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Ruaha
National Park
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This
relatively new and undisturbed park is Tanzania's third largest
park and the largest elephant sanctuary. It lies 130km west
of Iringa its name derives from the great Ruaha River which
flows along it's entire eastern border creating spectacular
gorges and scenery. Hippo, crocodile, turtle and fish inhabit
the river. The park is also known for its concentration of
elephants.
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Mikumi
National Park |
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Located
north of the Selous Reserve, less than 300 km. from Dar-Es-Salaam,
is the Mikumi National Park. Because of its accessibility
it is one of the most popular parks in Tanzania and is an
important centre for education where students go to study
ecology and conservation. A wide range of wildlife inhabits
its 3,230 sq km area. The Mikumi flood plain, with its open
grasslands, dominates the park together with the mountain
ranges that border the park on two sides. Lion is commonly
seen as are packs of wild dog, rare elsewhere in Africa. Elephant
may be encountered and other animals frequently observed are
giraffe, zebra, buffalo, wildebeest, eland and Lichtenstein's
hartebeest.
Crocodiles,
monitor lizard and python are other residents. At the southern
end of the flood plain, in the Kikoboga area, families of
yellow baboon live. Hippos wallow in the waters of Hippo Pools
and are frequently joined by flocks of open-billed storks,
hunting for molluscs. Over 300 species of birds have been
observed in the park, many of which are Eurasian migrants
who stay between October and April.
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Sealous
Game Reserve |
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The
Selous Game Reserve is the largest protected wildlife area
in Africa. A UN World Heritage site, this pristine, uninhabited
area is larger than Switzerland. Only in the Serengeti will
visitors see a greater concentration of wildlife. Yet Selous
boasts Tanzania's largest population of elephant as well as
large numbers of buffalo, hippo and wild dog. Other species
commonly seen are lion, bushbuck, impala, giraffe, eland,
baboon, zebra and greater kudu. The topography of the park
varies from rolling savannah woodland, grassland plains and
rocky outcrops cut by the Rufiji River and its tributaries,
the Kilombero and Luwegu, which together cover the greatest
catchment area in East Africa. The Rufiji, which flows from
north to south, provides the life-blood of the Selous and
sailing or rafting down the river is a superb method of seeing
game, especially during the dry season between June and October.
Crocodiles, hippo and an array of grazing antelope can be
seen. |
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Linked
to the Rufiji is Lake Tagalala, where waterbuck, reedbuck
and bushbuck gather at the water's edge. In the long grassland,
safari enthusiasts may get a chance to see rare sable antelope,
greater kudu - or lion. The park gets its name from the hunter-explorer
Frederick Courtney Selous, whose books about his exploits
were best sellers in Victorian England. Walking safaris, game
drives and boat trips are organized. The best time to visit
is during the dry season, when game is forced from hiding
places to the river to drink. The waters of the Kilombero
Game Controlled Area are home to the ferocious tiger fish
and vandu catfish, the latter equipped with a primitive set
of lungs which allows it to migrate from one landlocked pool
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Udzungwa
Mountains |
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Udzungwa
Mountains National Park is a recently established conservation
area of about 2,000 sq km in the Iringa and Morogoro regions
of south-central Tanzania. The park is bordered by the Great
Ruaha River to the north and the Mikumu-Ifakara road to the
east.
The
major attraction of the park is its bio-diversity and unique
rainforest, where many rare plants, not found anywhere else
in the world, have been identified, from a tiny African violet
to 30 metre high trees.
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As
well as being home to about six types of primates, including
two endemic species - the Iringa red colobus monkey and the
Sanje crested mangabey - the plateau supports populations
of elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and wild dog as well as
rare species of forest birds, four of which were only discovered
in the last few years. The park is about 10 km south west
of Mikumi National Park. |
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Boat
Safaris |
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Boat
safaris on the Rufiji River, and cruises on Lake Tagalala,
offer a unique experience as the Selous is the only reserve
in Tanzania where this option is available. Hippo and crocodile
are abundant while waterbuck and buffalo can be observed as
they come to drink. Game drives along the edges of the lakes
and rivers are, of course, an attractive daytime alternative,
with evening drives conjuring up a special magic as the sun
goes down over the lakes. |
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How
to reach Southern Circuit |
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Most
visitors to Tanzania will fly in via Dar-Es-Salaam, which
means "Haven of Peace," reflecting the relaxed and
informal atmosphere of the city. From here visitors can take
a fly-in safari to the game reserves to the south. Less frequented
than the national parks in the north, the southern parks provide
a sense of African adventure unsurpassed anywhere on the continent.
The principal areas are Selous Game Reserve and Mikumi, Ruaha
and the Udzungwa Mountains National Parks.
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