Tanzania National Parks
Tanzania is part of East Africa, the largest of the three countries. It' s amazing scenery is most evident in its national parks and game reserves. Below are some of Tanzania's major National parks.
Arusha National Park
This park is remarkable for its range of habitats and miniature volcanic crater lakes - The Momella Lakes. In addition, on a clear day there are spectacular views of both Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru. Arusha National Park offers many beautiful panoramic views; an opportunity not to be missed on your safari pictures!!
Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National park nestling under the wall of The Great Rift valley is like a perfectly cut gemstone. It's one of the most popular and attractive National Parks. Though small in area, it contains a variety of habitats and diverse animals and birds. Gazing eastwards from the Great Rift Valley wall, one looks down to the horizon where water and sky dissolve into shimmering heat waves.
Lake Manyara has 5 distinct zones: -
-Ground water forest with towering mahogany and fig tree.
-Extensive marshland reeds
-Plains of grassland
-Parklands scattered with acacia trees
-Scrub-land on the face of the rift wall
Ngorongoro Crater
Eden of Africa : Truly the 8th wonder of the World.
The Largest intact Crater in the world and the second largest extinct in the world, has a spectacular concentration of wildlife. Ngorongoro was an active volcano some eight (8) million years ago whose cone collapsed, leaving a crater. The crater rim is wooden with mountain forest vegetation. It is oval in shape and 20 kms in diameter. It is blooming acres of flowers like blue, pink and white lupines, candle white lillie, blue hyacinth and many more.
The Crater is 100 sq. miles in area, 2000 feet deep and 2286 meters above sea level. It is located in Northern Tanzania, west of the rift valley which runs from the Red Sea to Lake Nyasa in southern Tanzania. The hotels & lodges are situated on the rim of the Crater.
The Olduvai Gorge
In the Ngorogoro Conservation area is a site of our Neanderthal Man - the Zinjathropus. In 1959, the Zinj skull was discovered by Dr. Leaky at the Olduvai Gorge. Zinjathropus is believed to have lived 1.8 million years ago. In the 1970's, the foot pints of animals and early hominids dates back 3.5 years was found by Mary Leaky at Laetoli some 45 kms south of Olduvai Gorge.
In 1974 some fossils of the hominid tooth were discovered, dating back 2.4 million years. Between half a million & a million years ago, "Homo Erectus", a type of ma, wandered round making use of hand axes. Many such tools were found at Olduvai.
More than 150 different species of extinct mammals have been identified from the fossils, as well as many birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. An on- site Museum explains the archeological significance of the discovery. This area seems to be the "Cradle of Mankind".
Mount Kilimanjaro
This is the highest mountain in Africa, just three degrees below the Equator and it has two peaks - Kibo [5893m] & Mwenzi [5149m] are permanently snow capped.
Its breath taking beauty has to be seen and experienced by one personally. Ascent and descent takes 5 days and can be climbed by any normal fit person with the assistance of experienced mountain guides and porters. Kilimanjaro can be climbed at any time of the year.
Tarangire National Park
This park is scattered with baobab trees alternating with open acacia woodland open bush, swamps and rivers and stands of palm. Big game and birds are abundant. To name but a few are lions, elephants, zebras, oryx, eland and many more. It is also extremely rich and varied in bird-life. This panoramic park should be a must for every itinerary.
Serengeti National Park
One of the most unique wilderness areas of the world, fantastic in its natural beauty and unequalled in its scientific value. This park is a vast expanse land with a large concentration of plains animals.
