5 Best Destinations for Wildlife Photography in Tanzania.
5 Best Destinations for Wildlife Photography in Tanzania.
Imagine those best wildlife shots that make you think of how good the photographer is. Think of large wildebeest herds jumping into the torrents of the Mara River. Picture the Big Five or the tribes living in the wild. For these and many other moments, welcome to Tanzania.
From the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti to the pristine forests of the Nyerere National Park, Tanzania offers unforgettable photo safaris. It doesn’t matter if you are on your first photo tour or if you are an avid photographer; there are loads of places to go for the best wildlife shots. We’ve carefully picked the five best destinations perfect for a photographic safari in Tanzania. Let’s explore.
1. Serengeti National Park.
This land of wide, stretched plains (up to 14,763 km2) harbors one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in the world. Here, you have plenty of things to explore, and camera – only that you bring the best camera and storage devices.
As you explore the Seronera Valley, take shots of the most sought-after Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino). But take it slow because small creatures like mongooses, jackals, dik-diks, and bat-eared foxes usually pop up.
As you traverse the plains, you meet giraffes, spotted hyenas, cheetahs, elands, and impalas. Also, the rivers (Seronera, Mbalageti, Grumeti, and Mara) boast many hippos and crocodiles, as well as river birds like kingfishers.
A shot of wildebeest sweeping the ‘endless plains’ is worth a thousand words. Of course, everyone would love to spot a river crossing and possibly capture the moment. Our guides will be on standby to display this event at its purest form. Trust them because every turn is full of wildlife scenes.
2. Ngorongoro Crater.
The misty rims of the Ngorongoro Highlands create a picturesque scene sought after by every avid photographer. Stand on the crater rim and picture the vast bowl teeming with wildlife and a soda lake.
Things get so interesting as you descend into the Ngorongoro Crater. There’s a good chance to spot the Big Five – and it’s much easier to spot them than in the Serengeti. Rhinos, though elusive, are frequently seen in the shrubs and scrub.
The crater hosts over 25,000 large animals, including wildebeests, zebras, elands, impalas, spotted hyenas, hippos, and cheetahs. These animals are a common sighting on the crater floor.
A photo adventure on the crater rim is memorable as you capture the golden plains, especially when the sun is sinking into the African bush. Mornings are also perfect for catching the sunrise and enjoying the best shots.
3. Tarangire National Park.
Just 86 miles away from Arusha is Tarangire National Park, the home of the giants. Here, elephants thrive and form large herds, which roam the vast wilderness and grasslands. They make beautiful pictures of large herds, with a mix of giant adults and small, graceful calves.
The giant baobabs will captivate you even if you didn’t plan to picture plants. Growing in the plains, these ancient trees can live up to 1,000 years, and have some spiritual connections among locals near Tarangire.
Next up is a drive along the life-giving Tarangire River. This giant, ever-flowing river is a magnet to large herds of wildebeest, zebras, buffalo, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles during the dry season. As water becomes scarce, animals head to this fantastic river for their life.
A photo safari in Tarangire also rewards with iconic pictures of beautiful birds – the ones that make it a birder’s paradise. Here, you can picture Tanzania’s iconic birds like the yellow-collared lovebird, secretary bird, and Kori bustard.
4. Nyerere National Park
This 30,393 km2 expanse lies in the remote south of Tanzania. Since very few visitors reach this pristine park, you will enjoy the pristine beauty on your own. Imagine picturing evergreen riverine forests along the Rufiji River.
A private safari will bring you close to rare species, such as Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, sable, and roan antelopes. You can also get a unique chance to spot the African painted dogs or greater and lesser kudus.
Among all other wonders, a boat ride along the Rufiji River offers one-of-a-kind shots, watching wildlife and landscapes from another angle. Hippos emerge from the pools like giant ghosts while crocodiles bask in the sun. African skimmers, kingfishers, and many others also add something unique to your shots.
There’s still a chance to spot a black rhino in a more remote setting. Spending much of its time, these prehistoric mammals hide in thickets. And because the forests are virgin, a drive in search of them is exhilarating. You can encounter lions, elephants, wildebeests, buffalo, leopards, zebras, and elands.
5. Lake Manyara National Park.
Want to capture a lion resting on a tree branch? Set off for Lake Manyara, one of the smallest parks in the country. We all know that lions are not good at climbing trees, especially upright ones. But in Manyara, they go up trees (to cool or escape insects) and would even drag their kills to avoid scavengers.
Apart from lions, capture elephants, giraffes, wildebeests, zebras, buffalo, vervet monkeys, colobus monkeys, and flamingos on the shoreline of this soda lake. Scan for birds in the canopy forests or woodlands.
You can also embark on a thrilling canoe adventure on Lake Manyara. Capture the shimmering views, enjoy the scene as you paddle on a simple canoe. A boat safari can elevate your experience, with sport fishing being so important.
A canopy walk is also captivating. It’s available in a very few locales in Africa. You will walk on a 370-meter-long airwalk raised 15 meters above the ground. Watch the baboons and birds, or capture the moment.
The bottom line
Your Tanzania photo adventure is an interesting journey to take wildlife moments with you. We are here to help you discover natural beauty in its purest form at your own pace. Let’s start planning your next adventure.
