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Arusha
A little known town prior to being made the headquarters for the
United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in
1995, Arusha now features regularly in international news headlines.
Tanzania was also involved in the Peace Accord for Burundi which
President Bill Clinton came to sign in Arusha in August 2000.
However Arusha has other claims; it is the mid point between Cape
and Cairo, it is the gateway to the famous northern parks of
Tanzania, namely, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Lake Manyara and Tarangire.
In addition it is the headquarters for the East African community (EAC)
of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Originally built as a German garrison in 1900, Arusha remained
little more than a hamlet with a few chips, no cars and only
accessible by ox wagon until the end of the First World War.
Thereafter the town grew slowly with the railway from Moshi being
opened in 1929.
The town lies at the foot of Mount Meru, known in Maasai as the
"Black Mountain", while Mount Kilimanjaro is the "White Mountain".
Today it is an important centre for Tanzania's tourism and
agriculture. It is a busy and bustling town with several good
restaurants and boasting a number of hotels/lodges of international
standard.
Kilimanjaro
 Mount
Kilimanjaro is one of Africa's most impressive sights. Snowcapped
and not yet extinct, it rises 5,895m (19,335ft). A National Park
surrounds the mountain and harbours various vegetation types from
lush rainforest to alpine meadow. The airport stands
in splendid isolation on the low plains between Mt. Kilimanjaro and
Mt. Meru, equidistant from the towns of Moshi and Arusha.
For those climbing the mountain, Moshi is the nearest town, and
Kilimanjaro Airport the usual entry point. An international airport,
most visitors coming to the northern Game Parks of Tanzania arrive
in Tanzania here. Some arrive on International carriers, while
others come in with Airkenya from Nairobi.
Those visitors arriving or leaving on Airkenya will have to clear
customs and immigration, before continuing their journey. If you are
climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, then this will be your disembarkation
point.
Manyara
Famous for the large elephant population which used
to live here, and tree-climbing lions, Manyara National park is
often the first or last stop of ones safari. A shallow alkaline
lake, its setting lends drama as it is at the base of the Rift
Valley's sheer 600m western wall. The Park's habitat and scenery is
one of the most diverse in Tanzania as is the game found here.
Flamingos gather when the water level is suitable, as do many other
water birds. Indigenous fig forest is home to many species as are
the grassy flood plains and the light acacia woodland and grassland.
There are hot springs to the south of the Park.
There is only one lodge actually inside the Park, and a collection
on the rim of the Rift Valley and further a-field.
Ngorongoro
Manyara airstrip is also the embarkation/disembarkation point on a
schedule serve when visiting Ngorongoro. No schedule service can go
to the Crater as the weather is too unpredictable, with low cloud
often not lifting until midday.
The Crater needs no introduction, being the largest intact calderas
in the world, and a World Heritage Site. It is one of the most
spectacular sights. With the exception of impala and giraffe, almost
every species of plains mammal lives or visits the Crater floor - a
true African Eden. The massive depression is 12 miles wide (19 kms),
and is in the Serengeti Ecosystem although under a different
Wildlife area known as Ngorongoro Conservation Area which is an area
of more than 8.000 kmē.
Accommodation on the Crater rim is available and ranges from a
campsite to one of the finest lodges in Africa. There are other
smaller lodges nearby.
Seronera
This is the central point of Africa's most famous National Park, the
Serengeti. The vast open plains and proliferation of animals which
live in them is incredible, as is the annual wildebeest migration.
With very little permanent water, the migration is closely lined to
rainfall patterns.
Little can be said that has not been said before about the
Serengeti. The wildlife and scenery cannot fail to astound even the
most hardened traveler. The National Park covers an area almost
15,000 kmē, while the whole ecosystem which includes the Ngorongoro
and Masai Mara, is more than double the size.
The mountains in the region date from two periods. The Gol Mountains
to the north as you head towards the Serengeti are exposed granite
blocks over 500million years old, and other freestanding mountains
are volcanic in origin, formed during the fracturing process that
created the Rift Valley 15-20 million years ago.
A variety of large lodges are located nearby and the Ndutu area
which has one of the oldest lodges in the area is a scenic 2 hour
drive from Seronera.
Grumeti
"There be Dragons" is a spine-tingling film about the mammoth
crocodiles of the Grumeti River, being some of the largest in the
world! While the river stops flowing, some pools remain throughout
the dry season providing refuge for these giants, who may not eat
for a year. Their annual feast is in June/July when the migration
arrives. Wildebeest and Zebra are gorged on as they come to drink or
attempt to cross the river.
Grumeti is in a western arm of the Serengeti which stretches almost
to Lake Victoria. The river, which rises in the north-eastern
Serengeti, finally spills its waters into the Lake. The river is
broadest in this part of the Serengeti and thus the riverine forest
lining it is most dense here. Beyond the riverine forest is acacia
woodland and grassy plain.
Not only are crocodiles the biggest here, but also are the hippos.
Cheetah are also more prolific here than anywhere else in Africa.
There are only 2 luxury camps here; a reflection of how special the
area is.
Klein's Camp
The northern Serengeti is scattered with hills and rocky outcrops,
which break up the endless plains, and never-ending skies. The
north-eastern side around the Loliondo area, is hilly with valleys
though which the annual migration pas around August to October.
The elephant in this part of the Serengeti dominates the landscape.
The Grumeti River, which rises only a few kilometers north of here,
winds its way across the Serengeti to Lake Victoria. Its bushy and
forested edges provide shelter to many species of fauna. Thus
resident wildlife abound providing year-round interest. The stunning
rocky outcrops, known as kopjes, are home to klispringers.
Places to stay vary from an exclusive and small lodge in a private
concession, to a large lodge. In addition a number of tour operators
set up mobile camps in the area. |
