THE EXPERIENCE
Tanzania is the place of the fabled migration, the grandest and most picturesque African safari. From January to March, several hundred thousand wildebeest calves are born on the southern plains. The herds swing northwest to face the hazards of the Grumeti River and on to the churning waters of the Mara River rimmed by waiting predators and fat crocodiles. The drama and energy of a river crossing is so charged and unforgettable, it has to be experienced to be fully appreciated as millions upon millions of antelope and zebra plunge into the turbulent waters.
In addition to the game drives, you can spend time with the red-garbed, proud lion-hunters of the local Maasai tribes and get a glimpse into their everyday lives that have remained relatively unchanged for hundreds of years. The baobab-studded rivers and hillocks of Tarangire National Park are less frequented but no less special, with massive herds of gentle elephants and brave buffalo, a fantastic array of smaller game, and all the predators that follow. Walk the area and get a totally different perspective on the bush.
In the drier hotter months all the game is drawn to the waters of Lake Manyara, the only surface water for miles, so great sightings are guaranteed. And, when the flamingoes are resident in their hundreds of thousands, they form an awesome pink expanse as they feed on the organisms that give them their characteristic colour. Ngorongoro Crater is like the land before time, an enormous extinct volcano that naturally encloses a tapestry of game visible for miles, including rhino and excellent lion sightings. End off the majesty of Tanzania with the beauty and serenity of a tropical island, just off the Eastern coastline. Zanzibar with its eclectic Stone Town and palm-lined luxury beach resorts, perfectly rounds off a monumentally magnificent safari.
TAS TIPS
- Take your binoculars and camera everywhere – there are photographs aplenty
- The Maasai red blankets are popular keepsakes
- Zanzibar offers some of the world’s best diving and nearby Pemba Island is even more remote and equally magnificent.
- And for the birders, Pemba also has some unique endemic bird species
- Wander the streets of Zanzibar to see the last remains of the slave trade, colourful and spice-scented markets, ancient baths, and a mishmash of architecture reflecting the layered past