25/08/2012
WILDLIFE SAFARIS IN TANZANIA.
Ngorongoro Crater.
Eighth wonder of the world’ it is uniqueness attraction in the World where by human being live together with wild animals like lion buffalo and elephant , Land of Maasai , this protected area is located in the Great Rift Valley, gigantic fracture of the earth’s crust. Volcanoes, mountains, plains, lakes, forests and archeological sites form this magnificent landscape. At 1600 meters altitude, the bottom of the crater (265 km square) dotted with watering holes, shelters almost 30,000 animals in an area naturally enclosed by the slopes of the volcano (but the animals can leave). The crater elephants are strangely, mainly bulls. There are a small number of black rhino. The bird life is largely seasonal and is also affected by the ratio of soda fresh water in Lake Magadi on the crater floor. It’s called the eighth wonder of the world. Best time: whole year – rainy season in April.
Serengeti National Park.
One of the world’s last great wildlife refuges’ various types of vegetation: grassy plains, savannah with acacias, wooded hill and mountain are the backdrop for an extraordinary concentration of animals which reaches its peak during the wildebeest migration. Almost 1.5 million wildebeest undertake a circuit of 1000kms, searching for new pastures and watering holes. The name comes form the Maasai “Siringet”, meaning endless plains. The Seronera Valley in the Serengeti is famous for the abundance of lion and leopard. Best time: for the migration from December to May in the south of the park and from June to October to the west (Western Corridor) and to the North-near Maasai Mara/Serengeti border.
Lake Manyara National Park.
Nestling at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment the park is noted for its incredible beauty. Famous for its tree – Climbing lions spread along the branches of Acacia trees. It has a lush forest, woodland, Grassland, Swamps and soda lake, the area covers 390 sq km and sanctuary to over 350 species of birds – Pelicans, Storks, Sacred lbis, Flamingos and many more. It also has numerous buffaloes, Elephants, Hippo, Giraffe and a great variety of smaller animals. Best time: whole year – rainy season in April.
Tarangire National Park.
Animal population here rivals that of the Serengeti. On the east bank of Lake Manyara, the Tarangire River crosses the park from north to south. Several circuits are possible: Burundi to the west (80kms), Lamarkau to the south (150kms), Matete, along the river (60km) Acacia trees and baobab forests shelter animals seeking refuge near the river. Wildebeest, Zebra, Eland, herds of Elephant, Hartebeest, Buffalos, Gerenuk, and Fringe eared Oryx, and Flocks of birds of many different species. Best time: excellent during June to November, although good to visit all year round.
Arusha National Park.
Just 32 km’s away from the town of Arusha is the Arusha National Park which is consists of three spectacular features. The Momela Lakes, Mount Meru and the Ngurdoto Crater. On clear days magnificent views of Mount Kilimanjaro can be seen from almost any park of the park. The vegetation and the wildlife vary with the topography, which rages from forest to swamp. The park is famous for its 400 species of bird life, both migrant and resident, and black and white Columbus monkeys.
Rubondo Island National Park.
Rubondo Island National Park is made Rubondo Island and islands in Lake Victoria. Hippopotamus, crocodiles, lizards, sitatunga, giraffe, a variety of birds and big fresh water fish including the giant Nile Perch, are among the major wildlife found here. The island is rich of flora and fauna, and most striking, are the hippo and crocodile population is the lake. These two different animal species decorate the lakeshores during the early morning and evening hours.
Oldupai Gorge.
Located within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the Oldupai Gorge, 220 km from Arusha. It was here that Dr. Louis Leakey discovered the remains of Homo habilis or “Handy man” regarded as Mankind’s first step on the ladder of human evolution. But many more fossils have been discovered here including those of prehistoric elephants, giant horned sheet and enormous ostriches. Guides operate lecture tours of the sites. This park covers an area of 240 sq km’s and is famous for its various species of plants ranging from savannah and open woodland to dense forest and papyrus swamps. The park is located about 300 km’s from the Mwanza port.
Mount Kilimanjaro.
Highest free standing mountain in the world’ Kilimanjaro consists of three 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. It’s the roof of Africa. There are several ways to reach the summit; Marangu route (to the west) is the most popular, Machame (to the west), Shira (to the far west) are most demanding. You’ll be trekking and not mountain climbing. Best time: whole year round but although April will be raining.
Mikumi National Park – South Tanzania.
Located north of the Selous Game Reserve, less than 300 km 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 inhabits its 3230 sq km area. The Mikumi flood plain, with its open grasslands, dominated the park together with the mountain ranges that border the park on two sides. Lion is commonly seen as are packs of wild dogs, rare elsewhere in Africa.
Selous Game Reserve – South Tanzania.
The Selous Game Reserve is the largest protected wildlife area in Africa about 50000km square. UN World Heritage site, this pristine, un-habited area is largest than Switzerland. Only in the Serengeti will visitors see a greater concentration of wildlife. Yet Selous boasts Tanzania’s largest population of elephants as well as large numbers of buffalo, hippo and wild dog. Other 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 Lumegu, which together cover the greatest catchments area in Eastern 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 October.
Stone Town – Zanzibar
It may not have a particularly romantic name, but Stone Town is the old city and cultural heart of Zanzibar, little changed in the last 200 years. It is a place of winding alleys, bustling bazaars, mosques and grand Arab houses whose original owners vied with each other over the extravagance of their dwellings. This one-upmanship is particularly reflected in the brass-studded, carved, wooden doors – there are more than 500 different examples of this handwork. You can spend many idle hours and days just wandering through the fascinating labyrinth of narrow streets and alleyways.
Paradise Beaches – Zanzibar.
Zanzibar’s brilliant white beaches lapped by the warm turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean provide the perfect place to relax soak up the sun and take a break from some busy sightseeing. The beaches in Zanzibar are a paradise, interspersed with picturesque fishing villages, where the people live a simple way of life, unchanged over the years. There are more than 25 fantastic beaches in Zanzibar, and some are so peaceful and remote that the only noise breaking the silence is likely to be the ocean.
CULTURAL TOUR IN TANZANIA.
Hadzabe Bushmen.
Small groups of Hadzabe Bushmen live around Lake Eyasi. Their language resembles the click languages of other BSushmen further south in the Kalahari. Their small population was seriously threatened, in particular during the period when Julius Nyerere tried to introduce his Ujuma policy. The tribe resisted the forcible settlement policies of Julius Nyerere and nowadays most of their children have never seen a doctor or school – the bush provides for all their needs and is a class room for their offspring.
They are often willing for visitors to come and see their simple bush homes where the tree canopy alone or a cave provides them with shelter. They live entirely off the bush and from hunting, generally small antelopes and baboons, although in rainy seasons gazelles and antelopes come down from the Ngorongoro or Serengeti to their then lush bush lands offering them richer pickings. In the recent past their hunting activities were resented by trophy hunters who tried to stop their “illegal” hunting.
The string lethal bows are made from giraffe tendons and the arrows are coasted with a strong poison made from another tree. The commiphora tree provides excellent firewood which they kindle by rubbing wood, a green commiphora provides a mosquito-repelling sap, and juice squeezed out of the sansaveria provides a cure for snake bites while aloe is used to heal cuts. Roots provide a wide range of medicines and the mighty baobab fruits as a source of drink. A few hours spent with the Bushmen makes the apparently un-hospitable bush country come to life and to watch them hunt a unique experience as they stealthily spot then creep up on their prey skillfully killing it.
Lake Eyasi.
After over one hour of dusty driving south-west of Karate and the Ngorongoro Crater one arrives at the northern shore of Lake Eyasi, a mildly alkaline lake stretching for about 50km to the south-west. To the north-east the horizon is dominated by the Crater Highlands, to the north, beyond an escarpment the plains of the Serengeti. Over 100 years ago when the stronger Maasai tribes moved into the Ngorongoro and Serengeti, the Datoga and other indigenous Bushmen living there were pushed south. Many made Lake Eyasi and its surrounding bush and forests their home.
Among the acacia and doom palm forests at the north-east end of the lake, by small lava outcropping is located Kisima Ngeda farm. This owes its survival to fresh water springs in the area that allows grass and vegetables to grow. The springs also sustain a small reservoir used a small tilapia fish farm. The farm is owned by a German family whose main source of income is fresh milk produced from the cows they keep and sold in local villages.
The meadows along the shores of the lake and the forests are home to a wide variety of wildlife including leopard, hippo, and a variety of monkeys, various birds, greater and lesser flamingos, storks and pelicans.
Several very pleasant, private campsite are located in the forest clearings by the lake, these provide grassy tent spaces, shower and toilet facilities made as far as possible from local materials. At night a cool breeze keeps away mosquitoes. This is an ideal lace for bird-watchers or those who just want to relax to spend two or three nights in total peace.
The Maasai People.
Ever since white men came to Eastern Africa, they have been having unhappy kind of love affair with the Maasai people. Unhappy, because admiration and exasperation have been almost equally blended in the feelings towards these handsome, arrogant and stubborn tribesmen. Almost, if not quite, alone among the tribes of eastern Africa, the Maasai have turned their backs upon the prizes and temptation off by the West.
The great majority of other African peoples have, after initial period of suspicious hesitation, grasped at those offerings with both hands: at western medicine and education and, after a certain length of time, at western technology, the open sesame to that glittering go higher standard of living. They have set their feet on the path to the consumer society. Not the Maasai. For a long time, it is true, there have been school and hospitals in Maasai Land; there are university graduates, professors, Ministers of State – even a lady who in 1970 became the first Maasai woman to graduate from Nairobi University.
But, by and large, near years of colonial rule and attempted persuasion, followed by more than 25 years of African rule and attempted persuasion, have failed to do more than dent the fabric of custom and tradition. Almost within sight of Nairobi’s tower blocks and traffic jams, the Maasai have continued to practice their ancient rituals and ceremonies; they have continued to maintain their age-set structure with its warrior caste of haughty, swift and predatory Moran – storm troopers or commandos of the tribal world.
