Tanzania
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Richard and Helen combined a northern Tanzania safari with Zanzibar
Dear Rob, we are now getting back into everyday life after our wonderful holiday in Tanzania and Zanzibar. Thanks to our initial long discussion on the phone when planning our holiday we got it about right. It was a long trip from Nairobi to Olivers Camp in one day and I arrived with a headache and suffered side effects from malarone which I had taken before, but Justin and Jackie at the camp were excellent. Our driver was experienced at knowing where to find game and was knowledgeable when asked questions. The walking safari with Lewis was incredible, if somewhat scary, when we encountered a young male elephant 100 yards away, but we trusted Lewis’s professionalism and learnt a lot. Gibbs Farm was a wonderful haven and the food was excellent . We enjoyed having a day to tour the farm veg. plot, watch the coffee beans being dried and then a walk to a wood carvers. Serian provided another amazing experience and Alex and Robyn were attentive hosts. The highlight was seeing a close up of a leopard and also driving through the vast expanse of the Serengeti, covered with hundreds of thousands of wildebeest. We had two long days of game drives from 6.30am-6.30pm, taking our breakfast and lunch and these were superb. Breezes on Zanzibar lived up to its name, but was a lovely hotel and we had some long walks on the beach. Stonetown was so interesting and we went to Prison Island to see the Giant Tortoises. I am glad we had a night there because the highlight was sitting in the evening on the floor of a roof top restaurant eating the most delicious food under the stars. So , thank you for all the efficient organisation and your expert knowledge of both the camps and best areas to go to. The holiday certainly lived up to our expectations.
Tanzania
Regions
Mahale Mountains National Park (and Gombe Stream)
The Mahale Mountains rise to some 8000 ft above sea-level on the western edge of Tanzania along the shores of Lake Tanganyika. The predominant habitat in one of sub-tropical forest, which tumbles down the mountains to meet the lake. The forests are home to around 1000 chimpanzees – the main reason to visit – and nine other species of primate, including red colobus, red-tailed and blue monkeys. A family of around 60 chimpanzees have now been habituated by Japanese scientists who have researched the area for some 30 years. Walking through the forest (sometimes this can be difficult), you should get the opportunity to view these great apes as they go about their daily routine. Mahale is arguably the best place in Africa to view chimpanzees in the wild.
The lake provides an inland sea of tropical delight with over a fifth of the 1000 or so species of cyclid fish endemic. Snorkelling and swimming (though limited for safety reasons), fishing or simply relaxing on the beach are all part of a day in Mahale.
Access to the park is by boat (1 hour) from a small airstrip just outside the northern edge of the park, with scheduled air transfers from Arusha and Ruaha flying in twice a week.
Much further north on the lakeshore, north of the town of Kigoma, Gombe Stream also offers chimpanzee viewing in a similar, if a little less dramatic, setting. Gombe is reached by boat from Kigoma, which is serviced by scheduled flights. Gombe Stream has been made famous by researcher Jane Goodall, whose research centre continues today.