Wednesday, October 30, 2013

DID YOU KNOW TANZANIA VOTED THE BEST SAFARI COUNTRY OF AFRICA BY THE NETHERLANDS - SafariBookings.com?







Why is Tanzania such a great safari destination?

  • Superb wildlife viewing in top-class parks. Two are Unesco World Heritage Sites.
  • The annual great migration where over 2.5 million wildebeest and zebra migrate from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.
  • Authentic African wilderness with unfenced parks, dirt roads and endless plains.
  • A wide range of budget, mid-range and luxury safari options.
  • Beach holiday extensions on Zanzibar Island, including kite-surfing.
  • Best chimp tracking of Africa in Gombe- and Mahale Mountains National Park.
  • Extend your safari holiday by climbing Africa’s highest mountain; Mount Kilimanjaro.
  • Direct flights from abroad make the northern and southern safari circuits easily accessible.
  • Politically stable and generally safe country.

THE NETHERLANDS - SafariBookings.com conducted an in-depth analysis of 3,061 reviews of safari tourists and acclaimed experts and concluded that both have voted Tanzania as the best safari country of Africa.
Over the past two years a distinctive SafariBookings taskforce searched for those who have been on safari and invited them to write a review. As a result, over 1,000 people from 53 nationalities wrote more than 2,300 user reviews.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

KITULO NATIONAL PARK- The Garden Of God in TANZANIA






Locals refer to the Kitulo Plateau as Bustani ya Mungu - The Garden of God – while botanists have dubbed it the Serengeti of Flowers, host to ‘one of the great floral spectacles of the world’.
And Kitulo is indeed a rare botanical marvel, home to a full 350 species of vascular plants, including 45 varieties of terrestrial orchid, which erupt into a riotous wildflower display of breathtaking scale and diversity during the main rainy season of late November to April.
Perched at around 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) between the rugged peaks of the Kipengere, Poroto and Livingstone Mountains, the well-watered volcanic soils of Kitulo support the largest and most important montane grassland community in Tanzania.
One of the most important watersheds for the Great Ruaha River, Kitulo is well known for its floral significance – not only a multitude of orchids, but also the stunning yellow-orange red-hot poker and a variety of aloes, proteas, geraniums, giant lobelias, lilies and aster daisies, of which more than 30 species are endemic to southern Tanzania.
Big game is sparsely represented, though a few hardy mountain reedbuck and eland still roam the open grassland.
But Kitulo – a botanist and hiker’s paradise - is also highly alluring to birdwatchers. Tanzania’s only population of the rare Denham’s bustard is resident, alongside a breeding colony of the endangered blue swallow and such range-restricted species as mountain marsh widow, Njombe cisticola and Kipengere seedeater. Endemic species of butterfly, chameleon, lizard and frog further enhance the biological wealth of God’s Garden.
About the Kitulo Plateau National Park
Size: 412.9 sq km (159 sq miles)
Location: Southern Tanzania.
The temporary park headquarters at Matamba are situated approximately 100km (60 miles) from Mbeya town.
Getting there
4x4 only.
From Chimala, 78km east of Mbeya along the surfaced main road to Dar es Salaam, head south along the rough but spectacular dirt road - called Hamsini na Saba (57) after the number of hairpin bends along its length - to the temporary park headquarters at Matamba, from where it’s another hour’s drive to the plateau.
Basic and erratic public transport is available.
What to do
Good hiking trails exist and will soon be developed into a formal trail system.
Open walking across the grasslands to watch birds and wildflowers.
Hill climbing on the neighbouring ranges. A half-day hike from the park across the Livingstone Mountains leads to the sumptuous Matema Beach on Lake Nyasa.
When to go
Wildflower displays peak between December and April.
The sunnier months of September to November are more comfortable for hiking but less rewarding to botanists.
Conditions are cold and foggy from June to August.
Accommodation
Mbeya is serviced by everything from luxury hotels to simple guesthouses, while two simple guesthouses also exist in Matamba.
There is no accommodation in the park as yet, but very basic accommodation and meals are available at the adjacent Kitulo Farm.
Three special campsites are planned within the park, catering to fully equipped campers.
Two moderately priced church-run hostels are situated on Matema Beach.

Monday, October 28, 2013

SERENGETI SOPA LODGE








Located on the edge of the escarpment overlooking the plains of the south-western Serengeti National Park, home to many thousands of wild and rare animals,
Serengeti Sopa Lodge lies within an area of out-standing natural beauty. An oasis of cool relaxation from the equatorial sun.
The lodge allows its guests to experience  magnificent sights and enjoy interaction with the land and animals difficult to find elsewhere, whilst at the same time enjoying the highest level of cuisine and  hospitality.

Accommodation With our Sopa tradition of excellence, it goes without saying that our fully en suite guestrooms and suites have been designed, decorated and furnished with only your total comfort in mind.
69 standard rooms, all with 2 queen size beds, carpeted, and tastefully furnished with local fabrics and pictures. One entering the room is a lounge with a mini bar. In the front is a verandah with 2 comfortable chairs and coffee table, with glass windows facing the vast Serengeti plains which extend as far as the naked eye can see.
  • 1 of these rooms are suitable for the physically handicapped.
4 very spacious double storey suites, with a lounge area on the ground floor where one can dine, sit out on the balcony facing the Serengeti Plains.
  • Upstairs is the bedroom with a king size bed on a raised wooden platform, and on one side a bathtub facing the plains. There is an outside open shower as well.
The interior of the suites are painted with the same colours as the main building, terracotta, mustard and blue, which is incorporated in the fabrics. A verandah extends from the room facing the plains, ideal for relaxing and watching the spectacular serengeti sunset.



Facilities
Adjoining Rooms
Gymnasium
Telephone at Reception
Baby Sitting
Hairdryers
Traditional Dances
Balloon Safaris
Laundry
Turndown Service
Bird Watching
Mosquito Nets
Weddings
Board games
Outdoor Dining
WiFi in Public Areas
Children’s Menu
Special Diets
Wheelchair Accessible Rooms
Conferences
Sundowners


Gift Shop
Swimming Pool


















































NGORONGORO SERENA SAFARI LODGE






Regularly voted one of the best hotels in the world, this unique lodge clings to the rim of the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, the largest and most perfect volcanic crater on Earth.
Long and low, the lodge is built from local river stone and camouflaged with indigenous vines. Designed to blend completely into the landscape, it is entirely invisible from the floor of the Crater 600 metres below.

 Getting there
The Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, lies immediately adjacent to the Serengeti National Park and 180 kilometres from Arusha.
By road: transfers by road from Arusha take approximately 4 hours.
By air: there is an adjacent airstrip and a ‘meet and greet' and transfer service is offered.

Facilities

  • 75 rock-built rooms with panoramic private balconies
  • Rock built dining room and bar with central fire
  • Extensive viewing terraces
  • Game drives into the Crater daily
  • Wedding planning and honeymoon venue
  • Gift shop, business centre, WiFi
  • Tented conference centre
  • Extensive selection of sports and activities
  • Cultural dance and music
  • TV room with satellite TV.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

WELCOME TO THE MAFIA ISLAND, TANZANIA









This is one of Tanzania’s best areas for diving and you’ll always see something exciting, from rainbow-coloured clownfish to octopus, rays and the odd gigantic grouper or large potato cod.
Sharks and dolphins are found in the deeper waters, and at night turtles crawl onto remote beaches to nest. Between the months of October and March the chances of being able to swim with whale sharks are quite high – this can be arranged from the lodges or Watersports Centers.

 It is the ocean here that is the greater attraction though. Within the bay, the shallow reefs are perfect for snorkelling or learning to dive. Outside the bay’s entrance is guarded by a long coral wall, attracting more experienced divers. There are more than 50 genera of coral here. Some of the very best and exciting excursions include Mafia Deep Sea fishing, Dhow sailing, Yacht safaris, Turtle watching, Scuba dive, Bird watching and Snorkeling. Find more excursions in the left menu.

POWER, SKILLS, SPEED, STRATEGIES AND TEAM WORK DETERMINE THE HUNTING SUCCESS FOR THESE CARNIVORES.....BUT WHO IS MORE SUCCESSFUL?













Lion, leopard, hyena, cheetah and jackals who is more successful than the other?