tours information

THE NORTHERN CIRCUIT:

LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK:
Nestling under the wall of the Great Rift Valley , is like a perfect cut gemstone. Viewed from any direction, it affords a striking spectacle. The 325 sq km park consists of 5 distinct vegetation zones; ground water forest with tower mahogany and fig trees; and the characteristic scrub land on the face of the Rift Valley. It is famous for its numerous buffaloes, elephants, leopards and tree-climbing lions. There are over 350 species of birds, the most profuse and lovely being the flamingo which, at certain seasons, form a solid line of pink for many kilometres down the lake. At the Southern end of the Park are the hot sulpher springs called Majimoto.

SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK :
Serengeti, an area of 14,763 sq km encompasses the largest migratory concentration of Plains Game in the world. Here, the annual migration starts in May/June when the herds of game led by wildebeests start to move to new grazing grounds. Hundreds of thousands of them are etched against the skyline as they move in a steady stream, interspersed with small groups of Zebras, which use the wildebeest as water diviners. Moving westwards, lowing incessantly, the herds are followed by predators and scavengers such as lions, hyenas, jackals and hunting dogs. Overhead the ever-present vultures glide and wait for the chance to play their role in the cycle of life and death enacted everyday on the vast plains below. Kopjes, rocky island-like outcrops, each with their own wildlife communities, dot the grassland at irregular intervals. Rivers flow through the park, providing habitats for a variety of birds, mammals and reptiles. A sense of evolution extending back beyond the imagination pervades the scene.

NGORONGORO CRATER:
Known as the eight wonder of the World, this caldera, 610 meters deep and 20 km in diameter, is the home of hundreds of thousands of animals and birds. The largest intact crater in the world, Ngorongoro was an active volcano some 8 million years ago whose cone collapsed leaving a caldera of 311 sq km. The crater rim where lodges perch at an altitude of 2286 m, is wooded and so able to support a year around residential population of animals. The sheer physical beauty and abundance of unusually docile game animals make a visit to the crater an unforgettable experience.

TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK:
It is the vast number pf Baobabs that first capture the eye as you enter Tarangire National Park. The gently rolling countryside is dotted with these majestic trees, which seem to dwarf the animals that feed beneath them.
The park is spectacular in the dry season when many of the migratory wildlife species come back to permanent waters of the Tarangire river. Huge herds of wildebeests, Zebras, Elephants, Eland and Oryx gather again at the good grazing areas. The Park covers approximately 2600 sq km and, in the dry season, is second only to Ngorongoro Crater in the concentrations of wildlife to be seen here. Its name is derived from the Tarangire River, which provides the only permanent water for wildlife in this area.

ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK:
This is the second smallest park in Tanzania, with a total area of 137 sq km. The major attractions in the park include: the Momella Lakes, Ngurdoto Crater, Meru Crater and Cone, as well as the Rare Black and White Colobus Monkey.

KILIMANJARO NATIONAL PARK:
Kilimanjaro National Park was officially opened by President Nyerere in June 1977. it has been established to preserve and protect Kilimanjaro and the surrounding nature and wildlife for furure generations. The major attraction is the Mount Kilimanjaro (19340 ft/5895 m) the highest peak in Africa and one of the highest volcanos in the world. The base of this immense mountain has a diameter of about 40 miles.

OLDUVAI GORGE:
Olduvai Gorge acquired its name from the Sanseviera plant that grows profusely in the area, named Oldupai by the Maasai. The gorge is about 50 km long and in some places 90m deep. It was first entered by a German entomologist name Professor Kattwinkel who found many fossils, and inspired an expedition before the first world war by Professor Hans reck. The search was then taken up by Dr. Louis Leaky and his wife Mary who in 1959 found humanoid remains, including the first human skull. There is a small but very interesting museum at the site overlooking the gorge.

THE SOUTHERN CIRCUIT:

SELOUS:
Selous Game Reserve is the largest in Africa, covering some 51,200 sq km (19,763 sq miles). Its immense size and remoteness from populated areas make it particularly attractive to both wildlife and adventurers who can explore on foot or in a boat. It is best to visit Selous between July and March, out of the rainy season. The pristine landscape is dominated by the great Rufiji River system, the largest in East Africa . Three huge sand rivers, the Great Ruaha, Kilombero and Luwegu flow through the reserve and meet before being channelled through the spectacular Stiegler's gorge. Named after a German explorer who was killed by an elephant there in 1907, the gorge can be traversed by a swaying footbridge over the raging waters. Selous was named in 1922 after the naturalist, elephant hunter and explorer, Frederick Courtney Selous who, as captain of a British unit, was killed in action during the advance against the Germans at the end of the World War I. Selous is most famous for its huge herds of elephants, although their numbers have been reduced by poachers. Huge buffalo herds come to drink at the river in dry season. A boat trip on the Rufiji will reveal hippos and crocodiles in abundance, and you may also see waterbuck, the southern reedbuck and bushbuck.

RUAHA:
Ruaha is Tanzania's second largest national park, covering 10,200 sq km (3,937 sq miles) of undulating plateau with some mountains, rocky hills and two extensive river valleys on the East and Western borders. Visitors should be adventurous enough to explore the more remote and western mountains. You will be rewarded with the country's most spectacular scenery. Elephants were once so abundant that there was fear of them destroying the huge Acacia albida trees so characteristic of the river banks. Crocodiles basking on the sand banks and bathing hippos enliven the river and you might even see a clawless otter catching fish. Reedbuck, waterbuck and buffalo frequent the river edges along with yellow baboons and vervet monkeys.

MIKUMI:
Mikumi National Park was established in 1964. The grassy flood plain surrounded by tiers of hills and misty mountains rising to 2,000 metres (5,660 ft) in the East gives Mikumi a particularly attractive landscape. Many distinct river trees grow here, including the tall Sterculia with long, smooth, pale yellow trunks. The Mkata River are and flood plain at an altitude of 500 meters (1,640 ft) is an open area well covered by roads. Animals in the tourist area are mostly habituated to cars and thus easy to watch and photograph. There are hot springs and wonderful views. North of the main road is the area most frequented by visitors and one can find a large variety of animals in a relatively short time. There are herds of elephants, pools crowded with hippos, wallowing buffaloes, swamps with reedbucks and waterbirds, and plains of dotted yellow baboons, warthogs, wildebeests, zebras, elands and hartebeest.

THE WESTERN CIRCUIT:

KIGOMA:
Far from the city and pollution wether you want to go for a nice leisure vacation or a business trip it gives you an unforgetable stay. The lake Tanganiyka (Africa's deepest lake) and the majestic Congo mountains are the main attractions in Kigoma.

GOMBE STREAM NATIONAL PARK:
Situated 16kms north of Kigoma town in western Tanzania, Gombe is a narrow mountainous strip of the country bounded to the east by the crest of the rift valley escarpment and by Lake Tanganyika to the west. It is a fragile remnant of Chimpanzee habitat. The beauty of Gombe National Park is unique; it is a park without roads, where you can walk and experience nature with all your senses, in its pristine manner.
Due to its altitude, the park's vegetation varies from ever green forests of tall trees to open woodlands and grassland. Common mammals found in the park are forest species, mostly primates. These include chimpanzee, baboon, blue monkey, red tailed monkey and red colobus monkey. Jane Goodall brought the Chimps of Gombe to world fame through her research projects based here, and various projects still continue to operate.

MAHALE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK:
Mahale Mountains is one of the most remote and most beautiful national parks in the whole of Africa . Here the verdant forested slopes plunge from the peaks to the shoreline, where perfect white-sand beaches line intimate palm-lined coves on the famous gin-clear lake. It was gazetted as a park only in 1980 and covers 1577 square kilometres. It is simply the best place to view Chimpanzees. According to recent census there are now more than 700 chimpanzee in about 15 communities.

The park is located about half way down the Eastern shore of the enormous Lake Tanganyika, about 120km south of the town of Kigoma. There are no roads running into the park and the only access is by boat along the lake. You can either come in by boat from Kigoma or fly in to the small airstrip on the lakeshore just to the north of the park. All safaris inside the park are on foot through the forests and visitors need to be of a reasonable level of fitness if they are to have a good chance of seeing what they have come for.

Mahale Mountains is also one of the best beach locations in the world, with superb swimming, sailing, snorkelling and fishing.

 BEACH, LEISURE AND OTHER ACTIVITIES:

DAR ES SALAAM:
“Heaven of Peace” is the bustling center of Tanzania . It is the country's main port and commercial center. This city is a mixture of the old and new- the older Arab influence integrated into the modern German & British architecture. The Oyster Bay stretch along the coastline offers a breathtaking view. Dar Es Salaam offers access to smaller towns along the Swahili coast, Bagamoyo, Saadani, Amani Beach , Ras Kutani, The “spice island” of Zanzibar , the Selous game reserve, the Ruaha national park & the Mikumi national park.

AMANI BEACH CLUB:
The exclusive and elegant Amani Beach Club is set amidst unspoilt and picturesque surrounding overlooking the blue ocean. It is situated south of Dar es Salaam, a mere 30km from the kigamboni ferry. Amani beach club is approximately a one and hour drive from dark es salaam international airport. There is a landing strip for light aircraft within walking distance of this intimate and stylish resort. Amani beach club, nesting amongst 40 hectares of indigenous woodland where the luxury cottages blend perfectly with the natural surrounding, is the ideal gets away for the businessman as well as for the family. At Amani beach club, you will find the perfect setting with the time and space you need.

BAGAMOYO:
A fascinating historical town 2 hours drives form Dar es Salaam on the coast opposite Zanzibar . Its history goes a long way back to the time when it was the former capital of German East Africa and also famous for its salt collection, fish drying and trading on the coast by Arabs and Indians. In the 19 th century, Bagamoyo became the main trade center and due to the Arabs and Indians the town increased the trade of slaves and ivory transporting to Zanziba, Europe, Arab and Asian countries and became a flourishing center of culture and Islamic tradition.

ZANZIBAR:
The Island boast kilometers of golden beaches, Arabian architecture in stone town built by the sultans of Oman and inland, the island is a Garden of Eden offering the most exquisite tropical flora and fauna and the aromatic spice farms. It is here that the African culture blended with other cultures, mainly Persian, Arab and India to form the Swahili culture. Today, the romance, splendor and legends of Zanzibar are vibrantly alive, traditional old sailing dhows, carved wooden doors, the scent of cloves and the smile of the hospitable Zanzibar 's welcome you to the spice island.

PEMBA:

Although it gets just as much sunlight, Pemba has long been overshadowed by Zanzibar , its larger and more politically powerful neighbour to the south. The two are only separated by about 50km (31mi) of water, and yet relatively few travelers venture across to Pemba. Those who do will not be disappointed; the land is verdant and hilly, while the water has some of the best diving in the archipelago. Oddly, the island smells good too, with cloves continuing to be the mainstay of the island's economy. And if all that sun and saltwater doesn't do the trick, Pemba has been long renowned for its voodoo and traditional healers.

MAFIA:
An island covered with palm trees that are reflected in a limpid sea which is full of brightly coloured fish. This island is the most significant marine eco-systems in the world. It is just a mere 30 minutes by air from Dar es Salaam and 45 minutes from Zanzibar and the Selous Game Reserve. The area has a high bio-diversity and over 400 species of fish. The archipelago's wildlife is extremely varied; monkeys, small antelopes, wild pigs, bushbabies as well as a small colony of hippopotamus. Mafia is fisherman's, snorkeler's and divers' paradise.

THE USAMBARA AND LUSHOTO:
The Usambara Mountains are situated in the North-Eastern portion of Tanzania between Mount Kilimanjaro and the Indian Ocean . The mountains rise up steeply from the surrounding plains and can only be entered from a few roads. From a distance, the mountains are a colorful mosaic. On the fertile slopes around the towns of Soni and Lushoto, farmers cultivate small plots, but further away, large areas are still covered by dense tropical forests. The viewpoints on the southern and western side of Usambara are well known for the spectacular view of Mkomazi and Handeni plains. Kilimanjaro can be seen on the horizon, and at the end of the day, the sunset turns the area into a tremendous pallet of unforgettable colors. Because of its pleasant climate, the mountains were favored by the Germans and the English during Colonial times as is evidenced by the numerous historic buildings from the past.