It is 335 kms from Arusha, stretching north to Kenya and bordering Lake Victoria to the west. Vegetation is grassy plains, savannah with acacias, wooded hills and mountains are the backdrops for an extraordinary concentration of animals which reaches its peak during the wildebeest migration which generally takes place between December to May in the south of the park and from June to October to the west and the north.
A million wildebeest each driven by the same ancient rhythm, fulfilling their instinctive role in the inescapable cycle of life: a frenzied 3 week bout of territorial conquests and mating: survival of the fittest as 40 kilometres long columns plunge through crocodile-infested waters on the annual exodus north. This is also a very good time to see the cats.
This is the land of the Maasai, of their cattle and of the fauna; this protected area is located in the Great Rift Valley, a gigantic fracture of the earth’s crust. Volcanoes, mountains, plains, lakes, forests and archaeological sites form this magnificent landscape. At 1600 meters altitude, the bottom of the crater (265km km2) dotted with water holes shelters almost 30,000 animals in an area naturally enclosed by the slopes of the volcano. It is the eighth wonder of the world.
Since most of the Crater floor is grassland, grazing animals predominate gnu, zebra, gazelles, buffalo, eland, kongoni and warthogs. The swamp and forests provide additional resources for hippos, rhinos, elephants, waterbucks, reedbucks and bushbucks, baboons and vervets. The steep inner slopes provide a habitat for dik-diks and the rare mountain reedbuck. With so many prey animals’ predators such as lions, hyenas and jackals are also present. Birds commonly found in this area are Stonechat, Augur Buzzards, Schalow’s Wheatear, Fiscals Shrike, white Verreaux’s Eagle and more.
The conservation area also covers Olduvai Gorge and Laetoli, which give us fascinating glimpses of our own evolution through the past four million years. This may be one of the places where we all began.
Cradled in the glory of its surrounding below the sheer majesty of the Rift Valley wall, Lake Manyara lies serene, spreading in a heat haze backed by a thin green band of forest and the sheer 600 meter red and brown cliffs of the escarpment. There are several different types of forests with a variety of fauna-hippopotamuses, giraffes, elephants, lions sleeping in trees, zebras, monkeys.
The park hosts 400 varieties of birds, including thousands of red-billed quelea flitting over the water like swarms of giant insects; pelicans, cormorants and pink streaks of thousands of flamingo on their perpetual migration.
You enter Manyara from the village of Mto wa Mbu, an eclectic market town where several tribes converge to form a linguistic mix that is the richest in Africa.
It is the vast number of baobabs that first capture the eye as you enter Tarangire National Park. The gently rolling countryside is dotted with these majestic trees, which seem to dwarf the animals that feed beneath them.
The Park is spectacular in the dry season when many of the migratory wildlife species come back to the permanent waters of Tarangire river. Huge herds of wildebeest, zebras, elephants, eland and oryx gather to stay in Tarangire until the onset of the rains when they migrate again to good grazing areas.
The swamps are the focus for 550 bird varieties, the most breeding species in one habitat anywhere in the world. On drier ground you find Kori bustards, the heaviest flying bird, the stocking thighed ostrich, the world’s largest bird, and ground hornbills that bluster like turkeys. Tarangire’s pythons climb trees, as do its lions and leopards, lounging in the branches where the fruit of the sausage tree disguises the twitch of a tail.
The largest African reserve is crossed by the Rufiji River and its tributaries, which form a network of lakes ideal for boat safaris. Wildlife observation and bird watching (350 species) take place in a superb natural setting.
Respecting nature’s rhythm, you can be assured of close contact with the wildlife. You can also participate in walking safaris with a ranger and a 4 wheel drive safaris.
Situated in the center of the country, the second largest National Park is bordered by the Ruaha River and offers spectacular viewpoints. From July to December the wildlife is concentrated on the banks of the river and around the watering holes.
You will see herds of elephants, giraffes, prides of lions and Great Kudus without moving from the banks. Unique combinations of animals co-exist here – both the greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan antelope – Ruaha being the only protected area in the world where the flora and fauna of eastern and southern Africa overlap.
The setting is exceptionally well preserved. The best way to get to Ruaha is by air.
The main feature of this park is the Mikumi flood plain, along with the mountain ranges that border the park on the two sides. Open grasslands dominate in the flood plain, eventually merging with the miombo woodland covering the lower hills. Here you will find lions, wild dogs and many other animals which retreat to the miombo woodlands in wet season.
The elephants here are more compact than the rest of their Tanzanian cousins, but still a lot bigger than any Land Rover. The rains swell the park’s bird population to more than 300 species as Eurasian migrants seek refuge in Mikumi, joining resident stars like lilac-breasted roller. Other animal species found here are zebra, giraffe, hartebeest, wildebeest, buffalo and more.
Kilimanjaro means Mountain of Light, Mountain of Greatness or Mountain of Caravans. It consists of 3 summits: to the west, the Shira plateau, to the east Mawenzi peak and between the two the snow-capped summit of Kibo which reaches 5,895 meters.
There are several ways to reach the top: Marangu route (to the west) is the most popular, Machame (to the west), Umbwe and Mweka (to the south) are more demanding. 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. The journey up the slope takes you through climatic world tour from the tropic to the artic.
The grassy and cultivated lower slopes turn into lush rainforest, inhabited by elusive elephant, leopard, buffalo and antelope. Higher still, heath and moorland, covered with giant heathers, becomes surreal alpine desert and finally, ice, snow and the magnificent beauty of the top of the continent. One should allow a minimum of 4 nights, preferably 5 or even more nights for the climb to increase your acclimatization time and maximize your chances of reaching the summit. Take your time and enjoy the beauty of the mountain.
The historic Stone Town of Zanzibar is a fascinating maze of narrow streets with overhanging balconies and huge intricately carved wooden doors. The place is full of pungent perfume of exotic spices.
It was the ancient trading port of the sultans of Oman in the 19th century. This city is a medina: the only of its kind south of the Equator. Zanzibar Island can boast kilometers of golden beaches. Inland the island is garden of Eden offering the most exquisite tropical species.
Do not miss the Spice Tour.