There is arguably no better safari destination than combining wildlife and primates in Tanzania’s parks and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Seeing the gorillas up-close is something that is hard to explain. Tanzanian is home to Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater; and this fact alone makes a solid case for declaring it Africa’s best safari country. But, of course, there’s much more than just these two places. Although, most visitors stick to the famed Northern Circuit and why not? Tanzania is one of Africa’s most rewarding safari destinations.

Besides the aforementioned destinations, with their unbelievable density of Big Five species and sublime beauty, this amazing region around the gateway city of Arusha also includes Tarangire (huge dry season herds) and Lake Manyara (flamingos, tree-climbing lions and Rift Valley scenery) national parks which are awesome in their own right.

Safari Experience in Serengeti National Park

With its greatest concentration of game, you are ever likely to see, the Serengeti is faultless as a safari destination. The vast ecosystem features rolling golden plains, intricate river systems, the Big Five, and the annual wildebeest migration is the largest single movement of wildlife on earth and the Serengeti’s highlight. After many visits, and in each of the seasons, it never fails to surprise me. Massive crocodiles lick their thickset jaws in anticipation in the Grumeti River, large prides of lion move stealthily through the long grass on the Savannah, leopard loll in acacia trees, cheetah sun themselves on the flat rocks of the distinctive kopjes, and many thousands of grunting and snorting wildebeest gather in their masses; the weak at the tail end of the procession, and the patient, vigilant predators hot on their heels. For me, the drama of the Serengeti’s animal action is simply unrivalled.

Wildlife in Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater is, alongside the Serengeti, Tanzania’s superstar park, and it’s a well-deserved title. The ‘crater’ technically a caldera is breath-taking, a 160-square-kilometre circle of bush and Savannah surrounded by a ring of steep hills, giving it a truly otherworldly feel. Within the ‘crater’ itself, there are grasslands, woods, swamps and small lakes, inhabited by all Big Five species and hundreds more besides.

There’s nowhere on earth quite like Ngorongoro. Looking out over or descending down into this vast crater soon after dawn is like experiencing the Africa of childhood imaginings, a place where human beings are very much secondary. It is the umbrella acacia silhouetted against the deep green of the crater’s steep walls. It is the 30 black rhinos that range across the valley floor. And it is the daily battle between lion and hyena (with both black-backed and golden jackals never far away) in their pursuit of prey.

Bwindi Gorilla Experience in Uganda

While on a classic safari in Tanzania’s Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater parks, we transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with Aero link Uganda. Trekking to see the mighty mountain gorillas is something everyone should get to experience at least once in their lifetime. The gorilla trekking safari begins early at UWA park headquarters. A lot of care is shown towards the gorillas, the trackers have established a trusting relationship with the families they track so the animals feel safe in human presence. And still, this is a visit on their terms.

You quietly observe them without interacting with them like you would in e.g a circus, thus they remain wild and comfortable in their own environment. Only one hour is spent with the gorillas and only 8 people per gorilla family are allowed to track. The reward makes it all worthwhile when the gorillas are finally located. These big, beautiful, human-like monoliths staring at you amongst lush greenery is spell binding.