several days in the area and not be bored at all. Walking safaris and night game drives are permitted in Tarangire. There is also an option for a balloon safari with details similar to that described in the Serengeti section above. The park is about 3.5 - 4 hours drive from Moshi, or 2 - 2.5 hours from Arusha, making it a good option for a day trip if you are short of time. Otherwise it pairs well with a trip to the Serengeti, breaking up the long drive.

Located along the Great Rift, this park includes the shallow soda lake Manyara. During wet season (March - May, November) this lake hosts many flamingos. The chemistry of the lake is changing so that in drier months there are no longer many flamingos at all. The park is favored greatly by bird watchers, with over over 400 species of birds present. The most numerous animals present include giraffe, zebra, lions, cheetahs, leopards, gazelle, hippos, elephants, impala, baboon and monkeys.

Two-thirds of the park consists of the lake. Night game drives, walking safaris, canoe safaris are all possible. Lake Manyara also has a Treetops Walkway. 370m long, and 18m above the ground you walk over a series of suspension bridges to observe nature. Typically, visitors spend 30 minutes - 1 hour with this activity. The cost of this activity is an additional $30/adult ($15 for children under the age of 12).

There are some good lodges inside of the park, but many more are not far outside of the park in beautiful settings.

Lake Manyara is a 2 hours drive from Arusha (3.5 hours from Moshi) and there is an airstrip very close to the national park.

This is a very convenient park to get to, less than one hour drive from Moshi or Arusha. But the park is not heavily visited. It has lovely landscape and contains Tanzania's second highest mountain, Mt Meru. It has large numbers of giraffes and antelopes but lacks lions, elephants, cheetahs, rhinos, and other tourist favorites. Walking safaris are an option here, with a mandatory armed park ranger. And we typically offer this destination as a day trip. Canoe safaris are also an option. Climbing Mt Meru is a lovely trek, typically done in 4 days.

There are no accommodations inside of Arusha National Park but plenty of options not far outside of the park.

This park is the opposite direction from Moshi/Arusha than the other parks. Situated not far from the town of Same (pronounced "SAH-may") it is not easy to pair with other safari destinations. But it makes a good day trip from Moshi (2 hours drive) and there are some "off the beated path" hiking destinations that can be added in for a multi-day itinerary. Mkomazi is one of the newer national parks in Tanzania as a result is still developing its infrasructure. But it does have a big drawing card in the inclusion of a rhino sanctuary inside of the park. So it is possible to see black rhino up close, guarenteed even. To go inside portion of the park designated as a rhino sanctuary, a morning departure in a park service vehicle with a park guide is required. It is possible to make it as a one day trip but an very early departure from Moshi (around 5am) would be required to be there in time. It would not be practical from Arusha to go as a day trip. If your schedule allows it, would be best to spend two days at the park with the morning of the second day set aside for the rhino sanctuary. In addition to the rhinos there are a good number of elephants, giraffes, zebras, various antelopes, wild dogs, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and buffaloes.

To the north of Ngorongoro Conservation Area is Ol Doinyo Lengai (mountain of god --translated from the Maasai language). This is an active volcano 2962 m ( 7,650 ft) high that is sacred to the traditional Maasai religion. For geologists this volcano is of special interest due to the unique composition of the lava. This lava is much cooler than any other (but still 600°C). it is not hot enough to give off light in the daytime but emits a dull glow at night. The lava is not thick but water-like, making it flow very quickly (and dangerously). The molten lava is black in color but solidifies into a white powder. The volcano is quite active and unpredictable. The surrounding area is very desolate, dry, dusty and hot. With daytime temperatures regularly in excess of 40°C (104°F). The mountain can be climbed in half day, but is considered the toughest climb in the country (surpassing Kilimanjaro and Mt Meru). It is steep, covered with loose gravel, dusty, without shade. Gaiters to keep stones out of your shoes are essential, plenty of water must be brought (4 - 5L recommended per person), gloves for scrambling on your hands, bandanna or face mask to filter dust and good sun protection are all vital. The local authorities require climbing with one of their local guides. They do not have any safety training or equipment, very few of them speak any English and they will climb at a very fast pace with little regard to your ability to keep up. The climb starts at midnight to avoid the scorching heat of the day. It will be cold at this time so a layer of clothing is important. Most climbers return from the climb at mid morning. We do not recommend this climb but can offer it to you with a liability waiver.

Along the Kenyan border is Lake Natron, a shallow lake with a pH of the water near that of ammonia. Nothing can survive in these waters except an algae highly favored by flamingos. At times several hundred can be seen crowding the shallow waters. A trip to Lake Natron would include walking along the lake shore, hiking at a waterfalls and cultural tourism of the Maasai community. This is truly off the beaten path in a remote, desolate, scorching hot but amazing environment. 1 - 2 days at this destination is sufficient to see all.

This shallow soda lake located to the east of Ngorongoro Conservation area and to the south west of Lake Manyara is home to one of the most fascinating culture tours - a visit to the Hadzabe and Datooga tribes. The Datooga are pastorialists who have also turned to some agriculture. They are a very isolated tribe, resisting outside influence and education. Only 5% speak Swahili and their literacy rate is at 1%. They are skilled craftsmen and are experts at melting scrap metal and molding arrowheads and knives which they trade with the Hadzabe tribe. Outside of this interaction, they are not a friendly tribe towards outsiders typically but will welcome your visit with a local guide. In the past young Datooga warriors would improve their status by killing any outsider. Fortunately this no longer is the case. They are a shy tribe but, when escorted by a local guide, welcomes visitors.

The Hadzabe (Hazda) are one of the last true hunter-gatherer tribes left in the world. They love their lifestyle and have completely rejected government attempts to assimilate them into modern society. Free houses and schools were left abandoned as they quickly returned to their traditional ways. They are very opportunistic, hunting anything with bow and arrow from mice to giraffe, with baboon being their favored prey. For large prey they use poison tipped arrows. Their dwellings are very primitive and temporary to the extent that if a large animal such as a giraffe is killed, they will move to the kill site rather than bring the animal to their camp. Since their huts of sticks, mud and leaves can be built in a few hours. They are experts at gathering wild honey and foraging for edible roots and berries. You can accompany them on a hunt, learn how to make fire without matches, compare your archery skills and join them in dance. They are a very friendly tribe.

The surrounding area is a very harsh environment with onion farming being the mainstay. We can arrange a visit to one of the small farms for an insight into the local life of the inhabitants.