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Places
to Visit
From
islands and coastal plains to plateaus, highlands and mountains, the
friendly country of Tanzania is home to some of the world's most famous
National Parks, Game Reserves and World Heritage Sites. With an
unparalleled twenty-five percent of the country dedicated to conservation,
it is a land of many wonders with a staggering diversity of culture, flora
and fauna.
With so many parks and itineraries to choose
from, safaris to Tanzania are often divided into regional circuits, or
groups of game parks whose geographical proximity and topographical
variations make up a varied and diverse group. Please Contact Us
to learn how Warrior Trails can maximize your safari experience based on our intimate knowledge of
the game viewing, cultural and trekking opportunities in all of
Tanzania’s parks and conservation areas
THE NORTHERN
SAFARI CIRCUIT
The
“Northern Safari Circuit” of Tanzania boasts the country’s most
famous parks and game-viewing regions including Arusha National Park
Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, the Ngorongoro
Conservation Area, and Serengeti National Park.
Often called 'essential', 'classic', even 'iconic' - the great Northern Safari
Circuit route takes in varied geographical features like Kilimanjaro and Meru mountains, the
Great Rift Valley and Lake Victoria. Famed Olduvai Gorge has provided rich
evidence of the area's prehistory, including fossil remains of some of
humanity's earliest ancestors. Almost all safaris in the Northern Parks
involve going by road from Arusha with a private vehicle and driver-guide
around the various parks, staying at a range of different lodges and
tented camps
Arusha
National Park
Less
than an hour’s drive from the northern “safari capital” of Arusha,
lies Arusha National Park. Often overlooked by safari goers, this compact
park offers the opportunity to explore a fascinating diversity of habitats
in just a few hours. The Ngurduto Crater, the Momela Lakes and rugged
Mount Meru boast habitats including highland montane forest and lowland
swamp.
Arusha
National Park contains a variety of animals including giraffe, elephant,
hippo, buffalo, warthog and antelope along with as many as 400 species of
birds. It is said that the park is home to the highest density of giraffe
in the world, but it is perhaps the beautiful black and white colobus
monkeys for which the park is best known.
Lake Manyara National Park
Once
one of the most popular hunting areas of Tanzania, Manyara is now a
national park of remarkable beauty and diversity. Lake Manyara itself lies
on the floor of the Eastern Rift Valley, spreading out in a shallow
depression with the red cliffs of the western escarpment providing a
dramatic backdrop.
Despite
the fact that Lake Manyara National Park is only 330 square kilometers
(127 square miles) in area, 2/3 of which is alkaline lake, it contains a
mosaic of five distinct habitats and is an ideal size for a day trip.
The
ground water forests, escarpment, acacia woodland, grassland and lakeshore
of the park support several species of birds, reptiles and mammals, making
Lake Manyara a diverse, scenic place to visit. The park is home to the
largest concentration of baboons in the world. It is also famous for its
tree- climbing lions, and large populations of elephant and buffalo. With
more than 400 species of birds, Manyara also provides some of Tanzania’s
best bird watching opportunities.
Tarangire
National Park
At
2600 square kilometers (1600 square miles), Tarangire National Park is
Tanzania’s fifth largest park. It is named after the Tarangire River
which runs up the centre of the park through diverse habitats and
topography, providing a very picturesque setting.
The park is renowned
for its ancient baobab trees, tree-climbing pythons, rich birdlife and
prolific elephant populations. It provides the only permanent water for
wildlife in the area, which means that the park is spectacular for game
viewing, particularly in the dry season when large concentrations of
wildlife congregate on its riverbanks. Tarangire supports a similar range
of large mammals to the Serengeti, and the density of game in Tarangire is
second only to the Ngorongoro Crater.
Serengeti
National Park
The
Serengeti region of East Africa represents one of the oldest and
best-known ecosystems in the world, unequalled for its natural beauty and
scientific value. This region of Northern Tanzania encompasses the
Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Maswa Game
Reserve, and the Loliondo, Grumeti and Ikorongo Controlled Areas.
Together, these areas protect the greatest and most varied collection of
terrestrial wildlife on earth, including one of the last great migratory
systems still intact. To the Masai of the region, who have grazed their
cattle on the vast grassy savannahs for centuries, the Serengeti
appropriately means “endless plains”.
Diverse
landscapes including short and long grass plains, wooded grassland, rocky
outcrops, bush and extensive woodland with small rivers, lakes and swamps
scattered throughout the Serengeti provide unique settings for diverse
game viewing. But perhaps it is the migration for which the Serengeti is
best known. Over two million wildebeest, half a million Thomson’s
gazelle, and a quarter of a million zebra move instinctively in an annual
migratory path through the Serengeti ecosystem.
The Serengeti is the jewel in the crown of
Tanzania’s protected areas and has come to symbolize paradise for many
visitors to the area
Ngorongoro
Conservation Area
The
Ngorongoro Conservation area is located between Lake Manyara and the
Serengeti. Unlike the other protected areas in the region, the NCA is not
a national park, but a conservation area. This means that the land is
protected for the local flora, fauna and the local Masai people whose
cattle share grazing land with the wildlife.
The
NCA offers an unbelievable range of landscapes and scenery from rainforest
to peaks and craters, to semi-desert areas. One of the advantages offered
to visitors to the NCA is the freedom to disembark from vehicles to walk
and hike - accompanied by a park ranger - across the landscape.
Perhaps
the best known spectacle in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the
Ngorongoro Crater. Called the eighth wonder of the world, the Crater
covers a mere 260 sq km and is a haven to thousands of animals and birds.
The Crater is one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. It is the
largest intact volcanic caldera in the world, and some scientists maintain
that before it erupted, it stood higher than Mount Kilimanjaro, the
highest point in Africa. Unique to the crater is that the local Maasai
graze their cattle on the floor, and it is not unusual to see Maasai
cattle and buffalo grazing together, with a lion kill just a few hundred
metres away. There are approximately 100 lions in the crater, and about 20
black rhino. Its magical setting, abundant wildlife and local people make
it a highlight of many safari itineraries.
Mount
Kilimanjaro
Very few people have not heard of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest
mountain and indeed the highest freestanding mountain on the planet. As
the highest “walkable” mountain in the world, it is accessible for all
travellers willing to tackle one of the mountain’s several trekking
routes. A Kilimanjaro climb in combination with a safari or Zanzibar beach
holiday is a popular travel itinerary for many Warrior Trails guests.
Mount Kilimanjaro is situated in the Kilimanjaro National Park. The
mountain trek crosses a unique combination of five distinct vegetation
zones which support ecosystems ranging from equatorial to arctic. Each
zone occupies an area of about 1000m of altitude and is subject to a
corresponding decrease in rainfall, temperature and life. The
trek up Kilimanjaro, although non-technical and suitable for any fit and
able-bodied person, should not be underestimated. It involves lots of hard
work, physical and mental stamina!
Please Contact Us
for
ways to include any of the destinations in the Northern Safari Circuit in
your trip planning with Warrior Trails.
THE
SOUTHERN SAFARI CIRCUIT
Southern Tanzania offers a more remote and untouched wildlife safari
experience with quieter, smaller lodges and fewer visitors, but with the
same amazing variety of wildlife and scenery as Northern Tanzania. The southern safari circuit of Tanzania includes the
National Parks of Mikumi, Ruaha and Saadani and the game
protected areas of the Selous Game Reserve.
Mikumi
National Park
Due
to the completion of the paved road connecting the park gate with Dar
es Salaam,
Mikumi National Park is slated to become a hotspot for tourism in
Tanzania. Mikumi is the fourth largest park in the country and only a few
hours drive from Tanzania’s largest city. The park has a wide variety of
wildlife that is easy to spot and well acclimatized to game viewing.
It’s proximity to Dar es Salaam and the amount of wildlife that live
within its borders makes Mikumi National Park a popular option for weekend
visitors from the city, or for business visitors who don’t have long to
spend on an extended safari itinerary.
Most visitors come to Mikumi National Park looking to spot the ‘Big
Five’ - cheetah, lion, elephant, buffalo, and rhino - and they are not
disappointed. Hippo pools provide close access to these mud-loving
creatures, and bird-watching along the waterways is particularly
rewarding. Mikumi National Park borders the Selous
Game Reserve
and Udzungwa
National Park, and the three locations make a
varied and pleasant safari circuit.
Ruaha
National Park
Ruaha
was recently expanded to become Tanzania’s largest National Park. It is
a remote bastion of spectacular wilderness, undisturbed wildlife, and
breathtaking scenery. The park’s name is derived from the great Ruaha
River, which flows through it creating spectacular gorges and scenery.
Hippos, crocodiles, turtles and fish inhabit the river. The park is also
known for its sable and roan antelopes, and its rich bird life.
Photography blinds have been built at strategic places where wildlife
congregates. With herds of more than 10,000 elephants, vast concentrations
of buffalo, gazelle, and over 400 bird species, Ruaha’s limitless
wilderness, together with the surrounding game reserves of Rungwa and
Kisigo, stretches over 40,000 square kilometres.
Because
of its rather remote location, Ruaha is largely unexplored. As such, a
safari to Ruaha often has the feel of a very private adventure. For the
intrepid wilderness lover and the avid safari explorer, a trip to Ruaha is
uniquely rewarding and a perfect piece of Africa.
Selous
Game Reserve
Located
in south-east Tanzania in a remote and little-visited part of the country,
the Selous Game Reserve is Africa’s largest protected wildlife reserve
and covers more than 5% of Tanzania’s total area. It’s rivers, hills,
and plains are home to roaming elephant populations, the area’s famous
wild dogs, and some of the last black rhino left in the region. Due to its
remote location, and because it is most easily accessible only by small
aircraft, the Selous Game Reserve has remained one of the untouched gems
of Tanzania’s national parks and game reserves, and offers visitors a
chance to see a wild and expansive Africa far from paved roads and curio
shops.
Please Contact
Us for ways to include
any of the destinations in the Southern Safari Circuit in your trip
planning with Warrior Trails.
THE
WESTERN SAFARI CIRCUIT
Tanzania's
Western Safari Circuit
destinations are set deep in the heart of the African interior. This
circuit offers visitors an incredible glimpse of Tanzania at its best.
Perhaps the least visited part of Tanzania, the parks of the Western
Circuit are perfect for travelers with a sense of adventure. Western
Tanzania is where chimpanzees can be seen in their natural habitat. Chimp
trekking is the wildlife experience of a lifetime, and few who return from
their safari fail to marvel at this up-close experience.
The
Western Safari Circuit is seldom experienced on its own but is more often
an addition to either the southern or northern safari circuits, or both.
This circuit is so remote that travel by both aircraft and boat is
necessary in order to experience this lovely side of Tanzania.
Katavi
National Park
Katavi
has all the credentials of being a top wildlife destination in Africa. It
is teeming with animals in beautiful, unspoiled wilderness. Isolated, with
few visitors, Katavi is a true wilderness, providing the few intrepid
souls who make it there with a thrilling taste of Africa as it must have
been a century ago. Tanzania’s third largest national park, it lies in
the remote southwest of the country, withing a truncated arm of the Rift
Valley that terminates in the shallow expanse of Lake Rukwa.
Gombe
Stream National Park
Gombe
is the smallest national park in Tanzania, with only 20 square miles
(52 km2) of forest running along the hills of the northern shore of Lake
Tanganyika. The terrain is distinguished by steep valleys, and the
forest vegetation ranges from grassland
to alpine
bamboo to tropical
rainforest. Accessible only by boat, the park is most famous as the
location where Jane
Goodall pioneered her behavioral research conducted on the chimpanzee
populations. The Kasakela chimpanzee community,
featured in several books and documentaries, lives in Gombe Stream
National Park.
Mahale
Mountains National Park
Mahale
Mountains National Park is located in one of the most remote locations in
Tanzania, on the western border with the Congo, against the dramatic
shores of Lake
Tanganyika.
Accessible only by small aircraft, the park is the home of a large
chimpanzee population that is well acclimatized to human contact. Although
the nearby Gombe
Stream National Park
is more famous, the primate population in Mahale Mountains is more
numerous and sightings more regular and prolonged.
Observing
the chimpanzees in their natural habitat, one cannot help but be touched
by their natural grace and anthropomorphic features. Although remote, a
chimpanzee safari to Mahale Mountains National Park is well worth the
effort. Hikes to their habitation areas are accessible and not strenuous,
although being in good physical condition will ease the strain of walking
through the jungle! Up close, observing the endangered primates is a
once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Please Contact Us
for ways to include any of the destinations in the Western Safari
Circuit in your trip planning with Warrior Trails.
THE COAST
East
Africa is
truly blessed with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Miles
of sandy, palm-fringed beaches are only a short flight from the game
reserves of the Northern Safari Circuit and are a stunning compliment to
any safari.
Situated
in the Indian Ocean, 36 km off the coastline of mainland Tanzania lies
Zanzibar – officially referring to the archipelago that includes Unguja
and Pemba Islands, and the 50 smaller islands surrounding them. Beautiful
white sandy beaches are fringed by coral barrier reefs and millions of
cocoanut palms swaying in the tropical breeze, making these islands an
idyllic tourist destination.
Once
the trading centre of all of East Africa, the islands of Zanzibar served
as an important trading port for places such as India, Arabia, and
Portugal. Everything was traded here from ivory to spices to slaves.
Today,
Zanzibar is a popular destination for its beaches and reefs which provide
excellent opportunities for snorkeling, diving, deep sea fishing and water
sports. Historic Stone Town with its narrow winding streets, vivid markets
and colourful bazaars makes for an interesting cultural visit while spice
tours make a popular excursion. Visit the Jozani Forest, home of the red
Colobus Monkey and mangrove swamps. Indeed, nowhere else in the world will
you find such a unique combination of beautiful landscapes, seascapes,
history and culture, hospitable people, delicious cuisine, and ecological
wonders.
Please Contact
Us for ways to include
Zanzibar in your trip planning with Warrior Trails.
OFF
the BEATEN TRACK
There
are a number of slightly less visited destinations in Northern Tanzania,
which are not part of the regular tourist trail, yet they all offer unique
African experiences and are excellent additions to any safari itinerary
for those seeking extensions to their travel plans.
Lake Eyasi
Though
not considered a game destination, Lake Eyasi, just south of the
Serengeti, is a wild, scenically stunning area where you can get a real
insight into the way of life of some of Tanzania's fascinating tribes,
most notably the Wahadzabe and Datoga peoples. Lake Eyasi is about ninety
miles to the south west of Arusha and a drive of around five hours on some
fairly rough sections of road. Lake Eyasi lies in one of the oldest parts
of the Eastern Rift Valley, it runs northeast - southwest for a distance
of about fifty miles below the impressive three thousand foot escarpment,
which forms the south-eastern boundary of the Serengeti National Park and
Maswa game reserve.
Mkomazi
Game Reserve
The
3,701km2 Mkomazi Game Reserve in northeast Tanzania is a
spectacular wilderness close to Mt. Kilimanjaro on the border with Kenya
where it joins Tsavo National Park. Together these reserves form one of
the most important protected ecosystems on earth. Mkomazi is predominantly
dry and vegetated mostly by savanna vegetation, but in the wet season,
large herds of elephant, oryx and zebra migrate between the reserve and
Tsavo. Mkomazi is home to the Big Five - lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino
and leopard - and boasts 78 kinds of mammals and more than 400 bird
species. The endangered African wild dog has also been introduced to the
reserve. It
is also the home of the Mkomazi Rhinos Project run by the Tanzania
Wildlife Protection Fund which relocates black rhinos from South Africa to
Mkomazi Game Reserve and Ngorongoro. Its goal of project is community
based wildlife management; a program aimed at educating communities on the
benefits of wildlife.
Ol
Doinyo L'Engai & Lake Natron
Oldoinyo
Lengai presents a unique opportunity
for the adventurous traveler. As Tanzania's only active
volcano it towers above the
stark beauty of Lake Natron on the
Kenyan border. Lake Natron is a salt lake and is the only breeding area
for the endangered lesser flamingos that live in Africa's Great Rift
Valley
Oldoinyo
Lengai means Mountain
of God in the local tribal language of the Maasai
people. Lying on the border with Kenya, the volcano is set in a stark and
barren landscape. Lake
Natron lies at the base of the volcano, and provides a home to
stunning flocks of thousands of flamingos. The view from the top of the
volcano is unparalleled, and is a rare treat for those who achieve the
goal of climbing Oldoinyo Lengai.
Oldoinyo Lengai lies
within a few hours drive of many of Tanzania's most famous national parks
and game viewing areas, including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro
Crater and Lake. This means visitors are easily able to
combine climbing Oldoinyo Lengai with a stunning wildlife safari,
watching the rare black rhino of Ngorongoro Crater or taking a sunrise
balloon safari across the Serengeti plains.
Usambara Mountains
Situated
between Mount Kilimanjaro and the Indian ocean region of Tanga and Pangani,
the Usambara Mountains are covered by ancient forests and are considered
to be the “Galapogos” of the plant world. They remain little visited
and offer a superb view of unspoiled habitats for endangered
species.
This
incredibly beautiful and lush area is a welcome retreat from Tanzania’s
Game Parks and cities. After
a busy time touring the Northern or Southern Safari Circuits of
Tanzania’s main parks, a visit to the Usambaras offers great treks and
drives through beautiful arable country and small villages up to majestic
escarpments and mountain tops with stunning vistas, good birding and an
amazing diversity of flora.
Please Contact
Us for ways to include any of the Off the Beaten Track
destinations in your trip planning with Warrior Trails.
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