Phila Airport Parking Vacations

Many people visiting Dar es Salaam also take tours to such Tanzania national parks and game reserves as Ruaha, Mikumi, Udzungwa, and Selous. These parks are part of Tanzanias southern safari circuit. It takes only a few hours drive to get to Mikumi national park from Dar es Salaam. Getting to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam takes two hours by ferry, and an even shorter time by flight. Some hotels in Dar es Salaam (e.g. Bahari Beach Hotel and White Sands Hotel) can also arrange day trips to nearby islands for visitors.

Mikumi national park is home to a great variety of African wildlife including elephant, buffalo, lion, wildebeest, hartebeest, warthog, African crocodile, hippos, monitor lizards and a considerably high number of the endangered African wild dogs. The park also has a prolific bird life especially during the wet season when up to 300 species of Eurasian migratory birds flock the area. The Mikumi flood plain is undoubtedly the most prominent land feature in the game park. The flood plain is neighbored on one side by the Uluguru mountains, and on another side by the Lumango hills range. The national park borders Selous game reserve, and forms part of a 75,000 sq. km. wilderness ecosystem covered by open grasslands in the plains and miombo woodlands in the higher grounds.

Unlike several other destinations in the southern safari circuit, Mikumi is accessible throughout the year. The park is only four hours by road and one hour by flight from Dar es Salaam. If you are on a budget safari, you can take a bus ride to the park gate then organize game drives from there. You can get limited accommodation at the few luxury lodges and tented camps in the park. There are also three campsites. Mikumi is the ideal wildlife safari destination if you find yourself in Dar on a weekend.

Lying 348 km west of Dar es Salaam and 65 km southwest of Mikumi is the Udzungwa mountains national park. The mountains are part of the Eastern Arch Mountains found southeast of Kilimanjaro. Having been purposely created to conserve plant life, this unique Tanzania national park hosts many rare plants in its forest. The forest is also inhabited by several primates, including the endemic Sanje crested mangabey and Iringa red colobus monkey. Also found in the plateaus are elephants, lions, buffaloes and hunting dogs, though in smaller numbers compared to other parks and reserves. Udzungwa is also an important African sanctuary for bird life In recent times, four previously unknown bird species have been discovered by scientists here. The period between June and October, i.e. the dry season is the best time to visit this park. Hiking trails get unpleasantly slippery during the wet season.

The Ruaha National Park is rightly named after its lifeblood- the Great Ruaha River. Occupying 12,950 sq km, it is Tanzanias second largest national park and the world’s biggest elephant sanctuary. Home to numerous crocodiles and hippo, the Great Ruaha draws many thirsty water buck, leopard, buffalo, reed buck, wild dogs, lion and hyena to its banks. Plain animals such as zebra, greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan antelope, impala and giraffe are found on the plains stretching from the rivers edge. The topography is agreeable to hiking and walking safaris are allowed. In wet season months of March to April and October to November the bird population peaks and the park has over 370 bird species, including some Eurasian migrants.

Ruaha has a very diverse flora, with over 1650 plant species found there. The plant and animal life in Ruaha is a unique mixture of eastern Africa and southern Africa flora and fauna. This national park has a hot and dry climate with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in October. Located 128 km west of Iringa town in central Tanzania, Ruaha national park was previously inaccessible, but there are roads today enabling year round access. It takes 10 hours by road and one and a half hours by charter flights from Dar es Salaam to Ruaha. The dry season from May to December is the best time for a safari to Ruaha. During that season, thirsty animals flock the Ruaha river banks, with the ensuing drama (feeding, courting and mating, and fighting) being a spectacle to behold. Accommodation in Ruaha is rather limited, with only one luxury lodge and a few campsites and self-catering chalets.

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.

There over 2,100 plant and tree species in Selous. Rufiji river is the lifeblood of the game reserve and has many oxbow lakes and tributaries suitable for boating safaris. Lions, elephants, black rhinos, buffaloes, hippos, wild dogs, elands, impala, water bucks, giraffes, zebras, greater kudu, baboons, and bush bucks are just some of the wild animals found in Selous. Birdwatchers also have an exciting tour in Selous, with over 420 bird species. Just like in Ruaha, game animals in Selous are widely scattered due to the large size of the reserve. The best game watching experience is attained by taking a slow pace, preferably 3-4 days. Visitors can enjoy a rewarding photographic safari in Selous, with Stiegler’s gorge being a favorite spot also favored by leopards.

From Dar, you arrive after a 1-” hour charter flight or by traveling for 7 hours by road. Travel by road is not advised, except for the most adventurous souls. Selous is near the coast and is just a few hundred feet above sea level. The climate is hot and humid, particularly between October and March. Part of the reserve is closed in the wet season between March and May. The best time to visit is over the dry season period of June to October. Then on safari you can walk, boat and ride a 4WD vehicle. Accommodation is limited to just a few luxury tented 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.

Dar es Salaam, like most of Tanzania, does not get very cold. Light clothing is therefore most suitable. Temperatures average around 30 degrees celsius, the hottest period being from October to March. Male travelers can carry decent short sleeved shirts, shorts and trousers, while skirts, short sleeve blouses, and slacks would be enough for the female traveler. If you will be visiting the highlands however, it is advisable you carry some warmer clothing like sweaters for the early mornings and the evenings. In the entire country, nudity is unacceptable.

The Tanzanian southern circuit is a combination of three heavenly destinations that redefine what an African safari as really about. They are the Udzungwa National Park, Mikumi National Park and the Selous Game Reserve .The Selous game reserve is one of the larges reserves on the African continent. It got its name from Sir Fredrick Selous, a British big game hunter and early conservationist who died in this territory in 1917.

The Selous is graced by a number of rivers like the Rufiji, Ruaha and Kilombero. It also has a large animal population comprised of buffaloes, lions, hyenas, elephants, Crocodiles, roan, waterbuck, zebras, bushbuck and a wide variety of other antelopes. The vegetation found on the rolling plains is Miombo and Mopane bush with dense thickets. There is thick dense bush and trees around riverine regions.

The Selous game reserve has at its disposal open four wheel drive vehicles or one could also choose to have the bush experience the old fashioned way by camping, hiking or foot safaris.

Visitors who opt to indulge in foot safaris or game walks within the reserve are accompanied by an armed park ranger. This is probably the most indigenous way to reconnect with Mother Nature. There are magnificent sight to see like the rolling grass plains, wetlands, swamps and dense forests.

The river Rufiji Delta is an eye striking feature in the reserve. It connects the Ruaha and Rufiji rivers close to the park boundaries and deposits its waters out into the Indian Ocean along the Tanzanian coast. The biggest water catchment resource in this region is the Rufiji River. It is home to a variety of water an bird life, one can explore the deltas by taking an exciting boat ride into the different channels and lakes found in this river system. The water usually is packed with hippos and crocodiles that are usually found on the river banks soaking in the sun warmth. The river also has plenty of storks, ducks and herons.

Flights operate daily from Arusha, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar with a transfer at an airstrip known as Mtemere. Flights usually take 45 minutes. The distance from Dar es Salaam via Kibiti is 250km and 250km from Morogoro via Uluguru Mountain.

For visitors seeking accommodation they can find it at the Rufiji River Camp. It is well equipped with 20 private tents and is ideally located on the banks of Rufiji River. Each tend has a private verandah that has a commanding view of the river plus a bathroom. The bar & restaurant is the epicenter of the camp. The camp sports a large swimming poll with sun loungers and a library.

Visiting Selous game reserve results to the nagging temptation to visit the other awesome gifts of Mother Nature that are in close proximity, namely: Udzungwa National Park, Mikumi National Park. This make up the Tanzanian Southern circuit that leaves you yearning for more.

Mikumi National Park is well known for its population of elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, elands, and greater Kudu, wildebeest, roan and sable antelope. Predators include tree-climbing lions, leopards, wild hunting dogs and black-backed jackal. You may also see crocodiles, monitor lizards, yellow baboon and hippos.

Accommodation of travelers to the Mikumi national is offered in the homely Vuma hills tented camp. The bar and restaurant ahs an eye striking view of the rolling plains and is the place to relax. As is the norms with tented camps the menu options are somewhat limited. The meals are finger licking delicious. There is a pool that is just below the restaurant.

The Vuma Hills tented camp is only 2 hours away from Udzungwa Mountains National park where guests could decide to spend the day walking or hiking. Undzungwa is a haven to over 400 bird species hence the perfect getaway for bird watching lovers.

The southern circuit of Tanzania is one safari worth considering.