(Entertainment-NewsWire.com, July 11, 2013 ) Planning a “bucket list” trip to visit world-famous Serengeti National Park can be a daunting task. In a park that is 5,700 square miles, how do you decide which are to see, where to stay, and what highlights you shouldn’t miss? Proud African Safaris, specialists in customized, luxury Tanzania safari experiences offers their advice on this “Insiders’ Guide to Serengeti National Park” which covers the ins and outs of every region of this spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site:
Northern Extension
Insider Tips: One of Tanzania’s best kept secrets is the Northern region of the Serengeti. It’s much less crowded and less marketed than Kenya’s Maasai Mara, but this area is definitely worth the trip. For those that want to see a virtually unexplored and untouched landscape rife with exotic wildlife, the northern region is the way to go. The wildlife viewing may be a little more challenging due to the heavily wooded areas, but travelers who decide to venture there are treated to breathtaking landscapes and sightings of animals like hippo, giraffe, eland, topi, and Thompson’s gazelle, among others. This area also contains the largest concentration of elephants in the Serengeti. Best of all, visitors are likely to have the wildlife sightings to themselves with Proud African Safaris guides who can take travelers truly off the beaten path. The best time to visit the Northern region is July through October. What You Can Do: Visitors can experience traditional day and evening game drives (complete with the quintessential sundowner) or have a more first-hand wilderness experience with guided bush walks led by Proud African Safaris experts who have had former experience as biologists, naturalists, and former park rangers. Walks can also be led by camp staff and other experts that are local to the region. Where to Stay: A 5-star accommodation situated in a prime location, Serengeti Bushtops offers ultra-luxe accommodation in the bush. The camp boasts 12 spacious luxury tents and 1 family tent, each with wooden flooring, an en-suite bathroom, hot tub, private veranda, and contemporary furnishings. Guests enjoy round the clock butler service, gourmet food and beverages, and exceptional service.
Central Region
Insider Tips: The Central region is home to an abundance of wildlife that lives here year-round, so it’s a great area to visit any time of the year although it’s probably best during the dry season which runs June through November. Because the central region includes Seronera Valley, it’s not only incredibly beautiful, but is also home to a large number of carnivores because it includes a number of rivers. Resident carnivores like lion, leopard, and cheetah stalk their prey in this area due to the life-giving waters of the river valley, making it a great place for heart-pumping wildlife encounters. However the green season is also a fantastic time to visit as the herds are in the central and southern region because food is so abundant for both herbivores and carnivores alike. The animal populations can feel very “dense” in the green season and visitors are likely to see, for example, a clan of 40 hyenas wallowing in a mud hole. What You Can Do: Get an unparalleled view of this dazzling area from the air on a hot air balloon safari over the Central Serengeti. Visitors can also venture out on bush walks that are led by expert guides or experience the thrill of traditional game drives in a private 4WD game vehicle. Also not to miss is a visit to the Gong Rock, the oldest instrument yet discovered used by man in ancient sub-Saharan Africa thousands of years ago. Where to Stay: Visitors can bed down in the luxury Lemala E-Wanjan Tented Camp, an exclusive 5 star safari camp located in the pristine Seronera Valley. With great access to game viewing and cozy accommodation, each private tent is equipped with large leather beds, ensuite bathrooms, an outside lounge, and more. Guests are treated to gourmet food and alfresco dining, spectacular views, and more.
Western Corridor
Insider Tips: Like the Northern region, the Western region of the Serengeti is an area that seldom gets visitors. This remote corridor branches out from Seronera almost to Lake Victoria and includes vast open plains, woodlands, and landscape dotted with acacia trees. One of the most dramatic spectacles in the Western corridor is the Grumeti River, where thousands of wildebeest cross during their annual migration. Although a little smaller in scale than the Mara River, the Grumeti is home to the Nile crocodile, the worlds’ largest croc, who lie in wait for the wildebeests to cross during the migration. The best time to visit is in the month of June. What You Can Do: See all members of the Big 5 on day and evening game drives or explore the area on foot with a walking safari led by a Tanzanian expert. Where to Stay: The luxurious Kirawira Tented Lodge is idyllically located in the Western Corridor and offers prime real estate for great wildlife viewing. The camp includes 25 spacious tents, individually raised on timber platforms. The rooms include Edwardian style mahogany furnishings and ensuite facilities. Guests can enjoy delicious fare served on bone china or relaxing poolside while enjoying the stunning views.
Eastern Region
Insider Tips: Encompassing a massive area about 50 miles wide, the Eastern region offers an abundance of wildlife during the Serengeti’s wet season. The Gol Kopjes in the Eastern Plains have the largest concentration of cheetahs and hyenas in Africa during the green season, making for some absolutely spectacular wildlife encounters. The Eastern Region is also home to the very remote Salei Plains which can be home to thousands of wildebeest and other wildlife if the area receives enough rain during the wet season. Visitors to this much removed area can be treated to a truly ‘off the beaten track’ wildlife viewing experience in a very wet season. What You Can Do: The Eastern region offers travelers the opportunity to get to know the locals. Visits to the areas’ Masaai villages can be arranged where guests get a chance to learn more about Masaai culture and their fascinating way of life. Game drives are always exciting, but nighttime game drives under Tanzania’s starry sky add a unique thrill. Where to Stay: Visitors to the Eastern region of Serengeti National Park can stay at Buffalo Luxury Camp, a relatively new permanent tented lodge located in the hills of northern Loliondo. Situated at an altitude of 6,000 feet, the luxury camp offers stunning views of the Lobo Valley with 15 suite tents and 5 smaller chalet tents as well as a main lodge for dining and relaxation.
Southern Region
Insider Tips: The Southern region of Serengeti National Park includes the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (one of seven in Tanzania), the Ndutu Woodlands, and the famous Serengeti Plains. In the months of January through March, the Great Migration is in Ndutu and the predator-prey action is thrilling. This area offers an abundance of food, dense populations of animals, and lush green landscapes. Not to miss is a visit to the Ngorongoro Crater, sometimes referred to as the “8th Wonder of the World”. This 10 mile wide crater is home to an astounding number of wildlife thanks to an abundant year-round water supply. What You Can Do: Aside from being a prime place for wildlife viewing, travelers can pay a visit the Olduvai Gorge or a local Masaai village while traveling from Ndutu to the Ngorongoro Crater. The Olduvai Gorge is one of the most important anthropological sites in the world. The study of this site has been instrumental in furthering the understanding of early human evolution as the area was inhabited more than 1.9 million years ago by early hominids. Other activities include guided safari walks, game drives, and more. Where to Stay: Visitors to the Southern Region can stay at Lake Masek Luxury Tented Camp, which overlooks Lake Masek and offers views of spectacular sunsets over a hippo pool. It is open year-round but it is most exciting during the wildebeest calving season. The area is home to year-round Big 5 wildlife and the camp offers luxury and access to primitive beauty. Lake Masek Tented Camp is perfect for exploring Ndutu, but if travelers wish to take game drives to the Ngorongoro Crater, an ideal option is to stay at one of the lodges or camps located at the rim of the crater, such as the Plantation Lodge or Gibbs Farm.
About Proud African Safaris Proud African Safaris specializes in authentic and highly personalized luxury vacation experiences in destinations throughout Tanzania. Offering guests uniquely memorable and completely customized Tanzanian safari experiences, Proud African Safaris (PAS) tailors vacation itineraries to the personal interests and passions of each traveler. In addition to private 4WD safari vehicles and unlimited mileage for game drives, Proud African Safaris’ guides subscribe to a “road less traveled” philosophy and use their bush skills and instinct to take guests to witness parts of Tanzania that few visitors get to see. www.proudafricansafaris.com
