East Africa is the quintessential African safari destination in the tradition of Karen Blixen of Out of Africa fame. It should be on every nature lover’s bucket list. Africa Safari Expert Tatham Liprini went on an East African safari to some of the region’s most stunning attractions – including the Masai Mara, Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater. She shares her impressions of her memorable experience.
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We did a driving circuit in Tanzania and started off with an overnight stay in Arusha, then drove into Tarangire National Park where we spent a night. Tarangire is a great place for ’fly-camping’, which is an adventurous, private and unique experience, offered as part of a walking safari, where you go on a walk accompanied by a guide to experience a private night out of the main camp. Your walk usually ends when you arrive at a very intimate temporary mobile camp that’s been set up for your convenience. The night is spent sitting around the campfire under a starry sky, with the guide preparing your dinner on the open fire and stories shared about the day’s events.
From Tarangire we drove approximately three hours to Lake Manyara National Park. It is a beautiful scenic drive as you pass the surrounding villages and children who get very excited and wave as you drive by.
It was very interesting to see how landscapes change as you drive from the dry grasslands of Tarangire into the lush forests around Lake Manyara. The next day we headed through the town of Karatu into Ngorongoro Crater.
We spent the day in the Crater, which was amazing! One thing to note is that it can get busy especially compared to Tarangire. Large crowds and high visitor numbers mean that sometimes there can be a queue at the Crater gate.
Our last stop in Tanzania was the Serengeti. It is about three to four hours’ drive from the Crater to the Serengeti, driving via the northern part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (also known as Ndutu). There is lots to see here and you can look forward to a game drive as you head to the Serengeti! A very special sighting during our drive was a cheetah and a serval that we hadn’t seen yet. You can also off-road in this area so you can get closer to the game. It can get very dry and dusty so make sure to pack a buff or scarf.
Top travel tips
All of these areas are must-sees. There is not one destination that we visited that I would not recommend. Remember your sunblock and a hat, and a buff for the dust! Wear lots of layers and thin clothing as it can be chilly in the mornings and evenings but gets very warm during the day. Relax at the beach after your safari, both Kenya and Tanzania combine really well with Zanzibar or Diani beach on the Kenyan coast and are wonderful destinations to add on to your East Africa Safari.
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