| Tanzania is one of Africa's top wildlife safari | | | | species, including some Eurasian migrants. The |
| destinations. Wildlife lovers have a choice of two | | | | flora is very diverse and over 1650 plant species |
| very different safari routes- referred to as the | | | | flourish here. The Ruaha has the unique distinction |
| northern and southern circuits. The contrast is | | | | of having plant and animal life found in both |
| most obvious in the topography, habitat and | | | | eastern and southern Africa. The climate here is |
| climate. On the color="#0000FF">northern | | | | hot and dry and temperatures can reach |
| Tanzania safari circuit, which I have talked about | | | | 40°C in October. The Ruaha is located 128 |
| in another article, you visit such renowned wildlife | | | | km west of the central Tanzania town of Iringa. |
| havens as Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and | | | | It was previously inaccessible, but there is now |
| Lake Manyara. The southern safari route is | | | | year round road access. From Dar, road travel is |
| anchored on Dar es Salaam, and covers Ruaha, | | | | a backbreaking 10 hours while a charter flight |
| Mikumi, Udzungwa Mountains National Parks and | | | | takes 1 ½ hours. The best timefor a safari |
| the Selous Game Reserve. | | | | is over the dry season-May to December. Then, |
| The southern circuit is more discreet, less | | | | the Ruaha River is magnetic to the animals and |
| accessible and has fewer visitors. Adventure | | | | right at the banks, the drama of their daily life is |
| lovers and those who seek closer contact with | | | | on display- feeding, fighting, courting and mating. |
| some of Africa's most complex ecosystems will | | | | The accommodation is currently limited, but there |
| be rewarded. Here you can view game in a | | | | is a luxury lodge, and a few self-catering chalets |
| variety of new ways- walking, riding and boating. | | | | and campsites. |
| If you have not had the privilege of getting up | | | | Selous Game Reserve is the star of the southern |
| close to wild animals in their natural habitat, it is an | | | | safari circuit. The reserve is named after the |
| exciting and refreshing experience. For this | | | | intrepid Fredrick Courtney Selous, a celebrated |
| encounter, the park authorities require that an | | | | Victoria era explorer and aturalist. He met his end |
| armed ranger escort you. It is therefore not as | | | | here in a sideshow of the First World War. The |
| dangerous as it may first appear. | | | | Great War had spilled over from Europe as the |
| Mikumi National Park is the most accessible of the | | | | Germans then ruled parts of today's Tanzania. |
| southerngame sanctuaries. It is 283 km to the | | | | Located 500 km to the southwest of Dar, the |
| west of Dar es Salaam - Tanzania's coastal | | | | reserve occupies a staggering 55,000 sq km - |
| commercial capital. Occupying 3,230 sq km, it | | | | larger than Switzerland- and is the largest of its |
| carries a variety of wildlife including elephants, lion, | | | | kind in Africa. |
| giraffe, impala, warthog, zebra, buffalo, wildebeest, | | | | The Selous was designated a World Heritage Site |
| hartebeest and eland. Wild dogs- considered an | | | | by UNESCO in 1982 due to the significance of |
| endangered carnivore species -are found here in | | | | both its flora and fauna. This immense wilderness |
| good numbers. Other resident animals are | | | | has a diversity of habitats including savanna |
| crocodiles, hippos, and monitor lizards. Birds are | | | | woodlands, swamps, open grasslands and forests. |
| most plentiful in the wet season when up to 300 | | | | Over 2,100 species of tress and plants have been |
| species gathers here. Many of these are Eurasian | | | | recorded. The mighty Rufiji River is the lifeblood |
| migrants, exercising to the full, the freedom that | | | | of the reserve and its numerous tributaries and |
| comes with wings. | | | | oxbow lakes are ideal for boat safaris. The wildlife |
| The Mikumi flood plain is the dominant feature of | | | | to see here includes buffalo, hippo,black rhino, lion |
| the park,which is bordered on one side by the | | | | and wild dog. Elephants in particular are numerous |
| Uluguru Mountains and on another by the | | | | and are estimated to number over 60,000. |
| Lumango range. Mikumi forms the northern border | | | | Other inhabitants of Selous are bush back, |
| of the Selous Game Reserve and is part of a | | | | waterbuck, reedbuck, impala, eland, giraffe, |
| vast wilderness ecosystem covering 75,000 sq | | | | baboon, zebra, and greater kudu. Birders will also |
| km. Open grasslands stretch on the plains, while | | | | find a trip to Selous worthwhile - over 420 |
| the miombo woodlands cover higher ground. | | | | species are on record. In the very large game |
| The park is accessible year round- unlike some of | | | | sanctuaries of the south - Ruaha and Selous in |
| thesanctuaries in the southern circuit. To get to | | | | particular, game is scattered and a slow pace is |
| Mikuni from Dar, you spend 4 hours on road or 1 | | | | advised, with at least 3-4 days in each. |
| hour by air. Budget travelers take a bus ride to | | | | Photographic safaris can be very rewarding here. |
| park gate, from where game drives are | | | | Most visitors take the time to visit to Stiegler's |
| organised. There is limited accommodation at a | | | | Gorge, which also happens to be a spot favoured |
| few luxury lodges and tented camps and at 3 | | | | by leopards. |
| campsites. If you find yourself in Dar on a | | | | From Dar, you arrive after a 1-½ hour |
| weekend, this is where you head to see wildlife. | | | | charter flight or bytraveling for 7 hours by road. |
| The 1,990 sq km Udzungwa Mountains National | | | | Travel by road is not advised, except for the |
| Park is 348 km west of Dar and 65 km | | | | most adventurous souls. Selous is near the coast |
| southwest of Mikumi. The mountains are part of | | | | and is just a few hundred feet above sea level. |
| the Eastern Arc Mountains that fall southeast of | | | | The climate is hot and humid, particularly between |
| Kilimanjaro. The park is unique in Tanzania, having | | | | October and March. Part of the reserve is closed |
| been created primarily to conserve plant life. The | | | | in the wet season between March and May. The |
| pristine mountain forest habitat hosts numerous | | | | best time to visit is over the dry season period |
| rare plants. There are six primate species, out of | | | | of June to October. Then on safari you can walk, |
| which two species are endemic - the Iringa red | | | | boat and ride a 4WD vehicle. Accommodation is |
| colobus monkey and the Sanje Crested | | | | limited to just a few luxury tented and no-frills |
| Mangabey. At the plateau area, you find | | | | camps. |
| elephants, lions, hunting dogs and buffalos, though | | | | The typical southern safari will usually combine |
| not in as large numbers as in some of the other | | | | Mikumi, Ruaha and Selous. After the safari, a stay |
| Tanzania parks. Birds also do well here, and indeed | | | | in Zanzibar rounds off an unbeatable holiday |
| the park ranks is one of Africa's most important | | | | experience. It is generally recommended you take |
| bird conservation areas. Scientists have in recent | | | | an escorted color="#0000FF">southern Tanzania |
| times come across at least four previously | | | | safari packagethat includes transport, guide, park |
| unknown bird species. The best time to visit is | | | | fees and accommodation. Particularly in the large |
| over the dry season between June and October. | | | | sanctuaries of the southern circuit, tour guides |
| The hiking trails over the wet season are slippery, | | | | bring valuable useful local knowledge - where to |
| which can be quite a nuisance. | | | | find the animals, and how to get where you are |
| The Ruaha National Park is rightly named after its | | | | going. |
| lifeblood- the Great Ruaha River. Occupying 12,950 | | | | On safari, avoid bright colours as this may get |
| sq km, it is Tanzania's second largest national park | | | | you in trouble with wild animals. If you are wise |
| and its biggest elephant sanctuary. Home to | | | | you will pack brown, beige and khaki clothing. It |
| numerous crocodiles and hippo, the Great Ruaha | | | | rarely gets really cold on the southern circuit and |
| draws many thirsty waterbuck, leopard, buffalo, | | | | short sleeve shirts, shorts and trouser for men |
| reedbuck, wild dogs, lion and hyena to its banks. | | | | are adequate. For ladies, short sleeve blouses, |
| Plain animals such as zebra, greater and lesser | | | | slacks and skirts are ideal. But carry a jacket or |
| kudu, sable and roan antelope, impala and giraffe | | | | sweater for possible chills in the evening and early |
| are found on the plains stretching from the rivers | | | | mornings. Sunglasses will shield you from the at |
| edge. | | | | times harsh tropical glare; and a hat can save you |
| The topography is agreeable to hiking and walking | | | | from sunstroke. Bring along a sensible pair of |
| safaris are allowed. In wet season months of | | | | shoes that will allow you to walk comfortably in |
| March to April and October to November the bird | | | | the bush. Binoculars will come in very handy for |
| population peaks and the park has over 370 bird | | | | spotting animals. |