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Southern Tanzania Safari |
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Saturday, 02 July 2005 |
Tanzania is one of Africa's top wildlife safari destinations. Wildlife lovers have a choice of two very different safari routes - referred to as the southern and northern circuits. The contrast is most obvious in the topography, habitat and climate. On the northern Tanzania safari circuit, which I have talked about in another article, you visit such renowned wildlife havens as Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Lake Manyara. The southern safari route is anchored on Dar es Salaam, and covers Ruaha, Mikumi, Udzungwa Mountains National Parks and the Selous Game Reserve.
The southern circuit is more discreet, less accessible and has fewer
visitors. Adventure lovers and those who seek closer contact with some
of most complex Africa's ecosystems will be rewarded. Here you can view
game in a variety of new ways - walking, riding and boating. If you have
not had the privilege of getting up close to wild animals in their
natural habitat, it is an exciting and refreshing experience. For this
encounter, the park authorities require that an armed ranger escort
you. It is therefore not as dangerous as it may first appear.
Mikumi National Park is the most accessible of the southern game
sanctuaries.It is 283 km to the west of Dar es Salaam - Tanzania's
coastal commercial capital. Occupying 3,230 sq km, it carries a variety
of wildlife including elephants, lion, giraffe, impala, warthog, zebra,
buffalo, wildebeest, hartebeest and eland. Wild dogs- considered an
endangered carnivore species -are found here in good numbers. Other
resident animals are crocodiles, hippos, and monitor lizards.
Birds are most plentiful in the wet season when up to 300 species
gathers here. Many of these are Eurasian migrants, exercising to the
full, the freedom that comes with wings.
The Mikumi flood plain is the dominant feature of the park, which is
bordered on one side by the Uluguru Mountains and on another by the
Lumango range. Mikumi forms the northern border of the Selous Game
Reserve and is part of a vast wilderness ecosystem covering 75,000 sq km. Open grasslands stretch on the plains, while the miombo woodlands cover higher ground.
The park is accessible year round - unlike some of the sanctuaries in
the southern circuit. To get to Mikuni from Dar, you spend 4 hours on
road or 1 hour by air. Budget travelers take a bus ride to park gate,
from where game drives are organised. There is limited accommodation at
a few luxury lodges and tented camps and at 3 campsites. If you find
yourself in Dar on a weekend, this is where you head to see wildlife.
The 1,990 sq km of Udzungwa Mountains National Park is 348 km west of Dar
and 65 km southwest of Mikumi. The mountains are part of the Eastern
Arc Mountains that fall southeast of Kilimanjaro. The park is unique in
Tanzania, having been created primarily to conserve plant life. The
pristine mountain forest habitat hosts numerous rare plants. There are six primate species, out of which two species are endemic - the Iringa red colobus monkey and the Sanje
Crested Mangabey.
At the plateau area, you find elephants, lions, hunting dogs and
buffalos, though not in as large numbers as in some of the other
Tanzania parks. Birds also do well here, and indeed the park ranks as
one of Africa's most important bird conservation areas. Scientists have
in recent times come across at least four previously unknown bird species. The best time to visit is over
the dry season between June and October. The hiking trails over the wet
season are slippery, which can be quite a nuisance.
The Ruaha National Park is rightly named after its lifeblood - the Great
Ruaha River. Occupying 12,950 sq km, it is Tanzania's second largest
national park and its biggest elephant sanctuary. Home to numerous
crocodiles and hippo, the Great Ruaha draws many thirsty waterbuck,
leopard, buffalo, reedbuck, wild dogs, lion and hyena to its banks.
Plain animals such as zebra, greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan
antelope, impala and giraffe are found on the plains stretching from
the rivers edge.
The topography is agreeable to walking and hiking safaris are allowed.
In wet season months of March to April and October to November the bird
population peaks and the park has over 370 bird species, including some
Eurasian migrants. The flora is very diverse and over 1650 plant
species flourish here. The Ruaha has the unique distinction of having
plant and animal life found in both eastern and southern Africa. The
climate here is hot and dry and temperatures can reach 40°C in October.
The Ruaha is located 128 km west of the central Tanzania town of
Iringa. It was previously inaccessible, but there is now year round
road access. From Dar, road travel is a backbreaking 10 hours while a
charter flight takes 1 ½ hours. The best time for a safari is over the
dry season- May to December. Then, the Ruaha River is magnetic to the
animals and right at the banks, the drama of their daily life is on
display- feeding, fighting, courting and mating. The accommodation is
currently limited, but there is a luxury lodge, and a few self-catering
chalets and campsites.
Selous Game Reserve is the star of the southern safari circuit. The
reserve is named after the intrepid Fredrick Courtney Selous, a
celebrated Victoria era explorer and naturalist. He met his end here in
a sideshow of the First World War. The Great War had spilled over from
Europe as the Germans then ruled parts of today's Tanzania. Located 500
km to the southwest of Dar, the reserve occupies a staggering 55,000 sq
km - larger than Switzerland- and is the largest of its kind in Africa.
The Selous was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982 due
to the significance of both its flora and fauna. This immense
wilderness has a diversity of habitats including savanna woodlands,
swamps, open grasslands and forests. Over 2,100 species of tress and
plants have been recorded. The mighty Rufiji River is the lifeblood of
the reserve and its numerous tributaries and oxbow lakes are ideal for
boat safaris. The wildlife to see here includes buffalo, hippo, black
rhino, lion and wild dog. Elephants in particular are numerous and are
estimated to number over 60,000.
Other inhabitants of Selous are bush back, waterbuck, reedbuck, impala,
eland, giraffe, baboon, zebra, and greater kudu. Birders will also find
a trip to Selous worthwhile - over 420 species are on record. In the
very large game sanctuaries of the south - Ruaha and Selous in
particular, game is scattered and a slow pace is advised, with at least
3-4 days in each. Photographic safaris can be very rewarding here. Most
visitors take the time to visit to Stiegler's Gorge, which also happens
to be a spot favoured by leopards.
From Dar, you arrive after a 1-½ hour charter flight or by traveling
for 7 hours by road. Travel by road is not advised, except for the most
adventurous souls. Selous is near the coast and is just a few hundred
feet above sea level. The climate is hot and humid, particularly
between October and March. Part of
the reserve is closed in the wet season between March and May. The best
time to visit is over the dry season period of June to October. Then on
safari you can walk, boat and ride a 4WD vehicle. Accommodation is
limited to just a few luxury tented and no-frills camps.
The typical southern safari will usually combine Mikumi, Ruaha and
Selous. After the safari, a stay in Zanzibar rounds off an unbeatable
holiday experience. It is generally recommended you take an escorted
southern Tanzania safari package
that includes transport, guide, park fees and accommodation.
Particularly in the large sanctuaries of the southern circuit, tour
guides bring valuable useful local knowledge - where to find the
animals, and how to get where you are going.
On safari, avoid bright colours as this may get you in trouble with
wild animals. If you are wise you will pack brown, beige and khaki
clothing. It rarely gets really cold on the southern circuit and short
sleeve shirts, shorts and trouser for men are adequate. For ladies,
short sleeve blouses, slacks and skirts are ideal. But carry a jacket
or sweater for possible chills in the evening and early mornings.
Sunglasses will shield you from the at times harsh tropical glare; and
a hat can save you from sunstroke. Bring along a sensible pair of shoes
that will allow you to walk comfortably in the bush. Binoculars will
come in very handy for spotting animals.
Copyright © Africa Point
About the Author
Andrew Muigai is editor of AfricaPoint Insider online newsletter. It is
part of AfricaPoint.com- the Africa travel website that has helped
thousands of travelers discover Africa. You can view more info on
Tanzania safari and tours at the website.
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