A land of true African contrast

Travel & Leisure

  • Author Peter Philip
  • Published April 20, 2011
  • Word count 1,093

Tanzania is a land of true African contrast. With such an ideal Location, on the periphery of the African continent, and facing the Indian Ocean, Tanzania’s weather and climate makes it ideal for vacationing. Warm and sunny days are followed by cool nights, and whether you’re on safari on the Serengeti plains or enjoying the tropical beaches of Zanzibar, the temperatures are always welcoming and gentle. Equally, for outdoor lovers with a sense of challenge or rough vacations, trekking in Tanzania is ideal for you.

Tanzania walking safaris are undoubtedly very rewarding experiences in Africa. It is explained as the best way to discover Africa on foot. This is because of its vast un-spoilt wilderness areas thrilled with large concentrations of wildlife and awe-inspiring sceneries. Imagine enjoying a walking safari led by a professional guide while staying in camps situated in ideal locations, forming the perfect base to explore the surrounding areas on nature walks. Superb guides include local Maasai, introducing you to some of the real treasures of the African jungle.

Walking safaris are a wonderful adventure, designed especially for those who love walking. A good amount of conventional game viewing in vehicles is also included, but the highlights of Tanzania walking safari are the intimate moments you’ll experience in Tanzania’s very remote backcountry on foot.

In a land with such great and diverse walking destinations, you can be sure the amounts of options are in-exhaustible. Most professional travel companies have established proven track of itineraries but you will find tailor made packages more preferred depending on your interests, fitness and time.

While trekking and also depending on the type of your trekking package, your will pick life time experiences that will outlive your ambitions. Some itineraries will lead you to fabulous views of Mt Kibo, the Shira Plateau or even Mt Meru on clear days. Spend the late afternoon meandering to the nearby Maasai village of Olmalog or simply relaxing in camp. A campfire using sustainable wood sources accompanies the dying light and sounds of the Maasai’s cattle heading back to their bomas give you a real African –home experience.

During the morning walks, game viewing grows more prevalent and zebra often gallop away after approaching curiously. Giraffe, eland, impala and Grant’s gazelle are also usually seen. Picnic lunches are taken under the shade of an acacia tree, and there is then usually time to relax as the hottest part of the day passes over.

So as to give you the reality of authentic Africa, some creative safari outfitters will pitch your camps under a set of huge acacia trees with sweeping views of the plains that head up to Kilimanjaro and as the sun sets you enjoy the scrumptious dinner prepared with locally fresh foods.

Some itineraries will include a fantastic walk to the top of Napopong hill where at its amazing peak you will be rewarded with great sunrise views and hopefully, the Uhuru summit of Kilimanjaro on clear days. This magnificent area is also credited for diverse birdlife and great wildlife encounters.

Walking options may also spread as far as Tarangire national park where game viewing tracks meander along the great Tarangire River, one of East Africa’s famous "Sand Rivers" and whose rolling hills are dotted with ancient Baobab trees and dense woodlands, distinguishing Tarangire from most of the rest of the northern plains game parks.

In some packages, a relatively short and spectacular morning drive to the base of the Great Rift Valley is included where much of the day is spent in Lake Manyara National Park. This UNESCO biosphere is a relatively small park but with an amazing diversity of habitats. Ground water forest, open glades, plains, and acacia woodland create homes for a fantastic array of birds and mammals.

The most spectacular itineraries are those that include Ngorongoro crater rim walk. Mostly, it starts with a drive to the enchanted Ngorongoro Crater with its truly amazing scenery. You will then continue round the rim, where a crew of guides, a ranger, Maasai and donkeys will be waiting. Begin a marvelous walk in this pristine Maasai land.

The track takes you part way around the rim of the crater through open woodland and acacia forests. To your right are the remarkably spectacular views of the crater floor below, and to your left are the endless plains of the Serengeti. A very simple camp is set in a remote location where one of the important rivers off the highland volcanoes enters the crater.

After an early breakfast camp is packed up and the morning trek continues along the crater rim traversing the Olmoti slopes. The trail leaves the rainforest and cuts through grassland and open woodlands inhabited by local Maasai. In the late afternoon we reach a vehicle track which winds out of Ngorongoro crater towards Empakai crater.

There are also options to trek in crater floor. This unique hundred-square mile wildlife paradise has a greater density of wildlife than sensibly any other protected wilderness in Africa. It’s the last place to see relatively easily free-ranging black rhino. There are numerous lions, and large families of buffalo. The plains gazelle seem inestimable. The crater provides a scenic wonderland famed by its central lake and many shore birds including at times large numbers of flamingo.

Most long treks culminate at the Serengeti with en-route stop over at Olduvai Gorge, the world re-known archeological site. The Serengeti is certainly the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world. Here, your adventure camp will be placed seasonally to maximize game viewing.

A whole day is set aside to explore this African jewel and following the recede and flow of life in its serial movements. There are also optional provisions to visit sacred Maasai sites and cave paintings. Simpley, the Serengeti satisfies the most demanding imaginations of what Africa is, with its endless grassland plains filled with wildlife.

The other grand choices are on the south with Selous game reserve being the most preferred destination especially for private trekking packages. Selous Game Reserve is located South West of Dar es Salaam, and is one of the largest areas set aside for preservation anywhere in the world, totaling 54,000 Sq. Kilometers! The photographic sector of the Reserve is on the mighty Rufiji River, and contains a wide variety of different ecosystems: the wide meandering river, with its lakes and swamplands interlaced with a myriad of channels, ‘terminalia’ woodland and open plains. This spectacular setting is the home of some of Africa’s largest populations of remaining wildlife.

Natural Track Safaris is a Kenya based nature Safari Company catering for holidays in Tanzania, family outdoor adventures,budget camping in Tanzania, Kenya and uganda. For more safari information visit http://www.natural-track.com/safaris and http://www.natural-track.com

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