An elephant visits the pool at Somalisa

Where? Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania
What? Tree Climbing Lions!
This small park is sandwiched between the Rift Valley escarpment and the large sodiforous Lake Manyara. Travelers driving from Arusha to Tanzania's major game parks often stop here for a night or two. Or even just for lunch and a swing through the pretty park. Manyara has a good range of game, including birdlife on the lake, giraffe, elephant, baboon and the tree-climbing lion. Well, okay: the rarely seen tree-climbing lion. But what fun to give it a try! It is not rare to see a safari vehicle full of anxious guests, all with faces upturned and necks craning in hopes of glimpsing a tawny hide way up in the trees. LAKE MANYARA SERENA LODGE is a popular and conveniently located lodge that caters to both individuals and groups. It wears 5 stars... but its largish size and reasonable tariff feels more like 4.

The Manor at Ngorongoro

Where? Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
What? Africa's Garden of Eden!
Nowhere on earth can this location be replicated. Visitors descend into the caldera floor - and step right into a fairytale locale. The sprawling 'bowl' is home to a permanent population of wildlife, who spend their entire life cycle inside the crater, finding all the sustenance they need within this self-contained ecosystem. Up top, there are several lodges near or on the crater rim, and one of our favorite picks is THE MANOR AT NGORONGORO. This lovely property is reminiscent of an elegant, upcountry farm house in the Cape Dutch style of architecture. With only 20 luxurious cottage suites, the property offers a warm and intimate home base. While a visit to the crater is a 'must' on any Tanzania itinerary, environmental experts are only now understanding the fragile nature of the craters unique ecosystem. Officials are seriously considering limiting the number of visitors allowed into the crater each day. So be it: Ngorongoro is a gift that we need to bequeath to our great-grandchildren and the generations beyond.


Serengeti Migration Camp

Where? Serengeti, Tanzania
What? The Mother of all parks!
Serengeti is the most famous park in Tanzania and is also one of the most seasonal. An enormous herbivore migration passes through the area annually, so being in the right place at the right time is very important. (See our Cheetah Sheet in this Newsletter). As they have done for millennium, zebra and wildebeest travel between Tanzania and Kenya each year, in search of water and sweet new grasses. Invariably, this massive procession is accompanied by wily predators, on the lookout for the old or weak animals. At the river crossings, crocs lick their chops in anticipation of the slow swimmers. When the migration is in full swing, the herds are located in the Grumeti area of western Tanzania. SERENGETI MIGRATION CAMP is a superb tented property, perched right on the river's edge. The tents are huge and airy, and each has a verandah deck with a 360 degree view of the Serengeti plains. Sumptuous indulgence among the raw splendor of the surrounding bush!