At Special Moments Africa, we believe in crafting unforgettable experiences that immerse you in the beauty, culture, and adventure of East Africa. From the spectacular national parks to the serene islands and exciting activities, each moment with us is designed to be exceptional. Dive into the various experiences that await you and discover why East Africa should be your next adventure.

National Parks: Explore the Heart of Wildlife

East Africa is home to some of the most iconic and diverse national parks in the world. Whether you’re a seasoned safari-goer or embarking on your first wildlife adventure, these parks will amaze you with their breathtaking landscapes and abundant wildlife.

Arusha National Park

Arusha means “first rays of morning sun or calm” park situated in the center city of tourism in Tanzania, which is approximately 40km from Arusha town and a safari of half an hour with a tarmac road. The park is rich in its own uniqueness and fascinating beauty that attracts a good number of tourists to visit the park. The diversity of species such as the Black and white colobus monkey, which is a symbol of the park, Maasai giraffe, warthog, zebras, different species of antelopes, and various species of birds. The presence of soda lakes like lakes found within the park such as Momela lakes which are rich in salts attracts water birds like flamingos as it helps them to get the resources.

Tarangire National Park

The name of the park came from the Maasai word ‘tara ngare’ which means spotted water this is because the river never goes dry, there is always some water throughout the year. Tarangire National Park is known as the “HOME OF GIANTS” as it is gifted with a huge population of Baobab trees and large groups of elephants all around most parts of the park. This park has vast open spaces which comprise of variety of vegetation, and the largest diversity of bird species than any other park in Tanzania.

This hub of birds is also blessed with Ashy starling the bird species that can only be found in Tanzania, and only in Tarangire National Park. The presence of the seasonal river tends to

attract a lot of animals as they look for water, which provides a nice opportunity to see different species of mammals, birds, etc.

Manyara National Park

Manyara is a Maasi word which means “plants which grow into thick hedges” Manyara is found along the Great Rift Valley. It was established in 1960. Being directly routed to Ngorongoro from Arusha or Tarangire, it is a popular place either for a day visit or for longer.

The park is famously known as the ‘home of tree climbing lions’, as occasionally you can find the lions climbing the tree, although in current days it seems to be seen in other parks as well. The park is also rich in the diversity of bird species that can be found along the shore of the lake.

This is one of the attractions found in Lake Manyara National Park. Travelers can see a variety of birds in this park, like huge flocks of pelicans, flamingos, and egrets, among so many others. Lake Manyara National Park is one of the few places in East Africa where there is a canopy walkway. Treetop Way is another attraction found in Lake Manyara National Park allowing travelers to see the beauty of this Rift Valley area. Better not to miss out on the visit to the area.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority

Ngorongoro is a Maasai word that is used to describe the bell sound “ngor ngor” that is tied to the cow’s throat to lead the group, the sound is used to locate the cows and tell the speed of their movement while grazing. The Ngorongoro is land that allows multiple lands in use, where the indigenous Maasai people live within the Ngorongoro conservation area with their livestock. The area was established in 1959, as it was part of Serengeti National Park.

Ngorongoro conservation area is also known be one of the world heritage sites of the world which is identified by the United Nations Education Scientific of Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The visit to the Ngorongoro Conservation area will allow you to see both diverse species of flora and fauna and the unwavering landscape. There are different craters such as the Olmoti Crater, the Empakai Crater, and the largest one Ngorongoro Crater.

Ngorongoro crater was formed over 2 million years ago because of the volcanic actions that took place. Ngorongoro crater is known to be a complete ecosystem as consists of different types of habitats which also gives it the richness of diversity of the species.

Serengeti National Park

The name is Serengeti comes from the Maasai word ‘Siringit which means an endless plain’. Is a large national park in northern Tanzania located in the Mara region. Serengeti is a very interesting area everyone could wish to visit because it is rich in land and the sky. Serengeti National Park was established in 1951.

The park has been the leading national park in Africa in recent years, it is known for its famous wildebeest migration. The wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park as many travelers have been seen flocking to the park to catch a glimpse of this migration as they yearly move around the Serengeti Maasai Mara Ecosystem in search of green pasture and water. This yearly journey of over 1 million wildebeests, zebra, and other animals can only be a great and unforgettable experience as you visit Tanzania.

 Great Migration

The great migration is the largest movement of the herbivores on the planet. The movement includes over 1.5 million wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles in a continuous circle through the Serengeti Maasai Mara ecosystem in search of green pasture. The movement is always accompanied by hungry predators including lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, and crocodiles making only the stronger ones survive.

The Circle Of Movement

The cycle of life starts around these months when the birth-giving activity tends to take place. During this time the herd is found in the lower northern of Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which is also the southern part of Serengeti National Park. Over 400.000 calves are born during the period of 2-3 weeks with nearly 8000 new calves every day.

After the birth period at the end of March, the herd that consists of the newborn starts to move from the Southern part of Serengeti through central Serengeti to the Southwest of Serengeti known as “Moru” which means “old one”. The mating season starts at the end of May and the males battle for mating while the journey continues.

Dry seasons start in June, and the herds now in the West Serengeti and are moving to the Northern part of the park where they must overcome the challenge of crossing Grumeti River which is full of crocodiles, to some this crossing marks the end of life as they are being hunted by the crocodiles and the other taken by moving water.

In August the migration reaches Northern Serengeti, and they must overcome another challenge crossing the Mara River, this is the most spectacular event that attracts most tourists worldwide. These huge herds must face the panic, and the confusion caused by the moving water and the predators like crocodiles as they cross the river. Some lose life during the crossing by being hunted by crocodiles,

By September to October, the main mess has ended, and the migrating rows have gradually moved east. However, the wildebeest will overcome the heavy waters of the Mara River once more as they prepare to cross once again for their return journey south.

In late October and early November, the wildebeest migration heads back to Tanzania through the Namiri plains. By December they are in the east-south move down from Kenya.

In the early months of the year, the grasses in the deep south of the Serengeti are lush with rain. This drags the herds of wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras and other plains animals. The cycle continues as the calving season starts once again.