Tanzania Varndell Trip 2014

The Okavango Delta and the Moremi Wildlife Reserve provide one of Africa’s most incredible wildlife and wilderness experiences. What makes this area so remarkable is that it is a wetland paradise located within the arid Kalahari Desert. Each year floodwater flows into the Okavango Delta from its source in the moist Angolan highlands. These floodwaters flow into the Kalahari Desert to create a unique wetland that supports and sustains a huge diversity of wildlife. The heart of the Okavango Delta is the Moremi Game Reserve. All the major habitats and eco zones of the Okavango are preserved here. Around the Moremi Game Reserve are large private concessions that are leased out to safari companies with strict guidelines on visitor numbers. Wildlife including all of Africa’s major predators is plentiful and varied and many of the wildlife documentaries seen on television are filmed here. The recent reintroduction of both white and black rhino means that all the “Big Five” once again roam free in the Okavango Delta.

Linyanti and Selinda are private reserves adjacent to the Chobe Game Reserve, renowned for their predators and large concentrations of game including huge elephant herds. These areas include many varied habitats: marshes, waterways, riverine forests, dry woodlands and the world famous Savuti Channel. The Savuti Channel is a “waterway” that connects the Linyanti River from Zibalianja Lagoon, with the Chobe National Park. Two thirds of the famous Savuti Channel is in these private reserves and guests are able to view abundant wildlife privately and exclusively. The Savuti has only ever flowed intermittently and periodically dries up, however at the time of writing the channel is flowing, attracting huge amounts of wildlife to the area. Wildlife including all of Africa’s major predators is plentiful and varied and includes red lechwe, tsessebe, sable and roan antelope as well as lion, cheetah, leopard and wild dog. There are no rhino here at present but they will surely arrive naturally from the Okavango delta in the future.

This privately owned game reserve is located at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashi rivers in the remote and rarely visited Northern Tuli region of Botswana and includes Mashatu Game Reserve, the largest private reserve in Botswana. Northern Tuli is a diverse and stunning wilderness of savannah, riverine forests, marshland, open plains and sandstone outcrops. Many guests visiting this region arrive by road and air from South Africa as this reserve in the South East of Botswana does not have easy flight connections from Botswana’s other prime safari locations. The area offers excellent value for money safari holidays as well offering some unusual alternatives to the traditional open safari vehicle game drives. Animals found here include, lion, elephant, buffalo, eland, cheetah, giraffe and zebra and there is an excellent chance of leopard sightings.

This beautiful island of Mauritius, once the land of the Dodo, has fabulous beaches, aquamarine seas, dramatic mountains and a vibrant cultural mix. All this makes Mauritius a perfect holiday destination. The Indian Ocean boasts a wonderful climate, supported by welcoming warm waters and stunning white sandy beaches fringed by palm trees. Explore the depths of the crystal clear ocean featuring striking coral and a beautiful array of colourful marine life. The perfect way to relax and complete an exciting safari holiday. Also a romantic destination for honeymooners and couples. The population of Mauritius is a mix of people of Indian, Chinese, African and European descent with the predominant religion being Hinduism. You will find people are friendly and helpful everywhere. The range of food options reflects this cultural diversity with Creole, Indian, Chinese and European styles predominating. Fish and seafood is the main ingredient of most of these dishes often prepared in innovative and mouth-watering ways. Regional flight connections are direct with South Africa and Kenya so a tailor made bush and beach safari holiday with these two African safari destinations make for a superb combination. Whatever your interests, you are sure to enjoy Mauritius as an essential part…

If you are looking for the perfect tropical paradise you have found it. It is difficult to beat the Seychelles, palm fringed beaches, crystal clear lagoons and sensational snorkelling and diving. The Indian Ocean boasts a wonderful climate, supported by welcoming warm waters and stunning white sandy beaches fringed by palm trees. Explore the depths of the crystal clear ocean featuring striking coral and a beautiful array of colourful marine life. The perfect way to relax and complete an exciting safari holiday. Also a romantic destination for honeymooners and couples. Much of the fauna and flora of the Seychelles is unique and can be found nowhere else on earth. The Seychelles consists of more than one hundred islands each with its own character and attractions. The main island is Mahe and the two next best known are Praslin and Le Digue. All the islands have excellent hotels and we can offer superb accommodation on the island of your choice. Whatever your interests the Seychelles have an island for you, from exclusive luxury hideaways popular with royalty, film stars and the super-rich to small coral fringed atolls perfect for divers and nature lovers The Seychelles are also the best of the…

The Kenyan coast is lined with pristine, white sand beaches fringing the warm inviting waters of the Indian Ocean. Here the wilderness meets the sea, and the ocean itself holds a world of spectacular coral reefs teeming with life and colour. The coast is a place with a long and exotic history, its calm blue waters the traditional passage of the Arabian Spice Trade with many Arab and Portuguese forts dotted along its length, testimony to the importance of the region as a gateway to the interior of the continent. This blend of natural beauty and the living history in the old parts of Mombasa and Lamu create an exotic paradise unlike anywhere else on earth. The beach and bush combination is always popular with Safari Club guests and for many people represents the perfect combination of excitement and adventure followed by total relaxation in a tropical paradise.

Maasai Mara National Reserve is the finest wildlife park in Kenya for a whole host of reasons, it comprises a great wedge of undulating grasslands watered by the Mara River and is an extension of Tanzania’s Serengeti Plains to the south. The Maasai Mara is one place in Africa where animals still exist in the concentrations that existed in the nineteenth century, the numbers, especially when the Wildebeest are in residence can be truly staggering. The variety is also amazing with all the big five fairly common as well as cheetah, giraffe hippo and mega sized crocodile. It is sometimes possible to see a dozen different species at one time. The terrain makes the animals very visible at any time of the year making for great photographic opportunities and enhancing the possibility of witnessing predator action. In our opinion the Maasai Mara is an essential component of any wildlife safari in Kenya and can be relied upon to provide some of the best game viewing in Africa.

Meru National Park does not appear on many safari itineraries, it is perhaps the least visited of Kenya’s major parks, a pristine and unspoiled environment. Abundantly traversed by streams and with plentiful rainfall, a rolling jungle of tall grass, riverine forest and swamp. Here in Meru National Park visitors will see a more diverse range of species than in any other park or reserve in Kenya. Regular sightings include Beisa oryx, gerenuk, elephant, Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, lesser kudu, Grant’s gazelle, leopard, lion, cheetah, rhino and the rare, elusive greater kudu. Meru is famous for its bird life, including riverine and forest species as well as the arid dry country species. The park is also famous as the place where Elsa the lioness immortalised in the film “Born Free” was released into the wild. In our opinion Meru National Park is well worth including in any longer Kenyan safari circuit as you will see some of Kenya’s  most stunning wilderness and the likelihood of seeing anyone else while you stay here is small, Meru provides a fascinating contrast to Kenya’s many other national parks.

Samburu National Reserve is located in the North of Kenya on the opposite bank of the Ewaso Nyiro River to Buffalo Springs and adjacent to Shaba Reserve. The river acts as a magnet for wildlife from the very arid, surrounding, savannah plains. During the dry season months between June and October the water and lush vegetation attracts a very high concentration of wildlife. There are a number of rare northern species found here including Grevy’s zebra, gerenuk, Somali ostrich, Beisa oryx and reticulated giraffe. The Samburu National Reserve has plentiful elephants and all the big cats are regularly sighted. Samburu also has some highly endangered wild dogs and is a mecca for bird watchers. The reserve is located in the tribal lands of the Samburu people, a colourful culture with close links to the Maasai in the south. They are semi-nomadic pastoralists, herding cattle also, because of the terrain in which they live. Good flight connections make Samburu a good choice as part of a safari circuit with the Maasai Mara and Laikipia Plateau.

Shaba National Reserve in northern Kenya is very beautiful and attracts many animals because of the River Ewaso Nyiro which runs through it, and the mixture of acacia, riverine forest, thorn trees and grass vegetation. Shaba is adjacent to Samburu and Buffalo Springs Reserves and shares similar wildlife but has far fewer visitors. The Ewaso Nyiro flows from the Kenyan highlands, and terminates downstream at the famous Lorian Swamp. Animals commonly seen in the Shaba National Reserve are elephant, lion, cheetah, Grevy’s zebra, giraffe, gerenuk, buffalo, oryx, Grants gazelle, dikdik and waterbuck. The river forest attracts a wide variety of birds. Shaba National Reserve sees very few visitors and is off the main tourist trail making it an interesting destination for clients who have previously visited Kenya’s better known resorts and who would like to see a much less well known but very beautiful part of Kenya.

Caprivi is a narrow strip of land in the far north east of Namibia. About 400 km long, it protrudes from the rest of the country like a finger, and has a very unique history and shares borders with 4 other countries. This is by far the wettest region of Namibia and consists mostly of extensive wetlands, floodplains, woodlands and rivers resembling Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Spectacular herds of elephant, buffalo, red lechwe and reedbuck are among the highlights of any game viewing experience in the Caprivi Strip and the rivers are full of large crocodiles and families of hippopotami. There are four smallish national parks in the Caprivi Strip including Bwabwata, Mamili, Mudumu and Mahango all of which have big game. There are over 450 species of bird occurring here – including some of Africa’s rarest. The area attracts many migrants and the variety of habitats offer specials such as Pels fishing owl, rock pratincole, African skimmers and pygmy geese. Other attractions include Popa Falls, which are more rapids than waterfall, but nonetheless impressive as they rage through a four-meter high rocky riverbed and beautiful scenery.

Damaraland is dominated by rugged mountain ranges and steep escarpments, ancient highlands and barren valleys scorched by a relentless sun. This visually stunning area contains no National Parks, but, is a beautiful wilderness area with plenty of specialist wildlife which should be on the itinerary of every visitor to Namibia. The remote northern area of Damaraland has many huge privately managed conservancies many of which are run as partnerships with local communities, similar to those in neighboring Botswana, some of which can only be accessed by air. The south is easily accessible to self-drivers and the popular tourist attractions of the Petrified Forest, Organ Pipes and Burnt Mountain are located here. Wildlife is abundant and varied offering encounters with the famous desert adapted elephants that roam the riverbeds and adjacent mopane woodlands or numerous herds of mountain zebra, springbok and oryx. This area also contains some of the few free ranging black rhinos surviving outside the national parks.

Etosha National Park consists of a vast white salty pan surrounded by mopani woodlands and grasslands. There are many natural springs and waterholes which ensure that the wildlife can survive prolonged dry spells and guarantee the visitor excellent game viewing making the area a brilliant location for a traditional safari. Etosha National Park, the venue for many wildlife documentaries, is one of the finest locations in the world for big game viewing and naturally Namibia’s prime safari destination. Most species of large game are around in healthy numbers including elephant, lion, eland, zebra, cheetah, wildebeest, kudu and hyena. Etosha is one of the best places to see black rhino which are highly endangered throughout Africa. The park is surrounded by a number of private reserves which provide a more exclusive experience than the busy park and formerly large government run camps within the park. Most of the private reserves include game viewing both inside the private reserve and parks. Etosha is a very large park, it is therefore ideal to visit two or three different areas of the park staying in a combination of private reserves and National park accommodation.

This is Namibia’s largest wildlife conservation area and is also one of the world’s largest national parks. The Namib is one of the oldest and driest deserts in the world as a result of the cold Benguela current which sweeps north from Antarctica and captures and condenses humid air which would otherwise be blown ashore. The core area of the park consists of immense apricot colored dunes interspersed with dry pans. The most famous of these is known as Sossusvlei, a dusty pan surrounded by dunes 300 metres high. On the very rare occasions when the Tsauchab River is flowing Sossusvlei fills with water and attracts gemsbok, springbok, ostrich and a variety of aquatic birds. Most of our camps are located in this area of magnificent landscapes and experience clear skies with wonderful sunrises and magical starlit nights.

Okonjima Private Reserve lies to the west of the Waterberg Plateau, and its main aim is the long-term conservation of the large carnivores in Namibia. Okonjima is home to the AfriCat Foundation, which works with local farmers to conserve Namibia’s big cats – mainly leopard and cheetah. As a guest, you will have the unique opportunity to watch the AfriCat Foundation researchers at work and to participate in radio-tracking on foot. Alternatively, watch leopards from the safety of a hide or a safari vehicle, and track them using signals from their radio collars. Visitors to the reserve are guaranteed to see leopard and cheetah, more recently spotted hyena have been released into the park. Many of the animals that have been introduced to the area can be tracked on special trails, using radio signals from collars that have been fitted to them. Other animals that are rescued by this foundation include lion, caracal, wild dog and hyena. Okonjima is located approximately half way between Etosha National Park and Windhoek making Okonjima a great stop for a couple of days at the start or finish of an overland Safari through Northern Namibia. It is a beautiful but not really wild safari…

The Skeleton coast is one of our planet’s most beautiful places, which over the past decade has had restricted access to the public. It is possible to drive as far as Terrace Bay along the Southern Section of the Skeleton Coast National Park an area which includes the enormous seal colony at Cape Cross. The Northern Section can only be accessed by air on a flying safari, this area has just one operator here offering flying safaris which stay at extremely remote but quite comfortable camps in the National Park. It is wild, desolate, uninhabited and stunningly beautiful, but rather expensive to visit. Excursions in this area include visits to the clay castles of the Hoarusib River, Rocky Point, the roaring dunes, lichen fields, seal colonies, Himba villages and shipwreck sites. There are also secret water seeps that attract wildlife such as oryx, springbok, giraffe, brown hyena and jackals. To the North West lies Kaokaland and the Kunene River, another fantastic area of ancient highlands and barren valleys to explore on a flying safari. Kaokaland is inhabited almost exclusively by the semi-nomadic Himba tribe. Forests of Makalani palms skirt the course of the Kunene River forming the border with Angola…

“Park National Des Volcans” is located in the heart of Central Africa in the Virunga’s Mountains. The Park comprises old volcanoes towering up to almost 15,000 feet, thickly covered in dense green rainforest. The Parc National des Volcans protects the steep slopes of this magnificent mountain range which is home to around 350 rare mountain gorillas. This area was made famous by the work of Diane Fossey to protect the gorillas, immortalised in the film “Gorillas in the Mist” Mountain gorilla trekking is undoubtedly the highlight of a visit to this National Park. As the trail enters the national park, trekkers are immersed in the mysterious intimacy of the rainforest, alive with the calls of colourful birds and chattering of the rare golden monkey, and littered with fresh spoor of the mountains’ elusive populations of buffalo and elephant. Gaps in the forest canopy offer a glimpse of the magnificent peaks which straddle the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo much of which is protected by National Parks. The gorilla trekking lodges are located around a two hours scenic drive from Kigali and generally the trekking here is less arduous than in neighbouring Uganda.

The Eastern Cape region is suitable as a destination in its own right or as a leg of a self-drive or flying safari taking in Cape Town and the Garden Route. The Eastern Cape contains a number of excellent “Big Five” private game reserves including Shamwari, Kwandwe and Amakhala. Also in the Eastern Cape is Addo Elephant Park which is the third largest national park in South Africa and claims “Big Seven” game viewing with the addition of Whales and Great White shark. The reserves are open year round, and are very well run with excellent guiding and good game viewing in areas which can be very beautiful. An Eastern Cape safari could include the third largest national park in South Africa, The Addo Elephant Park, home to a dense population of elephant as well as claiming “big seven” with great white shark and whales added to the terrestrial big five. Scenic diversity is one of the most striking characteristics of the region, ranging from the lush, evergreen Tsitsikamma Forest to the rugged Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area, the southern slopes of the Drakensberg and the arid Great Karoo. Alternating between sweeping sand, river mouths, rocks and coves, the coastline is a…

The Garden Route is a slender stretch of coastal plain between Mossel Bay and Storms River Mouth. This piece of paradise is bisected by rivers coming down from the mountains behind and tumbling down to the rocky shores and sandy beaches. This is South Africa’s premier tourist destinations. An abundance of blue skies, white sand beaches, rolling oceans, dramatic mountain scenery, indigenous fynbos, ostrich farms and local hospitality. Open roads with little traffic, golden vineyards, sun-drenched orchards, magnificent forests, lakes and dramatic passes all add to the mix. There are a number of excellent walks in this region including the world famous “Otter Trail”, a five day trip crossing rivers tidal pools and forests with the opportunity to view, dolphins whales and seals en route and if you are very lucky, cape clawless otters. The Garden Route has a number of very pleasant small coastal and inland towns and some really excellent gourmet restaurants many specialising in seafood and other local produce. The Garden Route is the perfect place for a leisurely self-drive holiday, we suggest you spend between five and seven nights in this area to fully explore and appreciate its beauty.

Kruger National Park and the adjoining private game reserves which include the world famous Sabi Sand, Timbavati, Thornybush and Manyeleti reserves is the jewel in South Africa’s wildlife crown. The area delivers what most visitors come to Africa to see, huge elephant herds, dozens of lions and other big cats and all of Africa’s iconic wildlife species. With its excellent, tarred, road network and well maintained gravel tracks, Kruger is easy to get around and the wildlife relatively easy to spot. Good connections by both road and air also make Kruger easily accessible for visitors to South Africa and regular direct flights from Kruger to Mozambique means that an exciting Kruger safari and tropical beach combination is possible. Kruger National Park and the surrounding private game reserves along with adjacent safari regions in neighbouring Mozambique and Zimbabwe form one of the largest protected wildlife areas in Africa. The biodiversity in Kruger is the widest in Africa and the big five including both black and white rhino, cheetah and wild dog along with all the other popular African wildlife species are regularly spotted on game drives. Kruger National Park itself can get quite busy as accommodation is plentiful and access from…

The Zulu Kingdom is a kaleidoscope of natural wonders, ultra-modern facilities, and fascinating glimpses of multi-cultured people, a history rich in heroic deeds, bloody battles and ultimately, reconciliation – all set against a majestic backdrop of sun, sea, mountains and sky. The most northerly region of KwaZulu Natal is known as Maputaland. The world’s highest natural dunes, brilliant coral reefs, fever tree and palm savannahs, papyrus swamps and rolling acacia bushveld are found here. The sea, lakes and beach provide more adventure, whilst the area contains some excellent private game reserves. Further south is Hluhwe Umfalozi National Park a “Big Five” reserve. The north coast of Zululand, also known as the Dolphin Coast, stretches from Zimbali just north of Durban to the mighty Tugela River. This is the playground of bottlenose dolphins, which frolic in the waters close to shore and are visible all year round and the ideal place for a bit of R&R after a safari elsewhere. The Drakensberg Mountains, with their awe-inspiring basalt cliffs, snowcapped in winter, tower over riverine bush, lush yellowwood forests and cascading waterfalls. The only road access to the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho is via Sani Pass, which, at the top, boasts the…

The North West Provinces is one of South Africa’s lesser known regions, which does however contain much interest to tourists and has some excellent wildlife parks including the excellent Madikwe Game Reserve and Pilansberg National Park. The landscape consists of largely flat regions of scattered trees and grassland. For convenience, due to its near proximity we include the beautiful Waterberg Area which is actually in neighboring Limpopo Province. The Waterberg district offers up a fantastic tourism experience that combines some of South Africa’s best features including spectacular mountains, “Big Five” game viewing and lots of tourist activities. This area is Malaria Free and with a wealth of activities, is particularly well suited to family holidays.

Relaxed and cosmopolitan, the Cape is an ideal gateway into Africa. At its heart is Cape Town, one of the world’s great cities, cradled by mountains, ringed by beaches and bathed in clear ocean waters. In addition to having notable attractions of its own, it is also the perfect base for exploring the beautiful Cape Peninsula, striking north to the remote and haunting Cederberg Mountains, or simply taking a short drive to the Wine lands region, an area of pretty, historic towns, inspiring mountains, rolling vineyards and attractive country hotels. To the south-east is the Whale Coast, where annual whale migrations bring these gentle giants to within metres of the shore. Table Mountain defines and dominates Cape Town, sandwiching the city up against the ocean. A cable car to the summit affords spectacular views, with Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela spent much of his incarceration, lying just offshore. Much of the port area has been redeveloped into The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, a symbol of the new, vibrant South Africa with a huge variety of shops, restaurants and entertainment. The Cape Malay quarter, Bo-Kaap, with its distinctive pastel-hued houses, and the District Six museum, near the site of a coloured…

Mainland Tanzania has a long and largely undeveloped coastline with just a few of the stunning beaches developed for tourists. It is the spice island of Zanzibar and its sister islands, Mafia and Pemba lying in the clear blue Indian Ocean off the coast of Tanzania that will appeal to most visitors looking for an idyllic tropical paradise. Their exotic palm fringed coral beaches and Swahili culture will complement your safari perfectly. Zanzibar is by far the most heavily developed destination with accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets. Famous for once being the commercial centre of East Africa and the last place to abolish the slave trade, today it combines ancient Islamic ruins, noble Arabic houses with miles of white, sandy, palm fringed beaches and coves. For guests looking to get off the beaten tourist track both Pemba island and Mafia Island have very few tourists and feature warm clear blue waters, excellent reefs for snorkeling and diving, fantastic deep sea fishing and water sports. If you thought that wasn’t enough, visiting the Spice plantations (cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, cardamom and others) or haggling for carvings in the traditional markets is great fun too. The food is also delicious…

Katavi National Park is Tanzania’s third largest park and is a true wilderness, isolated, untrammeled and seldom visited, providing the few intrepid souls who make it there with a thrilling taste of Africa as it must have been a century ago. The bulk of Katavi is woodland, home to substantial but elusive populations of the eland, sable and roan antelope. The main focus for game viewing within the park is the Katuma River and associated floodplains such as the seasonal Lakes Katavi and Chada. During the dry season, when the floodwaters retreat, a safari in Katavi truly comes into its own. The Katuma is the only source of drinking water for miles around, and the flanking floodplains support game concentrations that defy belief. An estimated 4,000 elephants might converge on the area, together with huge herds of buffalo, an abundance of giraffe, zebra, impala and reedbuck provide easy pickings for the numerous lion prides and spotted hyena clans. Katavi National Park can be an interesting addition to a Southern safari circuit but beware of the ferocious Tsetse flies that plague the area.

Lake Manyara is a scenic gem with a compact game-viewing circuit. The National Park stretches for 50km along the base of the Rift Valley escarpment. From the entrance gate, the road winds through an expanse of lush jungle-like groundwater forest where hundred-strong baboon troops lounge nonchalantly along the roadside and blue monkeys scamper nimbly between the ancient mahogany trees. Contrasting with the intimacy of the forest is the grassy floodplain and its expansive views eastward, across the alkaline lake, home to thousands of flamingos, to the jagged blue volcanic peaks that rise from the endless Maasai Steppes. Large buffalo, wildebeest and zebra herds congregate on the grassy plains whilst inland from the plains, a narrow belt of acacia woodland is the favored haunt of Manyara’s legendary tree-climbing lions and some impressively tusked elephants. The area is home to a number of primate species not seen in Tanzania’s other parks. Keen Birders will enjoy the birdlife of Lake Manyara National park, more than 400 species have been recorded.

Mahale Mountains National Park is located on a far-flung beach along the eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika and is accessible only by air and water. Here the water is as clear as gin, the air scented and the living is easy. The forested slopes of the Mahale Mountains National Park are home to the world’s largest known population of chimpanzees, with approximately 1000 individuals inhabiting this small park. Trekking with the habituated chimpanzees at Mahale is a humbling and very special experience. Each day you can venture out into the forest, to observe and commune with our closest relatives, as they groom, wrestle and forage across the leafy floor. The forest itself is special, with eight other species of primate, shy forest mammals, birds, butterflies, giant vines and waterfalls. Mahale Mountains National Park is usually combined with a traditional safari in Katavi or Ruaha National Parks which may be stops on route.

The Ngorongoro Crater is a major drawcard for tourists coming on a Tanzania safari holiday and is an essential component of any Northern Tanzania safari circuit. The game viewing on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater is sensational at any time of year and the chances of seeing rare black rhino and also big cats, especially lions, is as good as anywhere in Africa. Lion and cheetah can often be spotted hunting by day and flamingos are present in the soda lake on the crater floor. The Ngorongoro Conservation area also includes Olduvai Gorge, and huge expanses of highland plains, scrub bush, and forests that cover approximately 8300 square kilometers. Only indigenous tribes such as the Maasai are allowed to live within the borders of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Lake Ndutu and Masek, both alkaline soda lakes are home to rich game populations, as well as a series of peaks and volcanoes and make the conservation Area a unique and beautiful landscape. The short grass plains and the adjacent Southern Serengeti are the location of the “Great Migration” between January and April as the herds arrive to calve and over half a million wildebeest calves are born over the space…

Ruaha National Park is second only to Katavi National Park in its aura of untrammeled wilderness, but far more accessible. Ruaha protects a vast tract of the rugged, semi-arid bush country that is characteristic of central Tanzania. Its lifeblood is the Great Ruaha River, which is a raging torrent during the height of the rains, but dwindles thereafter to a scattering of precious pools. Ruaha National Park has a fine network of game-viewing roads following the Great Ruaha River and its seasonal tributaries. Ruaha is famous for its numerous lion prides that lord over the savannah. Other predators include cheetah that stalk the open grassland and the leopard that lurk in tangled riverine thickets. This impressive array of large predators is boosted by both striped and spotted hyena, as well as several conspicuous packs of the highly endangered African wild dog. Ruaha also has an unusually high diversity of antelope as a consequence of its location, which is transitional to the acacia savannah of East Africa and the miombo woodland belt of Southern Africa. Grant’s gazelle and lesser kudu occur here at the very south of their range, alongside the greater kudu, sable and roan antelope, a similar duality is…

Selous Game Reserve is the largest game reserve in Africa. The landscape is diverse from hot volcanic springs, seasonal lakes and channels of the Great Ruaha and Rufiji rivers to forests and open plains. You will see few other tourists on a safari in Selous as the reserve has only a few small, well-spaced out safari camps. Good connections by air make access surprisingly easy and direct connections by air from Zanzibar means a few days in atmospheric Stone Town or on a white sand beach on Zanzibar or Mafia Islands make for relaxed ending to an exciting Safari holiday. The park has a broad range of game: including buffalo – the largest population in Africa; wildebeest, hartebeest, greater kudu, sable antelope, eland, reedbuck; bushbuck; waterbuck; warthog; zebras; giraffe. Of the predators lion, leopard, spotted hyena and wild dog are in abundance; cheetah are rare; there are over 350 species of bird and reptiles. Selous Game Reserve also combines very well in a Southern Safari Circuit with Ruaha National Park. The close proximity to Zanzibar makes it ideal for a “bush and beach” honeymoon destination.

The Serengeti National Park is the most famous national park in the world and together with the game management areas that border the Reserve and the adjacent Ngorongoro Conservation area and Kenya’s Maasai Mara form one of the largest areas of protected wilderness in Africa. Just the name Serengeti which translates as “endless plains” conjures up visions of huge herds of wildebeest roaming across the savannah and crossing treacherous rivers home to giant crocodiles waiting for an easy meal. Along the migration routes the full range of Africa’s voracious predators lie in wait. This is not just a fantasy, throughout the year the Serengeti is home to a whole range of game, both large and small and the generally open terrain makes finding such game reasonably easy. Wildlife here includes the “big five” plus plentiful cheetah and a few wild dogs plus a whole host of other fascinating wildlife. Popular the Serengeti might be, it remains so vast that you may well be the only human audience to the dramas that may unfold before you. Many guests visiting the Serengeti do on a traditional overland safari circuit including the Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks and the Ngorongoro Crater. The…

Tarangire National Park in the dry season can be very rewarding indeed in terms of wildlife sightings, this is a classic East African Park and scenically very attractive. During the dry season the fierce sun sucks the moisture from the landscape, baking the earth a dusty red and the Tarangire River shrivels to a shadow of its wet season self. This permanent water source ensures that Tarangire is teeming with wildlife at this time. Impressive huge herds of elephants in their hundreds scratch the dry river bed for underground streams, while migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest and eland crowd the shrinking lagoons. Tarangire has the greatest concentration of wildlife in Tanzania outside the Serengeti ecosystem with all the major predators in residence.Tarangire is the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as the stately fringe-eared oryx and peculiar long-necked gerenuk are regularly observed. Birding in Tarangire is very good with 550 species recorded, the most breeding species in one habitat anywhere in the world.

Bwindi is a pristine rainforest on the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley. The terrain is a string of ridges and valleys covered in very dense impenetrable forest. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is best known for its superb gorilla tracking and is the natural habitat for just over half the world’s last surviving population of mountain gorillas. It also provides refuge to elephant, chimpanzee, monkeys and various small antelope and is a birders paradise with over 350 different bird species. The main reason for a safari in Bwindi is to track and spend time with the Mountain Gorillas. The gorillas you will track will belong one of the ‘habituated’ family groups, Only eight permits per gorilla group are issued per day and you may spend anywhere between half and eight hours in search of these animals Once the gorillas are located, you will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them observing their behaviour and interaction with each other. Clients wishing to track mountain gorillas should be of a reasonable fitness as it is a strenuous exercise and if you are in good health you will benefit far more from the entire experience.

The small Kibale Forest Reserve is inhabited by a wonderfully diverse community of animals especially primates, these include, red-tailed guenon (white-nosed monkey), grey-cheeked mangabey, blue monkey, L’Hoest’s monkey, and red, black and white colobus monkeys. Along with these are olive baboon, bush baby, the nocturnal potto and chimpanzee. Many of these animals have been the subjects of long-term research projects, so they are now habituated to human presence and easy to observe. A trail grid has been cut in the forest to facilitate walking. Kibale is located just east of the Rwenzori, near the town of Fort Portal and is usually included as part of the circuit for guests visiting Bwindi Forest to see the Gorillas

Lake Mburo National Park is situated between the towns of Masaka and Mbarara. It is the only National Park to contain an entire lake and is a convenient stop on the route between Kampala and the gorillas at Bwindi. The attractive acacia-dotted savannah is home to huge herds of impala, as well as less common topi, eland, klipspringer and other antelope, zebra and buffalo also graze these peaceful acres. In the lake there are hippo and crocodile and a wonderful diversity of birds due mainly to the varying habitats of the lakeshore and the broad savannah. Among the birds found here are kingfishers, marabou stork, bee-eaters and the cheeky bronze-tailed starling, as well as the beautiful crowned crane, the national emblem of Uganda.

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest National Park. The park is bisected by the Nile and its landscape varies from dense rainforest on the hills in the South-West, to undulating savannah in the North-West. The forest shelters many primate species, including Chimpanzees, while the river attracts various antelopes, buffalo, giraffe and elephant. Rhino are being re introduced. The world-famous Murchison Falls are a must for any visitor to Uganda. The view from the top is very impressive, here the Nile forces its way through a seven-meter gap in the rocks and tumbles 40 meters down. A path leads from the parking above the falls all the way to the bottom and offers spectacular views of the foaming waters rushing into the gorge, with a deafening roar. Beyond the Falls the pacified river winds its way towards Lake Albert. The reed beds, sandy beaches and huge trees lining the banks of the River Nile are the focus for birdwatchers. The variety is impressive and ranges from the tiny malachite kingfisher and carmine bee-eater, to the African fish eagle and the saddlebill stork. The most conspicuous bird, however, is the Whale headed (or Shoebill) Stork, which, with a little luck can…

Queen Elizabeth National Park is bordered to the North by the Rwenzori mountains and to the West by Lake Edward, and is divided into a Northern and Southern sector. It is one of the most beautiful and richest parks in East Africa a mixture sprawling cacti, savannah, forests, rivers and lakes. The park’s northern section is particularly scenic. When the weather permits, there are tremendous views of the Rwenzori peaks from its plains, which are decorated with giant candelabra euphoria trees. The Southern sector around Ishasha is renowned for its “tree climbing” lions, whose habit of lounging in the upper branches of old fig trees is not usually found in other lion populations. You can also see hippo, herds of buffalo, Uganda kob, topi, and many elephant. Unfortunately, like other Ugandan parks much of the wildlife was slaughtered during the country’s troubled past however with enlightened park management the game has recovered well and the park has regained its past grandeur. The birdlife is spectacular and includes pelicans, fish eagles, kingfishers, cormorants and saddle bill storks. Chambura (Kyambura) Gorge, where visitors can take a walking safari along a river through tropical forest is a popular visitors spot, here black and…

This easily accessible park, located in the south of Zambia is one of the largest parks in Africa and the largest in Zambia. Kafue National Park is an undiscovered gem bisected by the beautiful Kafue River and is classic wildlife country. The northern sector of the park including the Busanga plains, an area of Serengeti type grasslands and Okavango type wetlands has a mixture of luxury lodges and reasonably priced owner run bush camps. The small number of lodges located in this huge game reserve mean that you will see few if any other vehicles on your game drives. The Southern Kafue has some riverside lodges as well as a camp in the fascinating Lake Itezi Tezhi region and a lodge on the Nanzhila Plains in the extreme south.

Lower Zambezi is located on the Northern bank of the wild and very beautiful Zambezi River opposite Mana Pools national park on the Zimbabwean side of the river which together with surrounding protected areas create a wild and beautiful area of pristine wilderness. The park comprises a grassy flood plain dotted with thickets and clumps of acacia and is flanked on the northern side by hills and a steep wooded escarpment. There are a number of small dambos which hold permanent water and attract wildlife from the surrounding area. The area is particularly rich in elephant and buffalo, with huge herds often encountered along the riverbanks where crocodile and hippo are plentiful. Lion can often been seen and their roars can usually be heard at night along with the whooping of hyena. Lower Zambezi is also an excellent park for leopard which are frequently seen on night drives. The other big attraction for most visitors to this park is the variety of additional safari activities afforded by the Zambezi River. There are only a few small upmarket lodges and bush camps in this park offering a high level of exclusivity on your game drives and other activities, the lodges here…

North Luangwa National Park remains a truly wild park with just one or two very small seasonal walking camps located within its borders and only a few game drive tracks. North Luangwa will awaken the explorer inside you and provide a thrilling adventure in a park which is not open to the public and where there is little chance of meeting others. The park is bounded by the Luangwa River and in addition to the river floodplain and valley floor lies a large area of forested escarpment. In the eighties the park suffered from heavy poaching mainly focused on the rhino and elephant population. Rhino were poached to extinction but have now been reintroduced and although still rare are recovering slowly thanks to much improved security. Elephant were for many years fairly scarce and quite skittish. However this is now changing and the population is recovering well. North Luangwa is also home to some big lion prides as well as some huge herds of buffalo. Most visitors to the park come for the walking safaris which are the principal activity in the park.

South Luangwa is the jewel in the Zambian crown, famous for its stunning scenery, variety and concentration of animals. The park is sandwiched between the Luangwa River and the Muchinga Escarpment and covers a vast area. The accessible areas of the reserve are along the Luangwa River and its hinterland which includes the floodplain of the river and the oxbow lakes and seasonally dry tributaries that flow into the main river. The availability of water throughout the year acts as a magnet for game particularly at the end of the dry season when game concentrations are phenomenal. The Luangwa River is teeming with crocodile and hippo and the surrounding woodland is home to lion, giraffe, hyena, zebra, elephant, wild dog, huge herds of buffalo and it is also one of the best places to see leopard in Africa. South Luangwa National Park is a birders paradise particularly during the wetter months. We are able to offer traditional and walking safaris in this park with our well respected partners who employ some of the finest game guides in Africa.

Victoria Falls known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya which translates as “The Smoke that Thunders” are without doubt one of the world’s true natural wonders. No trip to this part of Africa is complete without marvelling at the constantly changing waters, getting soaked by the spray, or capturing the famous rainbows on film. Victoria Falls are 1.7 km wide and over 100 metres high, at peak times 10 million litres of water plunge over the edge every second. Below the falls the waters of the Zambezi are forced between the towering cliffs of the Batoka Gorge creating a series of rapids which offer world-class white water rafting. The tourist infrastructure at Victoria Falls is well developed with a mixture of hotels and lodges ranging from budget options to five star international standard. A huge range of exciting activities is available to suit every taste.

Hwange National Park is one of Africa’s finest havens for wildlife and with visitor numbers low it is a good time to visit. The park is home to vast herds of elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, gemsbok and some rhinos also remain. All the larger predators are found in the park including the endangered wild dog. Hwange also contains large numbers of Hyena including a healthy population of the rare brown hyena. The larger antelope are also fairly common with sable, roan, kudu and eland all quite numerous. Hwange National Park is situated on the main road between Bulawayo and the world famous Victoria Falls, access is therefore easy by road or air. A Hwange Safari combines very well with a few days at the magnificent Victoria Falls. The landscape includes desert sand to sparse woodland as well as grasslands and granite outcrops. Due to the lack of permanent water, man-made waterholes were introduced to sustain the animals through the dry season. Many of the waterholes have hides and viewing platforms which make for great game viewing without the need to drive for miles.

Mana Pools National Park is an excellent game viewing destination located on the banks of the Zambezi River opposite Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park. The magic of this national park, which is a World Heritage Site, stems from the pervading sense of the wild and also in the park’s relative remoteness. Mana Pools has a parklike appearance with massive acacia albida trees towering over more open grassland whilst away from the river and its floodplain the area is covered in thick bush. The park has excellent game viewing along the mighty Zambezi River and around the oxbow lakes that give Mana Polls its name. Game includes plentiful lion, elephant and buffalo as well as offering a good chance of viewing leopard. The river teems with crocodile and hippo and large herds of buffalo graze along the shoreline. Part of the fun at Mana Pools is getting out on the river and short, guided, canoe trips along the river where sightings of hippo and crocodile are virtually guaranteed are offered at most camps. Every kind of wild animal and bird is viewed at close hand as the canoe glides silently past. One can drift within metres of grazing buffalo, slide by…

Victoria Falls known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya which translates as “The Smoke that Thunders” is without doubt one of the world’s true natural wonders. No trip to this part of Africa is complete without marvelling at the constantly changing waters, getting soaked by the spray, or capturing the famous rainbows on film. Victoria Falls are 1.7 km wide and over 100 metres high, at its peak 10 million litres of water plunge over the edge every second. Below the Falls the waters of the Zambezi are forced between the towering cliffs of the Batoka gorge creating a series of rapids which offer world-class white water rafting. The tourist infrastructure at Victoria Falls is well developed with a mixture of hotels and lodges ranging from budget options to five star international standard. A huge range of exciting activities is available to suit every taste.

The Zambezi National Park starts about six kilometres from the town of Victoria Falls. The Park consists of 40km of Zambezi River frontage and a spread of wildlife, rich inland mopane forest and savanna. The Zambezi National Park together with the Victoria Falls National Park covers an area of 56,000 hectares. The northern border of the Park is formed by the great Zambezi River which also forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia for much of its length. A wide variety of larger mammals may be found within the Zambezi National Park including 4 of the Big Five: elephant, lion, buffalo, and leopard. In addition, herds of sable antelope, eland, zebra, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck and impala as well as many of the smaller species of game can be viewed. Zambezi National Park has two main game-viewing sections, the Zambezi River Game Drive, with an extensive network of roads along the river accessed through the main gate of the Park, and the 25 kilometre Kamabondo Game Drive in the southern part of the Park, which begins about 5 kilometres outside of Victoria Falls town just off the main road to Bulawayo. A Zambezi National Park safari is normally taken as a…