Tanzania Odyssey

CC AFRICA CC Serengeti Ngorongoro Crater Kilimanjaro A national park, an ecosystem, one of the world’s This, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, The snowy peaks of Kilimanjaro rising majestically most celebrated wildlife reserves: the unfenced forms a spectacular bowl of about 265 square from fertile green foothills just 330 km south of boundaries of the 15,000 square kilometre kilometres with walls up to 600 metres high. Home the equator have become a powerful motif for expanse of the Serengeti National Park are flanked to around 20,000 to 30,000 wild animals at any one this land of extremes. Africa’s highest mountain by conservation areas and game reserves in an time, it provides a rare chance of watching black is still almost snow-capped, although the familiar exceptional bid to preserve one of the last great rhino in the wild. It is cradled within the Ngorongoro ice cover continues to shrink each year and within migratory systems and the greatest and most varied Conservation Area, inhabited by the Maasai decades may be just a memory. Hans Meyer was the collection of wildlife on earth. The ‘endless plains’ displaced from the Serengeti nearly a century ago. first European to scale the mountain in 1889; now of the Serengeti are the stomping ground of millions over 20,000 climbers a year attempt Kibo, highest of wildebeest and zebra for 9 months of the year; of its three volcanic cones. The route progresses this is wild Africa, alive with energy, a realm of from tropical forest to heath, moorland to alpine endlessly rewarding safaris. desert, to rock and ice fields at the summit. Lake Manyara Tarangire This shallow lake at the base of the Great South of the plains of southern Maasailand, Rift Valley attracts flocks of flamingos to Tarangire National Park covers 2600 square UGANDA its alkaline waters. Famed for its excellent kilometres of grass and flood plains, acacia birding, butterflies and tree-climbing lions, woodland and dense bush. Dominated by the the park also has an understated diversity Bukoba KENYA Tarangire River, the park thrives in the heat from Lake Musoma of other game: elephants, giraffe, buffalo, Victoria August to October when masses of wildebeest, Ikorongo GR wildebeest, hippo and a vast number of Grumeti GR zebra, buffalo and giraffe migrate to the valley RWANDA Bunda baboons. The habitat varies throughout floor. Resident predators suffer lean months to Lake Namanga with grassy floodplains and thick acacia enjoy these feast days. Impressive elephant herds Burigi GR Serengeti Natron woodland contrasting with the rocky congregate from July to October. Biharamulo Mwanza National Park Mount Kilimanjaro NP escarpments of the Rift. Ngorongoro Crater BURUNDI Nyakanazi Arusha Moshi Lake Eyasi Shinyanga Mahale Lake Manyara Pemba Moyowosi GR National Park North of Unguja, Pemba is a surprisingly The steep, forested slopes of Mahale Mountains Nzega Mkomazi GR large rural island and the main source of National Park are home to approximately 800 Gombe Stream Tarangire National Park Zanzibar’s cloves. Seaweed farming and of Africa’s remaining wild chimpanzees. Further Kigosi GR National Park Singida even rubber-tapping may also be seen. north, Gombe Stream National Park is the site of Kigoma Kondoa Korogwe Tanga Tabora Pemba Pemba has a unique charm, enhanced by an alternative chimpanzee research programme Island SERENA HOTELS SERENA Maasai, Ngorongoro National Park Uvinza its lack of visitors and local reputation as a in which around 200 chimpanzees are fed and Ugalla River GR TANZANIA Mnemba Island centre for traditional medicines. Separated monitored. Chimp-trekking in Mahale requires Mahale Mountains National Park Zanzibar Island from Zanzibar by the Pemba Channel that stamina, trekking through rich woodlands Mpanda Stone Town Dadoma drops to depths of more than 1000m, this populated by various monkey species and Essential Africa Lake Chalinze is the place for superb diving and deep-sea rewarding, diverse birdlife. Inaccessible by road, Katavi Kisigo GR Mahale Mountains Dar es Salaam Tanganyika National Park fishing – whales, sharks and manta rays are visitors must fly or arrive by boat from Kigoma, National Park Morogord often seen in the deeper channels. along the southern shores of Lake Tanganyika, the Rungwa GR Ras Kutani Uwanda GR Mikumi Mikumi NP world’s longest and least-polluted fresh water lake. Ruaha Mafia Island National Park Snorkel with iridescent cichlids to conclude an Udzungwa NP Lake Rukwasa Iringa Tanzania exceptional safari experience. Sumbawanga Selous Ifakara Mafia Game FromFew have its stunningreturned from beaches a trip andto Namibia Indian withOcean anything islands other Reserve Once a strategic Indian Ocean trading post Mbeya visited by dhows, Mafia Island became Mahenge Kilwa tothan its supreme magnificent praise. forests, Its serene mountains deserts and and wild, open rugged plains, Katavi Makambako Tanzania’s first Marine Park, and now Tanzanialandscapes has have much inspired to offer. many Annabel an intrepid Skinner traveller,, author but, of provides colourful diving and fishing The wide alluvial plains of Katavi are barely Kyela visited at all, mainly because there are presently opportunities. Just 30 minutes flight from thefor all Cadogan its accessibility, Guide to even Tanzania the most and popular Zanzibar of its, highlights tourist Lake Dar, Mafia is home to rural farming and no permanent camps. Miles off the beaten track, ZAMBIA Nyasa Lindi thehotspots best rarelyof the feel country’s crowded natural – for now. marvels Chris andMcIntyre suggests, author itineraries of Namibia: fishing communities whose lives continue Katavi is a remote, classic dry season reserve, Songea designedthe Bradt Travel to appeal Guide to, introduces travellers one wishing of Africa’s to enjoy hippest an destinationsindulgent luxury superb in the driest months of the year but Masasi Mtwara just as they have for millennia. This is getaway,by shortlisting a personal its most wildlife compelling adventure attractions or an and exploration suggesting ofthree the unpredictable and partially impassable for the its charm: a virtually unchanged island remainder. The intrepid few who do venture Mbamba Tunduru home with just a few tourist lodges. The Bay historicitineraries and to excitecolourful anyone Swahili from coast.first-time visitors to true old hands. the distances are well rewarded; the park is 0 40 80 120 160km fascinating ruins of Chole island can be home to vast buffalo herds and hippo pods, and 0 25 50 75 100Miles reached by ferry, and further historic links to Unspoilt, charismatic, vast. With fourteen are impressive enough to rival any concentrations of elephant around February. MOZAMBIQUE the ancient ruins of Kilwa and surrounding perNamibia cent of is its a land landmass of superlative dedicated scenery to globalMost alternatives, of the country’s the country’s scenic finer Wildlife disperses but birdlife proliferates following islands are a short flight away. conservationand tremendous areas variety, and a relativelyfrom sinuous small pointshighlights are fascinating and cultural too: attractions the close-knit the short rains in November. numberridges atop of lodges the world’s and camps, highest Tanzania dunes communitiesare easily accessed around on Kilimanjaro, good roads thein isto thewindswept ideal destination beaches wherefor a rewarding the icy wild,a 2WD natural hire car; Usambaras, this freedom the strange, to travel AFRICA CC Ruaha Selous and,Atlantic above crashes all, private into the safari seemingly experience. spiritualindependently peace of is Bagamoyo, a real pleasure. the Sundowners in the bush Dhow, Mnemba Tanzania’s second-largest national park, Ruaha, The Selous Game Reserve, the largest protected Whetherendless Namib you’re Desert. a first-time Lush safari-goerpapyrus or remnantsStopping toof astay once at illustrious homely guest past farmsfrom is fabulously under-visited and very worthwhile, wildlife area in Africa, is bigger than Switzerland, aswamps, serious Africa-buff,craggy mountain and whether ranges, your lichen Mafiaor exclusive to Kilwa. lodges Wherever you will you benefit choose to especially when combined with the Selous. A wild and yet has few tourists. Just 5000 visitors a year preferredplains and style rolling is barefoot ranchland adventure complete travel,from well-informed Tanzania draws local you guidesin and insists and and distant safari experience, its dry red-earth experience the accessible northern corner of this orthe luxury picture: all thethe scaleway, andyou’re drama unlikely of the to yougenuine appreciate hospitality, each subtle whilst moment. camping vistas are studded with ancient baobabs and UN World Heritage site, although the lagoons, bewilderness disappointed. alone The is enchanting. country has more allowsTanzanians for complete themselves escapism. share Fly-in a irrigated by the rocky meanderings of the Great sandbanks and lakes of the Rufiji River and Ruaha River. This elemental landscape supports surrounding forests create an exciting ecological thanVisitors enough can to satisfywitness anyone huge with hard-wontrips give sensea unique of national perspective unity. on one of Africa’s largest elephant populations, environment for walking, boating and fly-camping aconcentrations yearning for dramatic of big game landscapes, in Etosha, Culturallythe landscapes diverse, and, they naturally, live shoulder cover plentiful lion prides and thriving packs of African safaris. The spectrum of wildlife is diverse,

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