Introduction |
Northern Circuit |
Southern Circuit |
Coastal Circuit |
Western Circuit
Introduction
Tanzania
proudly boasts of 15 National parks that have
vast potential as tourism destinations. While
visiting the parks, visitors are previledged
to enjoy exceptional wildlife via incomparable
and unique game viewing, bush lunch
and dinner, picnicing, walking safaris,
bird watching, sports fishing,
mountain hiking and climbing,
chimpanzee trekking, canoeing,
balloon safaris and
night game drives.
Interestingly, each park is unique
from the other. Arrays of spectacular biodiversity
and sceneary views of each park, make a visitor
forget the rest and decide for a longer stay or plan to visit
again.
Tanzania safaris and tours
are categorised according to zones/ circuits:
the Southern, Northern,
Eastern
and Western and Historical sites.
Southern Circuit
Comprises of unexplored wilderness where walking
safari, hiking and boat excursions
are combined with game drives. The travel
times between parks in the south
are long as the parks are far apart. The parks
of the South can be visited independently,
or as a Circuit combining various parks into
one package. The Famous Southern Tanzania Safaris
are conducted in Selous Game Reserve
along the mighty Rufiji river, Mikumi
National Park (Dar es salaam city's closest),
Ruaha National Park, Kitulo
National Park and Udzungwa
Mountain National Park. Udzungwa
Mountain is ideal for adventure hiking
and tropical forest birding.
Northern Circuit
It is one of the most popular destinations for adventure
safaris in Tanzania
and most of the destinations are fairly
close to each other. One can tour this
entire circuit by a vehicle
with only a couple of hours in between destinations.
The area covers the plains of Serengeti National
Park, Ngorongoro Crater,
Arusha National Park, Tarangire
National Park, Lake Manyara
National Park, Kilimanjaro National
Park and Mkomazi National Park.
Coastal Circuit and the
off-shore Islands
It includes the islands of
Zanzibar,
Mafia and
Pemba, which offer the ultimate beach
holidays and resorts experience. These
Islands offer excellent snorkeling,
scuba diving,
big game fishing
and deep sea fishing vacations.
Saadani National Park is one of the smaller newer but fasinating park where the bush meets
the beach.
Pristine
Pangani lies at the mouth of Pangani river and a magnificiant
beach stretches North of the estuary. The World Heritage
sites like the Beautiful Bagamoyo, Cultured
Kilwa are rich in coastal culture, history,
and beautiful beaches.
Western Circuit
It includes
Katavi National Park, Gombe Stream National Park
, Rubondo National Park, Mahale Mountains
famous for chimpanzee tracking safaris. Lying in the Great Rift Vally are the inland
lakes - Lake Victoria and Lake Tangayika.
The western Circuit is seldom experienced on its own
but is more often an addition to either Southern or Northern Circuits or both. The Western Circuit
is so remote that travel by both Aircraft and Boat is necessary inorder to experience
this lovely side of Tanzania.
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Northern Circuit
Serengeti National Park
Serengeti is derived from the Maasai language, Maa; specifically,
"Serengit" meaning "Endless Plains".The Serengeti
National Park, (bordering the Kenyan Masai Mara in the North)
covers 14,763 square km, is by common consent the world's greatest
wildlife sanctuary. it is home to great numbers of wildlife, many
of which endure the Wildebeest Migration which
offers some of Africa's most spectacular game-viewing and phenomenal
photographic opportunities. The Serengeti was accepted by the
World Heritage Convention(WHC) as UNESCO World Heritage
Site and Biosphere Reserve in 1981.
The park's terrain is varied: the vast, treeless central Serengeti
plains, Savannah dotted with acacia trees, monumental
rocky Kopjes, reverie bush, thick scrub to streams,
rivers, small swamps, and lakes. The Serengeti
is the setting for so many wildlife documentaries with good reason.
Visitors are virtually guaranteed to see an impressive array
of wildlife. The Serengeti boasts a staggering 8,500 giraffe,
10,000 eland, 500,000 zebra, 1.6 million wildebeest,
3,000 lions, 1,000 elephants, 280,000 Thompson's
gazelles, 25,000 buffalo, more than 400 species
of birds, 72,000 Topi, and 32,000 Grant's gazelle.
The annual wildebeest migration is one of the most spectacular
and breath-taking events in the world. From the Serengeti
to Kenya's Masai Mara over 1.4 million wildebeest
and 200,000 zebra and gazelle, relentlessly tracked by
Africa's great predators, migrate in a clockwise
fashion over 1,800 miles each year in search
of rain ripened grass. This mass of moving animals
is so large that even when it is in Kenya's Masai Mara,
parts of it are still in the Serengeti. Note
that even during August to November, the approximate
time when most of the wildebeest are expected
to be in the Masai Mara, the wildlife
is still plentiful in the Serengeti, as the 'resident'
animals opt to stay where they are instead of follow the migration.
Location:
7 hours drive from Arusha, 2.5 hours
drive from the Ngorongoro Crater
Things to Do:
Game-drives, Nature Walks and
Night Game Drives at Ikoma, Hot Air Balloon
safari
Animals:
Virtually all safari animals. All of the 'Big
Five' are present in Serengeti.
Elephants are few in number on the wide grassy
plains but more concentrated in the wooded areas of Lobo
and the Western Corridor. An estimated 300
lions hunt on the central Seronera
Plains alone, with more being dispersed around the park.
Leopard, more elusive and very well camouflaged
in the foilage of trees can often be spotted
by their tails hanging down. Buffalo
are significant in number and sizable herds are
scattered throughout the park, whilst the few remaining black
rhino are protected in an innaccessible area.
Time to visit:
To search for the elusive wildebeest, visit the
Serengeti from December to July.
To see Predators, June to October
are the best months. For the best chance of finding Migration,
allow a minimum of 3 days, longer if possible.
Wildebeest Migration
(Map)
The Annual Movement of Wildebeest and other grazing
herbivores across the Serengeti - Mara
ecosystem is one of the greatest spectacles
in the natural world. Over 2 million animals
partake in this great migration, with some 200,000
Zebra ahead of, and 500,000 Thomson's Gazelles
behind, the players - one and a half million wildebeest,moving
in a gigantic herd, migrate
from the south-east part of the park to the greener
west and north and return again
to the south in a clockwise
circle.
Members of the vast wildebeest
herd give birth between January
and March on the short grass plains
of the southern Serengeti (in Ndutu/Gol/Southern
Loliondo). By occupying and birthing
on these open plains, the mass of herbivores
reduces their competitive pressure on other grazers
in the Serengeti ecosystem for upto half of the
year. The short grass plains are green only during
the rains and the mostly treeless landscape
provides optimum conditions for the females
to give birth as potential predators are more
easily detected here than in the woodlands.
In June, they then return to
the north-west towards Western Corridor
of the Serengeti and its Grumeti River,
significant numbers may also go up through Loliondo,
or via Seronera and Lobo. This
watercourse is their first real obstacle
and gigantic crocodiles are waiting for the hesitant
wildebeest to stumble at the crossing.
In early July- mid August, from Grumeti,
if conditions are very good, i.e. there is plenty of grass
and water; the herds will be spread out all the way from
Seronera to the Mara River.
Here again, they must cross another river, Mara
River. This phenomenon is sometimes
called the Circular Migration. Over 250,000 wildebeest
alone will die along the journey
from Tanzania to Masai Mara Reserve
in upper Kenya, a total of 500 miles. Death
is often caused by injury, exhaustion,
or predation.
The Migration as a whole need not
all pass into Kenya and many stay behind
or cross and re-cross the border
areas. This carries on through till October/November,
when they will start thinking of heading back. Again this will
be dependent on the rains.
The Migration is driven entirely
by standing water and grazing, and created
by local weather conditions. The Migration
is also not a continually forward
motion. You can never predict with certainty
where they will be; the best you can do is to suggest
likely timings, based on past experience
- but you can never guarantee the Migration a
hundred percent.
What are the Big Five
You may hear of the Big Five before going on
Safari, from an old book, or
from a nature documentary. Today, they are five
of the animals which people most want to see
while on Safari. One hundred
years ago, amid pith helmets, mosquito
boots, and 'darkest Africa', the Big
Five were the most sought after animals
to hunt. They were the fiercest,
the most dangerous animals; the animals that
would hunt the hunter. Explorers
of East Africa went home with stories of lions
and leopards in the tall African grass,
of rhinos that would charge
at the mere smell of a person, of the Cape Buffalo
hidden in the bushes, and of the terrors
of an enraged elephant. Today, of course, the
hunting is done with camera
lenses, but that doesn't take away from the thrill
of seeing your first lion or hearing a leopard
walk past your camp at night. These big mammals
are each far more interesting than the early
explorers knew.
For safari packages,
please visit Northern
Circuit Safaris section on Packages page
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Maswa Game Reserve
Maswa borders the south west part
of Serengeti
National Park and is an extension of the Serengeti
ecosystem. The reserve consists of river valley thickets, acacia
parkland and open plains, making it an ideal walking area.
For safari packages,
please contact us
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Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA)
The Ngorongoro Conservation
Area is both a fantastic game-viewing
destination and a significant archaeological
treasure. Often called an 'African Eden' and
the 'Eighth Wonder of the Natural World'. The
terrain embraces several distinct habitats from
open grasslands to mountain
forest, and from scrub bushland to highland
heath. Around 25,000 animals live in the Crater
thoughout the year, whilst in the NCA, as a whole,
the numbers can swell to more than 2.5 million,
depending on the season.
It is also a pioneering experiment in multiple
land use. For Ngorongoro Conservation
Area, the idea of multiple land use
means to allow humans and Wildlife
to co-exist in natural setting. The relationship
between the Maasai tribe and the Ngorongoro
eco-system is impressive. The Maasai
herd their cattle into and out of the crater
daily for water, leading
their cattle to water alongside the "Big
5".
However, the crater is just a small
part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It
is a huge caldera (collapsed volcano) 300
square km in size, 19.2 km in diameter and 600
meters deep. It is home to one of the world's largest
inactive and unflooded volcanic calderas
with a rich diversity of wildlife
(including some of Tanzania's last remaining black rhino),
and the famous paleontological site of Oldovai
Gorge nearby.
Location:
4 hours drive from Arusha on
the way to the Serengeti.
Things to Do:
Game-Drives,
Hiking,
Nature
Walk, Visit a Maasai Boma, Visit
Oldovai Gorge.
Time to visit:
1 half-day is usually enough to see the crater,
not more than 2 half- days.
Animals:
One of the few places you have a chance to spot
rhinos. The Crater support a large resident population
of wildlife pre-dominantly grazing animals.
These include Wildebeest, Buffalo,
Zebra, Giraffe, Gazelle,
Eland, and Warthog. The swamps
and forests provide additional resources for
Hippo, Elephant, Waterbuck,
Reedbuck and Bushbuck, Baboons
and vervet monkeys. Jackals
thrive in the Crater and bat-eared foxes
live in the short grass. Predatory animals: Lion,
Leopard and Cheetah, several
cats and large packs of Hyena
roam the Crater, making their own kills and scavenging
from others.
More than 100 species of birds
not found in the Serengeti have
been spotted here. Countless Flamingos form a
pink blanket over the soda lakes. Distinctive
grassland birds- Ostrich, Koribustareds
and Crowned Crains seen in abandances.
Oldovai Gorge
Olduvai Gorge is known as the cradle
of mankind. Layer upon layer of volcanic
deposits were laid down in orderly sequence
over a period of almost two million years, making
Olduvai Gorge a remarkable site that documents
ancient life. It is here that Louis
and Mary Leakey discovered the first human
skull of Zinjanthropus, commonly known
as 'Nutcracker Man' after nearly 30 years of
excavation.Now renamed Australopithecus boisei,
this creature had a massive skull with huge teeth that suggested
a diet of coarse vegetable food, and lived 1.75 million
years ago. Nearby are the Laetoli footprints
of walking adult and young aged
3 million years. The remains
of pre-historic Elephants, giant-horned
Sheep and enormous ostriches have been
unearthed here.
Location:
Olduvai Gorge is conveniently located between
Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti.
Although there is an unimpressive museum with
a lot of information, it is usually worth a quick stop even for
those who are only slightly interested in history
and/or archeology.
Activity Duration:
1-2 hours
Ol Doinyo Lengai:
Ol Doinyo Lengai is also known as the "Mountain
of God" by the Maasai. They believe
that the mountain increases fertility
and they advise women who have difficulty conceiving
to visit. The trek up to the crater
is an exceptionally demanding climb of around
1700m (5600 ft). The trek starts
at midnight or shortly after
so you can walk during the cool
hours and reach the summit by dawn.
This is the only active volcano in the area and
the world's only natrocarbonate
volcano, having erupted in 1966
and 1983. The most recent erruption
occured around July 2007 - 2008. It's a truly
unusual destination for those who really want
to get off the beaten path.
Location:
It is located just outside the NCA,
to the north-east near Lake Natron.
For safari packages,
please visit Northern
Circuit Safaris section on Packages page
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Arusha National Park
The park and
town derive their name from
the Waarusha people, who live in this area. It
covers an area of about 137 square km
and is located on the slopes
of Mount Meru (4575 meters above
sea level). Often over-looked by visitors, Arusha
National Park has incredible volcanic scenery,
wonderful views of Mt. Kilimanjaro
(on clear days), a beautiful rainforest and plenty
of wildlife. The main features are Ngurdoto
Crater and the Momella Lakes. The Momella
Lakes attract a wide variety of birds,
particularly flamingos. Guests
sometimes enjoy this park just as much as the
Serengeti. Its close proximity
to Arusha usually means that it gets put first
on a Northern Parks itinerary.
Location:
The park lies just 25 km East
of Arusha. 40 minutes drive
from Arusha.
Things to Do:
Game-Drives, Forest Walks, Canoeing,
Mt. Meru Climb.
Time to visit:
The best time to visit the park is during the
dry season from July to November,
or after the short rains from December
to March. Usually 1 full day
but 2 days if hiking and canoeing.
Day trip from Arusha is possible.
Animals:
Abundant: Zebras, Giraffes,
Waterbucks, Reedbucks, Klipspringers,
Hippos, Buffaloes, Hyenas,
Mongooses, Dik Diks, Warthogs,
Baboons and Vervet and Colobus
Monkeys. Perhaps Elephants and
Leopards, but no Lions or Rhinos.
The birdlife especially, waterfowl,
is abandunt and interesting.
For safari packages,
please visit Northern
Circuit Safaris section on Packages page
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Tarangire National Park
The Park has an area of 2,600
sq km and is named after the Tarangire River that flows
through the park throughout the year. This park is known for its
elephants. You will see these enormous creatures
travel in families and you surely will not miss
the extraordinary care they take of their young. The elephants
tend to travel in packs and
in the same paths as they have taken year
after year. When they see your vehicle
coming closer they will gather around their young
to protect them and lead them
on their way. Here you will have the opportunity
to simply sit and watch. Also
in this park is the Tarangire River. This river
winds through the middle of
the park providing nourishment
for the animals and great viewing
for visitors. Daily large herds of animals
and birds gather around this river
so you will be sure not to miss
anything. It also boasts many Baobab trees, impressive
trees that can live for thousands of years.
Animals can be found in the rainy seasons,
but the concentration of wildlife
tends to be better during the dry seasons.
Location:
The park is 115 km from Arusha town, almost directly
between Arusha and Ngorongoro Crater.
Things to Do:
Game Drives, Guided Walks (from
select accommodations only) and Night Game Drives
(from Tarangire Treetops).
Time to visit:
June to October is a good time
to visit as part of your Tanzania safari
as the animals from the park
and surrounding game controlled areas gather
at the permanent source of water.
Minimum of 1 night but 2 is
better.
Animals:
Thousands of animals including wildebeest,
zebras, elands, elephants,
buffaloes, hartebeests and more
migrate from the dry Maasai
steppe to the Tarangire river. Not suprisingly,
lions and other predators find
the place attractive. Has more than 550 bird
species!
For safari packages,
please visit Northern
Circuit Safaris section on Packages page
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Lake Manyara National Park
A stunning alkaline lake
of the Great Rift Valley system, forming two thirds of the Lake
Manyara National Park. The lakeshore habitats are home to large
elephant and buffalo herds and over 380 recorded bird species.
The park’s incredible fauna and flora have qualified it
as a World Biosphere Reserve
Lake Manyara park covers 330 square km in size, and has a considerably
different landscape from any of the other parks. Picture lush
woodlands and the beaches of this Rift Valley lake where giraffe,
elephants and wildebeest enjoy an endless supply of water. You
will often see these enormous animals in the water, sitting, sipping
or just cooling off. Due to this unique habitat, there are hundreds
of bird species able to live in the forests and the ultimate site-seeing
prize of this area is the tree-climbing lion.
Location:
The park is located 125 km west of Arusha town, approximately
2.5 hours drive on the road to the Ngorongoro Crater
Things to Do:
Game-drives, Mountain Biking, Forest Hike, Canoeing, Night Game
Drive, Nature Walk
Time to visit:
The dry season (July to October) is best for large mammals, while
the wet season (November to June) is best for bird watching, waterfalls
and canoeing. Can be visited in one day, but biking or hiking
require a separate day. Might be excluded on a short itinerary.
Animals:
Elephants, Wildebeest, Buffalo, Hippo, Impala, Bushbuck, Waterbuck,
Klipspringers, Zebra, Giraffe, Mongoose, Warthog, Leopards and
the famous tree-climbing Lions, Blue Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys,
Baboons, and over 380 bird-species including Pelicans, red-billed
Quelea, impressive flocks of Flamingos feeding on the lake’s
algae.
For safari packages,
please visit Northern
Circuit Safaris section on Packages page
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Kilimanjaro National Park
Kilimanjaro, by any name, is a
metaphor for the compelling beauty of East Africa. When you see
it, you understand why. Not only is this the highest peak on the
African continent; it is also the tallest free-standing mountain
in the world, rising in breathtaking isolation from the surrounding
coastal scrubland – elevation around 900 metres –
to an imperious 5,895 metres (19,336 feet).
Kilimanjaro Mountain is a World Heritage Site, its outstanding
features are its 3 major volcanic centers, Shira in the west,
Mawenzi in the east and the snow-capped Kibo in the center. Kilimanjaro
is one of the world's most accessible high summits, a beacon for
visitors from around the world. Most climbers reach the crater
rim with little more than a walking stick, proper clothing and
determination. And those who reach Uhuru Point, the actual summit,
or Gillman's Point on the lip of the crater, will have earned
their climbing certificates.
And their memories.
But there is so much more to Kili than her summit. The ascent
of the slopes is a virtual climatic world tour, from the tropics
to the Arctic.
Even before you cross the national park boundary (at the 2,700m
contour), the cultivated footslopes give way to lush montane forest,
inhabited by elusive elephant, leopard, buffalo, the endangered
Abbot’s duiker, and other small antelope and primates. Higher
still lies the moorland zone, where a cover of giant heather is
studded with otherworldly giant lobelias.
Above 4,000m, a surreal alpine desert supports little life other
than a few hardy mosses and lichen. Then, finally, the last vestigial
vegetation gives way to a winter wonderland of ice and snow –
and the magnificent beauty of the roof of the continent.
Location:
Near Moshi town, 2 hours drive (128 km) from Arusha or 1 hour
drive from Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Things to Do:
Six usual trekking routes through the Kilimanjaro Forest Reserve
to the summit: Marangu, Mwika, Umbwe, Machame, Shira and Rongai.
Day or overnight hikes on the Shira plateau. Nature trails on
the lower reaches.
Time to visit:
Clearest and warmest conditions from December to February, but
also dry (and colder) from July-September. The ascent and the
descent take 5 to 6 days. The mountain can be climbed by any normally
fit person, with the assistance of a guide and porters.
Animals:
Elusive elephant, leopard, buffalo, the endangered Abbot’s
duiker, and other small antelope and primates.
For safari packages,
please visit Northern
Circuit Safaris
section on Packages page
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Mkomazi National Park
Mkomazi - from a Game Reserve
to a National Park. It covers an area of about 3230 square km
of which 2010 square km is from the Game Reserve and rest from
the forest reserve. The name Mkomazi comes from the Pare language
and means "The Source of Water", referring to the Umba
River, which arises in the Usambaras and provides permanent source
of water to the area.
Mkomazi Game Reserve is excellent for birds. It is a scenic landscape
of Savannah vegitation and a backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. Endangered
species, particularly the black rhino and the wilddog, are protected
in Mkomazi through a project initiated by Tusk Trust in the 1990s.
The area is also famous for large migratory herds of Elephants,
Oryx and Zebra that wander through the park. By special arrangement
it is possible to walk all the way from the West Usambara Mountains,
through the Pare Mountains and down into Mkomazi Game Reserve,
an incredible hike of about 5 days.
Location:
Mkomazi lies roughly between the northern slopes off the Pare
and Usambara Mountains and the northern frontier, next to Tsavo
West National Park. Mkomazi is easily accesible by road and air.
It is about 6 km from Same town on the Arusha - Dar-es-salaam
Highway, 112 km from Moshi and 142 km from Kilimanjaro International
Airport.
Things to Do:
Game-drives, Bird watching, sight-seeing, camping and walking
safaris. Learn more about conservation and rhinoceros at Mkomazi
rhino sanctuary.
Time to visit:
Late June – early September is best for large mammal and
bird watching. Scenic beauty is at its peak March – June.
Animals:
It is the habitat of a large population of big and small mammals
including the carnivores, lesser kudus, Giraffes, Grant's Gazelle,
Hartebeest, Buffalos, Elephants and Zebras. It is the only protected
area in Tanzania with a large and visible population of Gerenuks,
an Antelope with a habit of getting up on its hind legs to browse
trees. The main predators' animals such as Lion, Hyena, Leopard
and Cheetah bound significantly.
There are about 400 species of birds, including the tawny eagle,
Ostrich, Parrots, pelicans, Ducks and Kingfishers.
The reptiles include Crocodiles in the Umba River, Pythons and
Agama lizards.
For safari packages,
please visit Northern
Circuit Safaris section on Packages page
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Southern Circuit
Selous Game Reserve
The Game Reserve has an area of
more than 50,000 sq km making it the World's Largest Conserved
Area excluding polar regions. Selous is three times bigger
than the Serengeti National Park. The reserve is a World Heritage
Site and covers almost 6% of Tanzania's land. The Selous
takes its name from the famous hunter and conservationist Frederick
Courteney Selous who was killed in action in World War
I within the now Selous. His grave lies close to the Beho
Beho Hills and can be seen on a gamedrive in that area.
The Selous Game Reserve is home to a high diversity of both large
mammal and bird species. The Selous Game Reserve has over 60,000
elephants and 40,000 hippos. The world's largest population of
African Hunting Dogs exists in the reserve. Of Tanzania's 1,113
different species of bird, 430 have been positively identified
within the Selous Game Reserve. The photographic tourism section
of the Selous is very atmospheric, displaying the grandeur of
this incredible African wilderness. The Rufiji River meanders
its way through the Miombo woodland and Acacia-Terminalia savanna,
connected by streams to five attractive lakes, which teem with
hippo, crocodile and waterfowl. This untouched uninhabited area
is home to the biggest herds of elephant and other wildlife to
be found anywhere in the world.
The large meandering Rufiji River with its network of channels,
connecting lakes and lagoons offers visitors the unique opportunity
to go on safari by boat and experience the spectacular concentration
of wildlife from an unusual perspective, especially during the
dry season when animals congregate. Game drives and walking excursions
are also very rewarding. There are elephant, hippos and rhino
(although few now remain). This reserve contains about one third
of all the wild dogs (often called painted dogs), in the world.
The greater part of the Northern Selous is embarked for photographic tourism
while the other is reserved for Hunting
Location:
Southern Tanzania, between Ruaha and Dar es Salaam, usually reached
by flight from Arusha or Dar es Salaam. Works nicely with a visit
to Ruaha National Park. It is approximately 250 km drive from
Dar-es-salaam. It is also possible to arrive by train from Dar
es Salaam.
Things to Do:
Game Drives, Boat Safaris, Walking Safaris, Fly Camping
Time to visit:
Given the distance, spend at least 3 nights. Best during the dry
season (June to October).
Animals:
All the usual: Elephants, Wildebeest, Zebra, Giraffe, Antelopes
(BushBucks, Waterbucks, Impalas, Reedbucks, Elands, Greater Kudus
and the rare sable Antelopes), Buffalo, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah
and Primates (Vervets, Baboons, Colobus Monkeys). Some of the
unusual: Sharpe's Grysbok, Red Colobus Monkeys and Rhinos. It
is also home to one third of the world's population of Wild Dogs.
For safari packages,
please visit Southern
Circuit Safaris section on Packages page
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Mikumi National Park
The Park is now the fourth
largest of Tanzania's parks and is one of the least well known
on an international level. It has an area of 3230 square km, is
easily accessible by road and is the closest to Dar-es-salaam.
The park gets its name from the Borassus palm trees that are common
in the area.
Only a small section of the park, about 20% has been developed
for tourism and it lies to the north of the highway. South of
the road Mikumi shares its border with the Selous Game Reserve,
but this largely wooded hilly area remains fairly inaccessible.
The main feature of Mikum National Park is the extensive Mkata
River Flood Plain, comparable to the open grasslands of the Serengeti.
The plain is flanked by the Uluguru Mountains to the north, and
the Udzungwa Mountains to the south. A typical game drive will
reveal elephant, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, warthog, wildebeest
and impala all in impressive numbers. There is even the chance
to see lion, hyena, jackal and eland. The bird-life at Mikumi
is exceptional, with one guest seeing 180 species without leaving
his lodge! It is perhaps the most reliable place in Tanzania to
view the eland, the world's largest antelope.
Location:
It is only 300 km away from Dar-es-salaam on the Tanzania and Zambia
Highway, between Selous and Ruaha. 4 hours drive or a 1.5 hours
flight from Dar-es-salaam.
Things to Do:
Game drives
Time to visit:
The park is accessible all year around. 1 night minimum, up to
3 nights.
Animals:
Lions, Zebras, Wildebeests, Impalas, Buffalos, Crocodiles, Elephants,
Giraffes, Hippos, Elands, Greater Kudus and
Sable Antelopes,
400 Bird Species, some of which are Eurasian migrants commonly
seen between October and April.
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Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park derives its
name from the great Ruaha River. The Ruaha National Park is the
second largest National Park in Tanzania, that covers 12950 square
km and is home to 10,000 elephants (the largest population of
any East African national park), which protects a vast area of
dry savanna.
Typically there is Miombo woodland, Acacia woodland, Terminalia
scrub and riverine forests. It depends on the Great Ruaha River,
which marks the Eastern boundary of the park. The Ruaha and Rungwa
area is the home to over 450 bird species. One of its principal
attractions lies in being able to see greater and lesser kudu
as well as the majestic sable and roan antelope. As well as an
abundance of lion, leopard and cheetah it is also home to the
increasingly rare wild dog.
Location:
It lies 130 km west of Iringa. Accessible by 3 hours flight/ 10
hours drive from Dar-es-Salaam. Works nicely with a visit to Selous
Game Reserve.
Things to Do:
Game Drives, Walking Safaris.
Time to visit:
Given the distance, spend at least 3 nights. Best during the dry
season (July to October).
Animals:
All the usual: Elephants, Buffalo, Lion, Leopard and Cheetah.
Hippos, crocodiles, turtles inhabit the Ruaha River. Some of the
unusual: Sable and Roan Antelope and Wild Dogs. Grant's Gazelle
and the tiny dik-dik thrive in the grasslands bordering the river.
Birdlife is prolific, over 370 species have been recorded, some
of which are not found in Northern Tanzania. Eurasian migrants
flock to Ruaha twice a year - March to April and October to November
- joining the resident kingfishers, hornbills, African fish eagles,
sunbirds, egrets and plovers. Unusual: sulphur-breasted bush-shrike
and yellow collared love birds.
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Kitulo National Park
Kitulo National Park is the first
park in Tropical Africa to be gazetted largely for its floristic
significance. Kitulo – a botanist and hiker’s paradise - is
also highly alluring to birdwatchers. Known locally as "Garden of God" or "Serengeti
of Flowers", Kitulo Plateau has had over 350 species of plants
documented to date. These include 45 species of Orchids, many
of which are not found anywhere else in the world, and also the
stunning yellow-orange red-hot poker and a variety of aloes, proteas,
geraniums, giant lobelias, lilies and aster daisies, of which
more than 30 species are endemic to southern Tanzania. Big game
is sparsely represented, though a few hardy mountain reedbuck
and eland still roam the open grassland.
Location:
Accessible by road from Dar-es-salaam to Mbeya and chimala and
then by 4 wheel drives only.
Things to Do:
Bird watching, Walking Safaris, Hiking Trails.
Time to visit:
Wildflower displays peak between December and April. The sunnier
months of September to November are more comfortable for hiking
but less rewarding to botanists. Conditions are cold and foggy
from June to August.
Animals:
Birdlife including the endangered blue swallow, Denham's bustard,
mountain marsh widow, Njombe, Cisticola and Kipengere Seedeater.
Some of the World's rarest butterflies along with Chameleon, lizards,
frogs and a few hardy reedbuck and eland inhabit here.
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Udzungwa Mountain National Park
Udzungwa Moutain covers an area
of 1900 square km, is the largest and most biodiverse of a chain
of a dozen large forest-swathed mountains that rise majestically
in Eastern Tanzania. Known collectively as the Eastern Arc Mountains,
it has also been dubbed the African Galapagos for its treasure-trove
of endemic plants and animals, most familiarly the delicate African
violet. Its center piece is the Sanje River, which re-invents
itself as a spectacular waterfall, plunging 170 meters through
the forest to land in the mists of the valley below.
Udzungwa is described as a "Primate Park" due to the
ten species of primate living in it's pristine forests. Four of
the species are endemic including the Iringa red colobus and Sanje
Crested Mangabey (discovered in 1979) both occur nowhere else
in the world. Although quiet hikers are more likely to see the
black and white Colobus Monkeys.
Ornithologists are attracted by the avian wealth of more than
400 species. There are no permanent luxury camps here, but it
is close
enough for a day trip from one of the places at Mikumi.
Location:
The park is in the Iringa and Morogoro regions, just south of
Mikumi, between Ruaha and Selous. It is bordered by the great
Ruaha River to the north and the Mikumi Ifakara road to the east.
It is a 5 hours drive from Dar-es-salaam.
Things to Do:
Hiking
Time to visit:
Visit Udzungwa year around but be prepared for rains spend from
1 day to several, depending on your interest in hiking
Animals:
11 species of Primates, Buffalo, Elephants, 400+ bird species
including the rare rufous - winged sunbird and a new species of
the partridge - like francolin, 3 endemic Reptiles (a Gecko, a
Skink and a Chameleon), Millipedes, a Tree Frog and more than
70 species of Spiders
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Coastal Circuit
Saadani National Park
The newly gazetted Saadani National
Park, Tanzania's first coastal wildlife sanctuary, is a perfect
union of bush and beach. The Park is Tanzania's 13th National
Park. Tourists can view animals basking along the Indian Ocean
shores. It has an area of 1100 square km and was established in
2005 from an a game reserve which had existed from 1969.
Location:
It is located on the Indian ocean coast some 45 km north of Bagamoyo
and directly west of Zanzibar. About a 4 hours drive (roughly
230 km) from Dar-es-salaam via Chalinze or by 20 minutes chartered
flight from Dar-es-salaam or Zanzibar.
Things to Do:
Game drives, guided walks, Boat trips and relax at beach.
Time to visit:
Generally accessible all-year round, but the access roads are
sometimes impassable during April and May. The best game-viewing
is in January and February and from June to August.
Animals:
A wide range of grazers and primates is seen on game drives and
walks, among them giraffe, buffalo, warthog, common waterbuck,
reedbuck, hartebeest, wildebeest, red duiker, greater kudu, eland,
sable antelope, yellow baboon and vervet monkey.
Herds of up to 30 elephants are encountered with increasing frequency,
and several lion prides are resident, together with leopard, spotted
hyena and black-backed jackal.
Boat trips on the mangrove-lined Wami River come with a high chance
of sighting hippos, crocodiles and a selection of marine and riverine
birds, including the mangrove kingfisher and lesser flamingo,
while the beaches form one of the last major green turtle breeding
sites on mainland Tanzania.
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Amani Nature Reserve
The Amani Nature Reserve
is well off the beaten path of the usual safari circuit, but makes
a perfect stopover on longer trips and while driving to the Swahili
Coast. It’s quiet, tranquil setting offers the perfect opportunity
to relax from the rigourous schedule of vehicle-based safaris.
Although the area has been the focus of conservation efforts and
botanical research for over a century, the Amani Nature Reserve
has only been a protected area since 1997. Amani Botanical
gardens, the second largest botanical garden
in the world lies in this reserve. International efforts to preserve
the beauty of the Usambara forests within its boundaries have
met with much local success.
Guided nature walks, prohibited in Tanzania’s
national parks, are a unique feature of the nature reserve and
offer an exciting opportunity to view the flora and fauna of the
area up close. For the aspiring African botanist, Amani Nature
Reserve’s incredible diversity of plant life
-- between 600 to 1,000 different species --
is sure to attract. The East Usambara Conservation Area
Management Programme created and maintains the nature
trails, as well as training guides in an effort to encourage village
collaboration and conservation efforts. Short or long walks can
be arranged, and the guides are very knowledgeable about local
species, bird and insect life,
and traditional plant uses.
Location:
Located at the base of the central Usambara
Mountains, near Tanga town.
Things to Do:
Guided Nature Walks and Hiking
Animals:
It harbors some of the animals only seen in Usambara such as Nduk
eagle owl and most endemic plants. You have an opportunity to
see black and white colobus and blue monkey.
Birds include green headed oriole, Amani sunbirds, Uluguru violet
backed, forest warbler .
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Western Circuit
Katavi National Park
The name Katavi immortalizes legendary
hunter "Katabi", whose spirit is believed to posses
a local Tamrind tree tinged with offering from locals begging
his blessings. Katavi National Park covers an area 4,471 square
km and is to the east of Lake Tangayika. Isolated, untouched and
with few visitors, Katavi is a true wilderness, providing a taste
of the untouched Africa. As Tanzania's third largest national
park it would attract large numbers of visitors, but it is in
the remote Southwest part of Tanzania and difficult to reach.
Major attractions include Lake Katavi with its vast short-grass
plains in the north, palm-fringed Lake Chada in the south-east
and the Katuma River.
It is best to visit during the
dry seasons (June through October) when water is scarce and for
miles along the Katuma River, animals congregate in unbelievable
numbers. Towards the end of the dry season, up to 200 hippos might
gather in one place and as more gather, the male rivalry heats
up with ferocious territorial fights. Katavi also boasts Tanzania's
greatest concentration of Hippos and crocodiles.
Location:
Western Tanzania, reachable only with shared charter, usually
from Arusha or Dar-es-salaam. Or a day's drive from Mbeya, or
in the dry season Kigoma.
Things to Do:
Game Drives, Walking Safari, Fly Camping
Time to visit:
Stay at least 3 or 4 nights. Go in dry seasons: June to October
and late-December to early March.
Animals:
Thousands of Elephants, several herds of 1000-plus Buffalo and
an abundance of Giraffe, Zebra, Impala, Hippos and Reedbuck, the
rare honey colored puku antelope,roan antelope & topi are
one of the parks richest wildlife viewing rewards. Not to mention
the numerous Lion prides and Spotted Hyena clans.
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Gombe Stream National Park
The smallest of Tanzania’s
national parks covering only 52 square km, Gombe is a narrow strip
of chimpanzee habitat on the shore of Lake Tanganyika. Its chimpanzees
– habituated to human visitors – were made famous
by the pioneering work of Jane Goodall’s studies. The matriarch,
Fifi, the last surviving member of the original community, only
three years old when Goodall first set foot in Gombe, is still
regularly seen by visitors. Tracking the chimps is a fascinating
experience. It's likely that you will observe them grooming each
other in small groups, squabbling noisily, or bounding from tree
to tree swinging on vines. Watching a mother chimp with her offspring
is truly remarkable. The area is heavily forested making it an
unsuitable habitat for carnivores and safe for walking safaris.
Difficult to reach and relatively expensive, Gombe has few visitors
each year.
Location:
Just north of Kigoma (around 16 km), on the shore of Lake Tanganyika.
Usually requires flight with Precision Air from Dar es Salaam
(daily) or a shared charter flight from Arusha that flies on Tuesdays
and Fridays only. A train (takes 2-3 days) from Dar and then by
1 hour boat trip from Kigoma.
Things to Do:
Chimpanzee trekking, hiking, swimming/snorkeling, night walks.
Time to visit:
The best time to visit Gombe is during the dry season, May to
October and during the short rains in January and FebruarySet
aside at least 4 days (1 to get there, 1 to return and at least
2 nights actually in the park).
Animals:
Chimpanzees, baboons, red-tailed and red colobus monkeys, more
than 200 bird species
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Rubondo National Park
Rubondo Island National Park has
an area of 240 square km and is surrounded by about a dozen smaller
islets that belong to the park. Unlike other parks, cars are prohibited
on the island hence there are guided tours led by park rangers
who are usually armed. A peaceful paradise with untouched beaches,
bird-rich marshes and rare animal species. Here you can go on
foot or by boat. This is the only good place in Tanzania to find
sitatunga, East Africa's only truly amphibious antelope. There
are also other antelopes, vervet monkeys, small carnivores, hippos,
crocodiles, reptiles and at least 200 bird species. There are
also chimpanzees (unhabituated), elephant, colobus monkeys and
giraffe, but you are less likely to see them. It is also possible
to go fishing for the Nile Perch.
Location:
Island in the Lake Victoria (the World's second largest Lake),
north west of Mwanza. Reachable by flight from Arusha or Mwanza.
Or by road from Mwanza to Nkome and then a 2 hour boat transfer.
Things to Do:
Nature Walks, Fishing, Boat Excursions.
Time to visit:
Dry season, June-August. Wildflowers and butterflies
Wet season November-March. December- February best for migratory
birds. At least 3 nights stay.
Animals:
Animals include: Hippos, crocodiles, Vervet monkeys, Marsh mongooses,
Genets and Pythons. Several other animals have been transplanted
into the Island including: Giraffes, Elephants, Rhinos, black
and white Columbus monkeys and Chipanzees.
The birdlife is unique with birds from east, central and southern
Africa flocking to "bird island" to breed.
Bee eaters, Fish eagle, Saddle-billed stork, Kingfisher will be
seen while Tilapia and Nile purch in the lake.
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Mahale Mountains National
Park
Mahale National Park is home to
some of the last remaining wild chimpanzees: a population of roughly
800. It is covering an area of approximately 1600 square km, the
park's western boundary is the shore of Lake Tangayika. Vegetation
is mainly Miombo woodland with narrow strips of reverie forest.
The area is also known as Nkungwe, after the park's largest mountain,
held sacred by the local Tongwe people, and at 2,460 metres (8,069
ft) the highest of the six prominent points that make up the Mahale
Range.
Difficult to reach and relatively expensive, Mahale has
few visitors each year. And although chimpanzees are admittedly
the main attraction, the park supports a diverse forest fauna,
including troops of red colobus, red-tailed and blue monkeys,
and a colorful array of forest birds. You can also take a dip
in the unbelievably clear waters of the world's longest, second-deepest
and least-polluted freshwater lake.
Location:
Mahale National Park lies 120 km south of Kigoma on a peninsula
in Lake Tangayika. Can only be reached by shared charter flight
from Arusha. Combines well with a visit to Katavi National Park.
Things to Do:
Chimpanzee Trekking, Hiking, Swimming/Snorkeling and Fishing
Time to visit:
The best time to the park is during the dry season May to October,
and during the short rains of January and February. Requires 3
or 4 night visit.
Animals:
Chimpanzees, Red Colobus, Red-Tailed and Blue Monkeys, Elephants,
Warthogs, Giraffes, Hyenas, Buffalos, and many colorful Birds.
Lake Tangayika is home to more than 250 different species of fish.
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please visit Western
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