Tanzania has long been a sleeping giant where tourism is concerned - but not any longer! The Tanzanian traveller can expect a feast of unspoiled natural splendours: abundant wildlife, terrain that spans mountain peaks and forest, shrubland and savannah, and white sandy beaches of an 800 km long coastline adorned with three major islands rich in history, culture and character. The weather is pleasant in the central plateau and hotter on the coastline, although cooled by the sea breeze. The warmest months are from October to February, with the long rains running from mid-March to late May.

It was here in Tanzania that the famous words “Doctor Livingstone, I presume,” were uttered by Stanley, the 19th century explorer. The celebrated author, Ernest Hemingway, drew inspiration from the majesty and beauty of Mount Kilimanjaro when he penned ‘The Snows of Kilimanjaro.’ Even more historical are the archaeological findings of the 1.75 million-year-old remains of early man at the Olduvai Gorge. This discovery by Dr. and Mrs. Leakey justifiably earned East Africa the title ‘The Cradle of Mankind.

Tanzania is the largest East African country with an area of 937,062sq. kms. On this vast landmass stands Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa and also the world’s highest free standing mountain. Within Tanzania’s borders lie the famed Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, the vast and little visited Selous Game Reserve and many comparable wonders.

As wide as the world, great, high and unbelievably white,” is how Kilimanjaro has been described by Ernest Hemingway. It is the highest mountain in Africa (5,896m) and the tallest free standing mountain in the world. Three volcanic centres, Shira, Mawenzi and the ice and snow-capped Kibo add character to this dormant mountain. The vegetation bands range from the lush forests that completely encircle the slopes to the permanent ice fields gracing the peaks of the mountain. The fauna includes black and white colobus monkey, blue monkey, bushbuck, eland, leopard, elephant, buffalo and the rare Abbot’s duckier.

Lake Manyara National Park - Lake Manyara National Park is situated on the western slopes of the Rift Valley with the Lake spanning a total of 390sq. kms, two thirds of the total park area.

From the top of the escarpment where most lodges are situated, there is a magnificent view of the lake and the surrounding National Park. It is often possible to spot herds of buffalo and elephant from the lodges.

Easily accessible from Dar es Salaam, this park has long been an educational centre for ecology and conservation students. Mikumi National Park is 3,230sq. kms. in area and the main feature here is the Mikumi flood plain, along with the mountain ranges that fringe the park on both sides.
There are two water holes, Mkata and Chamgore, and various marshy patches. The list of animal attractions is long and includes baboon, colobus monkey, sable antelope, warthog, zebra, greater kudu, tree climbing lions, eland, hartebeest, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, wildebeest, elephant and wild dog. Monitor lizards and sometimes pythons, can be seen sunning themselves around the pools of water.

Ngorongoro Crater - This collapsed volcano is the largest, unbroken caldera in the world and spans 260sq. kms. Remnants of an evergreen temperate forest, extinct in the rest of East Africa still exist within it. The forest’s cedar and pillar trees are gloriously draped with lichens, ferns and orchids.

Ngorongoro Crater is home to elephant, buffalo, hyena, jackal, wildebeest, zebra, Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelles, eland, hartebeest, black rhino, waterbuck and hippo. The large number of plains game attract the predators: black-manned lion and sometimes leopard.

The birdlife is just as prolific with ostriches, kori bustards, secretary birds, white egrets, red-billed ox-pickers, crested cranes, and lesser flamingos among many others. In total there are more than 25,000 animals in this unique area. The Ngorongoro Crater is a veritable wonderland.

Ruaha National Park - Named after the Ruaha River, this is the third largest Tanzanian park and measures 13,000sq. kms. It is an elephant sanctuary with a kaleidoscope of other game: Grant’s gazelle, ostrich, waterbuck, reedbuck, buffalo, greater and lesser kudu, eland, impala, dik dik, mongoose and elusive civet. These can be seen in and around the river, or grazing in the grassland. The predators, lion, leopard, spotted hyena, hunting dog, and jackal, are part of the attractions this park has to offer.

This is another park that is virtually impassable during the wet season. From January to March the rivers are in deluge and until June, the growth of the grass enshrouds the game. The best time to visit the park is between July and November when the animals concentrate around the shrinking watercourses.

The total area of the Selous is over 50,000sq. kms, making it the largest game reserve in Africa. Within its borders, the landscape changes from savannah and grassland plains to woodland and rocky massifs. The Rufiji River and its subordinates, the Kilombereo and Luwegu, dominate the Selous forming a river system with the largest catchment area in East Africa.

This is the place to see stunning concentrations of elephant, buffalo, rhino, hippo and crocodile. Plains animals abound with zebra, impala, wildebeest, hartebeest, sable antelope, eland, waterbuck, warthog and the unique Nyasa white-faced wildebeest. Other treats to see are Sharpe’s grysbock, sassaby and flying squirrel plus over 350 bird species.

Sailing or rafting down the river is a great way to view game, and you will often see animals congregated along the sandy shores in search of water. During the long rains between February and the end of May, the reserve is inaccessible and most of the tourist camps close. The most rewarding time to visit the Selous is during the cool season between the end of June through to the end of October as well as during the dry spell in January and February.

The name comes from the Maasai word “siringet” meaning ‘endless plain’. This 14,763sq. kms. park encompasses lakes, savannah grassland, wooded hills, rivers, swamps, and volcanic massifs. Due to this diverse ecosystem it is undoubtedly one of the world’s last great wildlife refuges. 

Serengeti is home to over 2 million wildebeest, half a million Thomson’s gazelle, and a quarter of a million zebra, giraffe, eland, topi, kongoni, impala and other antelope. The predators are also well represented by lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena. In total, there are nearly 35 species of savannah animals and almost 500 species of birds including lilac-breasted rollers, barbets, and ring-necked doves living in this animal kingdom.

The Serengeti is better known for the seasonal wildebeest migration. After having spent from December to April scattered in vast herds across the endless plains, the wildebeest and zebra concentrate on the dry plains towards the end of May in preparation for their annual migration. This period also marks the beginning of the wildebeest mating season, and with the males fighting for supremacy, it cannot be said to be a particularly peaceful time. As the vegetation and water holes dry, the herds start the trek north to new grazing lands.

Exotic spices, people, culture and history... this and more is in store for you on this island adventure.Where Africa meets Arabia, Zanzibar is truly the island of dreams, romance and mysteries. Situated 40kms. off the coast of Africa. Zanzibar – the name includes the main island, Unguja, and its sister island, Pemba which are surrounded by 50 smaller islands.
The other islands have an assortment of descriptive names: Chungu or Prison Island, where a never used prison was constructed in 1893; Grave Island which is a Christian cemetery; and Bat and Snake Islands, to mention a few.

Visitors to its shores in the centuries gone by included Sumerians, Assyriians, Egyptians, Indians, Chinese, Persians, Arabs and British, each leaving behind a legacy of their stay. For many years it was part of the powerful Omani Empire and Sultan Sayyid Said moved his capital from Muscat to Zanzibar in 1840 to exploit the flourishing slave trade.
Zanzibar remained a Sultanate until January 1964 when it joined Tanganyika to become the United Republic of Tanzania. Today the island is steadily developing and offers a unique combination of history, culture, friendly people and beautiful unspoilt beaches.

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