Tanzania
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Wendy and Miranda from Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire travelled through northern Tanzania
Hi Michele, Just wanted to let you know that Miranda and I had a wonderful safari. I can’t quite believe how fortunate we were with our wildlife sightings and experiences. Our guide was Kevin Mlay and he was very experienced and knowledgeable and looked after us so well. I would certainly recommend him. Olakira Camp was great, they gave us a family tent so we had an extra bedroom which was very good of them, and Alex the manager was such a good host. It was quite an adventure for two middle aged ladies hearing the wildebeest and lions roaring at night over the sound of the rain failing on the tent, then seeing lion prints in the mud in the morning just outside the tent! We saw everything we wanted to including lots of lions, leopards and cheetahs – but my true love are the elephants, such a joy to see the babies wallowing in the mud. My favourite day was spent at the crater, just so much to see and the lions got so close to the land cruiser, just for a bit of shade. Spotting the Black Rhinos was a treat , even at a distance. All the staff were wonderful at all the places we stayed, couldn’t do enough for us, we were treated like royalty. So a big thank you Michele for organising it all for us and recommending such wonderful accommodation and providing such a good company as Asilia as your agents. Thank you again Michele – it was a holiday of a lifetime and one I will never forget.
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.