TANZANIA ATTRACTIONS & HIGHLIGHTS – ATR Travel – Africa Safaris & Tours

ATTRACTIONS & HIGHLIGHTS TANZANIA

WILDEBEEST MIGRATION

The Serengeti-Masai Mara ecosystem stretches over 24,000 sq. km of land with the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya.

WHY THE MIGRATION OCCURS

Animals migrate because of rain or the lack of it. When a seasonal drought dries up grass and water supplies in a particular area, the grazing animals move on to the next area along the migration route where seasonal rains are falling.

THE MAJOR MIGRATING ANIMALS

Currently, an estimate of two million wildebeests participates in the migration. Hundreds of thousands of zebras and Thomson’s gazelles join them. Although lions and other carnivores do not migrate with the grazing animals, they feast on them when their paths cross.

KNOW THE PATH AND SCHEDULE OF THE MIGRATION

The highlight of an African safari is to experience the annual migration. While they do their best to look purposeful, the herds don’t travel directly, but instead, meander in a vaguely clockwise direction moving between the patches of fresh green grass that emerge in response to localised rain showers. The herds reach the 1900 km oval circuit with two things in mind: food and water.

HOT AIR BALLOON SAFARI

SERENGETI BALLOON FLIGHTS

This is probably the most beautiful balloon flight in the world and the ultimate Safari experience! Serengeti Balloon Safaris will collect you from your lodge/camp between 04h00 and 05h00 and transfer you with their vehicles to the launch site in the Serengeti. Here you will meet your pilot, receive a briefing and watch the inflation of your balloon. Take-off commences at dawn with the balloon rising as the sun rises, floating in whatever direction the wind of the morning takes us. Your pilot can control the altitude of your balloon precisely, sometimes flying at treetop height and sometimes lower, offering a unique perspective and great photographic opportunities of the wildlife below. At other times he will ascend to 1000 feet or more to offer you an unspoiled view of the enormity and wonderful panorama of the Serengeti. The flight takes about one hour depending on wind conditions and although you would probably prefer not to, eventually you will have to land. We will celebrate in the traditional manner with sparkling wine before sitting down to a full English breakfast prepared and served in the bush in “Out of Africa” style with bone china, linen table cloths, King's silver, etc. After breakfast, you will receive your Serengeti Balloon certificate and driven back to the camp to continue your day's activities.

Flying daily from:

Central Serengeti (Year-round)
Ndutu area – Ngorongoro Conservation Area (December to March)
Western Serengeti (June to October)
North Serengeti (July to October)
Grumeti Reserves (Private charters arranged through Singita)

RUAHA BALLOON FLIGHTS (Southern Tanzania):

Rise and shine and prepare yourself for a spectacular experience! Before sunrise we will collect you at your lodge/camp and take you to the launch site near the Ruaha river. There you will see how the balloon gets inflated before take-off at around 06h15. All balloon operators are licensed and highly experienced and will showcase the landscape and wildlife with controlled variations in altitude, giving you spectacular photographic opportunities. During the one-hour flight, you will see beautiful parts of the Ruaha river before landing at the Ruaha/Mwagusi confluence. You will be welcomed with champagne before enjoying a full English breakfast, prepared in the bush! This “Out of Africa” meal is presented with bone china, linen tablecloths and Sheffield cutlery. You will receive a Ruaha balloon certificate before returning to your lodge/camp by 09h15. The rest of the activities for the day will then resume.

Flying daily from:

Ruaha – 20 June to the end of October

MASAI VILLAGE

The picture of a Maasai warrior – beautiful, long hair caked in ochre mud and his body adorned with many colourful beads, leaning on his spear while he surveys the surrounding savannah – is one of East Africa's most recognisable images and the epitome of African dignity and tradition. The “Maasai Village visit” is an optional activity we offer en-route to or from the Serengeti National Park. We encourage clients to visit the Maasai Village or Manyatta if they are interested in Maasai culture and would like to experience a way of life unchanged for centuries. Visitors are always struck by the grace and beauty of the Maasai people, and the colourful lifestyle they lead. The village also has a curio market where you can buy traditional Maasai beadwork (but you need to negotiate as their prices aren't low). It is advised not to take photos of Maasai’s along the road – visiting the Maasai Village gives the opportunity of taking as many photos as you like.

OLDUVAI GORGE

Olduvai Gorge, also known as the Cradle of Mankind, is situated in the Great Rift Valley between Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater.
Olduvai is internationally recognized for Louis and Mary Leakey’s famous discoveries of early humans and magnificent antiquities documenting the evolutionary history of our stone tool-using ancestors and vertebrate fauna over the last two million years.

This paleoanthropological site in the eastern Serengeti Plain is a steep-sided ravine composed of two branches that have a combined length of about 48 km and depth of 90 metres. Deposits exposed in the sides of the gorge cover have yielded a treasure trove of fossil remains.

There is a small museum showing all the fossils and tools unearthed in the area, giving insight into mankind’s evolution.

“Olduvai” is a misspelling of “Oldupai”, a Masai word for the wild sisal plant that grows in the area.
Visit Laetoli, near Olduwi, where the famous captured footprints of a man, woman and child can be seen. These and other discoveries provide more evidence to the theory that there were at least three hominid species in this region over 2 million years ago.

STONE TOWN ZANZIBAR

Stone Town is the cultural heart of Zanzibar and little has changed in the last 200 years. The grand old Arabian homes lining the narrow streets and winding alleys give the city its own unique charm. The majority of homes in Stone Town were built in the 19th century when Zanzibar was one of the most important Swahili trading towns in the Indian Ocean.

Visitors will notice brass-studded, intricately carved wooden doors on many of the houses. As the world's oldest functioning Swahili city, many of the landmarks in Stone Town have been restored to their original glory. Some of the historic buildings are now museums and tourist attractions. The town has a couple of interesting old churches of historical significance.

UNESCO awarded Stone Town with the World Heritage Site award in 2000 in recognition of its unique cultural and social importance.

WHALE WATCHING – MAFIA ISLAND

Off the coast of Tanzania, far south of Dar es Salaam, is an island that welcomes adventurers looking for the ultimate “off the beaten track” experience. Mafia Island is a peaceful retreat with pristine diving and snorkelling spots that are home to a colourful array of ocean dwellers, including the whale shark.

From October through to February each year, Mafia Island becomes a particularly magical place. Whale sharks, the gentle giants of the sea, venture close to the shore to feast on the plankton pushed out with the silt from the Rufiji river into the warm waters of the Indian ocean. As filter-feeders, whale sharks glide below the water surface with their mouths open, consuming multiple kilograms/pounds of plankton and small aquatic organisms each day.

Whale sharks are fascinating creatures. Some live more than 100 years, reaching lengths of up to 20m and weighing in at 15 tons, yet they are totally harmless.

Up to 24 can be seen at any one time - males, females and juveniles, all beautifully marked with stripes and spots. The larger sharks are estimated at over 8m long, so they are an impressive sight next to the boat and quite stunning under water.

Boats are able to move among them carefully and visitors can swim and snorkel to get a closer, underwater view of these gentle, wonderful animals. The sharks remain in a well-defined area.

The whale shark snorkelling trips can be combined with a picnic on the beach, swimming or a trip to the Kilindoni market.
The Mafia Island marine park’s undersea protected area draws divers and snorkelers from around the world. The marine park has coral gardens and an abundant variety of fish - over 400 species of fish can be seen in the area. Mafia Island is a traditional breeding site for the endangered green turtle.

CLIMBING KILIMANJARO

Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest peak (5,895 m) and Tanzania's most iconic image. The majority of people visit Mount Kilimanjaro National Park mainly to stand in awe of this beautiful snow-capped mountain or to climb to the summit. The highest point is Uhuru Peak on Kibo, one of the Seven Summits of the world.

Climbing Kilimanjaro is a once in a lifetime experience and Predators Safaris have the knowledge and expertise to make the experience safe, enjoyable and memorable.

KILIMANJARO CLIMBING ROUTES

Machame Route

This is also known as the “Whiskey route”. It is a wilderness route that combines spectacular views and scenery with good acclimatisation. With a gradual ascend through the forest you emerge to see wide views of the moorland on the Shira plateau, rocky trails, scree with stunning scenery and beautiful ice formations along the way. The different kinds of vegetation found along the route make this route exceptionally beautiful and arguably the best of the standard routes on the mountain. Overnight in tents.

Marangu Route

Marangu is also known as the “Coca-Cola” route. This is the most straightforward route on the mountain. The Marangu route takes you through the forests, moorlands and then across the Saddle, a high-altitude desert, to Kibo. The path to the summit is a zig-zag route up steep scree, which makes for a slower ascend than on the other routes. Marangu is the only route where you ascend and descend along the same path and also the only route with huts available.

Lemosho Route

The Lemosho route starts in a rainforest on a magnificent forest trail that is unspoilt and rarely used. The route leads onto the western side of the Shira plateau and offers varying terrain and enough time to acclimatise along the way. The first two days include gently rolling trails across the ancient lava flows of the collapsed Shira Volcano with excellent views of Kilimanjaro’s summit. The Shira Plateau is very beautiful with good views of the western glaciers. It is here where the road merges with the Machame route. Overnight in tents.

Umbwe Route

This is the steepest route up Kilimanjaro. It is the hardest, but most spectacular and a direct route to Uhuru Peak. It follows a forested ridge to the moorlands and then traverses below the southern icefields to reach Barafu camp, followed by the summit. It is quite taxing, primarily due to the relatively fast ascent to higher altitude, but the rewards are plentiful. Fewer people, pristine forests and shorter walking distances make it a great option for physically-fit hikers. Overnight in tents.

Rongai Route

This route is considered to be one of the easiest routes up the mountain. It is the only route starting from the northern side of the mountain at a small village close to the Kenyan border. The climbing conditions are drier on the northern side of the mountain. The summit is reached via the eastern side of Kibo and the descent is via the Marangu route. Overnights are spent camping in tents.This route is considered to be one of the easiest routes up the mountain. It is the only route starting from the northern side of the mountain at a small village close to the Kenyan border. The climbing conditions are drier on the northern side of the mountain. The summit is reached via the eastern side of Kibo and the descent is via the Marangu route. Overnights are spent camping in tents.

TRACK WILD CHIMPANZEES

Do you have some fascinating, noisy, curious and of course, intelligent, chimps in your bucket-list? Then Western Tanzania might be the place to be!

Gombe Stream National Park:

This park is totally off the beaten track and it has many chimpanzees. This is one of the smallest national parks in Tanzania and is famous for the work of Jane Goodall. This British researcher arrived in 1960 to study the wild chimpanzees and her work turned into what would become the longest running behavioural research program of its kind in the world.
Although all of the chimpanzees are wild, many groups have become fully habituated to humans. This means that along with your guide you can get much closer to them to study their behaviour and take some amazing photographs. You will often hear them long before you see them as they whoop and holler and break branches high up in the dense forest canopies they inhabit.

Mahale Mountains National Park: Shadowing the dusky blue waters of Lake Tanganyika, the Mahale Mountains are dramatic and imposing. Jagged peaks of over 2,000 metres soar into the clouds and are covered in canopy woodland and thick montane forest.

Mahale Mountains National Park:

Shadowing the dusky blue waters of Lake Tanganyika, the Mahale Mountains are dramatic and imposing. Jagged peaks of over 2,000 metres soar into the clouds and are covered in canopy woodland and thick montane forest.

The Mahale Mountains are the best place in Africa to track and observe wild chimpanzees. There is a population of around 1,000, of which only one troop, the Mimikire clan, is habituated to humans. Totally wild, this clan of 70-100 individuals can be tracked and observed from close quarters. Climbing up the leafy tracks in the misty morning and hearing the first shriek of a chimpanzee is a sound you will never forget. Crouching low, you can watch them grooming, drinking and playing. It is possibly one of the most intimate wildlife experiences you will ever have.

Rubondo Island:

The pristine forested island of Rubondo lies in the remote southwest corner of Lake Victoria and is home to a very special family of chimpanzees. Declared a sanctuary for wildlife in the 1960s, German zoologist Bernhard Grzimek relocated elephants, giraffes and even chimpanzees to the island. Sixteen chimpanzees rescued from European zoos were brought to Tanzania. Within a year the chimpanzees were living wild and today, 50 years since their ancestors’ arrival on the island, guests can observe and trek this chimp family of 40.

BIRDING

Tanzania is one of Africa’s best birding destinations. It has the largest list of species in Africa: over 1,100, of which more than 800 species are resident and nearly 200 are regular migrants. There are 24 endemic species and a further 52 near-endemic, restricted to Tanzania and its neighbouring countries. It is a birding paradise during and just after the short rains from December to April when migratory birds move through different areas of the country and the scenery is lush and green.

Hot sports for birding:

Serengeti - 500+ species
Tarangire - 500+ species
Selous - 440+ species
Lake Manyara – 400+ species
Arusha National Park - 400+ species
Pemba Island - home to four of Tanzania’s endemic bird species – the Pemba scops owl, Pemba sunbird, Pemba white-eye and Pemba green pigeon.

WALKING SAFARIS

There aren't many places where it is possible to explore game-rich wilderness on foot. A walking Safari is one of the highlights of Tanzania! Imagine yourself walking on the same path as the elephants and other wildlife, feeling the wind through your hair, hearing the roar of a lion in the distance and smelling the bush and wildlife. Your senses will awaken as you become part of your environment and the wilderness becomes more real.

TOP PLACES FOR WALKING SAFARIS

Selous Game Reserve

Africa’s largest game reserve is situated in southern Tanzania. You can explore the breathtaking scenery accompanied by your walking guide, which is fantastic! The Selous is magnificent, home to large herds of elephant and renowned for its wild dog population, Africa’s most efficient predator. To observe their highly orchestrated hunting ritual is a sight of artistry. The Selous’ diverse scenery and vegetation includes doum palms, beautiful lakes, the mighty Rufiji River and simply the vast expanse of Africa! It is a very rewarding experience to go for walks in this region. You can either embark on a short excursion or overnight in a fly camp.

Ruaha National Park

A guided walking safari is a wonderful introduction to the smaller wildlife and spectacular array of the Ruaha National Park. With the mighty baobab and vast golden grassland adorning the largest national park of Tanzania, it is a most rewarding destination. There is no better way to experience the African bush than on foot. Your experienced guide will aim to give you close views of larger mammals. This is your opportunity to explore the ecosystem from the ground up and you will learn more about animal tracks, beetles, bugs, grasses, bushes, trees and the astounding bird life.

Tarangire National Park

What makes the Tarangire safari special is that guests can explore the park on foot and have an intimate experience of the park’s spectacular wildlife and landscape.
Tarangire is a combination of open plains, riparian forest and has a source of permanent water (the Tarangire river). There’s more vegetation than in the Serengeti, with a good population of baobab trees and acacia scrub, supporting herds of 300+ elephant. The park is inhabited by the usual mix of wildebeests, zebras, buffalos, giraffes, impalas and eland that support a full house of predatory animals. Animals are less accustomed to human presence and therefore slightly harder to find.
There is no better way to get up close and personal to the bush than by taking a walking safari. Tread on the tracks of animals that have walked the same path just minutes before. Your experienced and highly knowledgeable guide accompanied by an armed park ranger will help you to discover the most remote parts of Tarangire.
Katavi National Park

Explore the park with day excursions or optimise your visit by overnighting in a fly camp, erected especially for you. Enjoy the sound of nature and watch the birds come in to roost.