 |
 |
Tanzania National Parks Arusha National Park is the closet national park to Arusha town (25km) situated at the foot of Mount Meru, east of Arusha town. Arusha National park comprises 137 squares kilometers (3 square miles) of pristine wilderness and is one of the few parks in Tanzania to allow walking safaris inside the park because it has few dangerous predators. The park has diverse topography that can catch your eyes and heart. The park is divided into three distinct areas: Ngurdoto Crater, the Momella Lakes and the rugged Mt Meru. Ngurdoto Crater is surrounded by forest whilst the crater floor is a swampy area. The Momella lakes, like many in the Rift Valley, are alkaline, whilst Mt Meru is a mixture of lush forest and bare rocks. Associated with these different vegetation zones are different types of mammal species and outstanding birdlife we are less likely to find elsewhere: both migratory and residents water birds settle on the lakes, waterbuck and reedbuck are found near water, while bushbuck and duikers easily glimpsed between ancient cedar trees or the black - and white colobus monkeys, blue or Sykes monkey climbing along their branches. Within this wide range of habitats almost 400 species of birds have been recorded in the park. Other species in evidence are elephants, giraffe (largest concentration of giraffes), hippos, leopards, hyena, zebra and a wide range of antelopes. Gombe National Park. Information Coming Soon. Katavi National Park is over one million acres of national park with only one accommodation, the famous Chada Katavi Tented Camp. The camp has 6 traditional double safari tents with spectacular views, complete privacy and pampered care. The park is famous for large herds of buffalo, roan and sable antelopes, elephants, leopards and lion prides. The park remains outstanding for birding of all kinds. Lake Manyara National Park is 135 km (81 miles) from Arusha town. It is a small park (127 square miles) and is bordered by the western wall of the Great Rift Valley (3,150 feet altitude) and the shallow alkaline Lake Manyara. The park is small, due to the fact that two thirds is by the lake. One third harbors a variety of wild animals are supported by open savannah grassland with rocky outcrops, mashes and woodland. It is noted for its elephant population and tree-climbing lions. Actually, it is quite hard to see tree-climbing lions in Lake Manyara, due to the brush and woodland. The behavior of lions climbing trees was first observed in this park, but lions do climb trees in Tarangire and the Serengeti as well. The park was first made famous by the elephant researcher Ian Douglas Hamilton and Manyara was established specifically to protect the elephants herds. This park has the highest density of elephants boasting 7 elephants per square kilometer. Manyara is a birding paradise more than 380 species have been recorded among them; bee eater, forest - dwelling crowned eagle, heron, flamingo, water fowl, crowner sniper and pratincole. The park is also known for its large troops of baboons and its many hippos, which can be seen either basking or submerged in the hippo pools near the forest. Mahale National Park is considered one of the most beautiful parks in all of Africa, with crystal clear blue waters, sandy beaches and the impressive forested Mahale Mountains. This park was only gazetted in 1985 and has been slowly developed in the last 20 years, making it a haven from the tourist routes. Mahale also boasts 8 other primate species, including the yellow baboon, the red colobus, blue monkeys, red-tailed and velvet monkeys as well. Black and white colobus are found in the park but are a bit more elusive. Two species of galagos are more nocturnal and a rare find. Mahale also provides good mammal viewing with elephant, lion, wild dog, roan antelope, buffalo and giraffe. East of the Pare Mountains, Mkomazi falls along the edge of semi-arid savanna that stretches from Kenya's Tsavo East National Park. Mkomazi officially became a national park in 2005, after being designated as a Game Reserve since 1951. The park encompasses over 1200 square miles. In 1988, with Mkomazi on the brink of ecological disaster due to overgrazing, burning, indiscriminate hunting and poaching, the Tanzania government initiated a program of habitat rehabilitation and endangered species reintroduction, with the goal of re-establishing a viable ecosystem directly linked to Tsavo. As part of this plan, in 1989, the government asked the Tony Fitzjohn/George Adamson African Wildlife Preservation Trust to work in partnership to rehabilitate the reserve. Tony Fitzjohn created the Mkomazi Rhino Sanctuary and has attempted to breed and reintroduce wild dogs to the area. Other mammals found in the park include elephant, zebra, lion, cheetah, leopard, giraffe, buffalo, jackal, aardwolf and lesser kudu. There are 78 species of mammals in the park and more than 450 recorded species of birds. Of particular interest is the tall, slender-necked Gerenuk who stand on their hind legs to stretch for leaves of thorny bushes and trees. Gerenuk can survive in arid lands where other antelopes cannot. This is one of the only parks in Tanzania were Gerenuk can be found. Mt. Kilimanjaro is just north of Arusha in the northern portion of Tanzania. Our airport here at Arusha is called the Mt. Kilimanjaro airport, because of our close proximity to the mountain. Mt. Kilimanjaro is a fairly difficult journey and one that needs to be respected. The gain in altitude is more severe than other high-altitude climbs and it is for this reason that there is such a high failure rate. There are 5 different routes that can be chosen, each with a different approach route and with a different number of recommended days, and hence different prices.. The national park rules require that no climb may be undertaken in less than 5 nights and 4 days, as this is the minimum number of days to reduce the risk of serious altitude sickness. Most of our climbers prefer the Machame Route (6 days and 5 nights) or the more secluded Shira Route (8 days and 7 nights). All climbs can be combined with a safari afterwards and are therefore custom designed. All trips must include one night of lodging prior to the climb (we recommend 2 nights so you can adjust after your long international flights), and one night after your descent. Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest free-standing mountain in the world and peaks out at 19,340 feet. It is the highest peak in all of Africa and many call it the roof of Africa. Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is not a technical climb but it necessitates several days of steady trekking as you ascend the mountain. You stay in full service camps until your last night, which is a shelter hut. It is very adequate but your night is very short there, as you leave between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. for the final ascent so you arrive at the peak at sunrise. One of our favorite plans is to include two parks along with your mountain climb--the Arusha and Tarangire parks. This offers you a variety of experiences-from the climb and the awsome view, to the big game and lush vegetation of two of our nearby parks. Ngorongoro Crater is one of seven World Heritage Sites designated in Tanzania and it is the world's largest unflooded caldera. This means the entire rim of the old volcano is intact. The Crater is a memorable experience, while only 100 square miles in total, it also offers six distinct habitats: acacia forest, swamp, short -grass, long grass, riverine and woodland. Each habitat attracts a variety of animals. NCA is also the world's first multi-purpose land use experiment, combining tourism, research, archeology, wildlife management, grazing rights and farming. The rim of the Crater sits at 7,800 feet in altitude and the Crater floor descends to 5,000 feet above sea leave. The Crater is home to almost 30,000 animals in an area naturally enclosed by the slopes of the volcano. The Crater is the best location for viewing black rhino and the huge old bull elephants. There is not enough vegetation to support the large cow and calf herds, but the old males "retire" to the Crater for the wonderful swamp grass and acacia forest. The only animals you will not see in the Crater are the impala and giraffe. It is not known why impala do not inhabit the Crater, but giraffe are unable to descend the steep grade without lowering their heads, which raises their blood pressure to dangerous levels Ruaha National Park is Tanzania's second largest national park extending over 10,000 kms of wooded hills and open plains. It is located in a unique transition zone, where East & Southern African fauna and flora overlap and with its vast, unspoiled wilderness, protecting a variety of species virtually unequaled in East Africa. Ruaha is often considered the country's best-kept game viewing secret with few tourist venturing to the park. The dominant geographical feature of the park is the Ruaha River in the southeast area of the park, flowing for 160 kms. Ruaha has a very hot and dry climate and you should be prepared for very early morning game drives with rest time back at the camp during the heat of the day. Animals are impacted by the heat and often will find cooler shady places to rest during the heat of the day as well. Daytime temperatures at this time of the year are typically in the upper 90's and low 100s, but it cools down considerably at night. This particularly dry time of the year allows for some better game viewing, as the grass is low and easier to find predators, including wild dogs. Tanzania has the largest population of wild dogs in Africa, with over 1000 individuals recorded between Ruaha and the Selous. The Mwagusi River often is the territory for one large pack of wild dogs in particular. However, be prepared that the dogs remain difficult to find as they travel huge distances to hunt and the parks are very large. In addition to wild dog, Ruaha provides opportunities to see the beautiful greater kudu, roan and sable antelopes. The sable in particular prefers the higher ground along the ridge, also a favorite habitat for the tsetse fly. We recommend patience and a good fly swatter! These tsetse do not carry sleeping sickness, but have a difficult bite. Ruaha is also famous for its large elephant herds, numbering more than 12,000 individuals migrating through the park. This is the largest population in any Tanzanian park. The park has 510 recorded species of birds with an interesting mix of northern and southern species. There are substantial populations of black-collared love birds and one of the few locations to hopefully see the crested barbet. Raptors are abundant with many bataleur and fish eagles throughout the park. Saadani is the most recent addition to the vast national park system of Tanzania. It is East Africa's only coastal wildlife reserve and offers the opportunity to see big game and bird life interacting with the sea. Geographically, Saadani falls under the East Africa coastal forest zone and became a national park only in 2003. The park is about 736 square miles. It is located 45 miles north of Bagamoyo and south of Pangani region. Currently, there are less than 1000 visitors per year. Activities in the park include game drives, boat safaris, walking safaris and bird watching. Big game inside the park include giraffe, buffalo, reedbuck, waterbuck, zebra, wildebeest, warthog, baboon, python, elephant(about 50 individuals recorded), hippos, Nile monitor lizards and crocodiles in the Wami River, black and white colobus monkey, blue monkey and tremendous bird life. Lion, leopard, hyena eland and yellow baboon can be found in the park, but not in large numbers. For a small park, the variety of eco-systems is impressive and this is the only location in the itinerary to learn about mangrove environments. Saadani also includes a green turtle-nesting site at Madete on the beach. Indigenous species include Liechtenstein's hartebeest and the Roosevelt sable. There are a number of bird species in the Saadani eco-system that have a small distribution range. These birds are dependent upon the habitat that ranges from the sea to saline flats, open grassland, savanna and forest. Prominent acacia-savanna birds include lilac-breasted roller, weavers, fork-tailed Drongo, grey hornbill, ring-necked dove and grey-headed sparrow. Several species of bee-eaters are abundant in Saadani and the southern Ground Hornbill is numerous. Truly aquatic waders such as yellow-billed stork, grey heron, little egret, water dikkop and various species of sandpiper and kingfisher are common along the shore and banks of rivers. In terms of vegetation, Saadani offers four distinct areas - coastal forest, forest-savanna, mangroves and plantations. The vegetation in the coastal forest is under severe threat from expanding agricultural development and the cutting of trees for charcoal. The forest-savanna is dominated by palm grasslands, especially Hyphanae palms. Given the importance of mangroves to prawn fishing communities along the Saadani coastline, protecting the trees is a critical conservation issue. The type of vegetation in the plantations encompasses "exotics" or non-indigenous vegetation such as coconut plantations, mango trees, eucalyptus, Mvinje trees and Opuntia-a weedy cactus. The Selous Game Reserve is the largest protected wet wilderness area in Africa and indeed in the world. It is 54,000 square miles, making up almost 6% of Tanzania's land surface. The park was originally gazetted by the German colonial government in 1905 and was renamed by the British after World War I when Germany lost the war. The park has undergone a number of changes and was originally created for hunters who were attracted to the huge elephant herds of southern Tanzania. After independence, Tanzania's first President, Julius Nyerere, placed a high priority on conservation and protection of wildlife and expanded the Selous Game Reserve to its present boundaries. The primary purpose of the Reserve was for hunting and it was not until the late 1960s that a small area in the northern part of the Reserve was allocated for safari tourism. There are a total of 47 hunting blocks that have been allocated over the years, and 4 of these blocks are now reserved for safari tourism. So, although the Reserve is huge, it is a smaller area that is open for safari. Approximately 2,500 square miles in the northern "photographic" zone are dedicated to tourism. This is approximately half the size of the Serengeti National Park. The primary difference between a national park and a game reserve is that hunting is allowed in reserves and prohibited in national parks. The majority of the income from this Reserve comes from hunting and is an important source of revenue for the government. The attractions of the Selous are its more remote location, fewer tourists, the ability to do game walks and boat safaris on the Rufiji River. The River has an incredible number of crocodiles, hippos and elephants. The most recent elephant census estimates there are 60,000 elephants in the Selous, which accounts for over 50% of all the elephants in Tanzania. Elephants are rarely seen in large herds in the Selous, but rather in smaller groups led by matriarchs. The Selous also has the world's largest population of wild dogs, estimate in recent surveys as high as 1,000 individuals. Ruaha NP has the second largest population of wild dog in Africa. However, due to the size of the reserve, it is often still hard to spot the wild dogs. The Selous is a birder's paradise with more than 430 recorded species that have been positively identified in the Reserve. Serengeti National Park is one of the most famous wildlife areas in the world. The park's 5,700 square miles are part of the 9,600-square-mile Serengeti Eco-system, home to incredible herds of wildebeest and other grazing animals. It is the largest national park in Tanzania, with a staggering animal population of about 4 million. It is the largest wildlife sanctuary in the world and the site of one of the most breathtaking events in animal kingdom-the migration of more than a million wildebeest. The area consists of short-grass southern plains, savannah dotted with acacia and granite outcroppings called kopjes, and riverine bush and forest in the north. Tarangire National Park, which is the "Baobab Capital of the World", is 120km and 2 hours drive from Arusha (75 miles). Tarangire is renowned for its wild landscapes and diverse habitats.The Tarangire River, from which the park derives its name, is the only permanent water source within 2600 square kilometers (1625 sq.miles) of protected wildlife area. In addition to numerous animals, the park has over 300 species of birds and has the highest recorded number of breeding bird species of any habitat in the world. Tarangire is most famous for its elephants. There are 3,000 resident elephants in the park and another 3,000 individuals migrate into the park during the dry season of July-October. Elephants can begin to migrate into Tarangire as early as May and June as they follow the long rains and love the tall swamp grass found in Tarangire National Park. Elephant watching is excellent in Tarangire all year round. Bird watching is amazing all year round as well and Tarangire boasts the largest number of breeding species in one park in all of Africa. During the dry season, herd animals of all kinds (elephants, wildebeest, zebra, gazelles and antelopes) migrate from the surrounding areas for the water found inside the park. This is the second largest migration of animals in Africa after the Serengeti Migration. Tarangire has a very large swamp, called Silali Swamp, which attracts animals and birds of all kinds. During the dry season, the famous giant rock pythons leave the swamp to avoid being stepped on by herd animals and live in the trees on the edge of the swamp. These are amazing creatures and some of the most unusual wildlife viewing is of rock pythons killing large animals of all kinds! Tarangire is also home to the last remaining pack of wild dogs in northern Tanzania. They remain an extremely elusive find
|
|
Unique Safaris. 2009 1562 Oakbrooke Terrace, Eagan, Minnesota 55122, USA USA Phone: (612) 201-4461 USA E-mail: meg@uniquesafaris.biz Tanzania Office Phone: 011-255-27-255-3843 Tanzania E-mail: uniquesaf@cybernet.co.tz |
|