A majority of visitors to Dar es Salaam find it worthwhile to tour Mikumi, Udzungwa, Ruaha and Selous game reserves. These destinations comprise the southern safari circuit of Tanzania. Mikumi National Park is just a few hours away by car, and Zanzibar is a quick 2-hour ferry ride (or an even quicker flight) away. For relaxing day trips to nearby islands, arranged transportation via White Sands Hotel or Bahari Beach Hotel.
Occupying 3,230 sq km, Mikumi 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.
Mikumi is generally accessible all year round, unlike many other southern circuit safari destinations. It takes four hours to Mikumi by road, and one hour by flight from Dar es Salaam. For budget travelers, It is possible to take a bus ride to the park's gate then arrange game drives from there. At the few luxury lodges and tented camps and the three campsites in Mikumi , limited accommodation is available. Should you find yourself in Dar es Salaam on a weekend, Mikumi is a perfect destination for seeing African wildlife.
65 km southwest of Mikumi, and 348 km west of Dar lies the 1,990 sq. km. Udzungwa Mountains National park. Udzungwa mountains are found southeast of Kilimanjaro and are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains. This unique Tanzania national park was created purely for purposes of plant species conservation. Many rare plants inhabit the mountain forest in Udzungwa. Animal life in the forests consists of six primate species, including the Iringa red colobus monkey and the Sanje crested Mangabey both of which are endemic here. Lions, elephants, buffaloes and hunting dogs are found on the plateau area, though in smaller numbers than in other parks and game reserves in Tanzania. The park is an important conservation area for bird species, with more than four previously unknown species discovered by scientists recently. The dry season from June through October is the best time to visit Udzungwa. During the wet season, hiking routes get unpleasantly slippery.
Ruaha National park is the biggest elephant sanctuary in the world and the second largest national park in Tanzania, occupying 12,950 sq. km. The great Ruaha river is the lifeblood of this park, hosting many hippos and crocodiles, and drawing thousands of thirsty animals to its banks. Common animal species include water bucks, leopards, reed bucks, hyenas, giraffes, impala, wild dogs, zebra, greater and lesser kudu, and sable and roan antelopes plus many more. The Ruaha landscape is ideal for hiking, and walking safaris are acceptable. There is abundant bird life (over 370 bird species) especially during the wet seasons (March to April and October to November) during which some Eurasian migratory birds move in.
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 degrees Celsius 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 " 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 todays 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.
More than 2,100 plant and trees species have been recorded in Selous. The lifeblood of the reserve is the Rufiji river with its many tributaries and oxbow lakes suitable for boat safaris. Africa wild animals found in Selous include buffaloes, hippos, wild dogs, lions, black rhinos, bush bucks, water bucks, impalas, giraffes, zebras, greater kudus, reed bucks, elands, among others. The elephant population in Selous is estimated at over 60,000. Birdwatching enthusiasts too have something worth seeing in Selous, with over 420 bird species recorded. Due to the game reserve's huge size, wildlife is widely scattered, just like in Ruaha. Visitors can best enjoy the park at a slow pace, taking 3-4 days. Selous provides a very rewarding photographic safari experience especially at Stiegler's Gorge, a spot that leopards favor greatly.
To get to Selous from Dar es Salaam, it takes one and a half hours by flight or seven hours by road. Road trips are tiresome and are only advisable for the most adventurous people. Being quite near the coast, Selous is only a few hundred feet above sea level. Selous has a hot and humid climate especially between October and March. During the wet season, March to May, parts of the reserve are closed. The dry season is the best for visiting, during which time you can take walking safaris, boat rides, or self drive safaris in a 4x4 vehicle. There are limited accommodation facilities in Selous, with only a few luxury tented camps and no frills camps.
Sadani game reserve, located in the north coast about 50km from Bagamoyo, is also worth visiting. Sadani gives one an experience of the bush at the beach, and the wild life seen at the reserve including elephants, leopard, giraffes, lions, buffaloes and zebra. The reserve is, however, accessible only with special transport arrangements.
Before getting into Dar es Salaam and Tanzania, visitors from yellow fever infected areas have to be obtain certificates of vaccination against the disease. Travelers from the following areas where yellow fever is not endemic are exempted from this: Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and North America. The forest region in northwest Tanzania is regarded a high risk yellow fever area. Malaria is also common in most of Tanzania. It is advisable to start taking appropriate anti-malaria treatment two weeks before arrival. Typhoid, hepatitis A, and polio vaccinations are also advisable. In addition, with the exception of citizens of a few African and commonwealth countries, visitors must have Tanzania visas to get into the country. While it is possible to get the visa at entry points like Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, and Dar es Salaam international airports, where possible, get the visa in advance from the Tanzanian mission in your country. Some airlines may not allow you to board flights to Tanzania without the visa.
You can get to Dar es Salaam through such Africa travel hubs as Johannesburg, Nairobi, and Addis Ababa. There are also numerous domestic flights in Tanzania to Dar and other airports including Kilimanjaro international airport and Dodoma airport. By sea, ferry services from Mombasa to Dar es Salaam are available. Visitors can tour around Dar es Salaam city using taxis, which charge a standard fee of Tsh 2000 for a journey within the city center. To travel to Zanzibar by ferry, you have a choice of 4 boats " 2 ordinary ferry boats, a hydrofoil, and a catamaran. You will need to produce the certificate of yellow fever vaccination before boarding the ferry. In addition to boat fare, you will have to pay US$5 for port charges.
Like most of Tanzania, it never gets really hot in Dar es Salaam. Average temperatures are in the 30 degrees Celsius range, with the hottest season being from October to March. It is therefore recommended that you carry light clothing, i.e. short sleeved shirts, trousers and shorts for men, and short sleeved blouses, skirts and slacks for ladies. Nudity is nevertheless unacceptable in the entire country. If touring the highland areas of Tanzania, you may need warmer clothing like sweaters for the evenings and early mornings.
Occupying 3,230 sq km, Mikumi 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.
Mikumi is generally accessible all year round, unlike many other southern circuit safari destinations. It takes four hours to Mikumi by road, and one hour by flight from Dar es Salaam. For budget travelers, It is possible to take a bus ride to the park's gate then arrange game drives from there. At the few luxury lodges and tented camps and the three campsites in Mikumi , limited accommodation is available. Should you find yourself in Dar es Salaam on a weekend, Mikumi is a perfect destination for seeing African wildlife.
65 km southwest of Mikumi, and 348 km west of Dar lies the 1,990 sq. km. Udzungwa Mountains National park. Udzungwa mountains are found southeast of Kilimanjaro and are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains. This unique Tanzania national park was created purely for purposes of plant species conservation. Many rare plants inhabit the mountain forest in Udzungwa. Animal life in the forests consists of six primate species, including the Iringa red colobus monkey and the Sanje crested Mangabey both of which are endemic here. Lions, elephants, buffaloes and hunting dogs are found on the plateau area, though in smaller numbers than in other parks and game reserves in Tanzania. The park is an important conservation area for bird species, with more than four previously unknown species discovered by scientists recently. The dry season from June through October is the best time to visit Udzungwa. During the wet season, hiking routes get unpleasantly slippery.
Ruaha National park is the biggest elephant sanctuary in the world and the second largest national park in Tanzania, occupying 12,950 sq. km. The great Ruaha river is the lifeblood of this park, hosting many hippos and crocodiles, and drawing thousands of thirsty animals to its banks. Common animal species include water bucks, leopards, reed bucks, hyenas, giraffes, impala, wild dogs, zebra, greater and lesser kudu, and sable and roan antelopes plus many more. The Ruaha landscape is ideal for hiking, and walking safaris are acceptable. There is abundant bird life (over 370 bird species) especially during the wet seasons (March to April and October to November) during which some Eurasian migratory birds move in.
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 degrees Celsius 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 " 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 todays 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.
More than 2,100 plant and trees species have been recorded in Selous. The lifeblood of the reserve is the Rufiji river with its many tributaries and oxbow lakes suitable for boat safaris. Africa wild animals found in Selous include buffaloes, hippos, wild dogs, lions, black rhinos, bush bucks, water bucks, impalas, giraffes, zebras, greater kudus, reed bucks, elands, among others. The elephant population in Selous is estimated at over 60,000. Birdwatching enthusiasts too have something worth seeing in Selous, with over 420 bird species recorded. Due to the game reserve's huge size, wildlife is widely scattered, just like in Ruaha. Visitors can best enjoy the park at a slow pace, taking 3-4 days. Selous provides a very rewarding photographic safari experience especially at Stiegler's Gorge, a spot that leopards favor greatly.
To get to Selous from Dar es Salaam, it takes one and a half hours by flight or seven hours by road. Road trips are tiresome and are only advisable for the most adventurous people. Being quite near the coast, Selous is only a few hundred feet above sea level. Selous has a hot and humid climate especially between October and March. During the wet season, March to May, parts of the reserve are closed. The dry season is the best for visiting, during which time you can take walking safaris, boat rides, or self drive safaris in a 4x4 vehicle. There are limited accommodation facilities in Selous, with only a few luxury tented camps and no frills camps.
Sadani game reserve, located in the north coast about 50km from Bagamoyo, is also worth visiting. Sadani gives one an experience of the bush at the beach, and the wild life seen at the reserve including elephants, leopard, giraffes, lions, buffaloes and zebra. The reserve is, however, accessible only with special transport arrangements.
Before getting into Dar es Salaam and Tanzania, visitors from yellow fever infected areas have to be obtain certificates of vaccination against the disease. Travelers from the following areas where yellow fever is not endemic are exempted from this: Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and North America. The forest region in northwest Tanzania is regarded a high risk yellow fever area. Malaria is also common in most of Tanzania. It is advisable to start taking appropriate anti-malaria treatment two weeks before arrival. Typhoid, hepatitis A, and polio vaccinations are also advisable. In addition, with the exception of citizens of a few African and commonwealth countries, visitors must have Tanzania visas to get into the country. While it is possible to get the visa at entry points like Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, and Dar es Salaam international airports, where possible, get the visa in advance from the Tanzanian mission in your country. Some airlines may not allow you to board flights to Tanzania without the visa.
You can get to Dar es Salaam through such Africa travel hubs as Johannesburg, Nairobi, and Addis Ababa. There are also numerous domestic flights in Tanzania to Dar and other airports including Kilimanjaro international airport and Dodoma airport. By sea, ferry services from Mombasa to Dar es Salaam are available. Visitors can tour around Dar es Salaam city using taxis, which charge a standard fee of Tsh 2000 for a journey within the city center. To travel to Zanzibar by ferry, you have a choice of 4 boats " 2 ordinary ferry boats, a hydrofoil, and a catamaran. You will need to produce the certificate of yellow fever vaccination before boarding the ferry. In addition to boat fare, you will have to pay US$5 for port charges.
Like most of Tanzania, it never gets really hot in Dar es Salaam. Average temperatures are in the 30 degrees Celsius range, with the hottest season being from October to March. It is therefore recommended that you carry light clothing, i.e. short sleeved shirts, trousers and shorts for men, and short sleeved blouses, skirts and slacks for ladies. Nudity is nevertheless unacceptable in the entire country. If touring the highland areas of Tanzania, you may need warmer clothing like sweaters for the evenings and early mornings.
About the Author:
The author works with Africapoint.com, reputable online travel agents for Africa. Visit Africapoint.com and see the Tanzania tours and safari packages available. Make online reservations for Dar es Salaam hotels or airline booking for Tanzania flights
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