ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK
Just 32Km away from the town of Arusha,is the Arusha national
park which was described by Sir Julian Huxley”a gem amongst
parks”.It consists of three spectacular features,the Momella
lakes,Mount Meru and the Ngurdoto crater.
On clear days magnificent views of Mount Kilimanjaro can be seen
from almost any part of the park.The vegetation and wildlife varies
with the topography,which ranges from forest to swamp.The park
is famous for its 400 species of birdlife,both migrant and resident,and
black and white colobus monkey. Other animals frequently seen
in the park are baboon,elephant,buffalo,giraffe,hippo,leopard,hyena,zebra
and a wide range of antelope species.
Getting there:A short drive from Arusha or Kilimanjaro
International arport.
KILIMANJARO NATIONAL PARK
Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest free-standing mountain in the
wolrd,so can truly be regarded as the roof of Africa.”As
wide as all the world,great,high and unbelivably white,”
was Ernest Hemingway’s description in his book”The Snows
of Kilimanjaro”.Its oustanding features are its three major
volcanic centres,Shira in the west,Mawenzi in the east and the
snowcapped Kibo in the centre.
Getting there:A two hour drive from Arusha or
on hour drive from Kilimanjaro International airport.
SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
The Serengeti national park is arguably the best known wildlife
sanctuary in the world.Serengeti means”endless plains”
in the Maasai language,and within its boundaries are more than
three million large mammals.About 35 species of plains animals
can be seen here including the so-called “BIG FIVE”
- elephant,rhino,lion,(some 1500 of them),leopard and buffalo.
In May or early June,huge herds of wildbeest,gazelle and zebra
begin their spectacular migration.In their wake follow the predators;lion,cheetah
and wild dog with vultures circling overhead. Other common species
found here include hippo, giraffe, eland, impala and other antelope
types ,baboons, monkeys and a profusion of over 500 species of
bird.
The park is famous for its 400 species of birdlife,both migrant
and resident,and the black and white colobus monkey. Other mammals
frequently seen in the park are baboon, elephant, giraffe, buffalo,
hippo, leopard,hyena,zebra and a wide range of antelope species.
Getting there: A six hour drive or one hour
flight,from Arusha town.
NGORONGORO CRATER
The Ngorongoro crater,at 2286m above sea level,is the largest
unbroken caldera in the world.Sorrounded by very steep walls rising
610m from the crater floor,this natural amphitheatre covers an
area of about 260 sq.Km thats 100 sq.miles - and is home to up
to 30,000 animals,almost half of them zebra and wildbeest.
There are also gazelle,buffalo,eland,hartebeest and warthog.Such
vast number attract predators a plenty,mainly lion and hyena but
also cheetah and leopard.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.
The crater has been declared a World Heritage Site.The Ngorongoro
crater lies within the Ngorongoro conservation area,which covers
more than 8000 sq.Km.It is bounded by Lake Eyasi in the southwest
and the Gol mountains in the north.Roughly in the centre is the
Olbalal Swamp and the arid Olduvai Gorge.
Getting there:A four hour drive, or one hour
flight,from Arusha town.A two hour drive from Manyara or Tarangire.
OLDUVAI GORGE
Located within the Ngorongoro Conservation area is the Olduvai
Gorge,180km from Arusha.It was here that Dr.Louis Leakey discovered
the remains of Homohablis or “Handy man”regared as mankind’s
first stepon the ladder of human evolution.But many more fossils
have been discovered here including those of prehistoric elephants,giant
horned sheep and enormous ostriches.Guides operate lecture tours
of the sites.
Getting there:A four hour drive,or one hour
flight,from Arusha.A two hour drive from Manyara or Tarangire.
LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
Two famous spectacles in Lake Manyara National park are the tree-climbing
lions,which spend most of the day spread out along the branches
of Acacia trees six to seven metres above the ground,and tree-climbing
pythons.Nestling at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment
the park is noted for its incredible beauty.As visitors enter
the gate they pass into the lush forest,home to troops of baboons
and blue monkey.
Further along,the forest opens up into woodlands,grassland,swamps
and beyond,the soda lake itself,covering 390 sq.km and sunctuary
to over 400 species of bird including flamingo, pelican, storks,sacred
ibis,cormorants and Egyptian geese.The park is particulary noted
for its huge herds of buffalo and elephant.Also giraffe,impala,hippo
and a great variety of smaller animals.
Getting there:A two hour drive,or a half hour
flight,from Arusha.
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
Close to Arusha town,118km away,Tarangire national parks gets
its name from the river that threads its way through the length
of the reserve.It is famous for its dense wildlife population
which is most spectacular between June and September,the dry period.
During this time thousands of animals - wilddebeest,zebra,eland,elephant,harbeest,buffalo
and oryx - migrate from the dry Maasai steppe to the Tarangire
River looking for water.Lion,leopard and other predators follow
the herds.Tarangire also is home to 550 varieties of bird.
SELOUS GAME RESERVE
The Selous Game Reserve is the largest protected wildlife area
in Africa.A UN World Heritage site,this pristine,uninhabited area
is larger than Switzerland.
Only in the Serengeti will visitors see a greater concentration
of wildlife.Yet Selous boasts Tanzania”s largest population
of elephant as well as large numbers of buffalo,hippo and wild
dog.Othe species commonly seen are lion,bushbuck,impala,giraffe,eland,baboon,zebra
and greater kudu.
The topography of the park varies from rolling Savannah woodland,grassland
plains and rocky outcrops cut by the Rufiji River and its tributaries,the
Kilombero and Luwegu,which together cover the greatest catchment
are in East Africa.The Rufiji,which flows from north to south,provides
the life-blood of the Selous and sailing or rafting down the river
is a superb method of seeing game,especially during the dry season
between June and an array of grazing antelope can be seen.Linked
to the Rufiji is lake Tagalala,where waterbuck,reedbuck and bushbuck
gathered at water’s edge.In the long grassland,safari enthusiasts
may get a chance to see rare sable antelope,greater kudu or lion.
The park gets its name from the hunter-explorer Fredrick Courtney
Selous,whose books about his exploits where best sellers in Victorian
England.
Walking safaris, game drives and boat trips are organised.The
best tiem to visit is during the dry seaso,when game is forced
from hiding places to the river to drink water.The water of Kilombero
Game controlled Area are home to the ferocious tiger fish and
vandu catfish,the latter equpped with a primitive set of lungs
which allows it to migrate from one landlocked pool to another.
Locater north of Selous Reserve,less than 300km from Dar es Salaam,is
the Mikumi national park.Because of its accessibility it is one
of the most popular parks in Tanzania and is an important centre
for education where students go to study ecology and conservation.A
wide range of wildlife inhabitats its 3230 sq.km area.
The Mikumi flood plain,with its open grasslands,dominates the
park together with the mountain ranges that border the park on
two sides.Lion is commonly seen as are packs of wild dog,rare
elsewhere in Africa.Elephant may be encountered and other animals
frequently observed are giraffe,zebra,buffalo,wildbeest,eland
and Lichtenstein’s hartebeest.
Crocodiles,monitor lizard and python are other residents.At the
southern of the flood plain,in the Kikoboga area,families of yellow
baboon live.Hippos wallow in the waters of Hippo Pools and are
frequently joined by flocks of open-billed storks,hunting for
molluscs.
Other 300 species of birds have been observed in the park,many
of which are Eurasian migrants who stay between October and April.
Getting there:A four hour drive,or one hour
flight,from Dar es Salaam.
One of Tanzania’s best kept wildlife secrets in the Ruaha
Natioanal park.Previous inaccessibility have ensured it has remained
virtually unchanged by the ravages of mankind.Covering 10,300
sq.km it is the country’s biggest elephant sunctuary.Its
name derives from the Great Ruaha River which flows along its
eastern border,creating spectacular gorges.Flowing into the Rufiji
River,the Great Ruaha is home to hippo and crocodile.Waterbuck,reedbuck
and buffalo venture to the river’s edge to drink,attracting
the attention of lion,leopard,hyena,wild dog and jackal.
Various antelope species,such as greater and lesser kudu,impala,sable
and roan antelope,Grant’s gazelle and the tiny dik-dik thrive
in the grasslands bordering the river alongside giraffe,zebra,warthog,mongoose,porcupine,wild
cat and civet.
Birdlife is prolific,over 370 species have been recorded,some
of which are not found in the northern Tanzania.Eurasian migrants
flock to Ruaha twice a year - March to April and October to November
- joining the resident kingfishers,hornbills,sunbirds,egrets and
plovers.
Best months for the game viewing are during the dry season from
May to December,when the animals are concentrated around the shrinking
water-courses.The park has an airstrip for light aircraft on the
western bank of the river.
Getting there:Up to ten hour drive,or a one
and a half hour flight,from Dar es Salaam.
Udzungwa mountains national park is a recently established conservation
area of about 2000sq.km in the Iringa and Morogoro regions of
south-central Tanzania.The park is bordered by the Great Ruaha
River to the north,and the Mikumi-Ifakara road to the east.
The major attraction of the park is its bio-diversity and unique
rainforest,where many rare plains,not found anywhere else in the
world,have been identified,from a tiny African violet to 30metre
high trees.As well as being home to about six types of primates,including
two endemic species - the Iringa red colobus monkey and the Sanje
crested mangabey - the plateau supports populations of elephant,buffalo,lion,leopard
and wild dog as well as rare species of forest birds,four of which
were only discovered in the last few years.The park is 10k south
west of Mikumi National park.
Getting there:A five hour drive from Dar es
Salaam.
GOMBE STREAM NATIOANAL PARK
A mountainous strip that borders the shores of lake Tanganyika,about
16km from Kigoma.Tanzania’s smallest park covers 52sq.km.It
can only be reached by boat from Kigoma town.Gombe stream offers
visitors the rare chance to observe the chimpanzee communities
made famous by British explorer Jane Goodall.A number of monkey
species can also be seen including red colobus,red-tail and blue
monkeys.The are is heavily forested making it an unsuitable habitat
for carnivores and safe for walking safaris.Birdwatchers will
be richly rewarded.
Getting there:By air,or road,from Arusha or
Dar es Salaam.Or by train from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma town and
then a one hour boat trip.
OTHER WILDLIFE PARKS
These are KATAVI NATIONAL PARK, 4500sq.km located about 40km south-east
of the town of Mpanda,are lake Katavi,with its vast floodplains.Also
there is MAHALE NATIONAL PARK which is the other sanctuary of
the chimpanzee south of Kigoma town reached by boat approximately
1000sq.km.We have also RUBONDO NATIONAL PARK - a water wonderland
comprising Rubondo Island and nie smaller islands into a corner
of Lake Victoria north-west of Mwanza town.It can be reached by
air or boat transfer from Mwanza town.You can also have a chance
to visit MKOMAZI GAME RESERVE AREA northwest of Mount Kilimanjaro;to
the south the Pare and Usambara mountains and to the north Kenya’s
Tsavo national park.
ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK
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