Journey through Tanzania with Destination Expert Patti! From the vast plains of the Serengeti to the colorful cultures of the Maasai and Hadzabe tribes, witness wildlife in action, immerse yourself in ancient traditions, and experience the breathtaking landscapes of this incredible destination. 

Jambo from Tanzania! I am Patti, a Destination Expert with SA Expeditions, on a whirlwind trip through Tanzania’s northern circuit with our incredible local guide, Charles. 

A Magical First Safari Day in Tarangire National Park

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We spotted zebras in Tarangire National Park! (Photo: Patti Collins)

After a night’s rest in our arrival city, Arusha, we made a beautiful 2-hour drive through the Massai pastoral lands to Tarangire National Park. Tarangire is a less visited but incredibly worthwhile stop before heading to the must-see destinations of Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. Known for its prolific elephant population, Tarangire is also the best place to see the iconic Tree of Life, the bao bao. After exploring the park and encountering elephants, gazelles, zebras, giraffes, baboons and more, we headed to Honeyguide Camp for a delicious dinner and our first bush sunset. Exhausted and enriched from our first day on safari, the luxurious bed in my tent provided a wonderful place to fall asleep listening to the not-too-distant calls of wildlife. 

Banana Beer, Tuk Tuks, and Sunset at Lake Eyasi 

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A tuk tuk ride and visiting local artisans. (Photo: Patti Collins)

We said goodbye to Tarangire National Park and headed Northwest around Lake Manyara to Mto Wa Mbu, a “melting pot” of 120 tribes who live and work in harmony. We took tuk tuks off the main road and visited multiple businesses including a rice paddy, a banana farm, and a local market. We also visited artisans who create beautiful woodwork and paintings and who teach their skills to school children. After sampling the local banana beer, we had one of the best meals of our trip made by local women. We had 16 different dishes cooked in cast iron over fire. All the ingredients were grown locally, including rice!  

From there we went to our next lodging at Kisima Ngeda Camp on Lake Eyasi. The lake, formed by rainwater alone, normally dries up when the rains end, but it has held water for the last 4 years and now has fish, which bring in beautiful waterfowl. We were treated to a beautiful sunset over the water before another wonderful dinner and rest in our lovely tents. 

Tradition and Skill Among Tanzania’s Indigenous Tribes 

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Visiting the Detoga and Hadzabe tribe. (Photo: Patti Collins)

The next morning, we woke up a watched the Maasai herders draped in red cloth, called Shukas, tend their cows and goats. It was a beautiful and emblematic scene. 

In addition to seeing many Maasai at work, we had the chance to spend a morning with the Hadzabe tribe, who are hunter/gatherers as opposed to herders. We arrived as they were preparing their bows and arrows. We followed behind the hunters and their dogs as they sought food for the day. One of the senior tribesmen was able to get a guinea fowl! After the hunt, one of the tribesmen taught me how to shoot the bow and arrow. 

Next, we visited the Detoga tribe, who are blacksmiths by trade. They do not have resources for new metals, so they exclusively melt down and repurpose discarded products. The blacksmiths make the metal arrows for the Hadzabe tribe and trade for meat. They also make jewelry, among other things. I bought a beautiful copper bracelet like the one this man is working on and wearing himself in the photo above! 

Ngorongoro Crater: Wildlife Wonders in a World of Its Own 

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The view and luxury stay at the Ngorongoro Crater were incredible. (Photo: Patti Collins)

From Lake Eyasi, we drove a couple of hours to the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. At about 7,500 feet, the rim offered a breathtaking view of the 2,000-foot drop to the crater floor. This massive natural basin creates its own ecosystem where we saw lions, wildebeest, elephants, jackals, giraffes, and even caught a glimpse of a critically endangered black rhino. With sweeping views across the grasslands and animals filling the plains, it was one of the most unforgettable wildlife experiences of our journey. 

As we made our way out of the crater, a rainbow arched across the sky above a grazing herd of zebras—a moment that felt almost unreal. Later, we watched the sunset over the caldera from Crater’s Edge, our incredible lodge perched right on the rim. After an incredible five-course dinner, I was more than ready to settle into my beautiful tent for the night. 

Ancient Earth and Lush Landscapes in Ndutu 

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Olduvai Gorge and Ndutu wildlife! (Photo: Patti Collins)

Sad to leave the caldera, but excited to see what was next, we headed towards Ndutu with a stop along the way at Olduvai Gorge, where you can actually see the exposed layers of Earth that reveal millions of years of history. Fossils and stone tools found in these layers include some of the earliest known remains of our human ancestors, like Homo habilis and Paranthropus. It was amazing to stand in a place where so much of the human story has been uncovered. 

As we got closer to Ndutu, the hills turned into plains filled with grazing animals. We arrived at our next lodging, Laba Laba, a mobile migration camp, though still elegant and lovely, in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive. We saw, among other creatures, gazelles, dik diks, giraffes, flamingos, hippos, hyenas, and so many lions! The green season landscape was lush and beautiful, and the wildlife was still abundant as the migrating herds were just heading into the Southern Serengeti. March was definitely a great time to be in Ndutu. 

Following the Great Migration Across the Serengeti 

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It was a once-in-a-lifetime moment to witness the Great Migration in the Serengeti! (Photo: Patti Collins)

As we headed into Serengeti National Park, we caught up to the Great Migration! We encountered countless wildebeests and zebras. Some were grazing, some were running, and others were walking in a line like playing follow the leader. In addition to the migrating herds, there were numerous prides of lions following their prey. In the daylight, the lions seemed super sleepy and lazy, but we could hear their roars as they hunted at night.  

We visited a few different camps in the Serengeti, and all were spectacular! Our last stop, in particular, Nimali Mara, in the North, was a bit different than any other we saw as it was built seamlessly into the kopjes (huge rock hills). On the entrance side, you don’t see a lot, but when you walk through the main area, it opens up to incredible views across the plains where the wildebeest and zebra herds gather before crossing the Mara River into Kenya. We were a bit ahead of the migration at this point, but the sweeping views were still incredible. Everything about this property was top notch – the atmosphere, food, service, accommodations, and a surprise sundowner on top of a kopje. What a wondrous last evening in Tanzania!