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Southern Circuit National Parks
Mikumi
Mikumi to the north of the Selous lies
only 300 kms away from Dar es Salaam. The Park, established
to protect the environment and the resident animals, is also
an important educational center for students of ecology and
conservation. The Mikumi flood plain is the main feature of
the Park along with the bordering mountain ranges. Animals commonly
found here include lion, Elands, Hartebeests, Buffaloes, Wildebeests,
Giraffes, Zebras, Hippos and Elephants. Over 300 species of
birds have been observed in the park, many of which are Eurasian
migrants who stay between October and April.
| Accommodations: |
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Mikumi Wildlife
Lodge |
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Morogoro
Hotel |
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Itineraries
for Mikumi National Park |
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Selous
Selous, opened in 1905, has remained
one of the least known reserves in the southern part of Tanzania
. It is famous for walking trips, boat
safaris- and photographic safari.
The Rufiji river flows through the park and
gives fresh water to wildlife. Here some of Africa 's finest virgin bush can be found. Three-quarters
of a million wild animals inhabit this park
| Accommodations: |
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Mbuyu Safari
Camp |
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Rufiji River
Camp |
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Sand River
Camp |
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Sand Rivers
Selous Nomad Safari |
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Selous Safari
Camp |
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Stiegler's
Gorge Camp |
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Itineraries
for Selous Game Reserve |
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top
Ruaha
The Park is situated in central Tanzania
, just west of the Iringa highlands. The Ruaha
river, which gave the name to the park, crosses the park and
makes the reserve attractive for visitors. From July to December a great number of animals concentrate
on the river banks. A large number of baobab trees make the
park to be a hot spot for photographic safaris. Over 460 species of birds have been recorded
in Ruaha National Park , and more than 8000 elephants,
which is the largest elephant population in
East Africa , can be found here.
| Accommodations: |
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Msembe Camp |
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Ruaha River
Camp |
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Itineraries
for Ruaha National Park |
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Northern Circuit National Parks
The
Serengeti
This is the most visited park in Tanzania,
and many people will recognize the name Serengeti from numerous
nature films shown on TV. The park covers 5700 square miles
of savannah grassland, and continues into Kenya where it is
known as Maasai Mara. More than 3
million wild animals live here in one of the oldest
ecosystems in the world. The essential features of climate,
vegetation and fauna have
changed little in the past million years. Serengeti,
meaning endless plains in the Maasai
language, is considered to be the jewel in
the crown of Tanzania's national parks.
| Accommodations,
itinerary: |
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Grumeti River
Camp |
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Kijireshi
Tented Camp |
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Kirawira
Serena Camp |
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Klein's Camp |
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Lobo Wildlife
Lodge |
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Migration
Camp |
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Ndutu Safari
Lodge |
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Serengeti
Serena Safari Lodge |
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Serengeti
Sopa Lodge |
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Seronera
Wildlife Lodge |
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Itineraries
for Serengeti National Park |
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Lake
Manyara
The Park is considered to be a beautiful
park with great variations in nature and wildlife. Animals
that can be seen: impala, buffalo,
hyena, baboon, giraffe,
hippo, wild beast, gazelle
and Climbing lions and flamingo colonies.
| Accommodations,
Itinerary: |
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Gibb's Farm
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Lake Manyara
Hotel |
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Lake Manyara
Serena Lodge |
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Maji Moto
Luxury Tented Camp |
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Itineraries
for Lake Manyara National Park |
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| Tarangire
The park is located south-east of Lake
Manyara and covers an area of 2600 km. The park is covered with
acacia woodland, baobab trees
and savannahs that host the wildlife. The wild life in Tarangire
is rich. Accommodation is offered both at campsites
and lodges.
| Accommodations,
itinerary: |
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Tarangire
Safari Lodge |
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Tarangire
Sopa Lodge |
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Itineraries
for Tarangire National Park |
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Arusha
National Park
This park lies within the Ngurdoto Crater, a volcano
that has probably been extinct for a quarter of a million
years. Covering 137km², the terrain ranges from open
savannah through acacia scrublands to afro-montane cloud and
rain forest, and afro-alpine vegetation similar to Mount Kilimanjaro
.
There are several alkaline lakes, and the spectacular Ngurdoto
Crater is not to be missed. Mammal species include elephant,
buffalo, various primates, giraffe and leopard. Hiking is
allowed if accompanied by an armed guard, and the Climbing up
Mount Meru is superb, often giving the best views available
of Mount Kilimanjaro.
| Accommodations,
Itinerary: |
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Great Hotel
and Lodges in and Around Arusha |
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Kilimanjaro
National Park
Mount Kilimanjaro - is the highest mountain
in Africa and stands at 5,895 meters, three degrees south of
the equator. The mountain, a dormant volcano, has two peaks
- Kibo and Mawezi, which are surrounded by dense forests full
of dazzling variety of flora and fauna. The area around the
mountain is protected territory. The 756 sq. km lying above
2,700m comprise Kilimanjaro National Park , while parts of the
lower slopes - which support five vegetation zones - are protected
as forest reserves.
The main attractions are the volcanic centres; Shira, Mawezi
and Kibo, and the change in forest from savannah grassland to
raw forests, moorland, tundra, semi-desert, and snow.
The Mountain has attracted many tourists
and researchers from all over the world. No visit to Tanzania
's northern circuit would be complete without at least a glimpse
of the mountain.
It is the only peak of its size that can
be Climbinged with relative ease by non-mountaineers, and many
take the opportunity to do so. The mountain can be Climbinged
any time of the year, although it is often wet in the rain
forest zone from mid-March to May. The summit can be conquered
in three days. The youngest person to have Climbinged it was
an 11-year old and the oldest, 74 years old.
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Protected Areas of Tanzania
| Ngorongoro
Crater
This park is a magnificent
site containing active volcanoes, archaeological sites,
bush land, sandy plains,
Ngorongoro Crater and Olduvai Gorge . The crater is a major
tourist attraction in the country and was shaped millions
of years ago, when a huge volcanic mountain collapsed inwards
and created the world's largest calderas.
The crater is 610 meters deep
and covers an area of 260 square kilometres. The crater's
floor hosts a great variety of wild life.
In addition to ordinary safaris,
Malaika offers walking trips to Ngorongoro
Highlands, bird-watching trips, culture
tours in Nainokanoka.
| Accommodations,
Itinerary: |
|
Ngorongoro
Crater Lodge |
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Ngorongoro
Serena Safari Lodge |
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Ngorongoro
Sopa Lodge |
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Ngorongoro
Wildlife Lodge |
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Itineraries
for Ngorongoro Crater |
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Western Circuit National Parks
Rubondo
Island
is tucked in a corner of Lake Victoria
the world's second largest lake. Rubondo protects precious fish
breeding grounds, the tasty Tilapia and the rapacious Nile perch.
Rubondo is more than a waterland where papyrus swamps hosts
the secretive Sitatunga, a shaggy aquatic antelope and the dappled
bushbuck. Rubondo is home of the malachite kingfisher, the fish
eagle and a global stopover for hundreds of migratory birds,
number of indigenous mammal species - hippo, bushbuck, monkey,
genet and mangoose share their protected habitat with introduced
species such as chimps, elephants and giraffes.
North of Tanzania, about 150 km [95 miles] west of Mwanza Town
.
Covers an area of about 240 sq.kms [150 sq.miles].
By regular fights from Arusha, Lake Manyara , Serengeti and
Mwanza. By road from Mwanza and then boat transfer. |
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| Gombe
Stream Chimpanzee Reserve
This park
is on the shores of Lake Tanganyika and chimpanzees are more
easily seen here in their natural habitat than anywhere else
in the world. Gombe was created to protect the chimpanzees
and is set in the beautiful Mahale Mountains . It is renowned
for fantastic sunsets over Lake Tanganyika and eastern Zaïre,
which makes it an essential stop for the keen photographer.
The habitats include rain forests, grasslands, alpine bamboo
and woodland. |
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Other places of interest
| Usambara
Mountains
The Usambara Mountains are situated in
the North Eastern part of Tanzania between Mount Kilimanjaro
and the Indian Ocean. The mountains rise up steeply from the
surrounding plains and can only be entered via a few roads.
The only tarmac road in the area winds along a small river to
Soni and Lushoto, the largest towns in the area. Because of
its pleasant climate, the mountains were favoured by the Germans
and the English during colonial times as is evidenced by the
numerous historic buildings from the past. From a distance the
mountains are a colorful mosaic. On the fertile slopes around
Soni and Lushoto farmers cultivate small plots but further away
from the towns large areas are still covered by dense tropical
forests. The viewpoints on the southern and western side of
the Usambara are well known for the spectacular views of the
plains of Mkomazi and Handeni. Kilimanjaro can be seen on the
horizon and at the end of the day the sunset turns the area
into a tremendous pallet of unforgettable colors. |
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| Lake
Eyasi and Lake Natron
Tourists hardly know this wild, still
nearly unexplored landscape, and you will be particularly impressed
of it. One of the most original landscapes in East Africa is
the area around the soda Lake : home of the Maasai, which live
here still in traditional way and are hardly influenced of the
modern culture. |
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| Olmoti
and Empakaai Craters
Close
to the Ngorongoro Crater there are two more craters, less
famous and less visited, but very interesting for a Walking
Safaris off the beaten track. Both craters offers you the
rare sense of pure solitude and peace, found only in remote,
pristine places.... more
infos |
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| Olduvai
Gorge
Olduvai, more
accurately called Oldupai after the wild sisal in the area,
is situated near the Ngorongoro Crater and is the site of
some of the most important finds of early hominid fossils
of all time (made famous by the work of the Leakey family)
- The "Nutcracker Man" or Australophithecus boisei
who lived 1.8 million years ago. There is a small informative
museum located at the visitor center. The gorge is a treasure
trove of archeological sites filled with fossils, settlement
remains and stone artefacts. Lecture tours are offered.
| Accommodations:
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see Ngorongoro
Crater |
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