From the Maasai dialect, Serengeti literally means “endless plains.” The Serengeti National Park is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is popular for its sheer number of wildlife species. The main attraction of the site is the yearly migration of more than a million wildebeests and hundreds of thousands of zebras.

The park is about 5700 square miles, consisting of savannah and woodlands. It is at the north of Tanzania, bordering to Kenya. The region has a warm-equatorial climate. Other than the migration of ungulates (zebras and wildebeests) there are many other species too. Visitors and hunters have labeled the lions, leopards, black rhinos, elephants and buffaloes as the “Big Five.” Like other Tanzanian National Parks, Serengeti has hundreds of bird varieties. These include the ostrich, Kori bustard, crane, stork and some 500 species more.

Visitors can enjoy on-foot safari trips. They may also opt to ride hot air balloons and explore from the heights. The Serengeti is also located near the historically rich Olduvai Gorge. It has museums with artifacts from early hominids. The Ngorongoro Crater is also accessible for the Serengeti National Park.

People can come to the park anytime in the year. But to watch the migration of the million wildebeests, it is best to visit during December to July. On the other hand, predators like lions and cheetahs are more visible during June to October.

Several campsites and lodges are scattered within the park, including the new Bilila Lodge. There are luxury camps and tent camps too. They offer rock music parties and world class foods. They can even arrange lunch or meals on the plains too.

The sixth largest national park in Africa is called the Tarangire National Park. The park owns a large collection of baobab trees. It may not be as well known as the other parks up north- the Tarangire National Park is one of Africa’s secret yet not so secret spots in the northern safari circuit- one in fact of the most underrated greats in Africa.

It was named after a nearby river called Tarangire. It has the same attractions as the parks up-north- the only difference is that this place is not usually as crowded as the other ones. Going here would be a good chance for research, recreational activities and soul-searching. In here, you are bound to intertwine with the spirits of the earth as you roam around every tree, every vine and every root in the jungle – it is bound to be a very exciting adventure.

A lot of migratory animals aim to reside here during the dry season. You can see groups and herds of animals like 600 elephants followed by zebras, buffalos and oryxes who ventured from the Maasai to the Tarangire in search for water. There are also a few lions prowling around and looking for unsuspecting preys around the jungle. Some of the other animals that you may see here are antelopes, warthogs, hippos, cheetahs, leopards, foxes, jackals and waterbucks.

Like in any part of Africa, this part is also known for its avian diversity. There lives here a variety of birds beaming with wonderful colors. Some examples of these are the Yellow-collared lovebirds, various types of storks, herons, kingfishers and the paradise whyder.

Dar Es Salaam Village Museum or Makabusho is a Tanzanian village filled with traditional homes representing 18 ethnic tribes. The whole place is filled with galleries and museums of traditional carvings by local artisans. It also contains many traditional paintings and weave-works. It will obviously give you a glimpse of the Tanzanian tribe’s ethnic cultures and open your world as you explore this country’s history.

Some of the famous tourist destinations here in Dar es Salaam are the Azania Lutheran Church, Mikumi National Park, Ruaha National Park, The Botanical Gardens and the National Museum. It also has the The Makabunsh Village Museum, Old Boma, St Joseph’s Cathedral, Karimjee Hall and the Askari Monument within its boundaries.

The English term for the Arabic term “Dar es Salaam” is “House of Peace.” Its funny how ironic the name is to the current condition of the place. It’s a busy place during the day but terribly hazardous during night.

Other sights include the clock tower and the Karikaroo market. For entertainment, there are restaurants and bars near the beach. Ngoma tribal dances which often end with acrobatic performances are also performed within the village to entertain spectators.

If you are looking forward for a cultural and exotic adventure, better prepare your tickets and visit the stunning city of Stone Town. Found in Tanzania’s center of tourism, Zanzibar, Stone Town can surely free you from the everyday stresses of the urban cities.

Aside from being the home of an array of coral reefs, Zanzibar is also famed for its Stone Town. Known worldwide as the perfect example of Eastern Africa’s earlier civilizations, Stone Town is an adventure into the past. Its name came from the coralline rock many ancient households had used to build their homes. Nowadays, those same structures made from the same coralline rocks still garnish the whole town, making it an extraordinary place for you to visit.

In addition to the houses, ancient Arabic architectures were perfectly preserved in this vast area within Zanzibar. Since this region of Tanzania was once the center for trading in the Indian Ocean, there area many artifacts that have been left behind from foreign cultures. These would include the elaborate wood carvings coming from Arabian roots, the numerous streets and alleys mingled with the ancient appearances, and the ornate brass finishing in many of the doors used for the houses. The intricate designs most of the Muslim’s ancestors had created are still alive here, including their old mosques and other interesting buildings. No wonder Stone Town is chosen by UNESCO as a member of the World’s World Heritage Sites. On that note, many architectural and historical students would indeed love to witness the rich and abundant evidences of the ancient world’s beauty and grandeur.

Other things to experience are the lively bazaars that feature some of the most exquisite rituals and dances popular in Tanzania. Usually, these celebrations are accompanied by the Taarab music endemic to the island, thus further enhancing the culture of this tourist spot you will surely want to experience.

Mount Kilimanjaro attracts a lot of trekkers who walk and reach the summit to see the rising of a new day, symbolizing the rebirth and renewal of life.

Mount Kilimanjaro is an inactive strato-volcano with three volcanic cones: Sira, KIbo and Mawenzi. It is the highest peak in Africa today granting that it is 5895 meters high. The origins of the mountain’s name remain unknown until today- but of course people have some few hypotheses. Myth number one states that it came from two Swahili words: Kilima and Njaro. Kilima is Swahili for hill while Njaro was supposed to be some ancient term for shining. Another theory is that it came from the words Kileajao and Kilmanare. However, there are a lot of loopholes and unanswered questions tailing these intelligent guesses that they could not come up with a concrete answer.

The inactive volcano holds some unusual vegetation around its lower half, namely the water holding cabbage. It also has 1200 species of vascular plants. Unlike the other mountains on east Africa, this famous mountain has no bamboo growing around it. Mega-herbivores reside on these dry slopes without bamboos. On its southern part which is a bit- more moist compared to the northern part, contain plants and trees such as junipers, olives and podocarpus. You can also find giant ferns, vines, figs and a vast number of flowers in the clearer parts of the mountain. There’s also a variety of colorful birds here which makes the overall ambiance more soothing and appealing to the eye. Some of the birds that usually fly around here are the turaco and the hornbill. There are also blue and colobus monkeys roaming around here, as well as Leopards and antelopes.

The continent of Africa can truly amaze many of us with its vast forests, breath taking sites and interesting collection of endangered and wild animals. As many travelers have believed, Africa is Nature at its boldest form.

If you are planning to pack your backpacks and spend your vacation on this marvelous continent, remember to include on your list of must-see attractions the Zanzibar Coral Reefs of Tanzania. Praised because of its ability to engulf urban settlers into a new perspective inclined towards Mother Earth, Tanzania is a place you will never want to miss.

Zanzibar is originally from mainland Tanzania, but was broken apart by long ago violent geological activities. Now, the two small islets comprising Zanzibar is a new tourist spot for many travelers. As an archipelago, the whole area of Zanzibar is bounded by wide beaches with growing coconut trees. Also, a vast collection of coral reefs surround the whole location, making it ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. In that case, for you to actually understand the grandeur of Zanzibar Coral Reefs, you might also want to bring with you your diving suits and goggles.

Historically speaking, Zanzibar was formerly called the Prison Island. The reason was because many unjust rulers imprisoned their slaves on this island. However, the former prison now is the center of tourism in Tanzania. In its coral reefs, Zanzibar serves as the home for a large family of giant tortoises. The coral reefs successfully attracted those tortoises believed to have dwelt originally from Seychelles.

Inspired by the oceanic aura, restaurants across the island also offer fish and chips in their menus, side by side with their organic salad. With that, visiting Zanzibar Coral Reefs is truly time well spent.

Selous Game Reserve is one of the largest reserves in the world. Visiting this African game reserve will give you a bewildering sense of forest virginity. This reserve helps protect a large quantity of the animal species. You can also find 350 different species of birds. Some of the mammals include a hundred thousand buffalos, a hundred and fifty thousand wildebeests and a huge population of giraffes. It also contains at least 50 thousand impalas.

One of the best features of the Selous Game reserve is the Rufiji River. It is a hundred meters deep and a hundred meters wide. There are five lakes connected by the Rufiji. You can venture into the heart of the jungle by boat. In the river, you can probably see yundus.

If you’re an adventurous, thrill-seeking and nature loving person, this is the haven for you.

Lake Manyara National Park is well known for its abundance of birds. There are also different varieties of trees which include sausage trees, umbrella trees, baobabs, yellow fever trees and doum palms. There are over 400 species of birds. Some examples are pink flamingos, yellow-billed storks, herons and cockscrews. Mto Wa Mbu is the most popular mosquito creek that you will ever see. It is a small park with mammals including zebras, lions, baboons, impalas, wild beasts, hippos, elephants and buffalos. It is a perfect place for rest and tranquility because it guarantees you a relaxing ambiance to enjoy.

Other than the beautiful scenery there are many other activities to experience. Some of the sports and exercises that you can do here are biking, nature walks, horse riding and rappelling.

The word Manyara comes from the word Maa which is the language of the Maasai, which is the tree plant used to create hedges. The whole place occupies 230 square kilometers. Two thirds of the park is an alkaline lake so the place is mostly submerged in alkaline water.

Tree-climbing lions are also a thrill to see, because they’re the only ones in the world. They are sometimes the only reason why people actually come and pay to visit. There are also rare mahoganies and acacias, which are the only places where lions could find themselves at home. The place is also homes to a lot of baboons-which also makes it concentrated on primate families.

Arusha National Park is the cover of a volcano known as Mount Meru in the region of Arusha in north eastern Tanzania. It may consist of a variety of landscapes, but the park is relatively small only covering 52.9 square miles. The Mountain Meru is the second highest peak next to Kilimanjaro.

The park got its name from the group of people called “Warusha,” who live within the area. It is a gorgeous epitome of magnificence that is very wealthy in different species of animals and exquisitely lovely natural resources. Everywhere in the park gives you an opportunity to observe and appreciate the wonders of this world’s natural wild side.

Because of the variety of plant habitats, there are many different genres of animals and over 400 species of birds that live there. Interestingly enough, there are no lions in the zone. There are different types of bucks living near the water including bushbucks, reedbucks and waterbucks. Apart from that, there are also hyenas, warthogs, elephants, monkeys, buffalos, zebras and hyenas.

Some of the most popular attractions at this park include the Ngurdoto and Meru Craters, lakes of Momela and Mount Meru. The Momela lakes are famous bird-watching spots for tourists. You can also go canoeing there while enjoying the scenery. Mount Meru is a volcano climbed by thrill seekers and adventurer seeking people. Those who dare climb the mountain’s summit will be blessed with the wonderful sights that can be seen.

It is highly advisable to visit during the summer season from the months March to July if you are planning to be outdoors. If you’re just there to go sightseeing, Mt. Kilimanjaro is at its best between December thru February.

The Serengeti migration is a remarkable and a very impressive story. This migration takes place within the Kenya and Tanzania and is considered one of the greatest migration of wildlife on the planet earth. The Serengeti is one of the tenth natural travel wonders of the world. The Serengeti ecosystem is spread across 60,000 square km. When the season changes, thousands of wild life such as wildebeest and zebra migrate to green pasture lands for food and living. While doing so, some are able to make it and some just die during their migration, thus continuing the circle of life. When the wildlife is making an effort to migrate, predators keep a close watch on these migrants so that weak preys can be killed at the right time. The migration happens twice a year. Serengeti has lots and lots of national parks and animal reserves. Statistics show that the Serengeti has more than two million herbivores and thousands of carnivorous animals. To name a few, a lot of blue wild beasts, gazelles, zebras and buffaloes can be found in the region.

During the month of October, almost two million herbivores travel from the north of the hills to the southern plains. And back in April, they return to the north via the west, crossing the Mara River. This cycle is usually referred as the circular migration. The Serengeti is located in the eastern part of Africa. This place is a treat for the tourists who love to be in the wild, with the wildlife. One can spend time in luxurious lodges, tented camps and have fun with the efficiently guided wildlife nature walks and drives in 4 by 4 vehicles.

Pictures & Photos

Sunset on Acacia Tree at Serengeti National Park Tanzania
Photo by: neilspicys

Pair of male lions relaxing in the sun on a rocky outcrop in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Photo by: wwarby

Green Snake on Tree - 1.5 meters long
Photo by: ffffriendly

Dusty Road Leading to the Entrance of Serengeti National Park
Photo by: wwarby

Female Lion on Tree Taking a Break
Photo by: doug88888

Black and White Zebra With a Tiny Friend
Photo by: doug88888

Sunset at Serengeti
Photo by: doug88888

Cheetah in the Grass in Thick Grass
Photo by: wwarby

Superb starling bird perched on a tree branch at the Ngiri Campsite
Photo by: wwarby

Zebras and Buffalos at Serengeti
Photo by: stignygaard

Wildebeest Eaten by Hyena at Serengeti
Photo by: appenz

Elephant Mother Feeding Her Calf
Photo by: doug88888

Looks Like Bambi
Photo by: stignygaard

Giraffe Taking From Behind at Serengeti
Photo by: doug88888

Pink Headed Lizard at Serengeti
Photo by: doug88888