Ngorongoro Crater
Het Ngorongoro conservation area. Hier bevindt zich de
Ngorongora krater en het Arusha National Park: dit park ligt in de Ngurdoto
krater. Dit is de krater van een vulkaan die waarschijnlijk al 250.000
jaar uitgedoofd is.. Van bovenop de krater (die 20 Km breed en 600 m hoog
is) is het uitzicht misschien niet zo indrukwekkend. Maar, eens men door
de overvolle jungle weer zijn weg naar beneden heeft gebaand, wordt men
wel degelijk geïmpressioneerd. Men heeft de krater vergeleken met
de ark van Noah, of de tuin van Eden. Het enige verschil : de krater bestaat
ook in de realiteit ! Noah zou hier in elk geval geen moeite gehad hebben
om zijn dieren te vinden : leeuwen, olifanten, neushoorns, buffels en andere
herbivoren van de vlakte zoals de wildebeest, Thomson's gazellen, zebra's
en reebokken. Verder zijn er nog duizenden flamingo's die in het lage water
van het Magadi-meer waden. Dit meer bevindt zich op de vloer van de krater.
De lokale masai-stam heeft het recht om hier zijn vee te laten grazen.
Ruaha NP
Ruaha, the second largest (after the Serengeti) of Tanzania's varied National
parks, with its dramatic geography is truly a vast unspoilt wilderness of some
13,000 sq km. It is part of an enormous expanse of protected land-the 30,000 sq
km Rungwa-Kisigo-Ruaha ecosystem, most of which made up the Saba Game Reserve in
former German Colonial times. Ruaha is also interesting as it represents a
transition zone where eastern and southern African species of fauna and flora
overlap.
The shining river after which the park is named, winds through the eastern section, fringed by tall trees: Acacia
albida, Tamarind and Wild figs, as well as the majestic Baobab, almost a
signature of Ruaha. The valley of the Great Ruaha River is thought to be an
extension of the Great Rift Valley and the Ruaha flows along the Park's entire eastern
boundary through rugged gorges and open plains.
A rich diversity of animal and plant life is sheltered by the Park: Ruaha is a hauntingly beautiful and wild
landscape of miombo forest, rolling woodlands, hills, rivers and plains and
possesses a great variety of wildlife, including lion, leopard, cheetah, hunting
dog, warthog, giraffe, zebra, huge herds of buffalo and large concentrations of
elephant. It is the only East Africa Park where it is possible to see the
greater and lesser kudu, as well as sable and roan antelopes. Whilst rhinos are
rarely seen today, the elephant population has more than doubled in the last
dozen years, not least due to steady eradication of poaching, but involving the
village communities around the park in a largely successful joint effort that
has become an example.
The diversity of bird life in Ruaha, more than any other East African park, is extraordinary; its geographical
location meaning that it is visited by both northern and southern migrants.
These include the Red-billed Wood Hoopoe, Violet-crested Turaco, Racquet-tailed
Roller, Red-billed Firefinch, Dickinson's Kestrel and Pel's Fishing Owl. Some
480 species of bird have been sighted within the Park and the first third of the
year, during the wet months, is appreciated as the most interesting for birders.
Ruaha is interesting all year round and there are climatic variations, not least owing to global warning and the El
Nino phenomenon. However June to October is the 'Yellow season'; when game is most visible because the grass is shorter and the
animals come to the Great Ruaha River to drink. November and December are hot,
and the short rains make the climate more humid, though these certainly do not
preclude a visit. January and February are predominantly hot and dry but again a
good time to visit. March and April are wet and movement around the park can be
a little more difficult and May is usually very wet and is the time when most
camps will be closed.
Coastal Aviation have a thrice weekly scheduled air service departing Arusha Tues, Fri and Sun at
08.00 arriving at 11.40. There are three flights per week departing Dar es
Salaam to Ruaha via Selous on Mon, Thurs and Sat departing 08.00 arriving 11.30.
Both flights cost $300p.p.
The flight from Dar-Selous-Ruaha connects two of Africa's last true wilderness preserves giving the opportunity to combine the
best wildlife destinations in southern Tanzania.
Driving time from Dar es Salaam is roughly 9 hours depending on
weather conditions. Private car services can be arranged from Dar and there is
also a private road service connecting lodges in Mikumi with Ruaha.
Iringa is the gateway to Ruaha, and Scandinavia coach services offer a cheaper
alternative to private car hire from Dar-Iringa.
Makambako is on the TAZARA railway line and it is possible to get a bus from
here to Iringa then on to Ruaha.
However Ruaha is remote and independent travellers using train or coach to Iringa will still need to contact one of the
few lodges in Ruaha for transfers.
There are currently 4 quality lodges in Ruaha offering all inclusive packages ranging from around $200-$300
p.p./night. Ruaha River lodge and Mwagusi Safari Camp are the longest
established camps in Ruaha.
A cheaper alternative is the government bandas near the ranger post which are more suitable for those on a
budget and with own transport.
Mikumi NP
Mikumi National Park was gazetted as a National Park in August 1964 and is the
3rd largest park in Tanzania covering 3230 square kilometers.
The park is named after the village just beyond its western border on the Dar es Salaam -
Iringa Highway which bisects the park for 50 km. Mikumi shares its boundary in
the extreme south, with the Selous Game Reserve, which is the largest Reserve in
Africa, and the two make one ecosystem with some animals (Elephant, Buffaloes
and Zebras) migrating to and from the northern part of the reserve into Mikumi
National Park.
The park lies in a horseshoe of towering mountains and
forested foothills which almost enclose the flood plain of the Mkata river. To
the east rises the 2743 metre massif of the Uluguru ranges while to the south
west is seen the craggy-peaks of the Lumango mountains.
The hog backed ridges of the Mbesera, Madzini and
Mazunyungu hills sweep round northward and westward.
To the far south is the Udzungwa Mountains National Park, gazetted in 1992, which is part of the Eastern Arc
Mountains which include the Usambaras. It is possible to visit the Udzungwas as
a day trip from Mikumi.
The best time to visit the park is during the dry season
which is June through February.
During the rainy season (March through - May) some of the park roads are impassable.
The park gate is 96 km from Morogoro along the Tanzania -
Zambia Highway, 288 km from Dar es Salaam, 216 km from Iringa and 80 km to
Udzungwa National Park.
Driving time from Dar es Salaam is roughly 4 ˝ hours
depending on the season. There are scheduled private road transfer services
offered from Dar es Salaam.
A cheaper option is to take a Scandinavia coach from Dar-Mikumi village, cost roughly $10.
In 2003 Foxtreks intend to introduce a private train connecting Dar-Selous-Mikumi.
Onward private road transfers are available from Mikumi-Ruaha or alternatively a cheaper option is
to catch a southbound coach to Iringa.
There are currently 3 safari lodges in Mikumi NP from around
$100p.p./night.
Alternatively there are 2 cheaper hotels in Mikumi village
where it is possible to negotiate car hire for safaris.
Selous GR
As the largest reserve in Africa at 55,000 sqkm, Selous can justifiably claim to
offer unparalleled wilderness. Located in southern Tanzania, it is home to the
largest populations of some of Africa's most sought after game including
elephant, lion, wild dog, leopard, buffalo, hippo, crocodile and herds of plains
game, yet it remains one of the least visited of the great game sanctuaries on
the continent.
Full day game drives inside the reserve in open sided 4x4 vehicles in the North-West sector of the reserve often
do not pass a single other vehicle, since this is far away from the busier
routes in the East.
For anyone who has struggled to photograph wildlife through a throng of other vehicles or followed a convoy of
minibuses through other national parks, the personal experience of the little
visited Selous is particularly refreshing.
What makes Selous stand out from many of the other wonderful reserves and parks with which Africa is blessed
is the opportunity to take boat safaris and walking safaris. Both options bring
you far closer to the natural environment than regular 4x4 game drives and are
not generally available in other reserves. Sable Mountain Lodge also offers night drives.
In addition to this the sheer dramatic scale of Selous makes it an outstanding example of untouched African
wilderness, and as one of the last refuges of healthy populations of the
endangered wild dogs the reserve truly can claim to offer a unique African
safari experience.
The best time to visit the reserve is from June-October and December-March. Short rains are expected in November and
the long rains usually last from early April-late May. Scheduled flights to
Selous are usually suspended from end March to early June.
Due to a vastly improved road infrastructure around the Matambwe HQ the main track connecting
Matambwe-Mtemere gates is anticipated to be passable year round from
2004.
Air services are available from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar into
Matambwe airstrip. Free car transfer from the airstrip takes 30 minutes to the
lodge. Scheduled flights cost from/to Dar $120 or Zanzibar $130p.p.
Both Coastal Aviation and Zanair have daily scheduled flights to Matambwe. Coastal
depart Zanzibar at 14.00 and Dar 14.30, arrive Selous 15.15 daily. Flights
depart Selous 15.30 and arrive Dar 16.15 and Zanzibar 17.05.
A good cost and time saving possibility is to take the train down to Selous from Dar es
Salaam then fly directly out to Zanzibar, thus avoiding returning to Dar to
catch a ferry or another flight.
There are also onward connections from Selous-Ruaha. The 2003-04 schedule is depart Selous Mon, Thurs and Sat at 09.30
arrive Ruaha 11.30. Flights cost from $270p.p.
There are now daily flight connections between Mafia Island and Selous with Coastal Aviation from
$120p.p.
For just $10 p.p. in a private first class compartment, this is a very affordable way to reach Selous.
The current 2003 schedule departing from TAZARA station Dar es Salaam is Mon 10.00,
Tues 15.50 and Fri 15.50.
Kisaki railway station is a mere 20 minute drive from Sable Mountain Lodge which offers free pick ups and transfers.
The five and a half hour journey shows an interesting view of rural Tanzanian life
as well as two hours of free game viewing as the train passes through Selous
Game Reserve.
The best option is in by train and fly out, due to the
unpredictable schedule of the northbound train.
The southbound train offers cost saving possibilities if intending to explore southern Tanzania.
Mangula is a further 2 hours south from Kisaki and is the gateway to Udzungwa
Mountains and Mikumi. Makambako is the gateway to the Iringa region and Ruaha
whilst Mbeya offers a host of options in the southern highlands.
Train tickets to all these regions from Dar es Salaam can be booked through A Tent
with a View Safaris - email tentview@intafrica.com.
For those travelling northwards to Dar es Salaam from Zambia and Malawi, the train
departs Kipiri Moshi in Zambia as well as Mbeya and Makambako in southern
Tanzania, thus making Selous accessable from the southern regions at an
affordable rate as well.
Chartered mini trains make a most alluring way to reach Selous, taking 5 hours from Dar, almost half
of which is through the reserve. The price is extremely favourable for groups of
6 or more.
Special champagne charters can be arranged for corporate
hospitality or for groups celebrating that special occasion. Maximum group size
15.
In 2003 Foxtreks intend to launch their own private train service
connecting Dar es Salaam-Selous-Mikumi.
Journey time from Dar es Salaam is about eight hours. From Morogoro the massively improved road
through Matombo to Selous passes through spectacular scenery, thick forest and
vibrant villages and takes about four hours. The last 50km requires use of a 4x4
car.
If intending to travel by car one possibility is to combine a visit
to Mikumi National Park before travelling down to Selous. A new road connecting
Mikumi and Selous was opened in 2002 but is only accessable in the dry
season.
The Kibiti road from Dar es Salaam to Mtemere gate in eastern
Selous takes roughly 8 hours.
Park fees: $25p.p.
Tarangiri NP
Met een oppervlakte van 2600 km2 is dit één
der mooiste beschermde gebieden in noord Tanzania. Hier vindt men de grootste
concentratie wilde dieren gedurende het droge seizoen, en het is het enige
park in de streek waar men het hele jaar door een grote concentratie olifanten
aantreft. Tarangire is bekend om zijn moeraslanden, heuvels en rotspartijen,
acaciabossen en vele baobabs. Men vind er zowel oryx, kudu's, leeuwen,
cheetahs, generouk, gnoe's en zebra's, en een 550-tal vogelsoorten.
