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Eastern African Destinations
TANZANIA
Tanzania can truly claim to be the
home of the "safari" since the word is Swahili for a
journey. And there's no better place to enjoy the
enriching wildlife experience than Tanzania. The
country's game viewing experiences are widely
regarded as the best in Africa. It's the place to
see seemingly endless herds of wildebeest and zebras
trekking across the plains on their annual
migrations-followed by the predators, lion, leopard,
cheetah and hyena. It's elephant country, boasting
some of the largest populations in the world. And
it's home to chimpanzees, now so rarely seen in the
wild.
Tanzania boasts beautiful beaches- hundreds of miles
of palm-fringed sands; its lakes are huge and
bountiful wit fish; its cities are relaxed and
friendly; its islands, Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia
live up to their exotic images. Yet this, the
largest country in Eastern Africa, is untouched by
the holiday making hordes of mass tourism.
The remains of one of the earliest humans were
discovered in Tanzania, so the country can lay claim
to the title, "The Cradle of Mankind." The
Ngorongoro Crater is the largest crater in the
world, a vast amphitheatre teeming with game; while
the snow-capped majesty of Mount Kilimanjaro
inspired Hemingway to write a novel.
It was in Tanzania that Stanley uttered those famous
words, "Dr Livingstone, I presume" when he traced
down the Scottish explorer after a long trek into
the interior. Indeed, Tanzania was a magnet for
several Victorian explorers who made epic journeys
of discovery in search of the source of the Nile.
Today's visitors are able to explore the country
with none of the hardship but all of the adventure
of those early pioneers. The lodges and tented camps
are small but luxurious and each has its own
distinct character, providing a tailor-made and
personal service- the perfect bases for
unforgettable safaris!
Situated in East Africa, just south of the equator,
mainland Tanzania lies between the area of the great
lakes; Victoria, Tanganyika and Malawi - with the
Indian Ocean on its' coastline to the east. It has
land borders with Uganda and Kenya to the north,
Mozambique and Malawi to the south, Zambia to the
southwest and Zaire, Burundi and Rwanda to the west.
The country lies at an altitude of over 1,000ft,
apart from a coastal strip varying in width from 10
to 40 miles. The greater part of the country is made
up of plateau averaging 3,000 to 4,500ft in height.
Mountains are grouped in various section.
The Pare and Usambara ranges are in the northeast
and the Livingstone Mountains in the southwest.
Kilimanjaro (19,340ft) in the north is the highest
mountain in Africa.
On the borders are three large lakes; Victoria, the
second-largest freshwater lake in the world,
Tanganyika, second only to Lake Baykal as the
deepest in the world; and Lake Malawi. Lakes within
Tanzania include Natron, Eyasi, Manyara and Rukwa.
Even though three great African rivers; the Nile,
the Zaire and the Zambezi, have their origins in
Tanzania, the country has few permanent rivers.
During half the year, the central plateau has no
running water, but in the rainy season flooding
presents a problem.
ZANZIBAR
Zanzibar - the Spice Island located
25 miles off the mainland of Tanzania on the east
coast of Africa, just south of the Equator, Zanzibar
is the largest of an archipelago of some 50 small
tropical islands and coral atolls.
Zanzibar, and its sister island, Pemba to the north,
have been populated for more than 2,000 years with
settlers from mainland Africa, Samaria, Assyria,
Egypt, Portugal, Oman, India, Goa and northern
Europe. In the mid Nineteenth Century the Sultan of
Oman moved his court to Zanzibar making it an
important trading post between Africa and the middle
and Far East. The islands were administered by the
British from 1890 until 1963. A Revolution in 1964
witnessed the overthrow of the Government; soon
afterwards Zanzibar joined with Tanganyika to form
the United Republic of Tanzania.
When visiting Zanzibar, visitors get to appreciate
the rich heritage, history and architecture of
Zanzibar; wander the labyrinth of narrow alleys of
Stone Town (a UNESCO World Heritage site); visit the
Sultans' palaces, the Old (Arab) Fort, Persian
baths, the site of the slave market and the nearby
dungeons where slaves were kept before being
auctioned; witness the hustle and bustle of the
market, the Dhow harbor which for centuries saw the
(sometimes illegal) trade in ivory.
Excursions from Stone Town include visits to spice
farms to understand why Zanzibar became known as The
Spice Island; boat trips to Changu (Prison) Island
with its giant tortoises; day trips to the marine
reserve of Chumbe Island Coral Park; full day Dhow
safaris and evening sunset cruises.
Spend time totally relaxing at the east or north
coast where traditional fishing villages fringe
miles of unspoiled beach beside the turquoise ocean.
Stay at an hotel of your choice, from those of
international standards with a wide range of
facilities, to more intimate, often locally owned,
hotels. Scuba diving and snorkeling locations over
the reefs which surround Zanzibar and Pemba Island
rate with the best to be found anywhere.
For the less intrepid at low tide walk out toward
the reef where people harvest seaweed, men bring in
their catch of the day, the younger generation catch
octopus and the local entrepreneurs use their
fishing boats (ngalawas) to take visitors snorkeling
near the coral reef which surrounds much of the
island.
OLDUVAI GEORGE
Located within the Ngorongoro
Conservation Area is the Olduvai George. It was here
that Dr. Louis Leakey discovered the remains of Homo
Habilis (Hardy Man). Many more fossils have been
discovered here including those of Prehistoric
Elephants, Giant horned Sheep and Enormous
Ostriches.
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KENYA
Kenya lies astride the equator on
the eastern coast of Africa. Kenya is bordered in
the north by Sudan and Ethiopia, in the east by
Somalia, on the southeast by the Indian Ocean, on
the southwest by Tanzania and to the west by Lake
Victoria and Uganda.
Kenya is notable for its' geographical variety. The
low-lying, fertile coastal region, fringed with
coral reefs and islands, is back by a gradually
rising coastal plain, a dry region covered with
savanna and thorn bush.
At an altitude of about 1,524 m and 300 miles
inland, the plain gives way in the southwest to a
high plateau, rising in parts to 3,048 m, in which
about 85% of the population and the majority of
economic enterprise are concentrated. The northern
section of Kenya, forming three-fifths of the whole
territory, is arid and of semi desert character, as
is the bulk of the south eastern quarter. In the
high plateau area, known as the Kenya Highlands, one
can find Mt. Kenya (5,200 m), Mt. Elgon (4,322m) and
the Aberdare Ranger (rising to over 3,963 m).
In the north of Kenya, the valley is broad and
shallow, embracing Lake Turkana (160 miles long),
while further south it narrows and deepens and is
walled by escarpments 610 to 930 mtr high. West of
the Rift Valley, the plateau descends to the plains
that border Lake Victoria. The principal rivers are
the Tana and the Athi, flowing southeast to the
Indian Ocean, the Ewaso Ngiro flowing northeast to
the swamps of the Lorian Plain, and the Nzoia, Yala
and Gori, which drain eastward into Lake Victoria.
Low plains rise to central highlands, divided by the
Great African Rift Valley.
NAIROBI
Nairobi lies at an altitude of 5,500
ft above sea level and has no real variations in the
climate. Average temperatures range from 21°C in
January to 16°C in July.
What once was a remote railway outpost has become
the largest city between Johannesburg and Cairo and
is Kenya's capital city and the world's safari
capital. It has long been the commercial centre of
Eastern Africa and one of the world's cross-roads
with its' international airport servicing most of
the world's airlines. Nairobi has a population of
over 2 million people with all the main religious
denominations being represented.
Nairobi came into existence with the building of the
Kenya-Uganda Railway in 1899 and it has grown into a
very modern, cosmopolitan, lively, interesting and
pleasantly landscaped city. You'll meet travelers
from all over the world here. If you've traveled
through Africa from the West you will be refreshed
with the ease of getting bureaucratic matters sorted
out, good bookshops, restaurants, efficient banks,
efficient telecommunications systems, a place where
you can get things done with the minimum amount of
fuss in a timely fashion.
Some of the places to visit whilst in Nairobi
include; the National Theatre, Phoenix Theatre,
McMillan Memorial Library, Kenyatta International
Conference Centre, Parliament Buildings, Nairobi
National Park, the Snake Park, National Museum,
Bomas of Kenya (for traditional dancing and tribal
villages,), Nairobi Races (hose racing on Sundays),
and the National International Show
(August/September/October). Nairobi also has several
modern cinemas in the city centre and two drive-in
cinemas.
The City Market on Muindi Mbingu Street is worth a
visit if you are shopping for curios. Depending on
how good your bartering is, you can get a good
bargain be it soapstone carvings wood carvings or
other handicrafts .Don't be put off by the stall
holders who can be a bit overbearing.
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UGANDA
Uganda is located in east-central
Africa, situated north and northwest of Lake
Victoria. It is a landlocked country bordered by
Sudan on the North, Kenya on the east, Tanzania on
the South, Rwanda on the southwest and Zaire on the
northwest.
The greater part of Uganda consists of a plateau
about 4,000 ft in height. Along the western border
of the Ruwenzori Mountains reaching heights of over
16,000 ft, while on the eastern frontier Mount Elgon
rises to 14,178 ft. By contrast, the Western Rift
Valley, which runs from north to south through the
western half of the country, is as low as 3,000 ft
on the floor of Lake Edward and Lake George and
2,000 ft on the flow of Lake Albert. The White Nile
River has its source in Lake Victoria.
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SAFARIS
East Africa represents the
archetypal safari to most. Tanzania and Kenya are
definitely Africa's most popular wildlife
destinations and you'll find a host of inexpensive
to cheap "safari packages" and "safari-beach
combinations". There is a tremendous selection of
camps and guides in both Tanzania and Kenya – which
focuses on small group and privately guided trips
particularly in the Serengeti, Selous and Ruaha.
The trick to a planning a successful safari in the
region invariably comes down to guiding standards
and achieving a balance between affordability and
"crowd avoidance", and in East Africa there is a
wide variety of options that appeal to travelers of
varied interests and budgets.
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GAME PARKS
A wildlife spectacular that offers
the best scenery and game parks can be found in East
Africa - the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake
Nakuru, Rift Valley Lakes - plus Zanzibar and its
beaches. For example, the Sweetwater Game Reserve,
on the edge of Kenya's northern desert region,
features excellent wildlife. Regional game parks can
offer exciting trek or rides with camels at Rumuruti,
the beautiful but contrasting lakes at Nakuru and
Baringo. East Africa game parks also includes Mt
Kilimanjaro, The Serengeti, undoubtedly one of the
best game parks in Africa, Ngorongoro Crater, Dar es
Salaam and the dazzling beaches of the spice island
of Zanzibar.
MASSAI MARA, KENYA
The Masai Mara is regarded one of
the most popular game reserves in Kenya, hosting
over 140,000 visitors per year. The reserve is 270km
west of Nairobi and covers an area of approximately
1,510 sq km, bordering with the Serengeti National
Park in Tanzania. The landscape is mostly open
Savannah grasslands and acacia shrub land.
Starting any time from late July the wildebeest
follow the rains and grazing to the wide and open
grasslands of what has become known as "the Mara".
They may be late, but they will always make the
trip, driven by dry conditions in the Serengeti and
led by the lightning and thunder to the north. Come
November they start the homeward leg, bound again
for the Serengeti.
At this time of the year you will see a large number
of lion, hippo, crocodile and vultures all of which
prey on the weak and young migrating animals. Other
game to be found in the Masai Mara at any time of
the year include; elephants, cheetahs, baboons,
gazelles, giraffes, jackals, cheetahs, leopards,
hyenas, water buffalo, ostriches, and a large
variety of antelope and birdlife.
SERENGETI, TANZANIA
Tanzania's oldest park, located in
the North, covering an area of over 14,760 sq, the
Serengeti is the country's most popular and famous
game park. "Serengeti" is a Maasai word meaning
"endless plain", very apt, as the park consists of
flat, treeless plains stretching as far as the eye
can see, one of the highest concentration game sites
in Africa. Virtually every game species in Africa
can be found here, but it is most famous for its
vast herds of wildebeest, zebra and antelope, as
well as "the Serengeti Lions" The best viewing
months are from December to March, when many animals
are concentrated in the park's southern regions.
However, one of the spectacular and unique events of
the year is the Serengeti annual migration, which
takes place heading north to south October November
and back south to north between the months of April
and June. This has been described by many as one of
the greatest wonders of the world. There is no fixed
migration timetable; the animals migrate according
to rainfall patterns.
ABERDARE, KENYA
The Park is part of the Aberdare
Mountain Range which forms the steep eastern edge of
the Rift Valley. It is 180kms north of Nairobi and
has an altitude of 7,000 to 14,000 ft. The scenery
in this region is spectacular and impressive as is
the range of wildlife. Due to the dense forest
vegetation, you will need to do some searching for
the wildlife, but there are also many purposes built
game viewing lodges. Game to be found in the park
includes; elephant, lion, black rhino, waterbuck,
gazelle, giant forest hog, genet cats, leopard,
buffalo and the rare spiral-horned antelope known as
the bongo.
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