SOUTHERN TANZANIA WALKING SAFARIS
Udzungwa Mountains Ruaha National Park, Selous Game
Reserve
Highlights
Trekking in the Udzungwa Mountains and the spectacular Selous Game Reserve
and gameviewing in the rarely-visited Ruaha National Park.
Safari type
A 17 day package combining camping and lodges, fully guided in 4WD Safari
LandRovers with experienced guides and support crew. The trekking is gentle
but the client must be prepared for long days and hot weather.
Itinerary
Day 1
Clients are met in Dar-es-Salaam and transferred to the SeaCliff Hotel
for briefing and overnight.
Day 2
After an early morning breakfast, we depart for the Udzungwa
Mountains National Park with a picnic lunch. Our drive takes us across
an impressive array of landscapes with basket-weavers and other local
Craftsmen to be found by the side of the road. Dinner and overnight is
at our special campsite under the canopy of the Udzungwa Mountains rainforest.
Day 3
Today is spent walking in the Udzungwa Mountains with its jagged mountain-scapes
and waterfalls. Highlights might include sighting the rare endemic Iringa
Red Colobus monkey, tracking one of the rare bird species that were only
recently discovered and listing the incredible variety of orchids and
plants found in the rainforest. We return to our campsite for dinner and
overnight around the campfire.
Day 4
After breakfast we depart for the Ruaha National Park via the town of
Iringa. This route has spectacular views of the Ruaha River and the Udzungwa
Ranges to take our attention away from the poor roads. Ruaha National
Park is not as visited as it’s more famous counterparts in the North
but amongst the safari-hands of Tanzania, it is considered to be one of
the forgotten gems of the African safari scene. Dinner and overnight is
at the Ruaha River Lodge.
Day 5 - 7
We spend these days gameviewing and exploring Ruaha National Park. At
certain times of the year, the wildlife is concentrated around the river
and watering holes, with large concentration of elephant, hippos and crocodile
a regular sight with maybe the chance to see the shy greater Kudu and
wild dog. Dinner and overnight at Ruaha River Lodge.
Day 8
This morning we depart for the city of Morogoro for our overnight stop
in the Kolo Hills Motel in the foothills of Uluguru Mountains. Overnight
at Kolo Hills.
Day 9
After breakfast we depart for the Selous Game Reserve through the spectacular
Uluguru Mountains with lunch enroute. It is quite a long day with times
dictated by the condition of the roads but we hope to see everything from
elephants to ruby stones from the nearby mines along the roadside. Dinner
and overnight is at the Beho Beho Campsite.
Day 10
Today is spent gameviewing within the Selous Game Reserve. The reserve
is the largest in Africa, and is roughly the size of Switzerland. It is
bisected by the Rufiji River and its tributaries, which form major arteries
to the reserve, distributing water and providing a habitat for large groups
of hippo and crocodile as well as a brilliant display of birdlife. Wildlife
observation and bird watchng (over 350 species) take place in a superb
natural setting reminiscent of the Africa of the settlers and Hollywood
movies. Highlights of the reserve are rare sighting of wild dog but many
other species abound and we are never dissappointed. Dinner and overnight
is at the Beho Beho Campsite.
Day 11 - 15
Today we begin our trek walk with an armed ranger, through the vast Selous
reserve ending at the Rufiji River for a boat trip to the luxury Mbuyuni
Camp. Each night of the walk will be fly-camping with Vehicle support
and prepared lunches en route, as we weave our way through the night-nests
of hippo and the bemused gaze of the many giraffe that roam the area.
On day 15 dinner and overnight is spent in the welcome luxury of Mbuyuni
Camp.
Day 16
Today is spent exploring around Mbuyuni Camp area in an open LandRover
or maybe a slow boat trip on the Rufiji River under the watchful gaze
of the hippos and basking crocs. Dinner and overnight is at Mbuyuni Camp.
Day 17
After a morning relaxing at the camp you will be transferred to the airstrip
for a charter flight to Dar-es-Salaam, where the options of an extension
to Zanzibar or the Northern Parks are available.
Included:
All transfers, transfers, game drives, walking safaris, all accommodation
as indicated, all park fees, conservation area fees, all meals as indicated,
camping equipment, English-speaking guide and cooks.
Not included:
Visas, insurance, tips, items of personal nature, soft and alcohol drinks,
departure taxes or airfares, unless stated.
Please contact us for more information, details of
availability and price:
East African Safari and Touring Company
P.O. Box 1215,
Arusha,
Tanzania
Tel: (+255) 786185567
e-mail: simon@eastafricansafari.info
