Traveling in southern
Tanzania
Nyerere NP (formerly Selous GR)
Foundation: 2019
Size: approx. 30893km²
Altitude above sea level: 100m - 400m
Health:
Best travel times: June to October (then the animals gather at the few water points), we have 2 rainy seasons here, the 1st from March to May and the 2nd from November to December
Wildlife: approx. 440 bird species, African wolves, crocodiles, giraffes, hippos, hyenas, lions, rhinos, wildebeests, buffaloes, zebras, African wild dogs (it is estimated that around 20% of all African wild dogs live here)
Mountains, lakes, plants: Rufiji river, up to 100m wide with many sandbanks and "giant" crocodiles, along the river there are extensive miombo forests, acacia savannas and grasslands, baobabs, borassus and doum palms
Other: The northern part of the Selous was separated in 2019 and was named after the 1st President of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere. The Selous area was in 1896 by H. v. Wissmann declared a protected area, from 1905 it became a hunting reserve and since 1982 it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Jeep safaris, bush walks and boat tours are available in Nyerere NP.
Due to the planned construction of a dam on the Rufiji, UNESCO is considering revoking the status of a national park!
accomodation
Udzungwa Mts. NP
Foundation: 1992 (by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands)
Size: approx. 1990km²
Altitude above sea level: 250m - 2576m
Health:
best travel times: Not during the rainy season in April - May! Very good from June to October.
Wildlife: approx. 400 species of birds, leopards, elands, elephants, African wild dogs, buffalo, red colobus monkey Iringa, crested Sanje Mangabe, Udzungwa dwarf galago.
Mountains, lakes, plants: Waterfalls: Sanje waterfall 180m high in three stages,
numerous (probably endemic) plants and reptiles live here, in the park there are rainforests, tropical forests and the Miombo forest, but also savannah and steppe areas, the highest point is the Luhombero with 2576m
Miscellaneous: The Udzungwa National Park is home to the largest high-altitude forest area in all of East Africa! This area has been recognized and designated as an Ecoregion of International Importance by the World Wildlife Fund. The mountains are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains mountain range which arcs from Kenya to southern Tanzania. Only hikes are possible in the park! Tours of one hour to about 7 days are possible on good hiking trails. But beware, in the mountains a rain shower is always possible!
accomodation
Mikumi NP
Foundation: 1964
Size: approx. 3230km²
Altitude above sea level: 200m - 800m
Health:
Best travel times: in the dry season from June to October, many animals gather at the water points and can be easily observed. Heavy rainfall is to be expected in March and April, making the slopes difficult to drive on
Wildlife: Elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, wildebeest, African wild dogs, zebras, buffalo, impala, eland, greater and lesser kudu, mongooses often stay near anthills! There are many hippos in the rivers. If you are lucky you can also see pythons. Around 370 species of birds can be found here.
Mountains, lakes, plants: The park is bounded by the Uluguru Mountains in the north and by the Lumungo Mountains and the Selous WR in the south.
Along the rivers (Mkata, Kikoboga, Visada and Morogoro) and especially in the flood plains of the Mkata there are many acacia and bush plants, a richly set "table" for elephants and giraffes. Likewise, many baobab trees, tamarinds and palm species can be seen.
Miscellaneous: In the Mikumi National Park the chance of meeting all the "Big Five" is very high!
accomodation
Ruaha NP
Foundation: 1964
Size: approx. 20226km²
Altitude above sea level: ....m - ....m
Health: lots of tsetse flies! (sleeping sickness)
best travel times: for bird watching December to March, ???????
Wildlife: Leopards, African wild dogs, geopards, elephants, buffalo, sable antelope, impala, zebra, greater and lesser kudu, Defassa waterbuck, Grant's gazelle, giraffe, roan antelope, crocodile, about 500 species of birds, no rhinos ??
Mountains, lakes, plants: The Ruaha National Park has about twice as many plant species as the Serengeti. The "Tanzanian" bushland is very common in the park, Ana trees are growing along the rivers. The acacia savannah and Miombo forest belt also lie in this area. The park borders the Njombe River to the north, the Ruaha River to the south and the Mzombe River to the north-west. The park is divided by a 200 - 300m high ridge in a north-south direction. In the north there is a high plateau with mountains up to 1800m high (Great African Rift Valley), in the south a wide valley.
Other: About 10% of all lions, the fourth largest cheetah and third largest wild dog population in East Africa can be found in the park!
Boat trips are not possible, but walking safaris and balloon rides are!
accomodation
Ruaha River Camp
Gombe Stream NP (Chimpanzee Trekking)
Founding: 1968
Size: approx. 35 - 52km²???
Above sea level: 770m - 1600m
Health: Vaccinations for yellow fever and malaria are recommended
best travel times: July to October and the end of December to January,
Wildlife: Chimpanzees, red colobus monkeys, anubis baboons, red-tailed monkeys, white-throated monkeys, bushbucks, bush pigs, leopards, approx. 360 species of birds (African African parrots, hornbills, kingfishers, crowned eagles, ospreys, red-throated astrils), 250 species of butterflies, over 40 species of reptiles and 25 amphibians, in Lake about 300 species of fish
Mountains, lakes, plants: Lake Tanganyika is the longest and deepest freshwater lake in Africa, the national park is located about 18km north of Kigoma on the northeastern shore. The steeply rising, dense rainforest mixes with the miombo forest and at higher altitudes you encounter moist grass savannas.
Miscellaneous: Gombe Stream NP is only accessible by boat! Magnificent, spectacular waterfalls (Mkene and Kakombe) as well as panoramic views (Jane's Peak)!
accomodation