Serengeti
National Park:
Certainly the name Serengeti might be something you’ve
head before. In the maasai language the word Serengeti
means "endless plains", a fitting name for
this 14, 763 sq. kilometer expanse of grasslands and
forests. It evokes, in many of our minds, an image of
stampeding wildebeest across the plains, a calculating
leopard waiting patiently for the right moment to make
a move on her prey and huge elephants and giraffes strolling
by exotic trees.
Nearly as large as the state of Connecticut, Serengeti
National Park is the largest in Tanzania and one of
the largest wildlife sanctuaries in the world. The park
lies in a high plateau between the Kenyan border and
Ngorongoro highlands and extends nearly all the way
to Lake Victoria in the west. The landscape of the park,
with its low vegetation and vast seas of open plain,
is ideal for game viewing..
The Serengeti is famed for its annual migrations of
wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles. As these massive Herds
of herbivores search for new grazing ground, they are
tracked and hunted by an impressive array of carnivorous
predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas.
Buffalo, elephant, giraffe, hippo, antelope, ostrich,
jackal, baboon, and dik-dik also inhabit the vast plains
and woodlands. Bird life in the Serengeti is surprisingly
abundant with nearly 500 species of birds having been
recorded in the park.
The park was established in 1951 to protect its many
species and ensure that it will remain a nearly perfect
example of what it was in the beginning.
Ngorongoro Crater:
Ngorongoro Crater is widely considered to be one of
the natural wonders of the world. 12 miles wide, 2000
feet deep, and covering an area of 102 square miles,
it is the largest intact volcanic crater on earth and
home to a spectacular concentration of wildlife. The
crater hosts an estimated 30,000 animals on its floor,
including large herds of buffalo and wildebeest, eland,
hartebeest, elephant, hippo, lions, and the endangered
black rhino.
Scientists believe that millions of years ago, Ngorongoro
was an active volcano with a cone that some speculate
was as high as Mt. Kilimanjaro. The volcano eventually
became extinct and its cone collapsed and sunk, forming
an enormous crater. The surrounding area was then slowly
enveloped by tropical vegetation and colonized by various
species of animals.
Today, mountain forests, lush vegetation, and fresh
springs surround the rim of the crater's towering walls,
which top out at an elevation of 7500 feet. With its
dazzling natural beauty and the serenity of its surroundings,
Ngorongoro is frequently referred to as "Africa's
Garden of Eden".
The Crater is just one part of the 8300 sq. kilometer
area called the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA).
Also contained within the NCA's boundaries is the geologically
important and historically controversial Olduvai Gorge,
where Louis and Mary Leakey discovered numerous types
of the fossil remains of early man.
Lake Manyara National
Park:
The name Manyara, drives from the plant Euphorbia tirucalli
form which the Maasai build a hedge to protect their
livestock from predators and poachers. In the maasai
language Maa, "emanyara" means to kraal.
Situated within a long and narrow passageway formed
by the looming cliffs of the Great Rift Valley and the
shores of a dazzling lake, Lake Manyara National Park
is an incredible place to visit. For its moderately
manageable range of 330 square kilometers, the Park
offers vast variety and abundant wildlife, making it
best for a day trip. One can see bushbuck, giraffe,
zebra, ostrich, elephant, wildebeest, aardvarks and
sometimes leopard. The park also attracts over 380 species
of birds such as flamingoes, Egyptian geese, pelicans,
cormorants, storks, and spur-winged geese.
The tall trees of the ground water forest are full
of monkeys while elephants can often be seen on the
slope of the escarpment amongst the baobab trees. In
the acacia woodland, lions can be seen sprawled out
in the heat of the day on the stout branches of the
umbrella trees, while enormous hippos cool themselves
in the pools along the lake shore. There are a number
of hotels and lodges built on the rift walls at high
altitude, which offer a superb view of the lake.
Tarangire National Park:
Covering approximately 2600 square kilometers, which
contains nine different vegetation zones, each supporting
distinct types of wildlife, Tarangire National Park
is one of the finest parks in Tanzania. It is also located
in the Rift Valley, not far from the eastern shore of
Lake Manyara.
The rolling hills are punctuated with magnificent Baobab
trees, alternating with open acacia woodland, rivers,
and stands of palm trees. The unrestrained landscape
of Tarangire is panoramic and calming as the lightly
wooded savannas stretch far and wide in all directions.
Large herds of elephants, zebras, wildebeests, eland
and Oryx congregate here until the wet season allows
them to migrate to lush new grazing land. In the dry
season (Aug-Oct), when many of the migratory wildlife
species return to the permanent waters of the Tarangire
River, the park boasts nearly as high a concentration
of animal life as Ngorongoro Crater.
The birds are also attracted to the river and its surrounding
watering holes. Nearly 300 species of birds have been
recorded in the park, including green and yellow parrots,
green wood hoopoes, Fischer's and yellow-collared lovebirds,
as well as doves, cuckoos, mouse birds, swifts, and
swallows.
Arusha National Park:
Located between the peaks of Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt.
Meru, Arusha National Park covers an area of 137 square
kilometers. There are three main areas of interest in
Arusha National Park: the Ngurdoto Volcano Crater, the
Momela Lakes, and the rugged Mt. Meru. Arusha National
Park is also known for its remarkable range of altitude,
topography, and vegetation, the park hosts a variety
of species particular to forest, mountain, and aquatic
habitats.
The Ngurdoto Crater: Lip to lip, the crater extends
3 kilometers and descends into a volcanic bowl packed
with wildlife. The view from the rim is spectacular,
where buffalo and warthogs can often be seen on the
crater's swampy floor and the huge crowned eagle have
been spotted flying overhead from time to time. It is
surrounded by highland forest, a prime setting to also
spot black and white colobus monkeys traveling along
the treetops.
The Momela Lakes: These lakes, like many in the estimated
20 million-year-old Rift Valley, are shallow, alkaline
and supplied predominantly by underground streams. Giraffes,
hippos, and elephants are especially common to this
area. Remarkably, the area is also a birder's paradise,
hosting an astonishing variety of migratory and resident
bird life. Over 400 species of birds have been recorded
in the park. In addition to the large flamingo population,
some famous species include the Crowned Eagle, Peregrine
Falcon, Silvery-Cheeked Hornbill, Egyptian Vulture,
and Hammerhead Stork.
The Mt. Meru Crater: Mt. Meru, Tanzania's second highest
peak, is an interesting mixture of lush forests and
bare rocks. It offers one of the most spectacular landscapes
in Africa and is considered to be the highlight of any
visit to Arusha National Park. The forests contain a
wealth of birds and other animals. Those who ascend
the imposing 15,000-foot summit of the mountain will
be rewarded with incomparable views of the majestic
Mt. Kilimanjaro and the Rift Valley. |