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Tanzania Vacations – Enjoy Incomparable Wildlife Safaris in the Top-Five National Parks in Tanzania

November 24th, 2009 No comments

Tanzania national parks and game reserves are home to an amazing diversity of wildlife, making for incomparable Africa game watching safaris. Among these game reserves, the five parks below stand out as the best of the best.

Ruaha National Park

Ruaha national park occupies 12,950 sq km, making it the second largest national park in Tanzania. Located 128 km from Iringa, this park is named after the great Ruaha river, which attracts many thirsty animals to its banks, among them lions, leopards, hyenas, water bucks, and reed bucks. The river also hosts several hippos and crocodiles. Other animals found in Ruaha include zebras, wild dogs, giraffes, lesser and greater kudu, impala, and several antelope species. Ruaha national park is unique in that it combines Southern Africa and Eastern Africa flora and fauna.

Ruaha’s topography is ideal for hiking and walking safaris. In the rainy season between March to April and October to November, the bird population peaks to a high of over 350 bird species – including some Eurasian migrants. Ruaha’s climate is hot and dry, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in October. The Ruaha is was until recently totally inaccessible, but there is now a year round road access to the park. From Dar es Salaam, road travel takes 10 hours while a charter flight takes 1 and and half hours. The best time for a safari is over the dry season- May to December.

Lake Manyara National Park

The Lake Manyara National Park is without doubt the best destination for birdwatching in Tanzania due to its unrivaled birdlife. The waterfowl and several migratory birds are some of the bird species found here. Lake Manyara national park is also one of the greatest places for viewing leopards atop the lush green vegetation. Tree-climbing lions are also common in parts of the park. The National Park is located between Lake Manyara and the walls of the great Rift Valley, which rise up to 610 meters above.

The periods between December and February and between August and September constitute the best times for going on safari in Lake Manyara national park. However, it is still possible to see animals throughout the year. Most parts of the park are easily accessible, making it possible for you to see all its major attractions in two hours. Lake Manyara National park has three habitats: groundwater green forests, acacia woodlands, and open floodplains.

Tarangire National Park

Named after the Tarangire River, Tarangire National Park is also part of the northern tourism circuit. The park area is approximately 2,600 sq km and has a high concentration of wildlife during the dry seasons as well as a high number of elephants. With over 570 bird species, the place is surely a birdwatchers’ paradise.

The best time to go on safari in Tarangire national park is in the dry months from June to September. The dry weather at that time force many animals to congregate at the river to drink water. There is also less vegetation cover at this time, giving you great animal spotting chances. You also stand a better chance of seeing pythons at Tarangire than in any other places, particularly because Tarangire pythons have love climbing trees.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Located towards the north of Tanzania on an area of over 7,000 square miles the Ngorongoro conservation area was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in’79. The park joins up with the Serengeti to the north-west and it is through here that wildebeest horde through during their world famous migration from the Masai Mara to Serengeti, then to Ngorongoro.

At the center of this conservation area lies the 264 sq km Ngorongoro crater, whose floor is inhabited by a great array of wildlife. Since the crater provides one of the greatest and very satisfying game watching experience, it is not a big surprise that it remains one of the most popular Tanzania destination for wildlife safaris.

Great herds of gazelle, antelope and zebra can be seen grazing along the river beds as well as large herds of elephants moving from one corner of the park to the other. It is also possible to see prides of lions sleeping lazily under the shady trees or at least hear a lion’s roar echoing off the walls of the crater. This is an exciting, though at times, shocking experience. Birdwatchers will also enjoy visiting Ngorongoro. Lake Ndutu in the area is home to a thriving population of birds. Some of the bird species you will see here include stocks, ducks and flamingos among may more.

Serengeti National Park

In the local Masai language, the word “Siringit” means unending plains. Serengeti’s name is derived from this word, describing the national parks open grassy plains. Occupying 12,950 sq km, this national park is part of the same ecosystem with Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya. This vast plain is the home of over 30 large mammal species and about 500 bird species.

The Serengeti hosts the largest and longest overland migration in the world, dubbed the Great Wildebeest Migration. The semi-annual occurrence that is said to be the world’s most spectacular wildlife show is one of the ten natural travel wonders of the world. Others include the Ngorongoro Crater and Victoria Falls.

The great wildebeest migration from Serengeti to the Mara generally takes place between July and August. It is however impossible to correctly predict its timing as it is largely dependent on the rain and pasture availability patterns. The reverse journey of the migration happens around October. About 2 million herbivores participate in the migration, with some of the most interesting moments being when they cross the Mara river in pursuit of greener pastures.

Serengeti is reached by both road and air. The road trip from Arusha, situated some 320km from the park, takes approximately 8 hours. International visitors to Serengeti are served by the Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha. From there, the visitors can travel by road to the park or take either scheduled or charter flights to Serengeti airstrips like Kirawira or Seronera.

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Read These International Travel Tips Before You Travel

March 28th, 2009 No comments

Whether you are going on business, on vacation or just visiting with friends and family there are some important international travel tips you will always find handy.

Itinerary

Put a careful itinerary together in advance, starting with your expected departure and arrival dates. Be aware of where and when you will be crossing time zones and how these affect your itinerary.

Inform people who are to meet you of your travel plans. Know your flight connections, baggage allowances, change of terminals and transit arrangements.

If you are in the US, register your travel plans with the State Department in case of emergency

Of your important international travel tips is to be familiar with laws, visa and other travel regulations of the places you will be visiting , especially your destination.

Documents and money.

Don’t let your trip suffer delays because your passport or visa are not valid are ready on time.

Ensure also that any other documents that you require are valid and pack them. This might include eg. your driver’s license, marriage certificate, etc.

Travellers cheques are still the safest and most convenient way to carry your money. Change it.

Medical

Your destination may require that you have certain vaccinations. Get these on time and get the necessary vaccination certificates.

If on prescription medicines get enough supplies from your doctor to carry with you. If you wear glasses pack an extra pair to cater for any breakage.

These are basic important international travel tips. Then you can be sure you are not refused entry once you get to your destination.

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Luxury Safaris To Tanzania, The Chance Of A Lifetime

February 16th, 2009 No comments

For a lot of us, luxury safaris seem like the kind of exotic holiday we will never be able to experience. Luxury Tanzania safaris, in particular, seem extremely out of reach. Heck, for most of us, we probably do not even think of the word “luxury” when we are thinking about safaris at all. However, it might be time to reconsider on all of those counts.

Going on a safari in Africa is truly a once in a life time opportunity. It is one of those holidays about which many of us can only dream because we think it is so far out of our reach or our budget. However, going on a luxury safari is becoming a reality for a lot of people these days. Contrary to what you might be thinking about safaris in general, it is entirely possible to enjoy a luxury one. You do not have to rough it; you will not be left in the wilds of Africa with just a tent to protect you.

While the thought of luxury is appealing, it is not the only worthwhile thing you can experience. A lot of people go on safari, luxurious or otherwise, because of the sights. The landscape, the animals, the local customs: you will be able to experience all of these things on a safari. The lush scenery and the amazing animals in their real habitats draw an increasing amount of people.

Today, there are a lot of traveling companies which specialize in safaris. They especially know how to tailor the safaris to clients who prefer a little luxury. However, you will not have to sacrifice the experience at all. Thanks to local experts and guides, you will get a truly unique experience.

The whole point behind their operation is to leave you with amazing memories. They want to create a truly memorable holiday for you, not just one which is luxurious. The higher your expectations, the more they strive to meet them and then to exceed them. That is why there are always local guides ready to help you to enjoy the landscape and the experiences as a native.

There are a variety of ways in which you can take and enjoy your safari. For example, some safaris are conducted entirely on horseback. This allows you a truly authentic experience. All the nuances you would miss in a vehicle will be available to you. The same can be said for a relaxing, interesting trip down the river in a safari boat.

If you are not an expert at riding a horse, do not worry. You will have an abundance of guides there to help you and to keep you completely safe. You just need to enjoy what you see. When you take your safari on horseback, from an amazing vantage point.

Now that you have the opportunity to reconsider your opinions on a luxury safari, what are you waiting for? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You will get to see things that many people only dream of seeing.

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Luxury Safaris- The Experience of a Lifetime

January 8th, 2009 No comments

If you have ever dreamed of going on a safari trip you may think that it involves camping out under the stars next to a roaring fire, with the sounds of the wildlife echoing through the night. This vision fills some people with doubt however it is now possible to enjoy a luxurious safari, should you have the cash to purchase the experience.

These trips are designed so that you can enjoy the best of both worlds; get up close and personal with the wildlife but spend your free time in the lap of luxury.

There are many benefits to this as you can immerse yourself in the call of the wild whilst still being able to relax in pleasant and agreeable surroundings for the whole journey. Not only this but you can have a guide and a vehicle exclusively for your own use. Whether you are a large group or just a couple you will have the chance to take time out to view the wildlife and the magnificent views from your very own viewing hatch. There is no need to share with others when you are on a luxury safari. All of your wishes are fulfilled to the very best of the staff’s abilities. They can answer any questions you may have regarding the accommodation, animals or the geography of the area.

Should you choose one of the luxury Kenya safaris you will be treated to a lodge or en-suite tent which will be decked out with the most fabulous decoration and opulent fabrics. It will be the height of decadence whether your safari is a family holiday or a romantic honeymoon

Whatever your needs your luxurious Kenyan safari will be tailor made to suit you. There are a variety of lodgings to choose from but you can rest assured that you will have as much privacy as needed. Many of the sites that you lodge at will provide a personal cook who will make your meals to your specifications.

Should you pick one of the luxury Tanzania safaris it will be one of the greatest and noteworthy adventures of your whole life. All of the assistants will make sure that all of your wishes are fulfilled to the best of their ability; their goal is to assure that your trip is as memorable as possible.

Other safaris will let you get up close and personal with nature by riding the trails on horseback instead of in a vehicle. This is an awesome experience which is led by the experienced guides who will make sure that you are kept safe at all times.

So whether you are a newlywed couple looking for a breathtaking memory or a large family wishing to experience an adventure together, a luxury safari is one of the best ways to enjoy life to the full without having to compromise on comfort and contentment.

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