Tanzania's Northern Parks

Lake Manyara National Park

Compact and lush, Manyara sits at the base of the Rift escarpment. Famous for tree-climbing lions, prolific birdlife — including flamingos when lake levels suit — and elephant families in groundwater forest.

Serengeti National Park

The Serengeti's name means 'endless plain' — and the scale feels it. Year-round cats, kopje lions, cheetah on termite mounds, and the migration's million-strong herds make it the centrepiece of most safaris.

• Southern plains: calving and predator action early in the year
• Central Seronera: reliable big-cat territory
• Western corridor: Grumeti River drama
• Northern Serengeti: Mara River crossings mid-year