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Southern National Parks & Reserves In Tanzania

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Southern National Parks & Game Reserves in Tanzania

Selous Game Reserve

Selous Game Reserve — in Southern Tanzania has 55,000 square kilometers (over 21,000 square miles) of pristine wilderness designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982. It has been recognized as an important wildlife sanctuary since 1905. Four game reserves in the area were conjoined in 1922 to form the Selous Reserve, named after an English hunter, naturalist and soldier, who died in action there in 1917. After Tanzanian independence, the reserve was expanded to include elephant migration routes and now boasts arguably having one of the largest elephant populations in Africa. No permanent human settlements are allowed within its boundaries although Tanzania cultural village tour activities are encouraged outside the Selous reserve boundary.

Apart from its massive herds of thousands of elephants and Cape buffaloes, the reserve boasts a varied population of large mammals including huge pods of hippos and prides of lions as well as packs of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus in Latin) and families of black rhinoceros, both fast disappearing in other parts of East Africa. The greater game reserve wilderness is centered within the 90,000 square kilometers of the Selous ecology which includes other conservation areas, notably Kilombero Game Controlled Area to the west and Mikumi National Park to the north. This is very varied terrain. Disdainful giraffes feed delicately on acacia trees in deciduous miombo woodlands. Herds of wildebeest and antelopes graze on the lightly wooded grasslands north of the majestic Rufiji River, ever alert for prides of lions snoozing in the sun.

The Great Ruaha River runs into Selous Game Reserve near the Matambwe Gate, north of Beho Beho Hills, through a landscape of volcanic hot sulfur springs, fast running rapids and river gorges where long-crested eagles hunt for shrews or even baby monkeys: dropping feet-first from the skies with high, keening shrieks. Over 440 bird species have been recorded on this stretch and others expanses, making it a Mecca for twitchers on an avian-seeking trip in Selous. It joins the stately Rufiji River with its navigable network of stunning oxbow lakes and tributaries forming an inland delta which rejoins to become a mighty waterway running to the Mtemere Gate and Airstrip to the east. Between the two gates, mainly on the north bank of the mighty Rufiji, this incredibly beautiful northern strip has been designated for Tanzanian wildlife vacations, mainly eco-tourism and photographic safaris bookable with BookmySafary.com.

The flora is also special with flat-headed acacias in the savannah giving way to wide-trunked mahogany and root-headed baobab trees in deciduous forests, and doum palm trees rearing above spectacularly scenic Lake Manze, where flotillas of gray-green-eyed crocodiles float with lazy flicks of their powerful tails, or bask on the banks in noonday sun. The rest of the area is deciduous miombo, riverine forest and palm groves, haunted by packs of round-eared, brightly patched African wild dogs, not to be found in such numbers anywhere else on expedition safaris in Tanzania. It is Tanzania’s richest, yet little known and unfrequented wilderness area, where it is still possible to feel the isolation, the vastness and the splendor of authentic travel in Africa as it once was.

The best way to see all that a Selous exploratory tour offers is by a game drive through the area during the early morning or late afternoon, and combined with a walking and boating trip. Go with expert BookmySafary.com recommended camp guides in four-wheel-drive vehicles designed for bush travel comfort with unobstructed viewing and photography, with sunshade roof and open sides. On board refreshments are provided for sundowner cocktails. Two-way radio enables communication with like-minded bush colleagues about latest insider information on tracks and sightings. Track and trail prides of lions, each pride having its own territory with access to water beside one of the many beautiful lakes, rivers or tributaries that form a network from one side of the reserve to the other. Cheetahs are rare on the plains or occasional leopards by the riverine forest, but you are certain to see matriarchal elephants leading their extended families to dig for water in partly dry river beds or to play in streams and muddy wallows.
You will also surely see the fierce painted African wild dogs with their patchwork coats of black, white and reddish brown blending with shadows of tree branches against sand and red earth. Their huge, round, fur-lined ears catch every rustle of sound in savannah grass, whether of potential victims, mainly gazelle and impala, or enemy lions that often steal their prey and kill their young. The dogs hunt in the early morning and evening, coursing their targets co-operatively in relays, over many miles, and communicating in bird-like high-pitched yelps.

It is an incredibly rich and varied habitat, but because of its perilous nature, and also the struggle of controlling poachers, a strict curfew is maintained, forbidding night game drives and requiring visitors on photographic wildlife holiday in this zone of East Africa to return safely to their camps and lodges by 1830-1900 hours. Boat cruises on the Rufiji River and its amazingly beautiful ox-bow lakes can be taken in the afternoon, in shaded, flat-bottomed metal boats with powerful outboards, piloted by experienced river guides intimately acquainted with the aquatic life. They will introduce you safely to the fighting tiger fish that make such good eating, as well as to the basking crocs, bathing hippos and a fantastic variety of birdlife.

Other Tanzanian excursion activities on your BookmySafary.com Selous itinerary can include cultural visits to local communities just outside the reserve boundaries, cycling around the villages and walking safaris, often with meals provided in the bush and such amazing birding this southern area can offer. Bush walks are leisurely Selous safari saunters setting out early to avoid the heat of the day in search of intimate knowledge of an area close to your accommodation. An armed guide accompanies you to point out fascinating details of tracks, droppings, medicinal herbs, reptiles, plants and insects you would never otherwise notice in finer detail while on a game drive.

Ruaha National Park

Ruaha National Park — is one of the most awe-inspiring and untouched East African safari destinations. It covers an area more than many small European countries like Cyprus, Malta, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg etc. with great variation in terrain from mountains to swamps and from forests to sand rivers. Its unspoiled character results from its inaccessibility which contributes to the tremendous range of wildlife to be found on an active-adventure tour in Ruaha, not in vast herds of single species, but in diverse and widespread fauna communities.

Since the park straddles the convergence zone of lush highland riverine forest with ferns and orchids and dry, arid valley floor with palms, baobabs and miombo woodlands, an incredible total of 64 mammal species inhabit the park, including 17 species of antelope, 6 types of mongoose and 6 cat genera including prides of lions, families of cheetahs, well-camouflaged leopard, African wild cats, caracals and cervals, not to be confused with genets and civets which are also common. Many species, such as the African wild dog and greater kudu exist too but are threatened or absent from other parks and conservation areas. Ruaha boasts over of thousands of elephants in dissected herds, and also buffalos, hundreds of crocodiles and hippopotamus, diverse kinds of fish in the Great Ruaha River, and one of the largest bird checklists ever to delight any twitcher’s heart, with over 570 recorded species.

The park covers over 20,000 square kilometers (7700 sq. miles) which overlap the limits of migration from all four points of the compass. Its isolation and rugged nature afford an unrivaled BookmySafary.com nature holiday experience, humans alone in a largely unexplored paradise with new marvels to be found at every turn. There are over 1650 known plant species, compared with only 410 in the Serengeti. Such richness deserves conservation. The eco-tourist industry, relatively new here, makes it possible to fund projects to preserve the unique heritage of Ruaha for the enjoyment and wonder of visitors on a bush tour in Tanzania from all over the world.

Apart from a small number of tented camps and tourist lodges, no human settlements are permitted. Being a national park, no off-road driving is allowed; although, night game drives are available at select camps in Ruaha e.g Jabali Ridge, Kwihala. But since the wildlife have not learned to fear mankind, your Tanzanian wondrous safari starts at home. They can also be observed from most of the camp tents and lodge rooms. Warthogs and giraffes are frequent visitors as are elephant and buffalo. Hyraxes, like cuddly stuffed toys, inquisitive mongooses and bounding dik-diks congregate on terraces. Hippos and crocodiles bask on river banks. Zebra and giraffe stroll only yards from the camps. Troops of baboons and monkeys groom each other and frolic while lion prides snooze in dry grass within binocular or camera zoom range.

The finest way to make the most of your dream trip to Ruaha with BookmySafary.com is the ever popular game-viewing drive, conducted in a comfortable customized people carrier with tiered seats. Shaded by a raised awning, you can stand or sit with panoramic coverage of all the action. On a photo safari in Ruaha, you may take game drives in the morning or late afternoon, or even make full day excursions to particular habitats, such as hippo and crocodile pools beside the Great Ruaha River, or the rich avian haunts of eagles in Mdonya Gorge and waders in the Matopotopo Swamps.

Your guide calls on his lifetime experience of the animals you want to see, augmented by insider information exchange on tracks and sightings by two-way radio with other like-minded guides. On game-spotting vacation in Tanzania, this is the way to track down such wonders as the coursing packs of rare African wild dogs with garish black, white, and tan fur which enables them to melt into the shadows of sunny miombo woodland. Their weirdly prominent, large, erect round ears pick up every whisper of movement. Painted dogs cover many miles in a hunt, communicating with bird-like yelps to coordinate their strategy. They bring down over 80% of their selected prey, compared with the lion’s success rate of only 30%. Prides of up to 24 lions snooze on the sandy Mwagusi River bed, and rangy cheetah mothers can be spotted with their hungry cubs around rocky kopjes on dry grassland as they wait to ambush a careless antelope.

Burnished sable and stocky roan antelopes, Defassa waterbuck and stiff-maned greater kudu with soft beards and magnificent spiral horns are among the rarities to be found. Some Ruaha camps conduct authentic Tanzanian walking safaris with armed guards and guides to teach you to distinguish tracks, wildlife carcass, estimate the age of dung by beetle activity and identify useful herbs. You can also enjoy armchair safaris from the comfort of your verandah, lounge or bar, watching the varied wildlife that roams freely about the grounds, sand rivers and waterholes close by. Elegant zebras, stately giraffes, ponderous elephants, amusing warthogs and family orientated baboons all congregate fearlessly in sight.

A few camps in Ruaha offer fly-camping expeditions for the more adventurous. You can accompany a guide and park ranger to immerse yourself in exciting awareness of the immediacy of African safari life, carrying your lightweight tent through pristine wilderness like earlier explorers who had only the transport of their own two feet. Such close contact with the wonder of Ruaha cannot fail to charge your soul and change your perception of authentic travel in Africa, teaching you invaluable lessons about yourself and about the world around you.

Mikumi National Park

Mikumi National Park is one of the oldest and fourth largest in Tanzania. It has not become a focus of mass tourism, despite its ease of access. Being part of the Selous ecosystem, adjacent to the Udzungwa Mountains and not far from Ruaha, Mikumi has been partly compared to the northern parks of Tanzania for its vast floodplain grassland, shrubland and forest areas, populated by herds of ponderous elephants, hump-backed wildebeests, aggressive buffaloes, coquettish zebras, giant elands and graceful impalas, with their attendant predators, from lions, leopards, hyenas to the rarer wild dogs. Numbers are not as large as Serengeti because there are no migratory movements here, but you are not as crowded on an intimate Mikumi tour with BookmySafary.com by game-viewing jeeps as you would be if your Tanzanian wildlife vacations were based in the Ngorongoro Crater and central Seronera parts of Serengeti.

Wild African painted dogs course their prey for great distances, working co-operatively and communicating by high, birdlike yelps. They rarely fail to bring down their selected victim. Threatened elsewhere in East Africa, few of them thrive on the Mkata flood plains despite the Tanzam Highway which transects the park. As at Selous, there is as wide a range of habitats for a great number of rare or endangered species, but here, you can track them better, since Mikumi is more easily accessible and crossed by many trails, which originated infamously as caravan tracks on slave routes and the paths of ivory traders, long before Burton and Speke explored them, to pronounce Mikumi one of the most beautiful places to be seen on journey in Africa.

In the dry, from June to October, the plains teem with ungulates and you may spot tree-climbing lions that have learned to get a higher vantage point as a hunting strategy, and also to keep away from tsetse flies. Grass-foraging elephants are smaller than those in other parks, probably because the larger males were repeatedly culled for their ivory at the peak of the yesteryear trade before than global ban. A possible subspecies of giraffe seldom seen on safari in Tanzania’s northern parks is also found here, distinguished from the Maasai and reticulated giraffes by its unusual markings.

In the foothills to either side of the plain, miombo forest shelters many rare and endangered species, including the majestic, deep-chested sable antelope with its thick, burnished chestnut coat and great arcs of horn. Goat-like roan antelopes, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, with the rear-end of a horse and the horns of a cow, and the greater kudu, stiff-maned and softly bearded with striped haunches to camouflage it in sun-dappled shrubland are all to be found on an outback safari. In the wet season, driving is difficult on the saturated black cotton soil of the plain, but in the north of the park, hippo pools are fringed with hundreds of wading birds. In the south, families of yellow baboons groom each other on the murram roads and vervet monkeys’ swing and play in the undergrowth.

At Mikumi, game is more varied, but not as densely congregated as it is in the Serengeti. Because of the distances involved in moving from one of interest to another, the usual way to make the most of a wildlife safari in Mikumi is to set out from your camp in the early morning on a game viewing drive. An experienced and knowledgeable guide will take you in a specially built safari vehicle which affords maximum visibility from tiered seats protected by a sunshade canopy.

On board refreshments and two-way radio ensure your comfort and maximal reciprocal sharing of wildlife tracking intelligence as you excursion this part of southern Tanzania. Four-wheel drive is essential for authentic African explorations in Tanzania. The terrain can be challenging in the wet season, but there is a circuit of paved roads leading from the central Mkata floodplain with its herds of elephants, buffaloes, impalas and zebras, to the pool of grunting hippos, crocodiles and birder’s paradise towards Mwanamboga waterhole dam in the north, and to Kikoboga in the south, haunt of yellow baboon and unforgettable but rare wild dogs with their black, white and tan coloring and their huge, rounded, erect ears that catch the slightest crunch in the vegetation. Some of the plains animals seen on game-spotting tour have similarly outsize ears. The rare bat-eared fox which may be seen on termite mounds in the early evening can detect insect movements more than a foot underground.

Good dirt roads lead towards miombo woodlands climbing the foothills of the enclosing Uluguru and Udzungwa mountains. In the woodland, the largest African antelope, the mighty eland, is sure to be seen, and probably the roan and greater kudu, as well as the rare sable. Specialist photography and bird-watching drives are best in the afternoons when the spectacular gold and amber coloring of the dry, grassy plains changes dramatically with the approach of sunset: when stark shadows lengthen and the brassy sky softens to pink and lilac. Warthogs like cartoon characters (Pumba in Lion King) sprint across the plain, pennant tails aloft. Amusing, long-necked guinea fowl waddle like chickens in the road. Vultures hunch in the shadows awaiting the chance to scavenge from the lordly lion lounging at ease in the golden grass. You will gasp when your eyes focus clearly, and as you make him out in surety, he motions and watches his attendant lionesses slinking belly down to approach their unsuspecting prey.

As you return to camp from your Mikumi wildlife excursion in the twilight evening, your BookmySafary.com assigned guide may point out nocturnal animals emerging from their lairs: bush babies, porcupines, and possibly even an elusive leopard, green eyes agleam. A full day Tanzanian forest safari excursion to the Udzungwa Mountains affords the chance to get down and walk amongst orchids and African violets, where tropical rainforest flourishes under high escarpments down which tumble fantastic waterfalls.

Udzungwa Mountains

Udzungwa Mountains National Park — Known as “The Galapagos of Africa,” in southern Tanzania covers more than 770 square miles (1990 sq. km). The incredible diversity of tropical flora and fauna species has earned the park recognition as an Ecoregion of Global Critical Importance by World Wildlife Fund, as well as a World Biodiversity Hotspot, and the park is part of the Eastern Arc Mountains that extend from the Taita Hills in Kenya to Pare, Usambara, Nguru, Ukaguru, Uluguru, Rubeho and Udzungwa Mountains. The landscape is primarily mountain ranges interspersed with rainforest and arid savannah. Dense, rich vegetation thrives here because of the significant rainfall that forms as a result of humidity from the Indian Ocean that condenses at the elevations that range from 820 feet to more than 8,450 feet at Luhomero, the highest peak in the park.

Spending time in a rainforest during your East African equatorial safari is an unexpected treat, and with 30% to 40% of Tanzania’s plant and animal life, you are sure to have many chances to observe diverse animals that are found within the park. Udzungwa Mountains National Park is the only park in Tanzania with eleven primate species, with five of those species living only within the park boundaries, such as diurnal sanje crested mangabey, rungwecebus kipunji, endangered iringa red colobus, matandu dwarf galago and mountain dwarf galago. Primates that are found in other parts of Tanzania that are also found within the park are black and white colobus, yellow baboon, blue monkey and vervet monkey.

The protected status of the park has also contributed to the preservation of many bird species, and Udzungwa Mountains has a high avian diversity, making this discerning park a destination for any bird lover on safari in Tanzania with BookmySafary.com. Of the 400 species found within the park, twelve are endemic to the Eastern Arc Mountains, and species include Rufous winged sunbird, recently discovered Udzungwa partridge and many others. You may also see several types of large to small mammals, such as elephants, buffaloes, varied duikers from Abbot, Harvey’s Red to Blue, klipspringers, honey badgers, bush pig bushbucks, sables civets, rock hyrax, giant elephant shrew and many more, as well as rarity carnivores, such as traversing lions and elusive leopard from the nearby Mikumi National Park.

There are also reptile and amphibian species, with the forest geckos Cnemaspis Uzungwae and frog Phrynobatrachus Uzungwensis being endemic to the region. You may also find some of the many smaller denizens of the park – an extraordinary variety of delicate butterflies. Botany lovers are thrilled to find more than 2500 plant species in Udzungwa Mountains Park, with 160 serving healing purposes and others being endemic to the area. Whether you seek small plants, such as Saint paullia or pink and purple African violets, or giant trees, such as the almost 100-foot tall Sterculia appendiculata, the park is sure to please you! For a journey through human history, Udzungwa Mountains is home to several culturally and historically significant sites, such as Magombereka Cave, Bokela, Mwanaruvele Cave, Ndundulu, Nyumbanitu Mountains and others.

Hiking, camping, biking and canoeing are not only exciting, but also enlightening actively and intriguing activities for your BookmySafary.com trip to Udzungwa Mountains National Park. Hiking trails wander through much of the national park, and the choices range from short treks to much longer, more challenging treks. The Sanje Waterfalls Trail is definitely something you should include in your Tanzania hiking tour itinerary. The trail takes you to the highest waterfall in all of the Tanzanian parks. The water cascades down a rock cliff for 550 feet, creating a mist that captures the sun and creates a kaleidoscope of colors before reaching a pool of water that flows into the forested valley. The Hidden Valleys Trail is a one-day hike that takes about six or seven hours to follow an enchanting path through moss covered trees while ascending more than 4200 feet – perfect way to practice for your Kilimanjaro trek.

The most challenging trail in the park is the Mwanihana Trail. This two-day hike takes you to a high plateau with vast views of sugar plantations before you ascend to Mwanihana Peak, the second highest peak in the mountain range. If you prefer to wander a more leisurely path, you may choose to track and observe some of the park’s primates – habituated mangabeys. If you are interested in spotting these animals, you should plan to spend two days within the park as they frequently move. Adventure seekers find many opportunities to get their hearts racing, such as rock climbing, waterfall abseiling, canoeing on the Msolwa River or Kilombero River and much more.

For the ultimate immersion experience, BookmySafary.com recommends spending the night under the forest canopy with the sights and sounds of the rainforest surrounding you every moment. A cultural tour of Tanzania allows you to learn about the tribal peoples who dwell near the national park, and you may choose to walk or cycle to a local rubber plantation, village of Mangula or town of Ifakara. Mangula is located at the base of the Udzungwa Mountains and offers you shops, rice mills, markets and many other cultural attractions. On the edges of town, though, the atmosphere is much more relaxed with children playing and villagers carrying out their daily chores.

In this part of the village, you truly experience rural life on the edge of a Tanzanian rainforest. The rural town of Ifakara also offers markets in a rustic setting of wooden buildings divided by roads filled with oxen pulling carts, automobiles and bicycles – a splendid contrast of East African traditions and modern conveniences. When you visit the township, you should seek out the Ifakara Women Weavers Association to watch the village women plait beautiful textiles on looms, and you may even purchase kitenge, or colored cloth, to take home with you. Another destination in Ifakara is the Kilombero River where a ferry is used to cross to the other side.