Tanzania's Northern Safari Circuit

nia's Northern Circuit is celebrated for some ofthe northern parks and game viewing is by
the best wildlife safaris in Africa. To embark on aclosed-sided vehicle. There are possibilities to walk
Tanzanian safari will most certainly be the mostin certain concession areas, such as around
exciting and memorial adventure you will everKlein’s Camp, outside the Serengeti
take; returning home with memories that will lastNational Park boundaries and in the Ngorongoro
a lifetime. However, be warned. Once visited,Conservation Area Crater Highlands.
Tanzania will have you wanting to return again andOliver’s Camp, in the wilderness area of
again to this matchless destination. Tanzaniathe Tarangire, offers superb walking safaris with
boasts the unparalleled Serengeti, the stunning andan option to camp out in the park overnight. Also
unique Ngorongoro Crater and many otherthe Western Kilimanjaro offers walking safaris
extensive parks and game rich reserves. Thiswith Maasai guides in the private concessions on
whole region has a natural abundance of wildlife,the Kenyan border.
the icing on the cake being the last great annualThe annual migration of herds in Northern
migration left on our planet, when millions ofTanzania and Kenya is one of the world's most
animals thunder across the northern reaches ofspectacular wildlife events. Often referred to as
this vast country.the ‘Greatest Show on Earth', The Great
How to go about this safari adventure dependsMigration is a movement of over one million
on your personal preferences. This vast area iswildebeest and zebra throughout the Serengeti
best explored by a 4x4 and if your budget allowsand Maasai Mara ecosystems.
you, combine this with a flying safari in order toDespite the confusion of the many maps and
get to the more remote areas. Tanzania offersillustrations showing the path of the migrating
by way of accommodation on the safari aherds, it must be said, as with anything in Nature,
combination of stylish private campingthe actual pattern is unpredictable. The migration
concessions, luxurious mobile camping or elegantdepends upon the rains and the rains are
permanent tented camps.unpredictable. If the rain pattern changes, so will
If you want the remote, less traveled area ofthe migration. If the rains are late, so will be the
Tanzania, the exciting, off the beaten track safarimigration.
locations, then the best option is to fly to theA rough guide to the migration is as follows:
remote reaches where the roads of TanzaniaFrom December to March the Migration
simply do not exist. These parks boast fantasticcongregates around Ndutu, in the far south of the
camps – sometimes being the only campSerengeti.
or lodge in a million hectares.From April to May, the Migration moves North into
If the migration in the Serengeti is high on yourthe plains of the central and southern Serengeti.
agenda then a luxury mobile tented safari is theBetween June and July the Migration splits in two;
best option. Usually it is often obligatory to fly toone group goes West into the Western Corridor
a localized start point for this kind of game safari.before crossing the Grumeti River, the other
To give a rough guide on price - the differences inheading directly to the North of the Serengeti
quality, remoteness and luxury are directly relatedpassing near Klein’s Camp.
to the cost. For example, a private 4x4 LandFrom August to October the Migration is usually in
Rover safari, staying in good quality lodges, willthe Maasai Mara in Kenya, returning South across
cost around $500 per person per night.the Tanzanian border in November.
A flying safari staying in moderately priced campsI would advise anyone wanting a migration safari
will cost around $800 per person per night. Theseto research and speak to a few operators in
camps are fantastic quality and fixed in oneTanzania. The semi permanent camps in the
location, although some in the Serengeti are luxurySerenegeti are luxury camps that move three or
semi-mobile tented camps. Private mobile tentedfour times per year to follow the migration and in
safaris are luxury mobile camps organizedmy opinion, these camps are the safest option
exclusively for your itinerary and are likely to costfor being close up and personal with the migratory
a lot more than the permanent camps.animals.
No walking [with a few exceptions] is allowed in