The northern circuit of Tanzania is a must-see for those seeking experiential travel and adventure tourism, especially for photography and wildlife enthusiasts wanting to be a part of the renowned spectacle that is the annual Great Migration.

This was highlighted by Wild Frontiers Founder, Debbie Addison, during a recent African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA) hosted webinar. The DMC, which focuses mainly on Tanzania’s northern circuit, has been operating in Arusha for over 20 years.

“Zanzibar these days has just exploded with hotels, lodges and resorts,” Addison explains. “It’s busy, but it’s still got a lovely charm about it. It means travellers who want to stay over after a safari have a huge range of accommodations, styles and locations to choose from. It’s a very nice place for an extension of a safari stay into beach time activities like snorkelling or swimming with dolphins.”

The highlights of a Tanzanian safari, Addison continues, are varied - walking, hiking, hot air ballooning, cycling, horse-riding, engaging in community upliftment projects, and signing up for game drives. There are opportunities for those passionate about photography and geology, and even for intrepid hikers who would appreciate hiking up a volcano.

One world-famous spectacle that runs through northern Tanzania from May to July each year is the Great Migration, in which droves of animals embark on an 800km trek through northern Tanzania and Kenya. Over two million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles migrate en masse, attracting spectators from all corners of the world.

There is a lot to see and it’s a good idea to find out clients’ special interests well ahead.

“I think it’s important to determine what they want to see – a river crossing, a calving, just big game, the cats, etc. it’s crucial for us to not just find out budget or style of accommodation but also if the travellers are birders, for example. The more detail and tighter the brief, the better,” Addison advises.