False msafiri is for… lion Biologists reckon there’s no better measure of ecological health than a high predator count, so it says much for the Serengeti and Selous that they vie with each other as hosting Africa’s largest leonine population – indeed, recent figures suggest that Tanzania harbours at least one- third and possibly half of the world’s remaining wild lions! 60 TANZANIA is for… Northern safari circuit Tanzania’s northern circuit is one of Africa’s ultimate safari routes. At its core, there’s the immense Serengeti National Park, the lynchpin of a migratory ecosystem that supports the world’s greatest concentration of large mammals: an estimated 2.5 million wildebeest, zebra, gazelle and other ungulates, and a corresponding abundance of well- fed lions, cheetahs, leopards and other carnivores. Then there’s the scenic wonder of Ngorongoro Crater, not only the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, but also a splendid wildlife sanctuary in its own right. Lake Magadi, in the heart of the crater, is tinged pink by thousands of flamingos, while its marshy perimeter forms something of a retirement home for bull elephant ‘ tuskers’. Ngorongoro also hosts the world’s densest populations of lion and spotted hyena, as well as being an important refuge for black rhino. Three other national parks complete the northern circuit – each possessing ecological elements that compliment their more famous neighbours. Arusha National Park, in the shadow of Mount Meru, supports a cover of lush montane forest teeming with birds and monkeys. Tarangire National Park forms the hub of a vast migratory ecosystem whose residents – including some 4000 elephants – crowd along the perennial Tarangire River in the dry season ( July- November). Lake Manyara National Park, meanwhile, is a birdwatcher’s paradise famed for its population of tree- climbing lions. is for… Migration The annual migration of the Serengeti’s two million wildebeest dominates Tanzania’s safari calendar. Visit between January and February for the calving season, May- June to catch the northward trek that precedes the spectacular Grumeti and Mara River crossings, or August- October when the wildebeest cross into Kenya. is for… Kilimanjaro Africa’s highest mountain needs little introduction. For the more sedate traveller 5895m Kilimanjaro is simply one of the world’s most thrilling geographic icons, a perfect volcanic dome whose snow-capped peak often emerges from a cloudy shroud at dusk . The tallest freestanding volcano in the world, Kilimanjaro ( known as the Roof of Africa), is climbed by thousands of tourists annually. You need to be reasonably fit to reach the top, but not extraordinarily so – past conquerors of its icy summit have spanned the ages of 11 to 74. You should, however, be prepared to set aside the best part of a week in order to complete the climb safely. Kilimanjaro is not the only large mountain in Tanzania. Overlooking the safari capital of Arusha, Mount Meru is the fifth highest in Africa, an extinct 4566m volcano whose craggy summit offers stunning views to Kilimanjaro, only 50km to the east. Other high- altitude highlights include the lush slopes around Ngorongoro Crater, the standalone Mount Hanang south of Arusha, and the Eastern Arc Mountains and Southern Highlands – a scattering of forest- swathed ‘ montane islands’ whose dazzling biodiversity has led to them being dubbed the Galápagos of Africa. FLAMINGO: SHUTTERSTOCK

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