Are you planning to spend your Christmas holiday on safari in Tanzania? Here are the best national parks to visit during this festive season. Tanzania offers a diverse range of experiences, from viewing the Big Five and primates to hiking Mount Kilimanjaro and engaging in unique cultural encounters. One of the most spectacular activities is watching the Great Migration from a luxury camp. Below are the top four national parks to visit for a Christmas safari in Tanzania.
Serengeti National Park
Why Visit?
Serengeti National Park is one of the premier destinations for a Christmas safari. As the oldest and one of the largest national parks in Tanzania, it is renowned for the massive migration of wildebeests and large herds of zebras, elephants, and giraffes. It’s the best place in Tanzania, and arguably East Africa, to film lions and wildebeests.
The Great Wildebeest Migration
The highlight of your visit will be witnessing the Great Migration, which occurs annually between June and October. Over 1.5 million wildebeests and thousands of zebras migrate from the southern Serengeti plains and Ngorongoro Crater to the Maasai Mara in Kenya and back. This epic journey of over 3,000 miles involves rearing young and surviving numerous challenges, providing a dramatic spectacle of life and death. August and September are ideal for viewing the river crossings, while the return journey begins in late October as the rains resume.
Accommodation Options
During your Christmas safari in Serengeti, you can choose from a range of lodges to suit your budget and preferences:
- Mwiba River Lodge
- Mwiba Wildlife Reserve
- Mbali Mbali Soroi Serengeti Lodge
- Singita Sasakwa Lodge
- Zawadi Serengeti Safari Lodge
Each of these lodges offers a unique experience, whether you’re looking for budget, mid-range, or luxury options.
Other Top National Parks for Christmas Safari in Tanzania
While Serengeti National Park is a top choice, Tanzania has many other remarkable parks to explore during the Christmas holiday. Here are three more to consider:
Ngorongoro Crater
Famous for its stunning caldera and dense wildlife population, Ngorongoro Crater offers excellent opportunities to see the Big Five and experience a unique landscape.
Tarangire National Park
Known for its large elephant herds and baobab trees, Tarangire is a quieter park that provides a more intimate safari experience.
Lake Manyara National Park
This park is celebrated for its tree-climbing lions, large flocks of flamingos, and diverse birdlife, making it a must-visit for wildlife enthusiasts.
Spending your Christmas holiday on a safari in Tanzania promises unforgettable wildlife encounters, breathtaking landscapes, and luxurious accommodations. Whether you’re exploring the vast plains of Serengeti or the unique ecosystems of other national parks, Tanzania offers a truly magical safari experience.
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is an excellent destination for a Christmas holiday safari in Tanzania. Located just a few kilometers from Arusha town, it boasts the second-largest concentration of wildlife in Tanzania, after Serengeti National Park. The park is renowned for having the highest population density of elephants in Tanzania, making it one of the best places to film these majestic creatures in East Africa. The park’s diverse habitats and stunning scenery provide a beautiful backdrop for wildlife encounters.
Highlights of Tarangire National Park During Christmas
Baobab Trees Tarangire National Park is famed for its breathtaking and historic baobab trees. These trees are a major attraction and have fascinating beliefs and history attached to them. Local legends say that baobab trees were once moving creatures that walked the earth using their roots. However, their movement annoyed the creator god, who punished them by planting them upside down with their roots in the air, immobilizing them forever.
Wildlife The park is home to large herds of elephants, with some herds consisting of up to 300 individuals. Other animals you can encounter include wildebeests, buffaloes, impalas, gazelles, hartebeests, zebras, elands, stately fringe-eared oryx, and the peculiar long-necked gerenuk.
Accommodation Options in Tarangire National Park
During your Christmas holiday in Tarangire National Park, you can choose from a range of accommodation options to suit your budget and preferences, including:
- Tanzania Baobab Tented Camp
- Kwa Kuchinia
- Roika Tarangire Tented Lodge
- Tarangire Treetops
- Oliver’s Tented Camp
- Maramboi Tented Camp
- Tarangire Sopa Lodge
- Tarangire Safari Lodge
Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park is located between Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley. The park features a shallow alkaline lake formed in a depression within the Rift Valley System at an altitude of 960 meters. Lake Manyara National Park is known for its diverse habitats, ranging from evergreen underground forests and woodlands to extensive swamps and grasslands, which support various flora and fauna. The park is best known for its tree-climbing lions, offering a unique wildlife experience.
Where to Stay in Lake Manyara National Park During Your Christmas Holiday
Lake Manyara National Park offers a variety of accommodation options to suit every budget and preference, ranging from budget and mid-range to luxury lodges. Some of the recommended lodges include:
- Lake Manyara Tortillis Camp
- andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
- Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
- Lake Manyara Kilimanjaro Lodge
- Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge
Selous Game Reserve
Selous Game Reserve, located in the southeast of Tanzania, is an ideal destination for a Christmas holiday safari, especially for those seeking less crowded parks and untouched African gems. This remote and less-visited reserve is the largest protected wildlife area in Africa, covering 5% of Tanzania’s total area. The park features diverse habitats, including miombo woodlands, riverine swamps, open wooded grasslands, hills, and open plains, providing safe havens for a variety of wildlife.
Where to Stay in Selous Game Reserve During Your Christmas Holiday
Selous Game Reserve offers a range of accommodation options, from budget and mid-range to luxury lodges. Some of the options include:
- Sable Mountain Lodge
- Selous Kinga Lodge
- Selous Great Water Lodge
- Selous Wilderness Camp
- Selous Luxury Camp
- Selous Mbuyu Safari Camp
- Mivumo River Lodge
Best Time to Visit Tanzania
Tanzania can be visited year-round, but the best times are during the relatively dry months from December to February and from June to October. These periods are preferable to the wetter months of March to May and November.
Why Book Your Safari to Tanzania for Christmas Holiday with Nyamera Treks and Safaris
Established in 2019, Nyamera Treks and Safaris provides professional tour and travel services in Uganda, Kenya, Congo, Tanzania, and Rwanda. As one of the local tour operators in these regions, Nyamera Treks and Safaris boasts a professional office and field team that handles all requests and inquiries. As full members of the Tanzania Asspcation of Tour Operators (TATO) and partners with the Tanzania Tourism Board, we are highly recommended on TripAdvisor and SafariBookings. Our website offers up-to-date information to help you prepare for your Tanzania safari. Owned and operated by Local Tanzanian who have extensively explored Tanzania, you will be working with a team that knows and sells what they have experienced. Please feel free to contact us for more information about spending your Christmas holiday on safari in Tanzania.
