Wildlife and Cultural Safaris
Tanzania has an amazing variety of national parks, game reserves, and conservation areas that highlight the nation's diverse animal, bird, and plant populations. You may also want to learn about and visit some of the 100+ tribes in Tanzania. There is something for everyone in this country! For first-timers, the "Northern Safari Circuit" (including Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and Serengeti National Parks, and Ngorongoro Crater/Conservation Area) is a great chioce for animal viewing, with Maasai and Hadzabe tribes in the area for cultural visits as well. Tanzania's southern and western parks and game reserves have fewer visitors, making them wonderful choices for those with more time to spend on their first safari, or especially for return visitors. The southern and western parks usually require adding on safari flights, where Northern Circuit safaris can be done as driving safaris (with the option to fly and meet your vehicle/guide if your budget allows). Game drives are led by experienced driver guides who will amaze you with their ability to spot animals. Customized four wheel drive safari vehicles (usually specially modified Toyota Land Cruisers) have pop up roofs or removable roof panels for amazing photo and game viewing opportunities. Every client gets a window seat on our safaris.
Family Safaris
This is an opportunity for parent(s) or grandparent(s), aunts or uncles to bring children to experience an amazing wildlife safari. Custom itineraries are designed to keep kids' interest while offering adults a wonderful experience as well. Time for cultural interaction with local tribes is included. A school visit and school supply donation project can be a highlight, and playing soccer together can make for amazing memories. Recommended for ages 10 and up, although younger children can be accomodated in some (not all) camps and lodges.
Visiting with local Tanzanians
Meeting local people and learning about new cultures can be an amazing experience. We can build as much opportunity for cultural interaction into your safari itinerary as you would like. In the Ngorongoro area we might arrange a visit to a local Maasai "boma" (home) where you will be amazed at the difference from your daily life. This can be a short visit of 1-2 hours near the main road. For more in depth visits, we suggest you schedule a day of your safari to visit a village more "off the beaten path". The Maasai in rural areas still follow their traditional lifestyle of cattle herding and polygamous marriage. However, change is ever-present and we can visit a local primary school for boys - and girls! - where we often arrange donations of school supplies. Near Lake Eyasi, the Hadzabe hunter-gatherer people still follow their traditional way of life, using bows and arrows to hunt for wild animals and constructing temporary huts as they follow the food supply. You can spend time visiting with the Hadzabe and learning about their fascinating way of life, or even follow them as they hunt.
Serengeti National Park
The vast Serengeti Plains are home to an amazing display of predators and prey. Although animals are present year-round in the Serengeti, January through June is the optimal time to visit the Serengeti and see the "Great Migration" of wildebeest, zebra, and other animals. At other times of year the migration may be over the border in Kenya, or in the farthest reaches of Serengeti - requiring more travel time to reach your destination, and added expense. Short flights between Arusha and Serengeti cut down on driving time if your budget allows, since it's about 6-7 hours driving between Arusha and central Serengeti. We often break up that long drive by visiting other parks on the way to or from Serengeti and spending a night en route. By special request, multi-day walking safaris can be arranged where you hike from camp to camp accompanied by a guide or ranger. This is a truly fantastic experience that gets you really close to nature and allows you to explore on foot, but is more expensive than a typical driving safari since your camp and crew have to move with you.
Ngorongoro Crater
This volcanic caldera is world-famous, and for good reason! Many animals make their homes here year-round, making the game-viewing less dependent on the seasons than certain areas of the Serengeti, for example. Although you will see lots of other safari vehicles, you will usually see lots of animals as well. Rhinos are spotted here more commonly than in the Serengeti. By special request, multi-day walking safaris can be arranged in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area between the Crater Rim and the Serengeti National Park border (not inside the Crater itself). This is a unique experience, as you will experience the wildlife on foot and will likely interact with the local Massai tribes who live in this area.
Arusha National Park
This is a hidden gem of a park, small but scenic and easily added as a day trip from Arusha area lodges. Not far from the city of Arusha, it is easily accessible, uncrowded, and beautiful. Mount Meru, Tanzania's second highest mountain, looms overhead while Mount Kilimanjaro can be seen in the distance. Arusha National Park is a great place to experience an acclimatization safari day on arrival before heading to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Short hikes with rangers can be arranged to help with acclimatization if you are planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. The endangered Black and White Colobus Monkey is often seen here, as are buffalo, giraffe, zebra, Dik Dik, and other herbivores. Predators are more rarely seen in this park.
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire is a classic dry-season park to visit from July-October. It has open plains, woodlands, and baobab trees. Often we visit it this time of year when the game is in the distant part of the Serengeti so not as accessible there. Usually in December-March we visit Serengeti instead, if you have sufficient time in your itinerary. Tarangire is only about 2 hours driving from Arusha, so it's a great choice if you only have 1-2 days for safari.
Lake Manyara National Park
A small park with a unique ecosystem surrounding Lake Manyara. Well known for its birdlife, tree-climbing lions, and elephants. It is at the edge of the Great Rift Valley. We often visit it for a half day since it is right on the way driving between Arusha city or Tarangire National Park and Ngorongoro Crater/Serengeti.
Southern and Western Tanzania Parks and Game Reserves
Our custom trips can include these parks such as Selous, Ruaha, and Katavi, as well as Gombe or Mahale for chimpanzee viewing expeditions. These parks involve greater travel distances than the Northern Safari Circuit and more complicated logistics, so they are best for those with with plenty of time and sufficient budget. These are great choices to get away from the more heavily visited Northern Circuit parks, especially for repeat visitors to Tanzania.
Zanzibar and Pemba Islands
It's always a wonderful idea to end your trip with a stay on the spice islands! The beaches, snorkeling, diving, and culture are amazing. Accommodations of all levels are available - just ask us for information. Prices vary depending on the level of lodge/hotel you choose.
Serengeti Pride Safaris & Kilimanjaro Climbs
Serengeti Pride Company, Ltd.
PO Box 764
Usa River, Arusha, Tanzania
255 (0) 785 353 534 (Tanzania)
508-241-1001 (USA, Eastern time zone)