tarangire

Making the Most of a One Night Safari – Tarangire, Lake Manyara, or Ngorongoro

Can I Take a One Night Safari?

It’s really possible!

You might be travelling for business in Arusha and only have a tiny window at your disposal, or just want to get out of town and away from city stress, or simply to impress – you need a one-night safari, to see as much as you can, and a gorgeous place to stay.

It can be done! Shadows of Africa just did this last week, covering Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro!

Starting with a morning in Tarangire with elephants, lion and all the rest of the plains game, you still have time to visit the groundwater forests of Lake Manyara and sample the lakeside wildlife before climbing up the escarpment to the luxury Escarpment Lodge, a view to die for, and a delicious ice cold beverage to sip.

Ready to go early, you climb up the Ngorongoro crater rim, round the top and down into the heart of the caldera. What a blast of East African wildlife awaits – Ngorongoro is amazing!

One-night safari? Absolutely!

It’s on offer, it’s achievable, it’s Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater, it’s exhilarating!

It’s Shadows of Africa. Book now!

The Magnificently Located New ‘Mpingo Ridge - Tarangire’, By Lemala

A visit by our Shadows of Africa Safari Consultant Inge Olde Rikkert

The saying ‘beautiful things don’t ask for attention’ is true of Mpingo Ridge. It’s just there in itself, understated, turning the spotlight onto its surroundings and guests.

This new Lemala property has been placed with the views as its top priority. High up amongst the ebony of Tarangire it gives perspective to the vastness below and an insight into the significance of nature.

Set back from the main tourist tracks of Tarangire, Mpingo Ridge is a little more interesting and a lot more peaceful. Forget the lions, buffalo, elephant, zebra and masses of antelope we had just seen, this was impressive!

The 15 tents are modern in design, spacious and give the privacy desired to absorb the panorama around you, as well as to luxuriate in a bath or shower inside or out, under a canopy of stars. Just what I needed with the rains having started and after a muddy and adventurous game drive!

Aside from the décor and the surroundings Mpingo Ridge delivered service and food beyond expectation. The picnic lunch was especially worth a mention.

Thanks, Mpingo Ridge, for being so thoughtful and for making me feel beautiful too.

A Weekend Safari in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania

News on Tarangire National Park

Reports from recent safaris in Tarangire National Park, we can see the movement elephants in the region. Water is low now, due to the lack of rains in this short rainy season. A lot of the animals are migrating to where there is water still. The National Park is still relatively full of wildlife, as the region is protected from villages trying to seek water for their domestic herds of cattle, goats and sheep.

The animals migrate in the park according to weather patterns and the access to water. The Tarangire River rarely drys up, so the elephants hang around the extent of the river depending on the vegetation in the area. Tarangire National Park is known for its large elephant population.

At the moment the herds, are on the move and are covering large areas every day in search of food. Other animals are hanging around the swamp areas where there is more water and vegetation around. At lot of the lodges have pumped waterholes which allow for animals to stay in the areas but this is dependent on the vegetation in the area.

From our pictures you can see that the elephants are moving in big herds relying on each other for protection and food. The lodges are getting fantastic views of elephants,  zebra, waterbuck, the odd wildebeest and a plethora of birds. It is without a doubt that you will wake up to sound of birds and a view of animals close by. You may even get an elephant close to your room in the night! Tarangire Safari Lodge, Sopa Lodge and Oliver’s Camp are excellent examples of lodges with this atmosphere around them.

The WMA’s (wildlife management areas) next to the park have it pretty rough at the moment where domestic animals and the wild ones fight for vegetation and access to water. The areas close to the lodges in the WMA’s are a safe haven for wildlife and having waterholes close by they tend to stay. Nimali and Tarangire Treetops are prime examples of such places.

Our guests recently have had the pleasure of seeing vast amounts of elephants and a range of other animals. Some were lucky enough to see lion, and a few other predators like hyena. This time of year the wildebeest and zebra are still here in a reasonable number, as later in the year they migrate for the calving season in February.

I mentioned birds earlier, now let me explain them a little more. The amount of bird species in East Africa is huge, with many sub species. So for the avid birder reading here, you will immensely enjoy being in Tarangire, you just may fill up your SD card with birds! The beauty is that you don’t have to look hard, they are everywhere! Some birds you may get tired of seeing but there are certainly others that you won’t get the opportunity of seeing again! If you are counting you will be adding up your list pretty fast here.

Keep on watching our blog and we will with delight bring you updates and news from places and events in East and Southern Africa.

Combining Wildlife & Cultural Experience

Our adventurous customers, David and Carol decided to include the most interesting spots in Tanzania in a short time. They started with a walking and canoeing safari in Arusha National Park, which is a perfect option to add to the usual game drive.
Of course they didn’t miss famous Tarangire National Park, where you can find huge herds of elephants this season. After overnighting in Tarangire Safari Lodge with its amazing view of the Tarangire River, they continued with a game drive in Serengeti National Park. They really loved it and were lucky to see lots of predators very close! Lions, cheetahs, and even a leopard showed up during their game drive. Stunning Ngorongoro Crater impressed them even more with its gorgeous views and variety of wildlife.

After a tiring safari, the travelers and our guide, Bashiru visited Amini Life Maasai Lodge for some well-earned relaxation. It is a perfect place to explore Maasai culture and even participate in some tribal activities.

Before coming back home, David and Carol had a chance to get closer to Kilimanjaro. What a perfect option before the flight! Instead of sitting at their hotel, they had a tour to Marangu village, learned about Chaga culture in the ancient caves, trekked to a beautiful waterfall, and tried fresh coffee on the local coffee plantation.
We agree with our customers that you need to explore different sides of Africa and combine your tour with lots of cultural experiences! It gives you the opportunity to experience the real lives of local people.

A Six Park Safari Adventure

Safari Part 1: Tarangire National Park

A 10 Day Safari with Bashiru

From the Bush to the Beach