A classic Safari in Tanzania.. A trip in Africa to appreciate its wonderful nature

Safari parks in Tanzania in the great sea with extension to Zanzibar.
Tour operator: Territory Discover the World
Organization: very good
Budget ideal for quality and price: U.S. $ 2'900 each person.

 

Departure

Meeting Milan Malpensa airport to the ritual of 15:30:00 hours check-in (crowded airport) and boarding on the Egyptair flight MS704 scheduled at 17:00 but delayed at 18.15 assigned Cairo where he landed after about 4 hours and 30 minutes of flight. To expect an employee of the airport and escort us along with 20 other passengers to the next flight MS 849 Cairo Nairobi, delayed to allow the transfer. And the faster we played a bad joke. When we arrived in Nairobi two out of three bags do not arrive at your destination: We did almost strike! After the initial bewilderment, we move to the rite of the complaint and hope for the best,
We are reminded of the joke Diego Sunshade (Zelig): "The flight usually not a problem, but then think" but my luggage will arrive? "When you see that your luggage has not arrived you think: Look com 'has changed the way we travel: Christopher Columbus left for unknown destinations. Now the world and we all know, the ones who leave for unknown destinations are still our luggage "
Exit you will find our driver Hamza (Hamza or as claimed by Andrea) to your boss that provides details to search luggage. Informs us, however, that it may take 2 or 3 days and it will be impossible to have them available during the safari trip because we are already in the Serengeti. The count of available clothing: a pair of long pants and a 3 / 4, a T-shirt, two pairs of pants, a denim jacket, a pair of socks and shoes for me and a couple pants 3 / 4, a shirt and a pair of sandals for Claudio. We ask Hamza (r) can do "shopping" for our arrival in Arusha as well as some fish from the garment bag by Andrea (but did not cut my own or that of Claudius).

Lake Manyara

After nearly six hours of travel with the Toyota Land Cruiser Messac at our disposal by Wildbeest Safari and the transition to the Namanga border to arrive in Arusha. A tour of the city and stop at the Green Hut * for lunch and from this moment the main menu is almost exclusively "grilled chicken" even though the director of the meeting at my suggestion that they are not particularly carnivorous prepare me a great vegetarian burger. The portions are generous and always will be. We rely on Hamza (r) for currency exchange and shopping parts. First in a supermarket where you need to buy personal care (monthly visits we women always captain at inopportune moments and the bulk of the occurrence was left in a suitcase!) Then after trading in the local market where we buy pants and shoes sweaters. We can not find the T-shirt but we can try later. The journey continues to Lake Manyara National Park for a first safari.
The Lake Manyara National Park consists of a long strip of land about 50 km wide and between 6 and 8 km, which includes the beautiful lake and extends up the steep slope west of the Rift Valley. The park is located not far from the Masai village of Mto Wa Mbu (Swahili: River of Mosquitoes), along the road leading to the most famous parks of Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, only 130 km from Arusha. Since 1981 is a biosphere reserve.
The northern end of the park is occupied by a thick primary forest. Then alternating landscapes typical of the savannah, dotted with giant baobab trees, groves of acacia, and gallery forests along water courses. The park is in fact crossed by many streams and river Endabash. At the southern end there are also the Maji Moto hot springs.
The first encounter with the fauna of the park we have a colony of baboons then proceed in the direction of the lake where we stopped to admire the elegant flamingos, pelicans and their colleagues as they fly up and land. We can also see some hippos dozing in the water. Let's go back to the jeep and turn part of the park looking for animals that meet regularly: zebras, giraffes, antelopes and several varieties of birds. The fatigue of the journey makes itself felt and even Hamza (r) tells me that not sleeping for 24 hours. We leave the park with the intention to return the next day for further exploration (we arrived late due to the problems at the airport) and back to Twiga Lodge / Camp Site where we stay in a comfortable and spacious room awaits us and where a hearty dinner after which we take a trip to the Camp Site: many are the tents ready for the night. Many tourists choose the option to camp with a cook and a chauffeur in tow. Back to our house and ... ... ... .... Good night away under the mosquito net.

Serengeti

Wake up at 7:00, breakfast in the company of Hamza (r) (the night before did not have to make it to dinner, collapsed before) just load the baggage (not everyone uses a trolley car as a back pack! And think that We were undecided on the extent of backpack to carry, was abandoned in one of the bags) carry out a second safari to Lake Manyara National Park without the chance to meet wild cats. At the end pockets the way to the Serengeti National Park with a stop in the reserve of the Ngorongoro Crater for lunch-picnic: chicken, egg, bread, bananas, biscuits and fruit juice.
In the early afternoon we reach the Serengeti National Park one of the most important protected areas of East Africa. It has an area of 14,763 km ² and is located in northern Tanzania, on the plain of the same name, between Lake Victoria and the border with Kenya. Kenyan park is adjacent to the Masai Mara and other important wildlife reserves. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1981. The park is one of the main tourist attractions in Tanzania, and the most important part of a system of four protected areas called "Northern Safari Circuit", which also includes the National Park, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park, national park Arusha and the Ngorongoro Nature Reserve. The name of the park, in the language of the local Masai people, means "endless plain".
The first meeting with some giraffes at the entrance to the park then the ostriches, antelopes, some hyenas, elephants and the first in particular the first group of lions, as many as 8 adults who are consuming their meal. From our point of view is heard the latch of the jaws on the bones of the dead. There are also some puppies that we hide in the tall grass and we can not see well. At the end of our week safari will be about 48 lions encountered.
We continue our tour of giraffes, zebras and wildebeest. The latter explains how Hamza (r) are best friends (the herd is always made by wildebeests and zebras) because they protect each other in an emergency. Time flies and the many miles are many. Our driver realizes he's a little late to leave the park by 18.00 and then we go at great speed to reach the exit 18.05. Then we go to our shelter for the next two nights, Ikoma Safari Camp (www.ikomasafaricamp.com) where we have two original large and comfortable tents and warm hospitality of the manager Pepe. We see a sunset, a shower and dinner for all guests to 19.30 ... ... ... ... then to bed.

Serengeti

Wake up at 7:30 breakfast under a thatched roof, and after having found Hamza (r), you depart for the Serengeti. Uncontaminated another among the big five, buffalo and then we stop the "pool of hippos." Honestly, even if we had not seen the sign we would have noticed the population for whom the unmistakable smell that lingers. On the shore there are also some crocodiles. The day winds through the landscape of the park, following the different tracks that bring us closer to the animals: zebras, elephants, warthogs, lions roll on the ground like cats, varieties of birds and in the afternoon after our picnic in the "tourist site "the park where I buy a spare T-shirt (clean and the color I want in XL only!) for $ 20 (when looking for vendors for a few T-shirt € do not find them) one of the meetings we had hoped for: a leopard" perched "above a tree while on the one next to it has its prey. Unfortunately we were far away but with the help of telescope and camera the cat has been immortalized for the memories. We leave the park on time and return to camp for our evening.

The Ngorongoro Reserve

After breakfast, we leave and reenter the Ikoma Safari Camp in the Serengeti National Park for a final morning safari. We have yet to find an animal, the cheetah. Hamza (r) goes to the area most likely. We are shooting for a long time without encountering living beings to the exclusion of some zebra then finally our search is rewarded by the sight of as many as 3 Cheetahs struggling with their meal. Our guide explains how unusual this issue because the cheetah does not live in groups. They are three brothers. At the end of the meal will go away and their place was immediately taken by some hyenas and the vultures that hovered waiting for their turn. After lunch we leave the Serengeti satisfied and we head towards the reserve and the world's most famous crater, the Ngorongoro. Before reaching the reserve, stopping at Olduvai Gorge, an important archaeological site africano.Si is a depression about 40 km long, enclosed by steep walls, located in the plains of the Serengeti. The findings made in this area have played an important role in the development and understanding of the origins of the human species. After the tour we reach the Rhino Lodge (http://www.Ngorongoro.cc/) and evening and night temperatures ranging between 10 and 0 degrees! How I regret my fleece lining and padded left to sleep in the airport. Dinner and sleep.

The Ngorongoro Crater

Wake up at 6:00 Breakfast in the company of Hamza (r) and down into the crater of Ngorongoro. It is a volcanic crater and the area around the crater of Ngorongoro is the nature reserve. It is located at 2200 meters above sea level, measuring over 16 kilometers in diameter and occupies a total area of about 265 square kilometers. This is the largest unbroken caldera in the world. On the crater rim runs one way, on the southern side. There are four roads that connect the crown with the inside of the crater, and the trip takes about 30 minutes by jeep. The air is chilly but the sight of three male lions that come to meet us on the track makes us forget the clouds and the cool breeze. It seems incredible how close we are and what snobbino with their slow pace and lanky. Let the lions and continue our tour of zebra, wildebeest, a variety of birds, ostriches, buffalo, lions with cubs, elephants, jackals, hippos, baboons. Missing even if the rhino Hamza (r) has seen in a distance but from where we are like a dot in the void. Picnic on the banks of the lake and then after another round we go up the slopes of the crater and we leave the reserve. Hamza (r) is launched at breakneck speed on the way down but we all integer limit. During our jeep safari has had some problems with cooling and Hamza (r) decides to stay in a village to accommodate the seal. While busy with the mechanic or do we try to make us better for a spin around but now we are "attacked" by several vendors, so we find ourselves at the end of the break with 10 beads, a painting, a shirt, and a flag of Tanzania. We all satisfied with giving a few dollars and some cap for the phone (which we had been given by plane). Taking the road and takes us to the Tarangire National Park and our accommodation, the Tarangire River Camp (www.pbase.com/escog/river_camp&page=1 or www.africadreamsafaris.com / lodge_tar_River.html). There is given a tent for 5 people, spacious and comfortable: a real luxury. Dinner served for all at 19.30 and then after a stop at the bonfire the evening ends

Tarangire National Park

Breakfast at 07.30 and then a visit to Tarangire National Park a protected natural area of northern Tanzania. It is located one hundred kilometers west of Arusha, on the road to Dodoma, southeast of Lake Manyara. It takes its name from the Tarangire River, which flows through it. Before you enter the park one of their employee fills the jeep with insecticide to prevent a tenacious type of mosquito follow us (not understood as a "mosquito" is). First sighted the zebras then a jam jeep tells us that there must be something big. And so, hiding among the rocks a leopard. We are waiting patiently, and after 30 minutes here is the spotted fur of the cat that for our 10 minutes and then disappeared into the vegetation. We continue our tour of lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, antelopes, gazelles, dik-dik, warthog. Stop for lunch with a nice surprise. Instead of the usual bag, Hamza (r) dumps a cooler box containing a picnic blanket, meat rolls, fruit, tea and coffee jugs, baskets with fresh bread, fruit juice, cutlery, glasses, biscuits. After refreshment stop we take the trails through the park admiring only the fauna but also the flora and vegetation., The landscape of Tarangire parks as compared to that of the Serengeti is more verdant; around the river are extensive wetlands and floodplains, but also woods. It is the Tanzanian park with the highest concentration of baobab.
After the long day we return to camp for a refreshing and relaxing shower and dinner last week of our safari.

Zanzibar

Let the Tarangire River Camp to Arusha at 08.00 and especially for the Impala Hotel where we find our luggage. During the trip I talk to Hamza (r) about religion, politics and sports. When I asked what sport is practiced in Switzerland, in addition to skiing and ice hockey, also refers to soccer, swimming and tennis to mention our best tennis player Roger, whose name turns a look of surprise on the face of Hamza (r) "do you like country from the examination of Roger Federer? He is a very great and famous people! "But who would have thought that we Swiss are also known for sporting success of Roger and not for chocolate, cheese, watches, banks, UBS and trouble! Roger Grande.
Arusha Airport is not very big and is the starting point for safaris by air. We want to thank Hamza (r) and proceed to check-in a very characteristic: all in a row (which comes al'esterno the small office), weighing luggage and transport of the hand by the airport staff, rooms Waiting outside the boarding gates and do-it-yourself. But even better in Zanzibar where the luggage will be delivered by hand on a counter. This time we are all there and the exit of the bus Mnarani Beach Cottages (www.mnarani-beach-cottages.com) where we booked a standard and a deluxe room.
31.07.2010 - 06.08.2010
Days of complete relaxation, with clouds, rain, sun and sea between the high and low tides of the Indian Ocean. The rooms are spacious and well arranged, as regards the food is excellent for lunch a la carte in the evening because we have not always tasted better with the exception of the grid. The staff always friendly and helpful.