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Southern Circuit National Parks |
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Selous Game Reserve
The northern section of the park is a great deal of land is set aside for the photographic safari and where a handful of luxury camps are found. This area has three major habitats;
- riverine thickets where elephants,hippo,antelope and crocodiles will be found;
- open grassland where wildebeest,zebra,lion and wildogs are found;
- the miombo woodlands on the mountain ridges around Beho Beho. Stieglers Gorge is home to Kudu and Roosevelt's sable.
Rhino, was once common in the area but were almost poached into extinction but numbers are now beginning to recover. Lake Tagalala is one of the main attractions to this area with its many species of grassland and water bird. The hot springs are another lure and it is a nice place for a picnic and a swim in the hot waters.
To the South is the Rufiji River; where luxury camps cater for tourists offering game safaris at sunset cruisers along this majestic river through pools of wallowing hippo and crocodiles basking on the banks of the river.
To venture into the almost trackless south of the Rufiji River; to the network of tributaries and oxbow lakes is truly wild. Visitors must be fully self sufficient to venture in to this part of the Selous. It is only the north of this park that is developed in any way for tourists.
The Selous is marketed as a truly out of Africa experience; the camps are luxurious although expensive. However, the added expense is worth the experience in a truly African wilderness.
This park is sometimes know as Giraffe Park as it has in excess of 8,000 Masai giraffe. The Kudu is also prolific in this park and when surprised this animal will stand as a statue, blending perfectly into the background. It has been known for visitors to the park to drive right up to the Kudu before seeing it.
Access to the park is easiest by light aircraft; but can be reached by tarmac road over the Rubeho Mountains. Descending to the Ruaha River offers views along the Ruaha Gorge and the first thing to strike visitors as they enter this area is the profusion of the unusual and huge baobab trees. Although in general the park is covered by Combertum woodland with a thinning out to acacia.
The rare and endangered African hunting dog are fairly common in Ruaha. Known as the painted wolf [Lycaon Pictus] these endangered animals are sociable if not a little noisy and it is a real treat to see them whilst on a safari drive in the park.
Ruaha is probably the most arid of Tanzania's parks. It is the most southerly extension of the Maasai Steppes. The Great Ruaha River bisects the park. The flora and fauna of southern Africa overlaps with the distinctive east African species; to see greater and lesser Kudu as well as sable and roan in one park is part of the attraction of Ruaha. There is a rich selection of plain animals, predators and Elephants in this park.
As in most areas of Tanzania bird life here is spectacular. The park is known for large numbers of the rare Eleanor's falcons from December to January. Over 456 species of birds have been identified to date with new species discovered every year. January to May is the best time to visit this park for bird and butterfly collectors; otherwise October to November is warmer and recommended if a bird safari is not on the agenda.
Few visitors visit this park. Although in recent years visitors to Tanzania have begun to succumb to the Southern Circuit Parks and in particular the magic of Ruaha.
Mikumi National Park
The main road from Dar es Salaam to Iringa bisects the northern area of this park; an area known as the Mkata Flood Plain. Animals tend to use the highway as game trail and this often makes for unusual photo opportunities. The flood plain is known for the very fine black cotton soil, which means when the rains come the soil is transformed into a sticky, clogging mud and the area becomes inaccessible to vehicles. The rains transform the plains into a lush green meadow. This area of the park has herds of Elephant and lions, giraffes, wildebeest, zebra, warthog, eland, buffalo and impala. There is a tented lodge in this section of the park along with a youth hostel and a number of campsites.
The park lies has low mountains and hills on three sides. The southern section of the park differs markedly from the northern flood plains. The animals also differ they are unused to people and vehicles and tend to run and hide before approaching safari enthusiasts have a chance to spot them. This park suffered in the 1980's from heavy poaching and the animals have learnt to distrust humans; although slowly the animals are becoming habituated once again.
There is a natural road stretching from the Vuma hills it passes through ravine and forested country and crosses over the boundary into the northern section of the Selous. These ridges have been used for centuries by Elephants that have decided to avoid the rivers and keep their feet dry.
This park is becoming increasing popular, especially as a weekend break from the nearby Dar es Salaam. This park makes for a perfect start to you safari in the southern parks of Tanzania. It also has amazing light in this park which makes for spectacular photographs.
Udzungwa Mountains National Park
This park is a National Park without roads. After arrival the visitors must get out of the safari vehicles and walk. This is a National Park with a difference and is best visited in the dry season; as the paths and trails in the mountains become quite slippery in the wet season and crossing the swollen mountain rivers can become dangerous. It is required to take a guide and or an armed ranger on the hikes.
There are many trails to suit different abilities, from several half day trails to longer more demanding hikes taking several days. There are no lodges in this park and camping is the only option. The sites are basic and it is essential to bring your own camping equipment; or alternatively hire it or use a tour operator that will provide the equipment.
Leave only footprints and take only photographs is the rule here. There is no hunting allowed in this park and plant samples are not allowed to be removed. In Tanzania vehicles must keep to the roads in the parks, and similarly hikers in this park must keep to the trails. This is strictly enforced so don't be tempted to leave the paths. Camp fires are also not allowed. As with the other National Parks in Tanzania visitors must leave by 7 pm; campers must be in the campsites by this time or make arrangements with the Park Warden. The park encourages, wherever possible, for visitors to support the local the community.
The park protects 2500 plant species and 160 of these are used locally as medical plants. There are over 300 animal's species including 18 vertebrates only found in the Eastern Arc range of mountains. If you are lucky you will be able to spot the recently discovered Sanje Mangabey and the Iringa Red Colobus high in the tropical rainforest.
The park has a rich social and cultural history which is possible for visitors to explore; including the abandoned Mbatwa Village and the Mwanaluvele Salt Caves. These sites demonstrate the shifting patterns of human settlement in the North West area of the park.