Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ITINERARIES
Don't be tempted to try to fit too much in to your itinerary. Distances in Tanzania are long,
and at the end, hopping from park to park is likely to leave you tired, unsatisfied and feeling
that you haven't even scratched the surface. More rewarding: longer periods at just one or
two parks, exploring in depth what each has to offer, and taking advantage of cultural and
walking opportunities in park border areas.
Northern Parks
Arusha National Park is easily visited as a day trip. Tarangire and Lake Manyara parks are
frequently accessed as overnight trips from Arusha, although both deserve more time to do
them justice. For a half-week itinerary, try any of the northern parks alone (for the Serengeti,
it's worth considering flying at least one way, since it's a full day's drive from Arusha), or
Ngorongoro Crater together with either Lake Manyara or Tarangire. With a week, you will
have just enough time for the classic combination of Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Ngorongoro
and the Serengeti, but it's better to focus on just two or three of these. The Serengeti alone,
or in combination with Ngorongoro Crater, could easily keep you happy for a week. Many
operators offer a standard three-day tour of Lake Manyara, Tarangire and Ngorongoro (or
a four- to five-day version including the Serengeti). However, distances to Ngorongoro and
the Serengeti are long, and the trip is likely to leave you feeling that you've spent too much
time rushing from park to park and not enough time settling in and experiencing the actual
environments.
In addition to these more conventional itineraries, there are countless other possibilities
combining wildlife viewing with visits to other areas. For example, you might begin with a
vehicle safari in the Ngorongoro Crater followed by a climb of Ol Doinyo Lengai, trekking
elsewhere in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, relaxing at one of the lodges around Karatu or
visiting Lake Eyasi. Alternatively, combine travel around Lake Victoria and a visit to Ru-
bondo Island National Park with the Serengeti.
Southern Parks
Mikumi and Saadani National Parks are good destinations from Dar es Salaam if you only
have a couple of nights. Three to four days would be ideal for Selous Game Reserve, or
for Ruaha National Park, if you fly. Mikumi and Udzungwa Mountains National Parks are
a potential safari-hiking combination. Recommended week-long combination itineraries in-
clude Selous and Ruaha, and Ruaha and Katavi, in the west, both of which allow you to
sample markedly different terrain and wildlife populations. The Ruaha-Katavi combination
is increasingly popular given the availability of flights between the two parks. The expanded
flight network linking the southern and western parks with the coast has opened up the pos-
sibility for longer itineraries combining time on the coast or islands with safaris in Ruaha,
