In the north, the likelihood of spotting Big Five game, crocodiles, hippo, zebra and giraffe is strong in the renowned National Parks of the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire. The Serengeti is perfect for the quintessential landscapes of Africa; golden plains that teem with life of the numerous resident animals that one associates with Africa. Here you can also find the Great Migration for a majority of the year, where millions of wildebeest traverse the plains with predators such as lions, leopards, hyenas and crocodiles in hot pursuit.
The Ngorongoro Crater is a breathtaking volcanic caldera that contains its own unique ecosystem and this animal sanctuary literally throngs with a staggering variety of wildlife, including buffalo, wildebeest, 16 endangered black rhino, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, elephant and approximately 70 lions. In total there are an estimated 25,000 mammals inside the crater! Tarangire (best game viewing takes place between June and November) also offers an excellent opportunity for those on a lower budget; located close to Arusha it is famous for its huge herds of elephants and other abundant wildlife.
On the savannah it is not uncommon to see cheetah prowling, gazelle grazing, herds of elephant wandering, lions resting atop kopjes and leopard lazing or climbing trees.