Tanzania

Tanzania National Parks Safaris

Most of the safari activities take place in the northern part of Tanzania normally referred to us the northern circuit where you will have a chance to visit Ngorongoro National park a UNESCO Conservation area and world’s largest intact volcanic caldera with vast wildlife species and natural ecosystem. Among other national parks you will visit include Lake Manyara National park and Tarangire National park best known for its thousand populations of elephants. Eco Adventure Safaris is one of the most established and experienced operators in East Africa offering trips to Tanzania. Our driver-guides are among the most dedicated and Knowledgeable in terms of fauna and flora and continue to entice guests with their keen ability to locate wildlife and provide in depth knowledge. Our fleet of four-wheel-drive vehicles is one of the newest and largest in Tanzania and ideal for traversing Tanzania’s rugged terrain.

The best and famous event in the northern circuit of Tanazania is the annual great migration of more than a million wildebeests and zebras which begins and ends in Serengeti National Park. This is one of the most dramatic experiences of nature one can witness on your safari to Africa.

The Southern circuit in Tanzania consists of the Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National park. The lifeline of Selous is Rufuji River supporting a population of bird life and wildlife including elephant, buffalo, hippo, crocodiles as well as magnificent scenery. Ruaha is a true wildlife haven, sustained by the Great Ruaha River and central for the resident crocodiles, hippos, turtles and fish there as well as a huge array of over 400 bird species. This makes Tanzania one of the best safari destinations in world.

Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park is the oldest and one of the largest National Parks in Tanzania best national park to visit for safari in Tanzania. Serengeti National Park is the most visited park in Tanzania famous for massive migration of the Wildebeests and large herds of animals including Zebras, Elephants and towers of Giraffes, watch a hyenas chase away lions for prey. Serengeti remains the best place in Tanzania and East Africa to film Lions and the Wildebeests. Serengeti National Park is home to Big 5 animals which include Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Rhinos and Buffaloes.

You can as well choose to encounter these animals up close through a walking safari tour at the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and discover lions, elephants, giraffes, crocodiles and more exotic animals in their natural habitat.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home to a variety of wildlife and the Ngorongoro Crater which is the world’s largest intact Volcanic Caldera great for wildlife encounters and safari experience. The Conservation Area consists of different habitats that range from grassland, rivers, swamps, forests and open savannah plains. These environment habitats attract a wide range of wildlife including the wildebeest and the Big 5 animals.

A safari to Ngorongoro Conservation Area will give you an opportunity to see one of the most famous sites in Africa, the Ngorongoro Crater alongside great wildlife viewing in the beautiful mind-blowing environment and great sceneries.

Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is located between Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley home to tree climbing lions. The park is dominated by Lake Manyara a shallow alkaline lake at an altitude of 960m which was formed in a depression within the Rift Valley System. Lake Manyara National Park is home to some of the migratory mammals from Tarangire National Park which includes wildebeests, Zebras, Thomson’s gazelle and Grant’s gazelle. Predators to film in Lake Manyara National Park include lion, leopard, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, serval, honey badger, African wild cat, spotted hyena, African civet, genet (Genetta) species and several mongoose species.

Cheetah and African golden cat are rarely sighted. Other notable mammals include elephant, baboon, lesser flamingo, greater flamingo Cape buffalo, lion, hippopotamus, wildebeest, bushbuck, impala, giraffe, zebra, white pelican, yellow-billed stork, Ayres’s hawk-eagle, Nile monitor, white-breasted cormorant, palm-nut vulture and cobra.

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park is located few kilometers from Arusha town home to huge Elephants and large herds. It is known to have the largest concentration of wildlife only after Serengeti National Park. The park is home to the highest population density of elephants in Tanzania making it one of the best places to see Elephants in East Africa.

Tarangire has beautiful scenery made up of its habitats which range. Tarangire is home to large herds of Elephants one herd can go consist up to 300 Elephants. Other animals include wildebeests, buffaloes, impalas, gazelle, heartbeest, zebras, elands, stately fringe-eared oryx and peculiar long necked gerenuk.

Tanzania Cities

Tanzania has many cities and towns to visit and explore the city day and night life in Tanzania. There is much to see in these cities including tasting local foods in local Restaurants, shops, explore office buildings, and government buildings are all a common features of Tanzania’s urban center.

Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam will give you an opportunity to explore the political and economic capital of the largest city of Tanzania. The city is located in the quite bay off the Indian Ocean Coast. It is one of the major hubs of East Africa acting as the main port in Tanzania. The city is home to various industrial areas, government offices, diplomatic missions and non-government organizations.

Arusha Town

Arusha town is the main hub of Tanzania; it is located near Arusha International Airport. Arusha town has a lot of things to see and do including Arusha National Park is the closest National Park to Arusha Town in Tanzania. The park is home to various ecosystems and wildlife with spectacular views of Mountain Meru. Arusha National park habitats range from swamp, grassland, lakes, dense forest and alpine highland to rocks home to the Big 4 animals and a variety of birds.

Morongoro Town

Morogoro is a town located in Eastern part of Tanzania with a population of 315,866, it is located 196 kilometers west of Dar es Salaam. It is situated at the base of Uluguru Mountains offerings a great opportunity to shoot the beautiful Landscape. Morongoro also offers a good opportunity to enjoy the Tanzanian life outside Dar es Salaam, plus the chance for cultural tours and hikes in the nearby Ulugurus among others major locations depending on your interest and itinerary in Tanzania.

Bagamoyo Town

Bagamoyo Town is another prominent town in Tanzania offering a lot of things to see. The town is home to world class historical sites and one of the UNESCO’s World Heritage site with rich cultural heritage for exploring. Bagamoyo Town is one of the most notable trading ports along the East African Coast and known as the German East Africa Capital.

The Stone Town of Zanzibar

Stone Town of Zanzibar is also known as Mji Mkongwe, it is the old part of Zanzibar City and the main city of Zanzibar in Tanzania. The newer portion of the city is known as Ng’ambo, Swahili for ‘the other side’. Among other things to do and see in the Stone Town of Zanzibar include the beautiful architectural features found in the Stone Town, the Guliani Bridge, the livingstone house, The old dispensary of Zanzibar the house of wonders, Ngome Kongwe (The Old Fort of Zanzibar) among others.

Zanzibar Island

Zanzibar is the main Island of Tanzania offering some of the best beaches in the world. Eco Adventure Safaris organizes beach safaris to Zanzibar. Zanzibar Island is also known as Unguja, it is composed of Tanzania Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. The Island is home to coral reefs, sand bars, small pools of starfish and white sand beaches. The Island is also reach with a variety of flora and fauna species making it one of the best filming destinations in Africa.

Dodoma Tanzania’s Capital

Dodoma is the capital city of Tanzania, it is located in the heartland of Tanzania and it is the nation’s official political Capital of Tanzania. It is situated on the edge of the southern highlands surrounded by rich agricultural area and amazing sceneries. Dodoma has many places and items of interest ranging from historical sites, people and the growing wine industry in Tanzania great for those who want to enjoy the Tanzania night life. Historically Dodoma was a major stopover on the overland caravan route that travelled from the Swahili Coast towards Lake Tanganyika. Dodoma is as well one of the best leisure places in East Africa.

Mwanza, Tanzania

Mwanza is a port city situated on the shore of Lake Victoria in northern Tanzania. It is ringed by beautiful green hills and sights of Lake Victoria offering a great opportunity for landscape photography. There is much to see in Mwanza and among the major items to include in the major things and attractions include the unusual rock formations like Bismarck Rock, near the Kamanga Ferry terminal, colonial buildings like the crumbling hilltop Dr. Robert Koch’s House in the center of town, the 1935 Indian Public Library, mosques and Hindu temples which reflect Indian influence back in the days and the famous Makoroboi area is full of shops among others.

Tanzania Wildlife Reserves Safari

Eco Adventure Safaris is one of the most established and experienced operators in East Africa offering safari trips to Tanzania wildlife reserves. Our local Tanzania driver-guides are among the most dedicated and Knowledgeable in terms of fauna and flora and continue to entice guests with their keen ability to locate wildlife and provide in depth knowledge. Our fleet of four-wheel-drive vehicles is one of the newest and largest in Tanzania and ideal for traversing Tanzania’s rugged terrain.

Selous Game Reserve

Selous Game Reserve is located in the southeast of Tanzania one of the perfect places to enjoy a closeup boat ride with water animals. It is a remote and less visited game reserve. Selous Game reserve is the largest protected wildlife reserve in Africa covering 5% of Tanzania’s total area. The park is home to diverse habitats ranging from miombo woodlands, riverine swamps, open wooded grassland, hills and open plains offering safe habitats to wildlife. The Rufigi River Delta in Selous Game Reserve is one of the great attractions in the reserve. It is the largest water catchment locations in the region home to plethora of varied water and bird life. Rufigi River Delta connects the Great Ruah River with the Rufigi river empting out into the Indian Ocean along the Tanzania coast.

Tanzania is home to various Marine Parks and Reserves. These are all grouped and managed under the Dar es Salaam Marine Reserve System (DMRS) controlled by Tanzania Marine Parks and Reserves Unit. The reserve system consists of nine uninhabited islands four north of Dar es Salaam (Bongoyo, Mbudya, Pangavini and Fungu Yasini) and five south of the city (Inner and Outer Makatumbe, Inner and Outer Sinda and Kendwa Island).

Mafia Island Marine Park

This consists of eight small reserves located along the Tanzania coast. The island is home to outstanding mosaic of tropical marine habitats including coral reefs, mangroves, grass beds and inter-tidal flats. The park is also home to two species of sea turtle used as mafia’s beaches as nesting grounds and the area has been recognized internationally as a critical site for biodiversity. Filming at this park will give you an opportunity to cover the several historical sites some dating back to the 13^th century. The marine park area has a national importance as one of the few remaining reef complexes within Tanzania’s coastal waters in relatively intact condition.

Mikindani Bay Marine Reserve

Mikindani Bay Marine Reserve is a fascinating old town with winding streets and an exciting blend of African, Arabic and European architecture. Some of the interesting attractions to film at Mikindani Bay Marine reserve include old house, Hendricks Family, The Hendricks families are the most famous of the Makonde carvers who still lives in Mtwara area. You can visit their carving workshop in Ziwani village just outside of Mtwara town. Other notable attractions include;

• A number of historical buildings
• Visit the Mikindani town the oldest settlements in Tanzania.
• Visit Dr. Livingstone house where lived when he landed in Mikindani during his final trip into Africa. This house still has a small sign on it.
• There are big ancient mosque, Old Boma, and an old German colonial building. This building is currently transformed into a top-end hotel, but still worth to have a look inside.

Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park

This is located in southern Tanzania it is home to important populations of whales, dolphins, four species of turtle and numerous birds. For those interested in filming whales at the coast of Tanzania this is the best marine park.

Chumbe Island Marine Sanctuary

Chumbe Island Marine Sanctuary is one of the best place in the world to film coral reefs, this offers some of the most pristine and colourful coral reefs in the world, with over 200 species of coral providing a sanctuary for more than 400 species of colourful fish. Filming coral reefs at this marine park donot need you to dive given it is not permitted the marine is shallow enough to see everything very clearly with a mask, snorkel and fins.

Knowing the Tanzania weather and climate is very important during planning your trip to Tanzania, this will help you understand how the weather and climate will be during your trip in Tanzania. Tanzania has a pleasant, tropical climate but has large regional climatic variations influenced by several factors, including altitude, topography and presence of Lake Victoria in the northern circuit. The hottest and most humid part of the country is the coast. Other low-lying areas, such as the western and southern parks, are also hot but less humid. The rest of the interior is much milder and cools down significantly at night. Tanzania has a distinct Dry and Wet season.

In general Tanzania has mostly tropical climate making it much warmer during the day and cooler at night. Tanzania has two seasons the dry and wet season which occur on specific month throughout the year. The climate is influenced by the topography and vegetation areas at high altitude.

The dry season in Tanzania occurs in the months of June to August and December to February every year, during this time the average temperatures hover around 27°C/81°F in the afternoon and 16°C/61°F in the morning. During this time as well it can still rain especially in the tropical rain forests.

The wet season in Tanzania occurs in the months of March, April, May, September & November every year, during this time the average temperatures hover around 28°C/82°F in the afternoon and 16°C/61°F in the morning.

What is the best time to see the Great Migration in Tanzania?

The best time to see the Great Migration and do a safari in Tanzania is during the dry season period that is between the months of July to early October every year. During this period in the southern parts of Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater the vegetation is sparse and dry, the waterways are as well dry this forces the wildebeests and Zebras to migrate to the North plains that is southern part of Masai Mara National Park to search for fresh vegetation and water. During the Migration the wildebeests and Zebras rear their young ones, this is not simple given the fact it is more of 3000 miles’ journey which tiresome making it a life and death migration, many die due to exhaustion giving a chance to other carnivore animals to ease their search for food like Hyenas, Cheetahs and Lions. Of the above dry months August and September are the best months to see the Great Migration given the fact this is good time as well to experience the river crossing during the migration, late October the rains will resume in Tanzania and the herds will start their journey back to southern parts of Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro crater grassland plain areas.