To be given the opportunity to visit Tanzania – land of iconic destinations like Serengeti, Ngorogoro Crater and Zanzibar, was an experience that I will treasure for years.
We flew into the capital, Dar es Salaam on the direct SAA flight from Johannesburg and took a 45 minute transfer to the Sea Cliff Hotel. This 5 Star hotel offers excellent accommodation if you are stopping off en route to another destination. The hotel commands impressive sea views and food is outstanding.
Selous National Park was our next port of call by private charter. This National park is a Tanzanian treasure, 4 times the size of the well known Serengeti and a UNESCO Heritage site. Closed during the wet season of April/May, this park offers prime game viewing in an unspoilt environment with top class lodges to cater for every need.
It was then on to Zanzibar, the spice islands. White beaches and aqua marine waters fringe these islands, which are filled with a colourful history of traders, raiders, travellers and colonisers. The Serena Inn offers comfortable accommodation and a perfect spot to explore the tiny alleyways of Stone Town, the cultural heart of Zanzibar. Brace yourself for a moving experience at the former slave market, learn the reason behind the interesting doors and bargain to your heart’s content at the local market. Pristine beaches surround the island offering the ultimate in relaxation and water sports.
Another short flight and we found ourselves in Arusha, the start of the safari part of our trip. As we passed the rural villages, the call of the bush grows louder and we arrive at Ngorogoro Crater, the largest unbroken caldera in the world and home of up to 30000 animals. This natural amphitheatre is a UNESCO a World Heritage site and provided some remarkable game viewing. Cheetahs and lions hunted; wildebeest and zebra grazed, hyenas walked along a lake lined with flamingos passing buffalos happily wallowing in mud and elephants stood by majestically. The sights continued. At every turn there was a feast for the eye combined with the spectacular views of the steep crater walls.
At this stage, I thought it could not get much better. However, Tanzania proved me wrong as we headed north towards Serengeti National Park. As we passed through the Masai lands and Ngorogoro Concession land, it was a continuous game drive. First giraffes and then antelope of all kinds in abundance and then the first glimpses of the migrating wildebeest. Nothing prepares you for the awesome sight of thousands of animals running in one direction blindly following the one in front. This is what we encountered when we hit the endless plains of the Serengeti. Not only has that, but a short time later we encountered two paired of mating lions all in one sighting. Spectacular viewing ensued and by the time we reached Serengeti Serena Lodge I was convinced that this day had been the very best the bush could have offered.
After a good night’s rest, we continued out to the Western Corridor, the area where the well known Grumeti River crossing part of the migration takes place between June/July. Since the herds were migrating over the southern plains while we were there, we did not see a large volume of animals in this area. However, we still viewed plenty of crocodiles and hippos in the river along with a few silver backed jackals, bat eared foxes, giraffes, topis and several other antelope. Hardly a bad day of game viewing!
It was time to leave this world class wildlife sanctuary and head to our final stop, Lake Manyara National Park. On the way, we stopped at Olduvai Gorge and a Masai village for some cultural input. Arriving at Lake Manyara, we were met by trees lined storks and a few pelicans. It is the home to over 400 species of birds. This National Park nestles at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment and one of incredible beautiful. It is known for its flamingos, tree climbing lions, elephants, numerous troops of baboons. We were privileged to see all but the lions on our visit. The soda lake is massive and forms a perfect backdrop for the setting African sun.
We culminated our incredible week in Tanzania at Serena’s Lake Manyara Safari Lodge over excellent food, recalling our fondest memories. Wild Frontiers driver guides were outstanding as were all land arrangements and flights.
I strongly recommend a visit to this beautiful country to nourish your soul and inspire your mind.
For more information give me a call.
Regards
Helen
