Tanzania
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Tanzania The Soul of Africa
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Wildlife, wilderness, beaches and mountains A journey in Tanzania is to travel through a landscape where ancient rhythms of life still happen alongside the modern world. Millions of animals continuously migrate through the Serengeti ecosystem, traditional tribal life is still firmly rooted in long-held customs, volcanoes occasionally grumble, ice-caps still cling to mountain summits, and spices still grow in profusion on islands surrounded by seas filled with bountiful marine life.
Game drive in Ngorongoro Crater
A Zanzibar beach
When to visit Tanzania has so much going for it that you really can visit at any time of the year. Having said that, April and May tend to be too rainy for most people’s tastes. DRY SEASONS (December-mid-March, and June to October): These are the better months for wildlife viewing. In consequence they are also the more expensive months to travel here. GREEN SEASONS (November- short rains. Mid-March to end May - long rains): The short rains rarely badly affect travel, but the long rains can make travel difficult and unpredictable. We are always happy to advise in more detail about the pros and cons of travel in each month.
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All this is here for or you to enjoy, and we’d love to help you make the most of your safari in Tanzania.
Kilimanjaro
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Honeymoons, family safari & beach holidays, group trips ... We all want something a little different from someone else when it comes to holidays. It might be the trip length or when you want to go, the type of accommodation, what you want to see and do, or the kind of travel you prefer (such as flying rather than driving). Being a tailor made company we cater to your needs and wishes, and make something that is just what you want. Perhaps you’re looking for a gorgeous honeymoon, maybe this is a treat for an anniversary or birthday, or it could be a rather special family holiday. We organise safaris and holidays like this all the time, and work closely with you to get it right. Sometimes a group trip is the perfect choice, maybe because you’re travelling alone, or maybe just because you like the aspect of sharing experiences that you get from such trips. Whatever your motivation for coming to Tanzania, we know this country extremely well, and we are sure to be able to help you plan the best experience possible.
On Safari Tanzania has vast areas of stunning wilderness where you can see a huge range of African wildlife. With our help you can choose safari experiences which suit your wishes, from famous reserves such as the Serengeti to little-known parks like Katavi. Below we show you some of the aspects of what it’s like to be on safari.
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SUPERB GUIDES A good guide makes all the difference to a great safari. We work with some wonderful people who really know their wildlife and environments, and who can make your wildlife viewing really enjoyable and insightful. Take a private guide or enjoy the expertise of the guides based at the camps and lodges.
Walking at an Asilia camp
GAME DRIVES, WALKS & BOAT SAFARIS At most safari camps you have two main activities a day - one in the morning and then in the late afternoon to evening. Meals and a siesta punctuate the gameviewing. You will certainly be taking exciting game drives, but some places also offer bush walks, boat safaris, even hot air balloon trips and horse riding.
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INCREDIBLE WILDLIFE It’s important to get to the right place at the right time and in the right way to spot the wildlife you’ve been drawn by. Tanzania has some incredible reserves and spectacular wildlife events such as the annual wildebeest migration. If there is a specific animal you’d love to see, we’re always pleased to advise you of where you’ll most likely find it.
Lunch above Ngorongoro Crater
DELICIOUS MEALS UNDER AFRICA SKIES On a safari, if you’re not watching wildlife you’ll probably be eating or drinking. Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, sundowner drinks with nibbles, and dinner, perhaps under the stars. Lodges tend to push the boat out even if they’re cooking on an open campfire. You’ll be amazed what the enterprising chefs come up with in the wild.
Kirurumu Serengeti
GORGEOUS PLACES TO STAY That ‘Out of Africa’ feeling is easy to find in Tanzania. Stay in a luxury tented camp in the wilds and listen to the call of the lions. In many areas we can find you more permanent lodges if you prefer. We lean towards small, personal places with friendly staff, excellent guides, comfy beds and great food.
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CONSERVATION & CULTURE Understanding some of the issues that face people and wildlife living in Tanzania is often a side of the safari experience that travellers don’t expect. However if you’re interested you can come away with an insight into local cultures, and the many environmental and conservation issues too.
The Annual Migration It’s hard to get your mind around 2 million mammals on the move, but the world’s largest mass land migration is just this. Vast swathes of wildebeest, zebras, plus Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelles make this continuous journey following the rains between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara. If you’re lucky enough to see it, the utter scale of numbers is overwhelming and dramatic, and frankly spine-tingling.
Iain Balch
You can be in a calm sea of wildebeest and zebras at one point, then you might be witness to thousands upon thousands of wildebeest charging past you across a road. Or perhaps you could be at a river crossing and watch the herds running the gauntlet of the waiting crocodiles - with your heart in your mouth! Of course it’s not guaranteed you’ll see such sights at all, but we can help give you the best advice on where to go at the time you’re travelling. Bear in mind though, that the rains can change their movements at any time, so it’s always unpredictable. See our Annual Wildebeest Migration page on our website for more detail, or better still, call and talk to one of us.
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WHERE TO LOOK FOR THE MIGRATION December-March: Southern Serengeti. (Calving and new borns). April-June: Herds head north and west. Serengeti’s Grumeti region is the place to be, but central Serengeti can also be very good. July-October: Northern Serengeti (inc Lamai Wedge) and Kenya’s Masai Mara. November-December: Wildlife heads south, mostly via the eastern side of the Serengeti.
Where to Visit From the roof of Africa to the Indian Ocean Tanzania has a diversity which is hard to match. From the snows of Kilimanjaro through the acacia-dotted grasslands of the Serengeti, to forested hills home to chimpanzees, and down to the rivers and lakes of Selous and the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the varied habitat promises the traveller an abundance of unmissable sights and experiences.
Ngorongoro Crater
Serengeti National Park
This famous ancient volcanic crater is one of the unmissable natural wonders of northern Tanzania, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Serengeti in northern Tanzania is one of Africa’s most famous and spectacular national parks. It is vast, beautiful and protects immense numbers of African wildlife. It is known for the annual wildebeest migration, and is home to the Big Five (buffalo, lion, leopard, elephant and rhino). The key reasons you should visit the Serengeti are:
• Unique and beautiful scenery of high forested crater walls encircling a 16 km diameter sunken world of grasslands, acacia forest, freshwater and soda lakes. • Excellent wildlife viewing all year, with prolific and diverse species including the ‘big five’, from cheetahs to black rhinos, lions to hippos, elephants, hyenas, zebras and good bird life. About the only species you won’t find here are giraffe and impala. • The wildlife here is so used to safari traffic that you often get very close. It’s not uncommon for lions and other creatures to use vehicles as shade. • The Rift Valley highlands around the Crater are Maasai lands. Excellent for hiking, volcanic scenery and traditional cultures. • The Lake Natron area, including Ol Donyo Lengai (the Maasai Mountain of God) is a fascinating part of Tanzania’s Rift Valley.
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• The 1.5 million hectares of savannah lands are full of spectacular and diverse wildlife all year round. • A high concentration and excellent sightings of predators, including lions, cheetahs, hyenas and jackals. • Annual wildebeest migration - an unmissable spectacle of over 2½ million wildebeest, zebras and gazelles followed by predators. • Stunning scenery with vast tracts of grasslands dotted with granite outcrops. • Get that amazing feeling of really being in remote African wilderness, as long as you avoid the central Seronera region in peak times. • Great choice of mid-range to luxury camps and lodges, many being quite small and personal, and some being amongst the best in Africa. • This is Maasai territory so the cultural side of life here is never far away. • Try a hot air balloon safari for a different perspective on the reserve. Game drive from And Beyond Klein’s Camp
Looking over the Serengeti from Olduvai Camp
Kilimanjaro
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Tarangire National Park
Lake Manyara National Park
A large, under-estimated yet worthwhile reserve on the northern circuit. Its bushy, baobab-dotted landscape draws a lot of elephants and other wildlife due to its permanent river, especially July-October.
This is a long thin park in the north mainly occupied by a large shallow soda lake beloved of flamingos. The strip of mainly forested land between the lake and the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment is home to some great wildlife.
• It is one of the best northern parks from July to early November when the river attracts wildlife from miles around. • It’s one of the best places in East Africa to see large numbers of elephants. • It is less known and less visited than the more famous Crater and Serengeti. • Unusually, walking safaris are allowed from two camps in the park. • Gerenuk and fringe-eared oryx are here.
• The soda lake attracts pink flamingos, plus about 400 other bird species. • It is known for its herds of elephants which you generally see quite readily. • Tree-climbing lions can sometimes be spotted here (mostly in the south). • Other wildlife here includes hippos, zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, shy dik-dik and large troops of baboons.
At 5,895m Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and represents a challenge for anyone considering summiting its frozen peak. Neighbouring Mount Meru is a lesser 4,566m, but still a great challenge. Or you could just stay in a lodge in the area and appreciate the mountains as a backdrop to some great wilderness and wildlife watching. • Take the challenge to climb Kilimanjaro on one of various routes. • A Mount Meru climb is 4 days, with the first part of the hike through Arusha National Park. • Stay in a lodge near Kilimanjaro for a remote safari with a mountain backdrop. See our specialist website www.kiliclimbs.com
Selous Game Reserve This vast park in southern Tanzania is quieter than the northern parks and yet with truly diverse wildlife. It’s also one of the best places in Africa for wild dogs, and it is often called ‘Giraffic Park’! The rivers and lakes mean that boat safaris are possible here, as well as walking safaris.
A boat safari from Azura Selous
Some of the reasons you should visit are: • The Rufiji and Ruaha rivers run through the park attracting diverse, prolific wildlife to this special place. • It has the highest number of African wild dogs of any African park. • There are large numbers of leopards and giraffes. • Over 450 species of birdlife. • It’s far quieter than the northern circuit parks and with much fewer, high quality lodges. • In addition to game drives, it is a great place for walking and boat safaris.
Mahale & Gombe
Ruaha National Park
The focus of both Mahale and Gombe on Lake Tanganyika are wild chimpanzees. This incredible experience comes at a price, but it is worth it for primate lovers.
If you want a superb wildlife experience in beautiful scenery and with few people, Ruaha in southern Tanzania has got to be near the top of your list. It’s off the beaten track for many people as it’s more expensive to get to than Selous. Excellent predator sightings – lion, leopard, cheetah - and large elephant populations are the highlights of a diverse wildlife experience.
• Mahale has about 1000 individual chimps and 8 other primate species such as red colobus and baboons. • Staying at Mahale feels like you’re in a remote jungle-clad paradise which you are! • Gombe Stream is where Jane Goodall began her study of chimps in 1960. • Accommodation at Gombe is less luxurious but the chimp experience is just as good as Mahale. • Both areas are also good for birds. The parks can be visited year-round, but May to October is the dry season, so better for most people.
• A vast and beautiful park with very few visitors. This is exclusive! • There are only about 8 lodges here all offering high quality places to stay. • Excellent predator sightings with many lion prides, cheetahs, leopards and hyenas. • The Ruaha River draws extra unexpected game from East & Southern Africa, including Grant’s gazelle and large herds of kudu. • Really excellent for elephants.
Katavi National Park It’s wild, untouched, exclusive and phenomenal. The inaccessibility of this reserve makes it pricey to reach, but for safari-afficionados it is a true gem. You’ll be one of very few visitors so you’ll have the place almost to yourself. It links particularly well with Ruaha and/or Mahale Mountains for the chimps. • Exclusive wilderness. Its remote location makes it one of Tanzania’s least-visited parks. • Some of the best game viewing in Africa in the dry season. One of the best parks for species diversity and numbers of wildlife at this time. • Thousands of elephants, several lion prides vying with huge buffalo herds, lots of hyenas, plenty of leopards. • Known for hundreds of hippos and crocs jostling for space in dwindling waterholes. • There are only 3 camps in this vast wilderness.
Dinner on the beach at Fundu Lagoon, Pemba
Zanzibar, Mafia, Pemba & other Indian Ocean escapes
Saadani & Pangani
Zanzibar & Pemba Zanzibar is a large fertile tropical island. It has good beaches, lots of hotel choices, great snorkelling and diving, plus Stone Town is a fascinating old town steeped in history. Pemba is a slightly smaller island, more rural and quieter. Whilst the beaches are not generally as good as on Zanzibar, the diving is superb, snorkelling is great and there are a couple of really good lodges.
Saadani National Park has a uniqueness which comes from being a coastal wildlife reserve. Seeing an elephant by a beach or a kingfisher fishing over the Indian Ocean is the unusual kind of sighting you might find. Coastal and bush walks and night game drives add to the excitement of this rare mix of sea, river, bush and beach. The sea here is shallow, so whilst you can swim when the tide is in, if it’s a proper beach stop you’re looking for, try Pangani about 1½ hours’ drive north of Saadani.
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Long sandy beaches and warm Indian Ocean waters. Excellent diving and snorkelling (also see Mafia below). Try one of the small islands just off the main island (Chumbe, Chapwani or Mnemba). See red colobus monkeys in Jozani Forest. Take a spice tour, and explore Stone Town.
Mafia, Chole & Fanjove If you want something smaller, more personal and less busy than Zanzibar, try one of the small islands to the south. Mafia for quiet beaches and great diving, the tiny Chole for treehouse-living and island adventures, and the even tinier Fanjove if you have Robinson Crusoe tendencies. • No large hotels, no cars on Chole or Fanjove. • Some of the best diving and snorkelling in East Africa. • Swim with whale sharks, off Mafia Island. • Stay in a baobab treehouse on Chole Island.
• At Saadani there is coast and bush habitat. • Observe Africa’s big game and bird life interacting with the sea. • 4 of the big 5 (no rhino). • Very few other visitors • Green turtles breed on the beaches. • Lovely beach lodges at Pangani make a nice (and quieter) mainland alternative to Zanzibar.
Gorgeous Places to Stay These are just a few of our favourite lodges and camps. They all have something unique to recommend them, be it the service, the view, or the style of accommodation, and we love them. However there are so many other places that deserve a mention, so talk to us about these and other choices that are available to you when planning your safari holiday in Tanzania. We will come up with some lovely ideas for you.
Alex Walker’s Serian, Serengeti
Alex Walker’s Serian has two locations in the Serengeti - north and south - plus mobile camps too. There are no set daily schedules, a private vehicle for each party, superb guiding, and classic comfy safari tents with excellent hosting. A definite favourite.
Siwandu, Selous
This luxury camp in a lovely lakeshore spot in Selous offers game drives in open vehicles, boat trips on the river, and guided game walks. It’s a high quality camp in all respects (guiding, rooms, food, service) and one of our top choices for Selous.
Kwihala, Ruaha
Kwihala has just 6 tents in a game rich area of northern Ruaha. The emphasis is firmly on the wildlife and environment, with game drives, walking safari and night drives all offered for a comprehensive, authentic safari experience.
Greystoke Mahale
Olduvai Camp, Ngorongoro/Serengeti
Kirurumu Ngorongoro
This camp is between the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti, and has a real off the beaten track feel. The 17 tents are at the foot of a granite hill, and it is run by local Maasai with whom it’s great to spend some time.
This is a small friendly camp where the handful of guests can enjoy the beautiful setting with view down into the Ngorongoro Crater. It’s a good base for Crater safaris, walks, hikes and cultural visits to Maasai communities.
Chole Mjini, Chole
Simply Saadani
Essque Zalu, Zanzibar
On a far-flung beach on the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika below a tropical forest, is the tiny sanctuary of Greystoke Mahale. It is one of the places to see chimpanzees in the wild, and the 6 bandas are uniquely magical.
This is a rustic treehouse hideaway on a tiny island. If you want lots of facilities and a resort atmosphere, you won’t like it here. If, on the other hand, you want a romantic Robinson Crusoe-type escape from the world ...
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This lodge lies between the Indian Ocean and the Saadani bush in an old coconut plantation. It’s a bush and coast combination in a wild, remote spot. Not many people come here. We love it.
If you’d like a bit of stylish luxury on Zanzibar, this might be the place for you. It’s on the northern tip of the island near Nungwi, is quite large, and very good quality.
Tanzania safari and holiday ideas We can tailor make the holiday you want, but here are some ideas to whet your appetite
Safari, Sand and Spice Prices from around £2,000 pp for 11 days (exc. international flights) This is an exciting, good quality Tanzania safari and beach holiday which won’t blow your budget. We love it, and it consistently proves hugely popular with our travellers. • One of our most popular trips • Great value, yet with excellent guiding and good accommodation • 4 nights on safari - exciting wildlife viewing in Selous Game Reserve
• Boat safari on Lake Tagalala, Selous • Train journey from Dar to Selous (or optional flight) • 4 nights in a Zanzibar beach resort • 2 nights to explore Stone Town
Serengeti Migration Safari and Beach Prices from about £3,000 pp for 10 days (exc. international flights) This safari combines excellent game viewing in some of Africa’s best known northern parks with a chance to relax on the exotic spice island of Zanzibar. • Superb safari and beach combination • 5 nights on safari with a good chance to see the annual migration from about December to March in the southern Serengeti • Wildlife viewing in famous reserves such as the
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Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater • Your own private safari vehicle and guide • Good quality, mid-range accommodation • 4 nights to relax on the shores of the Indian Ocean on Zanzibar
An Island Escape Prices from about £1,000 to £2,500 pp for 8 days (exc international flights) Have you dreamed of jetting off to a small tropical island, swapping your mobile ringtone for the whisper of a breeze in palm trees? Then this holiday is just what you need! • Escape to a tropical island in the Indian Ocean! • Swim with dolphins, snorkel with fish • Sunbathe on a pristine sandbar • Dine under the stars • Follow nature trails
• Our suggestions of where to stay would be Fanjove Private Island, Mafia Island, Chole Island, Chumbe Island, Mnemba or Pemba. Prices depend on accommodation chosen.
Ruaha, Katavi & Mahale Prices from around £7,000+ pp for 12 days (exc. international flights) This is a safari that takes you to remote Tanzania, a region of vast plains where huge herds of elephant and buffalo roam, and you’ll have these sights nearly all to yourself! As well as game drives and guided walks you’ll sail on Lake Tanganikya in a traditional dhow and have the chance to spend magical time with wild chimpanzees.
Jeff Webster
See our websites for more ideas, or call us to discuss what you would like to do and we can tailor make exactly the right experience for you.
• See regions of Tanzania that few people visit • Spend time with chimpanzees in the Mahale • Stunning wildlife & gorgeous scenery of Ruaha
• Game drives with professional guides • See elephants and buffalo from your Katavi camp
We are experts at Tanzania safari holidays which we’ve been organising since 1998. Go2Tanzania is brought to you by Tribes Travel, which also covers many other countries. Tribes has a main website and brochure, as well as three other specific destination brochures.
www.tribes.co.uk
www.botswanaspecialists.co.uk
www.costaricaspecialists.co.uk
www.cruisethegalapagos.co.uk
www.go2tanzania.co.uk or www.tribes.co.uk 01473 890499 info@tribes.co.uk
Go2Tanzania is brought to you by Tribes Travel Ltd The Old Dairy, Wood Farm, Ipswich Road, Otley, Suffolk IP6 9JW The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 for Tribes Travel, and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for the following: 1. non-flight packages commencing in and returning to the UK; 2. non-flight packages commencing and returning to a country other than the UK; and 3. flight inclusive packages that commence outside of the UK, which are sold to customers outside of the UK. 1, 2 and 3 provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled. 1 and 3 provides for repatriation. Please note that bookings made outside the UK are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with Tribes Travel.
All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays in this brochure are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate Tribes is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. The Association represents Britain’s leading independent tour operators and encourages high standards of quality and service. Tribes abides by the Association’s Code of Business Practice and adheres to the AITO Quality Charter which can be viewed on www.aito.com. Visit the website to find out more about the Association or call 020 8744 9280.
NOTE: All prices in this brochure are correct at the time of going to press (20/06/2016) and are subject to change and availability. See website or contact us for full booking terms and conditions.