Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania National Parks, Reserves, Southern Western Tanzania National Park, Southern Tanzania Tourist Circuit, Flying Tour Packages, Air Safaris Packages, Mikumi, Udzungwa Mountain, Mahale Mountains, Kakavi, Gombe Stream, Tarangire, Seleos, Camping Safaris, Camping Adventures in Northern Tanzania, Camping Holidays in Tanzania National Park Safaris With High Vision Tours And Travel | Client Satisfaction
Gombe Stream National Park
Gombe Stream National Park, located on the western border of Tanzania and the Congo, is most famous for Jane Goodall, the resident primatologist who spent many years in its forests studying the behaviour of the endangered chimpanzees. Situated on the wild shores of Lake Tanganyika, Gombe Stream is an untamed place of lush forests and clear lake views. Hiking and swimming are also popular activities here, once the day’s expedition to see the chimpanzees is over.
Gombe Stream’s main attraction is obviously the chimpanzee families that live protected in the park’s boundaries. Guided walks are available that take visitors deep into the forest to observe and sit with the extraordinary primates for an entire morning -- an incredible experience and one that is the highlight of many a visitors trip to Africa. Aside from chimpanzee viewing, many other species of primates live in Gombe Stream’s tropical forests. Vervet and colobus monkeys, baboons, forest pigs and small antelope inhabit the dense forest, in addition to a wide variety of tropical birdlife.
Katavi National Park
The wilderness of Katavi National Park, located in the western area of Tanzania, is one of the most untouched areas of the entire country. It offers unspoilt wildlife viewing in the country’s third-largest national park, in a remote location far off the beaten track. The park is Africa at its most wild -- unadulterated bush settings, spectacular views, and rich wildlife.
Katavi’s dramatic scenery is as varied as it is pristine. Flood plains of thick reeds and dense waterways are home to a huge population of hippo and varied birdlife. In the woodlands to the west, forest canopies shroud herds of buffalo and elephant. Seasonal lakes fill with dirt coloured water after the rains and animals from all corners of the park descend on them to drink. The park is also home to the rare roan and sable antelope species, and is a must-see for the visitor intent on exploring the wilds of the continent.
Usambara Mountains
Lake Usambara Mountains
The Usambara mountains are located between Kilimanjaro and the Indian Ocean. Some of the tops rise to well over 2000m. Between steep cliffs and rocky hilltops are set small communities of the pastoral Usambani tribe. The high altitude and fertile soils attracted German, British and other European settlers. This is an excellent place to visit for a few relaxing days if you are travelling overland between the coast and Kilimanjaro and the northern gameparks. Lushoto, at the heart of the Usambara, can be reached in a 5 hour drive from Moshi. It is a further 4 hours drive to Tanga from where there are daily flights to Zanzibar, or 5-6 hours drive to Pangani or Saadani. Although a variety of accommodation is available in the area we recommend two places in particular:
- Muller's Lodge a beautifully built old farm house with a very relaxed, comfortable atmosphere taking you back 50 years in time
- St. Eugene's Hostel, a modern and very well presented guesthouse adjoining a Montessori Training College set in spacious gardens.
Both offer guiding services for walkers. Available walks include:
- A bird walk
- Forest walks
- Waterfall walk
- Mountain walk
Wildlife to be seen includes the elegant Colobus monkey, blue monkeys and a wide variety of birds. In the rain forest euphorbias, acacias, giant ferns, palms, lobelias, camphors (Japanese and Usumbaru) eucalyptus and fig trees are all to be found.
Lengths of walks can be varied from just an hour or so to all day long taking a packed lunch with you. To be able to see something of the region it is best to spend at least two nights in the area.
Mahale Mountains National Park
Mahale is a very special place where man can meet his close cousin who shares 98% of the same DNA. This remote and beautiful national park contains at least a thousand chimpanzees, some of whom are so habituated that you can sit amongst them and watch the daily life of a chimp unfold. Unfortunately, when they decide to feed on fruits high in the trees or move off through the branches at high speed, all man's intelligence and inventions cannot help him follow.
This park is a destination for the traveller with a sense of adventure as there are no roads and the only way to arrive is by air or boat (on Lake Tanganyika) and you must then explore the national park on foot.
The Mahale Mountains run from north to west across the middle of the park with the highest peak towering 8,000 feet (approx. 2,462 metres) above sea level.
Mountainous tropical forests hang with vines and tall trees grow on the banks of rivers which tumble into numerous waterfalls. A thousand butterflies rise from the warm wet earth and make Mahale a truly magical place.
Together with this there is 39 miles (62km) of pristine lakeshore on a peninsular cutting into Lake Tanganyika - the world's longest lake and second deepest full of unique chichlid fish.
