“Nyota njema huonekana asubuhi,” which means a beautiful star is seen in the morning. Have a beautiful morning by going for a lion safari in Tanzania and seeing the strong lions with compacted bodies in national parks such as:
- Lake Manyara National Park: Lake Manyara National Park is located near a slow-flowing body of open water that occupies a land depression referred to as Lake Manyara. This park is home to pink flamingos that beautify the lake, captivating tourists for hours. Travelers don’t only observe the birds but also the amazing climbing lions. Many think that only primates and some reptiles can climb trees, but when you visit this park, you’ll see these eye-catching carnivores and giraffes stretching their long necks to eat leaves from acacia trees. The National Park lives up to its reputation by providing excellent services, including security and accommodations such as Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge, Roika Tarangire Tented Lodge, Octagon Lodge, Africa Safari Glamping, and Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, to name a few. Guests are allowed to enter the park after paying an entry fee of $59 during the high season, and during the low season, it’s only $53 for adults. Children pay a fee of $17.7, while those below five years enter for free. Despite potential traffic on the road, it’s a favorable, cost-effective, flexible, and comfortable means of transport. Air transport, on the other hand, is fast, luxurious, and adventurous, catering to big spenders or those with concerns about car fumes. Don’t just seek happiness; create it by participating in activities within the park, such as fishing. Local people use unique techniques for fishing, and it’s surprising to see the great number of fish they catch, which is worth peering at by tourists. Birdwatching is another activity, as flamingos grace the shore, resembling pink floating flowers that reflect the pink rays from one direction to another, capturing the attention of photographers who appreciate beauty and nature. A hot air balloon trip is available to view features that are hard to observe from the ground.
- Serengeti National Park: You can hear the sound of lions at the park’s entry, indicating the presence of these mighty rulers in the savanna land, continuously searching for herbivores, reptiles, and primates. You can enjoy the expedition after paying an entry fee of $70 for adults, $20 for children per day, and young ones below five years are allowed to access the park for free. Accommodations in the park range from luxury, midrange, to humble. Luxury options include Four Seasons Safari Lodge, Melia Serengeti Lodge, Mbalageti Serengeti, and One Nature Hotel Nyaruswiga. Midrange accommodations consist of Serengeti Simba Lodge, Seronera Wildlife Lodge, Thorn Tree Tented Camp, and Lobo Wildlife Lodge. Humble options include Serengeti Savanna Camp, Africa Safari Serengeti, and La’Tonya Safari Hotel. Transportation is available by road and air, with activities such as trekking. This involves walking on foot with security personnel to see different fauna in the park and their feeding habits. Hot air balloon safaris make tourists joyful, as the upward force that propels the balloon leaves them excited to try it again. The balloon is powered by fire and has a wooden basket for passengers to fly beyond the skies.
- Ngorongoro Crater: This enormous intact volcanic caldera is home to a variety of wildlife, including lions, leopards, tigers, cheetahs, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, antelopes, zebras, buffaloes, monkeys, baboons, snakes, and lizards. Means of transport include road transport by boarding a tour vehicle from the international airport upon your arrival or by traveling from the calm city of Dodoma, which is the capital of Tanzania. You can visit deluxe outing places and then set off for your safari the following morning. Alternatively, you can fly from Arusha airport, which serves as the gateway to Ngorongoro National Park, although Kilimanjaro airport is also an option. There are many stimulating activities, including mountain climbing on Kilimanjaro mountain (8 days, 7 nights via the Machame route), which improves cardiovascular endurance and overall fitness, engages the core muscles, improves balance, and allows you to enjoy the fresh mountain air while losing weight. You can also visit historical sites like Olduvai Gorge and Empakaai Crater. Olduvai Gorge is known as the cradle of mankind, where the oldest archaeological discoveries were made. Empakaai Crater, a neighbor to Ngorongoro Crater, was formed by a volcanic eruption, resulting in a caldera later filled with water, now reaching a depth of 85 meters, with water changing colors depending on the reflection of the sky.
Accommodations at the park include:
- Luxury: Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge (Tanzanian Shilling 13,329,890), The Retreat at Ngorongoro (Tanzanian Shilling 1,867,761), Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge.
- Midrange: Ngorongoro Corridor Lodge (Tanzanian Shilling 371,370), Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, Ngorongoro Lodge (a member of the Melia Collection).
- Humble: Entamanu Camp, Kirurumu Ngorongoro, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge.
The entry fee for expatriates visiting Ngorongoro Crater is $35.4 for adults, $11.8 for children, and free entry for children below five years of age.
Budget safaris in Tanzania include:
- 6-Day Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Tarangire: A 6-day camping safari covering Lake Manyara, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro National Park, and Tarangire National Park, with accommodations inside the parks (except for Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks).
- 4-Day Northern Tanzania Group Budget Sharing Safari: A popular safari costing $790, allowing tourists to visit Tanzania’s wild areas such as Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, and Serengeti National Park.
- 6-Day Highlights Camping in Manyara, Ngorongoro, and Serengeti: This camping experience enables you to see carnivores such as lions, herbivores, primates, reptiles, and the landscape.
- 3-Day Selous Reserve, Nyerere Park Boat, Drive, and Walking: This $430 safari allows tourists to explore the park, observe different animals, take photographs, enjoy boat rides, and visit cultural villages.
- 5-Day Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Lake Manyara Budget: This safari covers the best places in Tanzania, including Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro National Park, and Serengeti National Park, where you can see lions, zebras, rhinos, buffaloes, and enjoy good accommodations.
Luxury safaris in Tanzania include the following destinations:
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Mwiba Wildlife Reserve
- Selous Game Reserve
- Serengeti National Park
- Tarangire National Park
The best time to see lions is during the morning hours when they are hiding and targeting prey. Remember, a hungry lion is an angry lion. In the early morning, they move in prides to look for food. In the late afternoon, after having a long nap of up to 20 hours, they get up to prepare for their nighttime marathon. This schedule allows travelers to witness a large number of lions.
During periods of water scarcity when the national park receives little or no rainfall, animals become uneasy due to the lack of water in their bodies. They migrate from one national park to another in search of water. These movements provide tourists with opportunities to glimpse the moving lions, who are also preparing to hunt.
Water sources in different national parks attract a wide variety of animal species. All creatures need water, and lions take advantage of this by waiting near water sources. They use their sharp claws and teeth to capture prey as water fetchers approach to drink, making them easy targets.
The packing list for any safari in Tanzania should include the following:
- Phone, music, laptop: These items provide entertainment and company during hikes, tracking, and rest periods in your chosen hotel, helping you relax after a long day.
- First aid kit: Since first aid kits within the parks might be far away, it’s advisable to have a personal first aid kit with a good understanding of how to use the equipment. Essential items include scissors for cutting bandages, tweezers for grasping small objects, adhesive tape for securing bandages, triangular bandages for controlling bleeding, and safety pins for fastening bandages.
- Safari clothes: These should include jeans, long-sleeved shirts, jackets, and other appropriate attire. It’s important to avoid colors like yellow, bright blue, white (as it can easily get dirty), and orange. These colors tend to attract African insects, which are known for their dangerous stings or bites that can leave you in discomfort.
- Visa: The visa for Tanzania can be obtained online, and the country welcomes visitors. Be sure to prepare your valid passport and national ID, and then you can fly to the land of the Kiswahili people.