1. On Safari in
Northern Tanzania - Back to The Sixth Day of the Creation
Tanzania's natural endowment as a wildlife
safari destination is unrivalled. Wild animals roam in vast
areas as God intended on that sixth day of the creation. These
areas are designated as national parks and game reserves and
have a high reputation for being uncrowded and unspoilt. The
magnificent collection of game sanctuaries to the north of
the country, near the border with Kenya, is referred to as
The Northern Circuit. This is the most popular and accessible
wildlife safari route in Tanzania. I can positively say that
this is one of the finest game viewing areas anywhere in the
world. The game aside, the spectacularly diverse cluster of
eco-systems and habitats is a dazzling experience for many
a visitor.
The stars of the Northern Circuit are the
Serengeti and Ngorongoro, very dear to the hearts of nature
lovers. But no less sparkling and indeed complementing the
two are the other members of the circuit: Arusha, Tarangire
and Lake Manyara. In terms of wildlife, the abundance and
diversity of the wildlife here is difficult to imagine. On
top of the heap are the highly regarded "big five":
elephant, buffalo, rhino, leopard and lion. And then a wild
array of plain animals: wildebeest, zebra, eland, hartebeest,
oryx, reedbuck, giraffe, Thompson gazelle, and many more of
the same genre. But do not forget the merciless predators:
cheetah, wild dog, jackal, hyena and vultures. The Northern
Circuit is an ornithologist's paradise too, and over 500 species
of birds are on record. On safari, you will be a witness of
the shocking and fascinating dance of life and death on daily
play by this combination of animals.
The starting point for northern safaris is
usually Arusha town. The town sits near the base of Mount
Meru and is in sight of mighty Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest
mountain. From Arusha, the nearest protected area to see wildlife
is Arusha National Park, just 32 km away. In this park of
137 sq km area, you will see baboon, colobus and vervet monkeys,
duikers, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, leopard, hyena,
zebra and a wide range of antelopes. More than 400 species
of birds have been recorded, including Eurasian migrants,
who visit between October and April. One of the unique attractions
of the park is that walking safaris are allowed and you can
get off your vehicle for a nature walk. Due to its proximity
to Arusha, the park is very popular for day trips.
Wildlife aside, Arusha National Park is a
treasure with a rich tapestry of habitats including grassland,
montane forest, heath and alpine desert and soda and fresh
water lakes. Three spectacular features stand out: the Momela
Lakes, Mount Meru, and Ngurdoto Crater. Mount Meru stands
at 4,575 m and is Africa's fourth highest mountain. It is
however overshadowed by nearby Kilimanjaro, which rises above
it by over 1300 m. It is regrettable that the snobbish instinct
of many climbers makes them to overlook Mt Meru. The mountain
can be scaled in three to four days with overnight accommodation
in alpine huts.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve,
is located in the Great Rift Valley, a monumental fracture
of the earths crust. The area is filled with volcanoes, mountains,
plains, lakes and forests. Covering 8288 sq km, its main features
are the Ngorongoro Crater, the Empakai crater, the Oldonyo
Lengai Mountain and the archeological site of Olduvai Gorge.
Olduvai Gorge is the prehistoric site where Dr. Louis Leakey
discovered the remains of Homo habilis ("Handy man")
regarded by scientists as mankind's first step on the path
of human evolution. Be sure to have a look at the remains
of our worthy predecessor, whose valiant industry spurred
by necessity, got him making simple stone tools.
Unlike in the national parks, the colorful
Maasai people, their livestock and wildlife coexist within
the conservation area. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest
Caldera in the world that has its walls intact. The crater
floor is a drop of 600 m and covers an area of 260 sq km with
a diameter of 19 km. This magnificent natural amphitheatre
is a stunning attraction in its own right and is one of the
wonders of the natural world. The crater supports a year round
resident population of a variety of wildlife. You will have
no trouble spotting lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and many
species of plain animals- wildebeest, zebra, reedbuck, Thompson
gazelle and many more. The crater floor is dotted with watering
holes and holds almost 30,000 wild animals. Ngorongoro is
four hours by road from Arusha or one hour by air. And from
either Lake Manyara or Tarangire you will be on the road for
two hours.
Page
2 Article on Northern Tanzania: Back to the Sixth Day of the
Creation
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