Manyara
Lying under the wall of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Manyara National Park is only 125kms from Arusha town. The park is 330 square kms in size, of which 230 is covered by the eponymous lake. Occasionally seen in the park are tree-climbing lions and they remain the most famous spectacle here. Other animals found in this area include elephants, leopards, impalas, hippos, and millions of birds, especially pelicans and flamingoes.
Frequently trumped by the "bigger" attractions of Ngorongoro and Serengeti, Manyara nonetheless has its own charm, including the spectacular bird-life, arboreally-inclined lions and dramatic views of the Great Rift Valley escarpments and precipices. When travelling to Serengeti by road from Arusha (very common, and very gruelling to attempt in one day), Manyara serves as an excellent nightstop enroute. It also has an airstrip up on the escarpment, which is usually used for Ngorongoro air travel as well.
See Destinations →
Ngorongoro
Central to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is the Ngorongoro crater. Sometimes referred to as a natural “Wonder of the World,” this caldera was formed by the collapse of the roof of the volcano, leaving a large expanse of crater floor surrounded by 600-metre high crater walls. After driving up the slopes, you can stand on the rim, and look down into this UNESCO World Heritage Site and its contained ecosystem, teeming with a remarkable variety of animals.
A descent into the crater is rewarded by the spectacular vistas, as well as good chances to spot elephant, black rhinoceros, lion, serval and flamingoes in Lake Magadi. Only four lodges dot the rim of the crater, with other accommodation options in camps slightly further out along the slopes, as well as down in the foothills of the crater around the town of Karatu. An airstrip exists, but due to its altitude and weather concerns, the Manyara airstrip (less than an hour’s drive away) is usually used as a proxy for Ngorongoro.
The NCA is an extension of the greater Serengeti ecosystem, and adjoins the Serengeti National Park towards the north-west. To the west is Ndutu, which is considered to be southern Serengeti, but technically part of NCA (important with regard to park fees).
See Destinations →
Tarangire
Most famous for its elephant herds, baobab trees and sometimes tree-climbing lions, Tarangire has an astounding number of bird species and sightings. The park is named for the Tarangire River that runs through the park, and the swamps scattered through the park entice hundreds of bird species to locate their breedings grounds there. Kuro airstrip serves Tarangire.
See Destinations →
