Domestic Tourism Safaris | Atractions in Tanzania
UDZUNGWA MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
Establishment:1992
Area:1990 sq km
Location:Situated at Latitude 7048’S and Longitude 3041’E at its centre.
Principal features:
The Udzungwa Mountains with Mwanihana Peak standing at 2,579 meters above sea level: The escarpment; the forest and Ruaha River.
Altitude:200 to 2579 metres above sea level
Major attractions:
The Montane forest, the mountain scenery; waterfalls, primates notably – the Iringa red colobus monkey, sanje crested Mangabey, sykes monkey, black and white colobus monkey, birds, sacred place for worship, mwanaluvele cave etc.
Common animals:
Elephant, buffalo, lion, Leopard, Bushbuck, Sable, Eland, Waterbuck, Abbott’s duiker, hippos, primates with
5 species of bushbaby including the orinus bushbaby, the Iringa red colobus monkey, sanje crested mangabay etc.
Distance and time:About 350 km from Dar – es salaam, (6 hours drive), 65 km South west of Mikumi.
Best time to visit:
The Park may be visited throughout the year. Nevertheless it is slippery during the rain (March – May).
Facilities:
Campsites and picnic sites: interpretative nature trails (no permanent accommodation inside the park), a number of lodges and guest houses outside the park including the Udzungwa Mountains view Hotel and the Twiga Hotel both of which are found at Mang’ula. Guest houses at Ifakara and Kidatu respectively.
RUAHA NATIONAL PARK
Establishment:1964
Area:20,380 sq km (the largest National park in Tanzania and Africa).
Location:
Situation between latitude 7045’s and Longitude 35040’E at its centre.
Principal features:
Rivers, Rift valley (Escarpment), springs, hills, Miombo wood land. Altitude: 750m to 1,900m above sea level.
Major attractions:
Great Ruaha River, Elephants, a variety of birds, Kudus, hippos and crocodiles.
Common animals:
Impala, Warthog, giraffe, waterbuck, eland, zebra, buffalo, lion, Leopard, hunting dog, Grant gazelle, roan and sable antelopes, lesser and greater Kudus, cheetah, hyena, bushbuck etc.
Distance and time:
120km from Iringa, 322km from Mikumi, 369km from Dodoma, 615km from Dar – es – salaam, 502 km from Mbeya and 807 km from Arusha. 2 – 3 hours from Iringa, 9 – 10 hours from Dar – es – salaam.
Best time to visit:
For predator and large mammals, dry season (Mid May to December): for bird – watching, bush scenery and wild flowers, wet season (January to April): Male greater kudus are most visible in June, the breeding season.
Facilities:
Campsites, self – catering bandas, Ruaha river lodge, Mwagusi safari camp, garage, shop, airstrip, Guides
MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK
Establishment:1964
Area:3,230 sq km.
Location:Situated between Latitudes 7000 and 7050’s and between longitudes 37000 and 37030’ E.
Principal features:
The Mkata river flood plains, swamps and the Miombo wood lands. Altitudes: 430 meters – 2,270 above sea level.
Major attractions:
Habitat mosaic, migratory birds, elephants, wild dogs, Mkata flood plain, giraffes, cultural values.
Common animals:
As those found in the Serengeti N/ park. Distance and time: 295 km, from Dar – es salaam and 330 km from the Ruaha N/park: 3 – 4 hours from Dar es salam and 5 – 6 hours from Ruaha National Park.
Best time to visit:
September to March.
Facilities:
Mikumi wildlife lodge, Mikumi wildlife tented camp, Fox safari tented camp, Vuma hill tented camp, live safari tented, camp, Hostel, Rest house, Bandas, public and special campsites, Picnics sites as well as a number of hotels, motels, Guest houses and lodges in the Mikumi township.
SAADANI NATIONAL PARK
Establishment:2005
Area:1148 sq km of land and 30 sq km of sea (Total 1178 sq km)
Location:45 km north of Bagamoyo
Principal features:
coastal plains and low hills. The Kiono plateau supports the Zara ninge forest in the south – west. Mkwaja North is more broken and rolling hill country; to the south there is the Wami valley.
Altitudes:0 – 350 metres above sea level.
Major attractions:
Beach and sea, the turtle nesting ground at Madete, the Wami river variety of animals and birds, estuaries and mangroves.
Common animals:
The big 5 animals except rhinoceros, elephant. Other animals including hippo, giraffe, buffalo, bushbuck, bushpig, red duiker, hartebeest, zebra, genet, civet, warthog, monkeys etc.
Distance and time:
50 km from Zanzibar across the Zanzibar channel (3 hours by dhow or 40 minutes by motor boat); 45 kms from Bagamoyo (40 minutes), Dar es salaam is 100 km away from the park and takes close to two hours at a normal driving speed. Best time to visit: January and February and also from June to August.
Facilities:
Tented camp, lodges / hotels (Bagamoyo, Zanzibar), guest house, special camp sites, picnic sites, boat for sailing along Wami rive, airstrips.
KATAVI NATIONAL PARK
Establishment:1974
Area:4,471 sq km.
Location:40 km South East of Mpanda town: situated between Latitudes 6040’ and 7005’s and between Longitudes 30050’ and 31030’E
Principal features:
Lakes, rivers, swamps, waterfalls, landscapes, Mlele escarpment, Miombo woodland.
Altitude:900 metres above sea level Major attractions: lakes Katavi and chanda connected by Katuma river, sceneries, waterfalls, the Miombo woodland.
Common animals:
Mostly as for Serengeti, but here you also find PUKU – not found ion other parks.
Distance and time:
40 km from Mpanda, one hour from Mpanda at a normal driving speed.
Best time to visit:May to October
Facilities:
Tourist “Banda” at sitalike: camping and picnic sites inside the park; Radio communication: airstrips. Hotels and lodges, petrol stations and other facilities are at Mpanda – 40 km away.
KITULO PLATEAU NATIONAL PARK
Establishment:2005
Area:412.9 sq km.
Location:
Southern highlands of Tanzania, close to Lake Nyasa: between the Kipengere, Mporoto and Livingstone mountains.
Principalfeatures:
Floral vegetation, Mountains, Montane grassland community
Altitude:2,600 meters above sea level.
Major attractions:
Wildflowers, vascular plants, variety of birds, endemic species of butter fly chameleon, lizard and frog.
Common animals: Few species present: they include mountain reedbuck & eland
Distance and time:
From chimala, 78 km east of Mbeya along the surfaced main road to Dar – es – salaam, head south along the rough but spectacular dirt road called “hamsini na saba” (57), after the number of hair pin bends along its length (Approximately 2 hours) to the temporary park headquarters at Matamba, from where it is another hour at a normal driving speed to the park. Erratic public transport is also present.
Best time to visit:
For wildflower lovers the best time is between December and April. For hikers good months are from September to November because it is sunnier.
Facilities:
Luxury hotels and guest houses are in Mbeya and so is the airport as well as Tour operators and Travel Agents. Guest houses can also found at Matamba. Within the park, there are campsites and picnic sites. Further down on the lake shore at Matema beach there is a conference centre, a tourist resort and hostels.
RUBONDO ISLAND NATIONAL PARK
Establishment1977, 18th January
Area:457 sq km of which 237 sq km is dry land and 220 sq km is water.
Location:
Kageye the Park Headquarters is at Latitude 201810.3 S and Longitude 31051’26.9’E South – west corner of Lake Victoria.
Principal features:
The lake: eleven islets surrounding the park; two rocky hill masses; one in the North and one in the South , and the forest.
Altitudes:
1,134 meters above sea level. Major attractions: Lake Victoria, Migratory species of birds, the beach, high density of fish eagles, sitatunga, large number of butterflies.
Common animals:
Baboon, black and white colobus monkey, blue monkey, buffalo, bush pig, bushbuck, chimpanzee, dikdik elephant, giraffe, hippo, hyrax, rhino, sitatunga, squirrel, warthog, waterbuck, vervet monkey, large, – spotted genet, cat, spot – necked otter, marsh mongoose and cane rat as well as crocodile.
Distance and time:
165 km by road from Mwanza via Sengerema, Geita and Nzera. 6 – 7 hours from Mwanza.
Best time to visit:
June to August: November to March (Wild flowers and Butterflies), December to February (migratory birds).
Facilities:
Campsites, hostels tented camp, bandas, boats airstrip, walking trails, hides and a view point platform.
GOMBE STREAM NATIONAL PARK
Establishment:1968
Area:52 sq km
Location:situated between Latitude 4040’s and Longitude 29038’E at its centre.
Principal features:Mountains; Lake, rift Valley.
Altitude:681m to 1,524 above sea level.
Major attractions:
Chimpanzees; about eight species of primates including olive baboon, blue monkey, red tailed monkey, vervet monkey, red colobus monkey, two species of nocturnal bushbabies, forest, lake Tanganyika, valleys with streams; Kakombe and Mkenke riverine waterfalls. Meeting place by Dr. Livingstone and Stanley at Ujiji in Kigoma town.
Common animals:
Bushbuck, bush – pig, Leopard, Duiker, civets, white tailed Mongoose, primates, buffalo, hyrax, warthog, waterbuck, checkered, elephant shrew etc.
MAHALE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
Establishment:1985
Area:1613 sq km
Location:situated between latitude 6000’ and 6028’s and longitudes 29043’ and 30007’E.
Principal features:
Lake, Mountains range, Rift valley and forests. Altitude: 2000 to 2462 metres above sea level.
Major attractions:
Chimpanzee, lake Tanganyika, several species of primates, mountain range, waterfalls, birds, forests, and beaches.
Common animals:
Several species of primates including chimpanzee, red colobus, Angolan pied colobus, olive baboon, yellow baboon, vervet monkey, blue monkey etc. blue duiker, sharpe’s grysbok, bushy – tailed mongoose, banded mongoose, leopard, buffalo, lion, red legged sun squirrel. Distance and time: 100 km south of Kigoma: 3 – 4 hours by motorboat from Kigoma
Best time to visit:
Dry season (May – October) best for forest walks, although there is no problem walking in the light rains of October – November.
Facilities:
Airstrip, boats, Camping sites: rest houses, luxury tourist camps park guides, visitor information centre, VHF radio system, park aircraft, hiking trail etc.
ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK.
Establishment:1960
Area:552 sq km
Location:Situated between Latitude 3015’S and Longitude 36045’S at its centre.
Principal features:
the rugged mount Meru, Lakes, craters, forest and water falls.
Altitude:
Ranges from 1524 m above sea level at Momella to nearly 4565m at the summit of Meru. Major attractions: The Momella lakes, Ngurdoto crater, Meru crater and cone, black and while colobus monkeys, giraffes, forest and waterfalls.
Common animals:
Over 40 species of mammals have been recoded including elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, warthog, black and white colobus monkeys, duikers, leopards etc.
Distance and time:
About 40 km from Arusha; 130 km from Kilimanjaro National Park: 45 minutes to one hour from Arusha, and 1 – 2 hours from Kilimanjaro National Park.
Best time to visit:
October to February.
Facilities:
Miriakamba and saddle huts up the Mountain, public and special camp sites inside the park, Ngurdoto mountain lodge, Big rest house, Momella lodge, Tanzanite Hotel, Ngaresero lodge, Dikdik and hostel
KILIMANJARO NATIONAL PARK
Establishment:1973
Area:1668 sq km
Location:Situated between latitudes 2050’ and 3010’S and longitudes 37020’ and 37040’E.
Principal features:
Shira plateau, Mawenzi and Kibo peaks as well as montane forest.
Altitude:Varies from 1,829 meters at Marangu gate to 5895 meters at Kibo peak.
Major attractions:
The montane forest: Shira, Mawenzi and Kibo peaks; landscape, a number of Traditional cultural sites, caves and lava tubes around the mountain.
Common animals:
Baboon, black and white colobus monkey , blue monkey, buffalo, bush pig, bushbuck, civet, Abbot’s duiker, eland, elephant, genet, giraffe, honey badger, hyrax, jackal, klipspringer, leopard, mongoose, reedbuck, serval, squirrel, Suni, warthog, waterbuck, vervet monkey etc.
Distance and time:
48 km from Moshi, 90 km from Kilimanjaro international Airport; 128 km from Arusha. 45 minutes to 1 hour from Moshi; 1 hour from Kilimanjaro International Airport: 2 – 2.30 hours from Arusha.
Best time to visit:
December to February and also from July to September.
Facilities:
Hotels in down town Moshi: Marangu, Kibo, Capricorn and Nakara hotels in Marangu; huts, campsites, Rescue team, Radio communication, porters and guides, mountain equipments for hire etc.
LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
Establishment:1960
Area330 sq km (220 sq km is the lake)
Location:Situated between latitudes 3020 and 3040’S and longitude 35045’E
Principal features:
Rift wall of the Great Rift valley, the lake, Ground water forest. Altitude; 945 meters above sea level
Major attractions:
Rift wall, tree climbing lions, Ground water forest, lake, Birds, Hot water sulphur springs.
Common animals:
Similar to those found in the Serengeti National Park. Notable absent animals include; Black and white colobus monkeys, eland, kudus, Roan and Sable antelopes, rhino, steenbok, topi and wild dog.
Distance and time:
130 km from Arusha (2 to 2 hours), 95 km from Tarangire (1 to 1 .30 hours
Best time to visit:
July – October and November – June.
Facilities:
Accommodation Wild Africa lodge Lake Manyara Hotel Lake Manyara Serena Lodge Jambo Campsite Lake Manyara tree lodge Migunga forest campsite etc. Curio – shops, petrol stations, market, aerodrome.
MKOMAZI NATIONAL PARK
Establishment:2007
Area:2010 sq km
Location:Continguos with the Tsavo west National park in Kenya: the Mkomazi – umba area can be located between latitudes 3047’ to 4033’S and Longitudes 37045 to 4033’S and Longitudes 37045’ to 38045’E. Close to same town along Moshi – Dar es Salaam road.
Principal features:
The pare Mountains, open plains characterized by bushed and wooded grassland; dry upland forest of the western mountainous area; Acacia – commiphora vegetation.
Altitude:
Highest peak is Kinondu rising to 1,600 meters above sea level.
Major attractions:
High diversity of birds and insects; scenic beauty of the Pare mountains; large populations of gerenuk; views of Mount Kilimanjaro and a range of the Usambara Mountains: migrating birds: caves found along the slope of the Pare Mountains.
Common animals:
Elephant, giraffe, Grant’s gazelle, Lesserkudu, coke’s hartebeest, buffalo, gerenuk, zebra, warthog, reedbuck, waterbuck, Impala, eland, oryx, dikdik, silver backed jackal, wild dog and wildcat.
Distance and times:
120 km from Moshi; 155 km from Kilimanjaro International Airport; 200 km from Arusha; 480 km from Nairobi and 500 km from Dar es salaam. Takes 1 – 2 hours at a normal driving speed from the park to Kilimanjaro International Air port.
Best time to visit:
June – January
Facilities:
Hotels and lodges in Same: campsites and picnic sites in the park: airfields within the park and at same town
SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
Establishment:1951
Area:14,763 sq km
Location:lies between latitudes 1028, and 3017’S and between longitudes 33050’ and 35020’ E
Principal features:
short and long grass plain in the south: the Acacia savannah in the central area: the hilly more densely wooded area in the north, and the intensive wood land in the western corridor.
Altitude:
920 to 1850 meters above sea level.
Major attractions:
The animal migration the Grassland savannah plains, wilderness, Kopjes, predators ( lions, leopards, cheetah’s, hyenas, etc.) big ostrich population, many bird species including migrants.
Common animals:
Aardvark, baboon, bat- eared fox, black and white colobus monkeys: buffalo, bush pig, bushbuck, civet, cheetah, dikdik, duiker, eland, elephant, genets, gerenuk, giraffe, gazelles, hartebeest, hippo, honey badger, hyrax, hyena, Impala, Jackal, klipspringer, kudus, leopard, lion, Mongoose, Oryx, Oribi, reedbuck, roan antelope, sable antelope, serval, cat, steenbok, squirrel, suni, topi, warthog, waterbuck, wildebeest, wild dog, vervet monkey, zebra and zorilla.
Distance and time:
335 km from Arusha and may take 5 – 6 hours at a normal driving speed.
Best time to visit:
December to July, to see the wildebeest migration: June to October to see predators.
Facilities:
Lodges, Lobo, seronera, sopa, Serena Huka camps: Grumeti River, Serena Kilawila, migration. Hostels and Rest houses. In addition to the above, there are many public and special campsites in both the high use and low use zones.
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
Establishment:1970
Area:2,600 sq km.
Location:situated between latitudes 3040’ and 5035’S and Longitudes 35045’ and 37000’E.
Principal features:
Tarangire River, vegetation zones, swamps, hills, kopjes, and scattered baobabs.
Altitude:
Between 1200 and 1,600m above sea level.
Major attractions:
Acacia tortilis parkland, tree climbing pythons, large herds of elephants, the Tarangire river, swamps, baobab trees, a variety of birds and landscape.
Common animals:
lesser and greater kudu, cheetah, lion, hyena, leopard, Zebra, wildebeest, eland, warthog, giraffe, Oryx, buffalo, hartebeest, baboon, Impala, waterbuck, gerenuck, reedbuck, bushbuck, bat eared fox, Thomson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, Mountain reedbuck, elephant, jackals etc. There are over 550 species of birds.
Distance and time:
120 km from Arusha, 95km from lake Manyara, 155 km from Ngorongoro and 300 km from Serengeti. 1 hour from Arusha and 4 – 5 hours from Serengeti.
Best time to visit:
June to September for large number of animals
Facilities:
Tarangire safari lodge, Tarangire sopa lodge, Swala camp, public and special campsites, visitor information centre, picnic and observation sites, air strip.
NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA AUTHORITY
ETABLISHMENT:1959
Area:8300 sq. Km
Location:Lies between Latitudes 2o 44 and 3o 26’S and between Longitudes 35o 00 and 35o 55’E and among Lakes Natron, Eyasi and Manyara.
Features:
Extensive Plains, highland plateau, volcanic mountains, scenic craters and a superb forest.
Altitude:1,350 to 3,600m above sea level.
Major attractions:The Ngorongoro crater, the Empakaai crater, the Oldoinyo Lengai Mountain, the Olduvai Gorge and the Mountain forest.
Common animals:
Wildebeest, Zebras, Thomson gazelle, Grant gazelle, spotted hyena, Lion, Warthog, Hippos, Buffalo, Rhinos, Elephant, Kongonis and many more.
Distance and time:
190 km from Arusha, 60 km from Lake Manyara and 145 km from Serengeti: 2-3 hours from Arusha, 1 hour from Lake Manyara and 2 – 3 hours from Serengeti.
Best time to visit:
December to February and May to July.
Facilities:
Ngorongoro crater, Ngorongo wildlife, Ngorongoro sopa, Ngorongoro Serena and Rhino Lodges, Ndutu Camp, Land rovers, garage, petrol station, Camping site and an Airstrip.
Having fun bird watching in Tanzania
Tanzania bird watching boasts a large number of Unusual and endemic bird species, and a list which nearly exceeds that of neighboring Kenya and almost equals Uganda. The country is truly a bird watcher’s paradise: bird watching is diverse and spectacular; over 1000 bird species has been recorded from waterbirds, forest birds, and savannah birds to sea birds. If you are an Ornithologist, you will also enjoy watching plentiful waterbirds including the African skimmer, kingfishers, goliath heron, and rarely seen pel’s fishing owl: here are a few.
BEE – EATER:
This species is very colorful and nice to watch usually perched on fences and trees. They feed on bees and wasps. There are about 4 types of bee – eaters commonly found in lake Manyara National park, Highland forests, Usambara, coastal areas and southern Tanzania.
CROWNED CRANE:
A graceful, long legged bird, it looks like a stork and heron. Cranes are grassland dwelling birds. They are widely distributed in swamps, lake shores and grassland, commonly seen in pairs, small parties and flocks. Ngorongoro crater harbours so many cranes.
FISH EAGLES:
Are usually seen on the trees near the waterbodies. Skilled at fish catching. Excellent place to see them: Rubondo Island National Park, Ruaha National Park near river banks has spectacular view of these birds.
HOOPOE:
Is a beautiful bird, commonly feeds on the ground usually seen in small noisy flocks. Common in the Northern Tanzania National Parks reserve: Serengeti, Ngorongoro crater, Tarangire and Lake Manyara. Other birds: fischer’s lovebird, grey – rumped spur fowl and babbler – like rufous -tailed weaver.
MARABOU STORK:
A scavenger normally seen with other vultures sharing a carcass. It has huge beak and the deep pink pouch swinging on the neck. Commonly seen in almost national parks and game reserves around the country.
OSTRICH:
the largest bird in the world. It is the most well – known bird, Ostriches are flightless. Mostly found in the Northern plain, that is in Tarangire and the Serengeti, but can also be found in Mikumi in the South.
PARROTS:
Are forest dwelling birds. Although they have been documented in the mountain forest of Kilimanjaro and Meru, they are all over Eastern arc Mountains, especially Usambara and Udzungwa Mountains. Western forests such as the Mahale Mountains National Park and the Serengeti plains.
SECRETARY BIRDS:
Unusual looking bird of prey found on the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire and Ruaha National Parks. It has a quill – like feather on its head, and it is so pompous when it stride. Secretary bird rarely fly and do so when absolutely necessary. Other birds are verreanx’s eagle owl, crested cranes, Kori bustards, hornbills, whydah, flycatchers, Guinea fowl, woodpeckers, weavers, cattle egret, and many types of vultures and scavengers are all seen in the country.
