8 DAYS TANZANIA SAFARI TARANGIRE/NGORONGORO/SERENGETI/LOBO/LAKE NATRON/LAKE MANYARA

This sounds like an incredible and comprehensive safari itinerary covering some of the absolute highlights of Tanzania’s Northern Safari Circuit, with an exciting addition of Lake Natron. Let’s break down each location and what makes it special in this potential safari journey.

Here’s an overview of the Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti (including Lobo), Lake Natron, and Lake Manyara safari:

1. Tarangire National Park

• Location: South of Arusha, approximately 2-3 hours drive.
• What makes it special:
  • Elephants: Famous for its enormous elephant herds, often seen digging for water in the dry riverbeds.
  • Baobab Trees: Iconic baobab trees are scattered across the landscape, creating a unique and picturesque backdrop.
  • Dry Season Haven: During the dry season (June-October), the Tarangire River acts as a magnet for wildlife, making game viewing excellent.
  • Diverse Landscape: Features a mix of grasslands, acacia woodlands, and swamps.
  • Good for Birds: Over 550 bird species have been recorded, making it a birder’s paradise.
  • Other wildlife: Lions, leopards, cheetahs, wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, buffalo, and various antelopes. Rare species like the fringe-eared oryx and gerenuk can also be found.

2. Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) & Ngorongoro Crater

• Location: West of Arusha, a few hours drive from Tarangire.
• What makes it special:
  • The Crater: The main draw is the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact and unflooded volcanic caldera. It’s often called the “Garden of Eden” or “Africa’s Eden” due to its incredible density of wildlife.
  • “Big Five” in one day: One of the few places where you have a very good chance of seeing all of the “Big Five” (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo) in a single day. It has the highest density of predators in Africa.
  • Black Rhino: Home to a significant population of the critically endangered black rhino.
  • Stunning Scenery: The crater walls provide a breathtaking backdrop, and the varied micro-climates within support diverse ecosystems.
  • Maasai Coexistence: It’s a unique conservation area where Maasai people are permitted to live and graze their livestock alongside wildlife, offering cultural interaction opportunities (outside the crater floor).
  • Olduvai Gorge: Often visited en-route to the Serengeti, this archaeological site is crucial for understanding human evolution.

3. Serengeti National Park (including Lobo Area)

• Location: North of the Ngorongoro Crater, a vast park extending to the Kenyan border.
• What makes it special:
  • Great Migration: The undisputed highlight is the annual Great Migration of wildebeest and zebras, a natural spectacle involving millions of animals. Its timing is seasonal, but the Serengeti always offers exceptional wildlife viewing.
  • Vast Plains: The name “Serengeti” means “endless plains” in Maasai, and it lives up to its name, offering incredibly expansive vistas.
  • Predators: Renowned for its large populations of lions, leopards (often seen in trees), cheetahs, hyenas, and other predators that follow the migratory herds.
  • Lobo Area: Located in the northern Serengeti.
    • Migration Hotspot (July-November): During these months, the Great Migration often passes through the Lobo area as herds move towards and cross the Mara River into Kenya. This is a prime location for witnessing river crossings.
    • Year-round Resident Game: Even outside the migration, Lobo has excellent resident wildlife due to its permanent water sources.
    • Remote & Wild: It feels more remote and less crowded than the central Seronera area of the Serengeti, offering a more exclusive safari experience.
    • Lobo Wildlife Lodge: A famous lodge built into kopjes (rocky outcrops) that often has wildlife walking right by or even through the lodge.

4. Lake Natron

• Location: Northeast of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, in a more remote, arid part of the Rift Valley. This is often an adventurous drive on rough roads.
• What makes it special:
  • Flamingos: Famous as the primary breeding ground for the lesser flamingo in East Africa. Millions of flamingos gather here, creating a vibrant pink spectacle against the blood-red, highly alkaline waters.
  • Ol Doinyo Lengai: Located nearby, this is the only active volcano in the world that erupts natrocarbonatite lava, which is cooler and more fluid than basaltic lava. It’s sacred to the Maasai. Hikes to its summit are possible for the very fit and adventurous (typically done at night).
  • Cultural Experience: This area is predominantly Maasai land, offering opportunities for cultural interactions and walks with Maasai guides.
  • Engare Sero Waterfalls: A refreshing oasis with beautiful waterfalls and pools where you can swim, a welcome respite from the arid landscape.
  • Unique Landscape: A stark, beautiful, and otherworldly landscape defined by the alkaline lake, volcanic peaks, and arid plains.
  • Off-the-beaten-path: Visiting Lake Natron adds an adventurous and unique element to a traditional safari, taking you away from the main tourist circuit.

5. Lake Manyara National Park

• Location: On the way back to Arusha from the Ngorongoro area, at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment.
• What makes it special:
  • Tree-Climbing Lions: One of the few places in Africa where lions are known to regularly climb trees. While not guaranteed, spotting them draped over branches is a highlight.
  • Diverse Habitats: Despite its small size, it boasts an incredible diversity of habitats, including a shallow soda lake, groundwater forest, acacia woodlands, and open grasslands.
  • Birdlife: Over 400 bird species, including large flocks of flamingos (though fewer than Natron), pelicans, storks, and cormorants.
  • Elephant and Giraffe herds: Good sightings of elephants and giraffes, often in the forest.
  • Baboons: Famous for its large troops of baboons, often seen along the roadside.
  • Hippos: Hippos can be seen at close range in the Hippo Pool.
  • Scenic Beauty: The backdrop of the Great Rift Valley escarpment is stunning.

Typical Safari Flow:

A common flow for an itinerary covering these areas would be:

1. Arusha (Arrival/Overnight)
2. Tarangire (Game drive, overnight)
3. Lake Manyara (Game drive, overnight – sometimes done on the way to/from Ngorongoro)
4. Ngorongoro Crater (Full day game drive in the crater, overnight on the rim)
5. Serengeti (Central Seronera) (Game drive en-route, full day game drives)
6. Serengeti (Lobo – North Serengeti) (Move north, game drives, migration viewing in season)
7. Lake Natron (Adventurous drive, explore the lake, waterfalls, cultural visit, Ol Doinyo Lengai views)
8. Return to Arusha/Departure (Possibly with a final game drive in Lake Manyara if not done earlier)

This combination offers an incredible breadth of experiences, from the classic “Big Five” safari to unique landscapes and cultural encounters. It’s a fantastic choice for those wanting to delve deep into the wonders of Northern Tanzania.