Is Mount Kilimanjaro on your ‘bucket list’? It should be! This mighty peak is Africa’s best-known and highest mountain. Rising out of almost nowhere, its unique, iconic snow-capped peak lures adventurers from all around the globe. For many, its challenge must be met – it’s a true lifetime achievement. But don’t think that this is an easy ‘tick in the box,’ because Kilimanjaro is only to be undertaken by those with a reasonable level of fitness and, just as importantly, in partnership with a reputable operator who can give you the best chance of getting to the top.
Easy Travel is one such operator, offering its clients a choice of ascents. But more than that, the company’s staff will advise you from the outset, talking you through the various options as well as understanding your wishes and your level of fitness. So, what options do you have?
The Lemosho route begins at 2360 metres and this longer route enjoys a variety of scenery. It also has less trekkers who – with a bit of luck - might encounter elephant, buffalo, leopard and colobus monkeys on its slopes.
The Machame route is another slower route, giving more acclimatization time than some and thus giving climbers an excellent chance of ‘summiting.’ Machame begins at 1490 metres and is the second most popular way to the top. Lush rainforest and alpine moorland are notable landscapes on this climb – rich scenery, indeed.
The fastest and also the most popular – that’s the Marangu route up the mighty mountain, crossing moorland and forest, traversing alpine landscape before reaching arctic scenery. Lower slopes are home to mammals, birds, insects and plant-life. Although some operators suggest only five days, Easy Travel allow an extra day to facilitate acclimatization.
Finally the Rongai route is a newish route which starts from the north-east. It is similar to the Marangu route, but less crowded. The occasional elephant might lumber across the track as it passes across the high moorland section, while monkeys inhabit the forest sectors.
Which route to choose will depend on what time you have available and how much feel you need to acclimatize on the way up majestic Kilimanjaro. It’s vital to choose a tour operator with experienced guides and one who can advise you on the best route for you. Easy Travel have the knowledge and experience, the equipment and the staff to give you the best Kilimanjaro experience. Good luck!
Peaceful, harmonious, diverse, friendly. Four words which sum up Tanzania, but which cannot do justice to what this amazing country has to offer. Some of the attractions are described below, but like a beautiful piece of music or a work of art, words fall short. Only a visit can make you understand.
Everyone knows about wildlife…or do they? Nothing can prepare you for the astonishing diversity on offer in Tanzania, neither in terms of numbers or variety of species.If you are choosing a destination for your first safari, then beautiful Tanzania simply has to be the one. And if you’ve already been here, choosing somewhere other than Tanzania for your second safari might – just might – result in disappointment.
The names may be familiar to you already, perhaps from books, films or wildlife documentaries: names such as Serengeti, Ngorongoro or Tarangire. But everything else will be new, different and stunning. Wildlife provide the greatest show on the planet and Tanzania is the place to see it. You don’t need to worry whether you are going to see enough animals, birds and reptiles. In Tanzania, you will see more than you could imagine. That’s the only predictable thing, everything else is a surprise.
Perhaps today it will be a lion making a kill, or the Great Migration, or fifty species of colourful, noisy birds. Tomorrow, it could be the rare black rhino which takes your breath away. As diverse as the wildlife is the range of settings, whether it is gentle hills, savannah, volcanic craters, salt lakes, woodland or river scenery.
Everyone knows about Kilimanjaro, too. But the majestic mountain, Africa’s highest, offers a choice of routes for an attempt at its summit, and it is far from being the region’s only spectacular mountain. You could choose to climb Mount Meru or tackle atmospheric Oldoinyoi Lengai – the Maasai’s ‘Mountain of God’. Neither of these are as well-known but each provides a sense of achievement and a treasury of memories.
Although Tanzania is famous for its safaris and mountain climbs, it is also renowned for its coastline, stretching out over 800 kilometres, and its islands. Zanzibar is a magical mini-archipelago, a destination full of history and culture, but for many just a wonderful place for a beach holiday.
Many visitors enjoy a safari or mountain climb, all the time looking forward to ending their holiday by the crystal-clear waters and sparkling white sands of the Indian Ocean. Even her, the rich coral reefs provide their own wildlife, colourful fish and sea-life of every shape and size.
Last but not least, Tanzania has a rich human culture, a diversity of people, split into tribes but united in their friendly, welcoming manner and their willingness to share their incredible traditions with the curious visitor
So, safari, mountains, beaches, culture. Choosing one of those, or more, will give you a holiday that satisfies, yet which makes you want to come back.
At Easy Travel, the guests are the most important people. But after them, the driver guides are very important too. Why?
When you take a trip with a safari company, most of your time will be spent with your driver-guide. His passion for his job, his knowledge of nature, his driving ability and – perhaps most of all – his personality will be key factors in making sure that the safari or other trip is memorable. It is through his trained eyes that you will best understand the wonders of nature that you are witnessing; through the sharing of his knowledge that you will get a real feeling for the East African culture and its colourful people.
That’s why Easy Travel take great care in selecting their driver-guides. Knowing their job is simply not enough for Easy Travel to employ someone as a driver-guide. They must love the land, the animals, the culture and the people and be able to share that love with all visitors. They must go about their work with a genuine smile and a sense of humour.
Easy Travel have driver guides who speak English, Spanish, French, Italian and German – not something that many of their competitors can boast. Many have been with the company for over twenty years.
Easy Travel firmly believe that they have the best driver-guides in the business. But more important than what they think, it’s what their guests believe that is really important. You’re invited to take a look on their many Tripadvisor reviews and see what their guests say about the driver-guides.
Many comment that, long before the end of their trip, they felt that their guide had become their ‘friend’ or even ‘a member of the family.’ These comments are the best recommendation that anyone could hope for.
EBOLA – what concerns should I have if I am planning to come to Tanzania
While the tragedy of ebola continues to badly affect certain countries in West Africa, it is important to understand that this should not deter people from visiting other countries on the African continent, especially those in East Africa.
Seeing the reaction to isolated cases in the USA, you could be forgiven for thinking that travelling anywhere on the planet had suddenly become unsafe. Africa, after all, is a continent – not a country – and its dimensions are enormous. From infected countries such as Liberia and Guinea or Sierra Leone, you’ll travel more than 7,000 kilometres before you reach Tanzania. That’s the equivalent of the distance between Paris and Islamabad. The virus is passed on only by exchange of bodily fluids, something that is easy to avoid.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office website in the United Kingdom gives up-to-date travel advice and will provide reassurance to anyone visiting the eastern part of Africa. See: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tanzania/health. If you want to monitor the global situation, you could look at www.cdc.gov, which updates regularly. You can also see from that site that there have been no cases of ebola in Tanzania in the last forty years.
Over 75,000 British nationals visit Tanzania every year. There should be no concerns for those from Europe planning to come to Tanzania and East Africa : remember, Africa is not a country. It’s a continent and a very, very big one.
We can boost the fact of owning and operating an entire fleet of custom built 4WD safari vehicles which undergoes a full service and safety check before and after every safari in our own maintenance facility.
We have 35 new 4x4 extended Land Cruisers, which are custom built to our specifications with comfortable seven traveler seats, safety belts, large "pop up" photographic roof hatch, dust proofing, HF radio calls, binoculars, reference books on mammals, birds, flora and fauna, luggage storage and mini fridge with a supply of bottled mineral water and most importantly a first aid kit.
We ensure that our travelers always have access to a clean, well-maintained vehicle, appropriately sized and equipped for their group and activities. To read more about Our Safari Vehicles in detail, click here.
As you would expect of a well-established, professional organization, we have certain core values which are at the heart of everything we do. You can read about these below :
Integrity and Honesty
Valuing Relationships
Passion - we love what we do, we want to share it!
Giving something back
Unique Adventures and Experiences
To read more about Our Core Values in detail, click here.
The traditional Ballet of Rwanda is one of Africa’s longest established and least exposed musical traditions. The use of the word Ballet is a product of Belgian colonial rule. In fact, the art form was refined over centuries in the courts of the Rwandan Mwami (kings).
There are three main components to Rwandan Ballet, and a standard performance by a group will contain all three. These are the songs/dances that are the essence of the art form (and are referred to here as 'the Ballet'), Intore (dance of heroes) and Ingoma ('drums').
Men wearing grass wigs and carrying spears perform the ‘Dance of Heroes’. The background is a dance performed by returning warriors, celebrating victory in battle. The dancers move from side to side-combining grace and complex choreography with a raw aggression. At certain stages the dancers stop, with arms outstretched and make blood-curdling battle crys.
These calls are individual to each dancer and represent warriors declaiming the details of how many he had slain in battle. Battles traditionally involved Hutu, Tutsi and Twa fighting alongside each other against a common enemy. The performance of Intore therefore has always consisted of warriors of all groups dancing together.
A visit to Rwanda is not complete without seeing a dance by the Intore Dancers, the dance form took shape in the courts of Rwandan Mwami (The King), it is generally a story telling dance, in which stories of love, war and time of hard ship are put into a dance form. It is more like an opera than a ballet as some Belgian’s termed it. It cannot be termed as a battle dance alone because, it is performed in different scenarios, and it was also performed after winning a battle.
The actual meaning of the term Intore is “the chosen ones”, so basically it was the dance of the chosen ones.
Intore dancers have gained a worldwide status of fame and have become an indispensable part of the Rwandan culture and tradition. The Intore dancers gained popularity in the year 1958 during the World Expo which was held in Brussels. This form of traditional Rwanda ballet is one of the ancient forms of dancing in Africa. The Intore dancing is also known as “warrior dancing”.
The Intore people, who were once regarded as part of the traditional Rwanda army, were not only given military training but also taught the technique of high jumps and dancing. They were known for their outstanding method of jumping with the help of which they could rise up to 2.40 meters from the ground.
There are three main parts of the Rwandan ballet which comprise of Ingoma, Intore dancers and the songs. During the performance, Intore dancers, especially men wear grass wigs and have spears in their hands. They wear little bells on each foot which gives a rhythm to the entire background music. The theme of the performance is the celebration of victory in a battle, which is depicted through the medium of dancing.
The Intore dancers move sideways combining difficult choreography and grace with a raw aggressiveness in their expressions. At one point, the dancers stop, with stretched arms and give out blood-curdling battle cries. Throughout the ballet, physical quarrel between the dancers turns into a form of artistic rivalry and at the end of the performance they hug each other as a symbol of friendship.
The most common traditional battles include Tutsi, Hutu and Twa fights against a familiar opponent. The performance of Intore dancers is always associated with the idea of power, raw masculinity, aggressiveness and yet as a tradition of the cultural heritage of Rwanda.
The question of when is the best time to visit Tanzania is a question that we are often asked and, in a nutshell, every season has its highs and lows. In this article, however, we have endeavored to sum up what you should expect at each time of the year as well as giving you a few of the best accommodation and location tips based on our many years of traveling out to this fantastic country!
The Weather
The weather in Tanzania, situated within the tropic of Capricorn, varies little in its temperature range throughout the year sticking to an average of around 30 degrees Celsius during the day and dropping to a comfortable 15 at night. The main variation to the impact of the temperature is both the humidity and the annual rains.
The main rains in the country arrive around the beginning of April and run through until the end of June, traditionally. We talk about where to head to in this period below but, needless to say, it is worth considering a raincoat as the downpours are full and often! The second, slightly less strong, rainy period, is from the beginning of November (around 2 weeks later on Zanzibar) to the middle of December, roughly speaking.
The humidity in Tanzania varies throughout the year with the driest and hottest period in the country starting in mid-June and running through to the end of October. This (as discussed below) is known as the "dry period" and is a reliable time to head out to Tanzania as it offers good game viewing along with a comfortable climate.
From November until the main rains in April, the humidity starts to climb in the country with the most humid (and, arguably, most uncomfortable) period in January and February. There are, of course, exceptions to this that are mentioned below.
The Seasons
This doesn't really just apply to the time of year as far as weather goes, but more as regards the best times of the year to head to the different areas and what you will be able to see while you are there...
As mentioned in the weather section, this is one of the most humid times to head out to Tanzania and, as such, it feels muggy in most of the destinations. This is, however, not the end of the world as for many, it can provide some exceptional game viewing, as well as a much quieter overall experience.
Serengeti
The Migration herds in the Serengeti will be located down in the very southern areas of the park and so this is, arguably, one of the best times to visit the northern parks. While the country is more humid, the high altitude at the Ngorongoro Crater and the open expanse of the Serengeti mean that you don't feel the heat here as you would in other areas such as the Selous. With great game numbers, and plenty of new calves, this is definitely one of the best times to go and camps such as Ndutu Lodge, Olakira Tented Camp and Nomads Tented Camp tend to get booked up well in advance.
Mahale and Katavi
Mahale National Park, likewise, becomes a lot harder to access by plane as the airstrip becomes a long mudslide into Lake Tanganyika! For this reason, and the fact that the park will be very humid, we would not overly recommend heading here in this period.
Katavi National Park, while one of the best in Tanzania, is a very season park and, while it is still accessible in these months, this is not considered to be the best time to head here.
The Selous and Ruaha
This is probably one of the best times of the year for those that are keen on birders to come to both of these stunning parks. With the short rains, the Selous becomes quite a bit greener and, as such, the game becomes quit a bit harder to actually see. But, this is the time in the year when the European migratory birds arrive into this region of Africa and, therefore, the park comes alive with males displaying and the sound of birds of all types and variety.
Zanzibar
As with the national parks, Zanzibar does become quite a bit more humid at this time of the year and so it can, if the wind is not blowing, be a little uncomfortable in the evenings. It is not, however, a bad time to head here as the beaches are far less busy, and the weather is fairly reliably sunny on the east coast of the island.
April to May
As the main rains arrive into Tanzania, many of the hotels and properties start to close up shop for the year and let their staff have a couple of months off. This is not a bad time to visit though as the Migrations herds in the north are easily accessible, the parks are empty (comparatively) and the prices are at rock bottom.
Serengeti
As mentioned above, this is actually a great time to head up to the northern parks of Tanzania as the game is still good (with the occasional break for a storm or two), there is virtually nobody up here, and the prices are at the lowest of the year to get around otherwise.
Katavi and Mahale
As with the December to March window, this is not really the best time to come and see either the chimps or the remote Katavi as both parks are very tricky to access.
Selous and Ruaha
Due to the use of bush runways in both of the parks, as with Katavi and Mahale, the Selous and Ruaha, and all of the properties, are closed for the couple of months.
Zanzibar
The island is a bit of an enigma as far as the weather patterns are concerned as, when it is raining heavily on the western side, it can be completely dry on its eastern side. Fortunately the eastern side is where all of the beach properties are located and, as such, with a bit of luck you can still enjoy really good weather at absolutely rock bottom prices!
June to November
Far and away the busiest time of the year to head to Tanzania for all of the parks and the beaches. This period is popular due to the reliably dry weather and, therefore, very good game viewing that can be had in all of the parks. For us, it is a good but expensive time of year to travel and so we tend to recommend to clients to try, if possible, to travel in the last couple of weeks in June or the first couple of weeks in November, when prices are low, game is good and the parks are less full.
Serengeti
The period when the great migration herds have reached the northern-most point in their cycle, this is when the herds are crossing rivers, and moving northwards. It can be an absolutely superb time to visit and, for those that are on a lesser budget, it is worth aiming for the central regions of the park in June or early November to have the best chance of seeing game.
For those with a little more to spend, you are in for a treat! The very northern region of the Serengeti, known as the “Lamai wedge” is one of the most impressive and less well known regions of Africa and, on its day, has some of the best game viewing that Africa offers. It is true that this area is becoming busier and, as such, more expensive, but, in our view, it is definitely worth the money!
Katavi and Mahale
As with the rest of the parks, the dry season is when these two parks really shine…in particular Katavi. With its open grasslands and vast buffalo herds, the daily gauntlet to the waterside is a spectacle that few will ever witness. Some would argue that you are better aiming for later in the dry season, when things become more and more fraught, but we think it is a great park year round.
Mahale and the chimpanzees are also one of Africa’s highlights and there is no better time to visit than in this period. The lakeshores of Tanganyika provide a welcome retreat from normal life and are a great substitute for a beach holiday, and the interaction with the chimps really rounds this magic place off.
Selous and Ruaha
The lesser known parks of Tanzania, in the south, are certainly one of Africa’s last true strongholds for game and safari enthusiasts. Both of these parks complement one another perfectly with walking and boating safaris in the Selous, and walking and night driving in Ruaha, completing the “set’ of safari activities.
The game viewing, as the parks dry back, becomes frenzied in and around the main river systems and, as such, the parks regularly offer game experiences that rival the northern parks and with much more intimacy and privacy.
Zanzibar
The final destination on the list, Zanzibar at this time of year, as with all of the coastal destinations in Tanzania, becomes the idyllic, Indian Ocean paradise that you are looking for. White coral sands lapped by azure blue waves…what is not to love!?
We hope that this has give you a bit of a taster of what Tanzania has to offer in every season and please follow the links or give us a call if you would like to discuss things further or if you would like us to put together an itinerary for you.
Pre Trek Report : The seven year old, Aaryan Balaji ha embarked on his ambitious expedition to climb Africa's highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro and become the youngest climber to do so.
Master Balaji, who currently holds the record of being the youngest person to conquer Mount Everest, which makes the world's highest escalation, admitted that scaling Mt. Kilimanjaro won't be easy but he is determined to reach the Uhuru Summit at 5895 meters.
The son of an Indian Navy officer, Commander Balaji, who is himself a keen mountaineer and adventure lover having previously scaled Everest and skied at both Poles, said Aaryan underwent extensive training and exercise so Kilimanjaro shouldn't defeat him. Aaryan is a Grade 2 student of Mahata Gandhi International School in Port Blair India. He undertakes his climb through the Lemosho route in the Siha District of Kilimanjaro region. His trekking started on Monday, the 18th of February, 2013.
A safari land cruiser was there to pick us for a straight game drive, as the day had opened its eyes with a smile, clear skies; the red orb of an equatorial sun began a new day's journey over the horizon. The sounds of lions roaring with the soft deepness roar reserved for members of their own pride in the wilderness could be heard from the distance. The Seronera area as we drove further deeper, was encircled by steep boulders and it has large umbrella thorn trees (Acacia Tortillis) and overlooked a wilderness area of open Acacia woodland, small grassy plains and boulders as well.
We stopped at most of the outcrops of boulders and scanning the landscape from the top of each one. On the rocks, hyraxes emerged to warm themselves in the morning sun and although we did not see any lions yet, but we saw topis (a chocolate brown antelope), hartebeests, klipspringers, impalas, gazelles and we had an excellent sighting of a pair of Kirk's dik-dik browsing in the flourishing plant life. Once again, exploring the rocky outcrops was fascinating and each of own unique set of plants, animals, including lichen and lizards.
His mother, Mrs. Riki Balaji, is accompanying him who said she is supporting her son as a way of encouraging other mothers worldwide to take their children out for constructive outdoor adventures instead of letting the youngsters spoiled by passive activities such as video games and television. The young boy has been honoured with Gandhi Seva Medal, which places him on the same platform with the likes of Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton, Sonia Gandhi and Lata Mangaeshkar. Aaryan is also an Ambassador for the Gandhi Global Family becoming the youngest member of the GGF.
The boy's Mt. Kilimanjaro expedition is being coordinated by 'Easy Travel' a tour company based in Arusha whose Director Mr. Musaddiq Gulamhussein, revealed that they are undertaking the mission in conjunction with the Canada – based, G Adventures. According to Mr. Gulamhusein, the trip to the top of Africa's highest peak consists of six people who are expected to spend ten days in their trekking to have enough time for acclimatization and that the company's expert guide Mr. Philemon Chacha is leading the pack.
If all goes well, Kilimanjaro's youngest climber should be returning back to the ground on Wednesday the 27th of February.
Post Trek Report : As he admitted, climbing Africa's highest peak was not east, but the seven year-old Aaryan Balaji who hails from India has just achieved the feat and lived to tell his story.
He sets record for being the youngest climber to reach the Uhuru Summit on the world's tallest free standing mountain after braving the chilly weather, pounding rain and fever-inducing heights as he worked to be the first 'toddler' to conquer Mt. Kilimanjaro.
"The paths up the mountain were muddy and slippery, the rains mist and fog scary but I was determined and thanks to these experienced guides the mission was successful." said Aaryan who already holds the certificate of being the youngest adventurer to scale the Atlas range of mountains peaking at the world's highest point. Master Balaji, may be holding a number of outdoor expedition records but despite himself, he admits that scaling Mt. Kilimanjaro was not easy and he couldn't believe it when he managed to reach the Uhuru Summit at 5895 meters.
This hasn't exactly been the year for climbers at Kilimanjaro. In January a bolt of lighting struck one tourist dead. That same month a team of 100 pilots who scaled the mountain in order to accomplish the first ever paragliding attempt from the summit were chased from the peak by harsh weather conditions.
Few Tanzanians bother to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and most of them are not prepared to have their children risk their limbs, health and lives trying to become heroes on the continent's highest peak. Even the authorities aren't exactly keen to see young children climbing the mountain.
Nevertheless, we congratulate Aaryan Balaji and his parents on conquering Mt. Kilimanjaro and wish him only the best for his future.
by Staff Reporter
It was a chilly morning as the three of us defied a strong cold wind to catch up with a day in life of the surviving Bushmen community in Tanzania; the Hadzabes.
Hadzabes also known as Hadzas are the remaining community in the East and Southern Africa who proudly maintain the lifestyle of nomadic hunter - gatherers also brandishing their most lethal weapon under the sun, the traditional bow and arrow.
A day's drive from the metropolitan Arusha to the remotely placed Hadzas land, could acquaint to you some of the most humbling and breathtaking terrains you wouldn't expect to see anywhere in Tanzania. From the undulating fertile lowlands, the plains of bush green lashes looking like manicured lawns, and stretches of farms of onions and other crops plantations, forms part of the untold story of the bush land.
On our way Lady Luck smiled to us we encountered Euro-Asian migrating birds the Pilates or the abdim-stocks. The abdim-stocks migrates from Europe crossing the Sahara desert via Egypt or Asia to settle in northern Tanzania briefly for feeding and breeding as thick winter torments Europe and Asia. It appeared a heavy downpour had pounded the area as the guilies in the roadside looked clean, a proof of surface water run-off.
Our host; Hassan Sanka whose attention to detail with other guides from the offices of the Lake Eyasi Cultural Tourism Enterprise, made us obsessed with the abyss of the attractions that exist in the lake basin. The cultural tourism office is the entry that unlocks myths of this great community.
Yes. Lady Luck smiled on us once again. We had done only a short drive in the Eyasi when our eyes settled on the Hadzabes, presumably each of us, for the first time. Hassan who also doubled as a translator took us through the storyline if the Hadzas, bits after bits. The Hadzabes live a nomadic life. Hunting is the major activity for men and is expected to bring back home a kill each time they venture out to hunt.
If the kill is too huge for the shoulders of the pint size men to carry back home, information would be passed to family members to move with all their valuable belongings to where the men have pitched camp feasting and celebrating for big kill.
Anyway. Generally this community hunts down antelopes and baboons, although in rainy season's gazelles and other herbivores come down from the Ngorongoro or Serengeti to their bush land offering them easy pickings. Testimony to hunting as major economic activity in the community is a number of skull skeletons that include gazelles and antelopes skulls as well as pairs of horns that dotted the area and a nearby boa-bab.
What could visitors to the bush land spellbound is the agility and hunting skills that Hadzabes children some of them from the tender age of between 5 and 12 years of age could display in handling the bow and arrows. The string on lethal bows is made from giraffe tendons while the arrow are coated with some poisonous substance made from the concoction of tree and dead animal fluids.
When it rains, the poison tipped arrows are skillfully protected by covering them with either pieces of animal skins or barks to prevent rain waters washing away. This is seemingly one of the oldest routine precaution of protection widely known to each male member of the community. Sometimes if the downpour is heavy and harsh, they seek refugee in caves. The Hadzabes have no permanent homes, they constantly move from one place to another.
The drinking water that is squeezed from tree roots or wild tubers, tree leaves and occasionally from rock dents. While hunters are male, fruits, roots and honey gatherers are the females. The females would smoke out bees from hives and collect the honey without any deed the hustle of stings.
But high migration of this community from the forest to adjust to new lifestyles could expose them problems. For example, during our recent visit to their land, a Hadzabe male member revealed what he believed was ancestral attachment marijuana (bhang.) He said marijuana smoking among the Hadzabe male members' sanctity affair and it is religiously observed. Men would consume bhang, as much as he could lay fingers on, but he could not harm a fly.
After watching some community activities; such making fire by using sticks, roasting birds in an open air fire, stimulated (stages) hunting show and traditional dance, we were led to a moderately high stone steep hill to view a cave shelter, especially on a rainy day. While most community members were proud of the cave site that keeps them warm during wet seasons as we stood at its-doorway, the Hadzabe were oblivious of any comfort home, outside the bush precincts. They neither shown any interest of visiting other areas, they could rather wish to remain in surroundings that are familiar.
"We are happy here and we have no interest in leading unfamiliar lifestyles" one of them retorted. He said he was unaware of any modern life either. As the sun was about to set and evening slowly creeping in, we bade our hosts and drove back with a sheaf of stories. It was a great experience to see how these people lived. Although I have heard tales but this time round I thought that nature is not always or is quiet rarely the same.
More about the Hadzabes : The Hazabes history starts in the prehistory of human race that was similar in all points to that of all the Paleolithic era. The study of Hadzabe language and of their physical anthropological characteristics makes some scientists believe the Hadzabe could be direct descendants of the earliest hunter-gatherers of the Paleolithic times.
They are indeed the same linguistic group (Khoisan) as the San people (Bushmen of Kalahari and Botswana) with a click-tongue and have morphology and skeleton radically different from the Bantu (Wabantu) races that live in Africa today. They could be among the first inhabitants of the continent, with the San and the Pygmies.
Only a few Mbuti Pygmies in the Congo (DRC) and some Batwa (also Watwa) Pygmies in Rwanda, those who survived the terrible wars that devastated those two countries as well as the intense longing that has devastated their habitat, still use only the bow.
The Hadzabe live in dry cracked terrain near Lake Eyasi, South of Ngorongoro and some are found on Yaeda Chini escarpments of the Mbulu district in Manyara region. They share the are with neighbours Datoga (Watatoga) pastoral cattle herders who are also partly engaged on black smothery and the Iraqw (relative newcomers) who are the people of Cushitic origin, and the Nilotic Maasai, as well other Bantu groups. This area contains, peoples belongings to all four main language groups of East Africa.
Social Life : A home in a typical Hadzabe homestead comprises four to five different families who stay together. Marriage is determined by the 'bridegroom' ability in being brave and fortunate hunter. A marriage proposal is sent to the bride's home by relatives and occasionally a friend or the father can be an emissary. A good hunter is the most preferred bridegroom. There is no payment of dowry, in any form, to the bride's family. However, a bridegroom before moving with this bride into his hut (their matrimonial home) is expected to kill a huge animal for celebrating and feasting on the wedding day.
Lifestyle : Decision making is consensual and it includes both men and women. They don't exercise chieftaincy neither do they have traditional leaders or even a village elder. Occasionally a single powerful man could yield some level of influence to the community. In contrast to surrounding tribes the Hadzabes are very egalitarian. At most they don't attend modern healthcare facilities but they depend on traditional medicine found from wide range of shrubs and trees.
"It often makes headlines as the wildebeests converge in search of green pastures; the park is also known for throwing out generously unexpected and pleasant surprises to its visitors".
Quite often, it is wise to revisit places where you have had a memorable good-time safari in any of the 15 Tanzania National Parks, yet it provides distinctive and memorable features different from one another but interests - therefore suggesting for a return visit. After falling victim to the view of the amazing distinctive features that pervades the parks in the Northern Tourist Circuit, with an upbeat feeling, recently, I fell in love with the Serengeti National Park.
This was my second trip this year and the Serengeti has more than just animals. It has hundreds of bird life, a landscape that is a vast mosaic of rivers, springs, plains and woodlands. I wanted to see them all and on my return I was far from being disappointed.
From the sky, the Serengeti is a sprawling collection of the verdant vegetation dominated by landscape with a little sun. I had flown in the Seronera airstrip with visiting tourists that morning from Arusha. It was cold and the prevailing wind on the Serengeti plains which blew from the east (that is so distinctive of the Serengeti endless plain - The Park's name derived from a Maasai word - Siringeti meaning endless plains). This would have been Serengeti at its most beautiful time, bordered by hills and stretches of endless plains.
A safari land cruiser was there to pick us for a straight game drive, as the day had opened its eyes with a smile, clear skies; the red orb of an equatorial sun began a new day's journey over the horizon. The sounds of lions roaring with the soft deepness roar reserved for members of their own pride in the wilderness could be heard from the distance. The Seronera area as we drove further deeper, was encircled by steep boulders and it has large umbrella thorn trees (Acacia Tortillis) and overlooked a wilderness area of open Acacia woodland, small grassy plains and boulders as well.
We stopped at most of the outcrops of boulders and scanning the landscape from the top of each one. On the rocks, hyraxes emerged to warm themselves in the morning sun and although we did not see any lions yet, but we saw topis (a chocolate brown antelope), hartebeests, klipspringers, impalas, gazelles and we had an excellent sighting of a pair of Kirk's dik-dik browsing in the flourishing plant life. Once again, exploring the rocky outcrops was fascinating and each of own unique set of plants, animals, including lichen and lizards.
And then on the lookout the interesting birds, we saw bare-faced go-away birds and the white headed buffalo weaver with its conspicuous red rump. And here, I noticed, it is not just the adventure the Serengeti safari can offer, but in addition it is psychological restoring, because the animals and birds put you and your anxieties firmly in their place.
As the day melted off, leaving just a few streaks of pink in the sky, and the murmur of insects rose against the silence, we plunged through the trees and undergrowth to find the hippo pool, where their ears peeked up above the water. We stopped for our lunch under an acacia tree where a season of bites and refreshments in the bush has been arranged. This was a good time to stretch our legs. From here we could see elephants at a distance breaking branches of trees and later the sound of larger trees being felled was more audible. Close to us some baboons watched us with interest.
After the tasty lunch, we could clearly hear lions once again and we came across a pride of them moving and spreading onto the plains in a single file as several spotted hyenas patrolled the nearby area where a wildebeest calf was a possible target, and we took sometime to marvel at them. A few highlights stood out above the rest of the wonderful sea of images and memories. Along the way we would stop to view other animals we came across. Herds of elands roaming the arid landscape among the zebras and gazelles while vultures perched on tree tops to watch the proceedings below with keen interest, and warthogs grazing with little disturbance-offering the most spectacular sighting.
At sunset, a group of silhouetted giraffes dominated the endless African horizon like eerie distant oil rigs. Further on the western side of the park we saw thunderous migrating wildebeest and handsomely moody lions and cheetahs from the safety of a bushveld. Male impala chases one another in circles, grunting and strutting their fitness to see which one will aim to overtake the group of females grazing nearby and a lonely ostrich feeding.
It had been a long day in the 14,763 square kilometres land, protecting the world largest infact plains ecosystem. Somehow, here and there, we were invisible observers of intimate moments in the magical Serengeti.
Fast Facts : There are various tour options in Serengeti - Walking Safaris, Hot Air Ballooning and Game drives. The Serengeti is serviced by two Airstrips, Lobo and Seronera and scheduled flights from Lake Manyara, Mwanza and Arusha. By road, visitors are advised to drive in with a 4WD; the park can be reached from Arusha (via Ngornogoro) and Mwanza (via Musoma). It is 335 Kms from Arusha. Few High-End lodges, luxury tented camps and budget lodges operate in and outside the Park as are camping sites to fit various pockets.
"Hiking on the 'rooftop of Africa' is the adventure of a lifetime, and anyone from a seasoned trekker to a reasonably fit first time enthusiast can scale the snowy peak."
Although Mt Kilimanjaro tops the list as Africa's most famous and highest mountain, Tanzania boasts many other mountain ranges and attractive peaks. Most of the country's mountains and volcanoes are located in the north and east of the country. They vary from the dramatic crater of Mt Meru and the active volcano of Ol Donyo Lengai to tamer options like the Usambara Mountains and the comparatively gentle slopes of the crater Highlands.
Hiking trips and mountain climbing in Tanzania are becoming popular options for visitors not content merely observing the country from the back of a game viewing vehicle. Instead, adventurous types are taking advantage of the many trail and peak Tanzania has to offer.
1. Mount Kilimanjaro :
Above the gently rolling hills and plateau of northern Tanzania rise the snowy peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro, its slopes and glaciers shimmering above the rising clouds. Kilimanjaro is located near the town of Moshi and is a protected area, carefully regulated for climber to enjoy without leaving a trace of their presence. The mountains ecosystems are as strikingly beautiful as they are varied and diverse. On the low land slopes, much of the mountains farmland, with coffee, banana, cassava, and maize crops grown for subsistence and cash sale.
A few large coffees farms still exist on the lower slopes, but much of the area outside the national park has been subdivided into small plots. One inside the park, thick lowland forest covers the lower attitudes and breaks into alpine meadows once the air begins to thin. Near the peak, the landscape is harsh and barren, with rocks and ices the predominant features above a breathtaking African view.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is the highlight of many visitors' experience in Tanzania. Hiking on the on the rooftop of Africa is the adventure of lifetime, and anyone from a seasoned trekker to reasonably fit first-time, enthusiast can scale the snowy peak.
2. Mount Meru :
The dramatic crater of Mount Meru is often neglected in favour of its famous neighbour to the east, but a visit to this spectacular mountain, located within Arusha National Park, is an forgettable experience. Its lower slopes are covered in dense highland forest, where colobus monkeys play and buffalo graze concealed beneath the think foliage.
The extinct volcano's extensive base gives way to a perfectly formed crater, and another internal crater with sharp, sheer cliffs. An ash cone forms subsidiary peak and the Momela lakes and Ngurudoto Crater are visible from the slopes of the mountain.
3. Crater Highlands :
Rising up from the floors of the rift valley, the crater highlands form a lush chain of mountains and volcanoes that includes the Ngorongoro conservation area and the surrounding Maasai tribal lands. Hiking safaris take visitors from Ngorongoro crater to the foot of Ol Donyo lengai and offer a chance to see some of the most spectacular and stunning scenery in Tanzania. Exploring this little – visited wilderness is the hiking adventure of a lifetime.
Within the crater rim, large herds of zebra and wildebeest graze nearby while sleeping lion laze in the sun. At dawn, the endangered black rhino return to the thick cover of the crater forests after grazing on dew- laden grass in the morning mist. Just outside the crater's ridge, tall Maasai herds their cattle and goats over green pastures through the high land slopes living alongside the wild life as they have for centuries.
4. Eastern Arc Mountain Range :
Stretching from the Taita hills of southern Kenya to southern highlands of Tanzania, the eastern arc mountain range has some of oldest geological activity of the continent. Estimated to be at least 100 million years old with some formations up to 600 million years old the relative stability of their climate mean that the area hosts a surprising array of biodiversity, from plant and insect life to spectacular bird species.
5. Livingstone Mountains :
The Livingstone Mountains are a low- altitude chain that border Lake Nyasa, remote and difficult to reach, climbing is largely uncharted and most part the area remains unexplored by trekkers and guides.
6. Monduli Mountains :
Just a few hours' drive from Arusha, the Monduli Mountain makes a lovely day trip or can be part of longer hiking itinerary. Maasai pastoralists herd their cattle along the slope and cultural tourism programs give visitors opportunity to learn about traditional medicines and local Maasai culture. The surrounding views of the Rift valley, Mt Meru and Mt Kilimanjaro are incredible.
7. Mount Hanang :
Remotely located on somewhat bumpy tracks 200 km south- west of Arusha, Mt Hanang's extinct volcanic crater makes for a stunning feature above the undulating plains. The two day climb takes trekkers through numerous tribal areas, including the land of the semi-nomadic Barabaig, recognizable by their goatskin garments.
8. Ol Doinyo Lengai :
Overlooking Lake Natron and bush land of Kenya to the north, Ol donyo lengai, which mean 'the home of God' in Maasai, is an active volcano and one of Tanzania's most spectacular and undiscovered climbs. The volcano erupts sporadically, sending stream of grey lava down the crater rim and spitting hot ash high into the air. The climb, undertaken over night so hiker can experience sunrise over the Rift Valley escarpment, is highly challenging.
9. Pare Mountains :
Part of the Eastern Arc range in the north – eastern Tanzania, the remote pare mountains are extremely rewarding to the avid trekker searching for hiking trails off the beaten path. Home to the pare tribe, agriculturalists and pastoralists who have largely retained their traditional way of life, a hike through the Pare mountains takes visitors through local villages and beautiful forests and offers the chance to see a little – visited part of the country.
10. Udzungwa Mountains :
Located west of Dar es Salaam, the Udzungwa Mountains rise up from the western edge of the SELOUS Game reserve. Vervet monkeys play high in the forest canopy, and small forest antelope can be viewed at the right time of the day. Botanical diversity is exceptional, and the park is host to a large number of endangered bird species. Views from the peaks of the mountains, towards the Selous Game Reserve and the distant Indian Ocean coast, are incredible and well worth the effort. Better yet, there are no roads through the Udzungwa Mountains National Park, so hikers have the area all to themselves.
11. Uluguru Mountains :
Overlooking the agricultural area around Morogoro, the Uluguru Mountains are part of the Eastern Arc range and are named after the Luguru tribe, a matrilineal group that farms on its verdant slopes. The areas have some of the oldest forest in Africa. Hiking in the area is particularly rewarding. A plethora of endemic bird and insect species are found here.
12. Usambara Mountains :
The Usambara Mountains are part of the Eastern Arc chain in the north-eastern part of the country. Their western and eastern ranges are divided by a 4km wide valley of small villages and farms, and larger peaks. Day walks and overnight treks take visitors through some of the most concentrated area of biodiversity in Africa. Bird watching is specially rewarding, and the views from the mountaintops stretch over the Maasai Steppe and, on a clear day, as far as the Indian Ocean.
As General Manager of Easy Travel, an important part of Musaddiq Gulamhussein's role is to ensure that all the accommodation selected for the company's clients meets the highest standards.
But on a recent inspection trip to Tanzania's Southern Circuit, he was also impressed by the huge improvements made in the National Parks and wildlife conservation, as well as by the accommodation itself.
And he was reminded of the stunning and unique natural attractions that characterize this magical part of the world.
There are times when even someone such as me - who lives, breathes and sleeps 'safari' - can be bowled over by what Mother Nature has to offer in her 'natural wonders' department. My recent tour of Tanzania's Southern Circuit certainly let me marvel at the breath-taking scenery, and gave me some up-close-and-personal encounters with a host of my country's amazing animals.
I did manage to stay focused on the main purpose of my business trip – reviewing the region's hotels, lodges and camps – but those natural wonders did their very best to distract me! And as someone who is passionate about sharing wonderful safari experiences with our clients, it does me no harm at all to witness Tanzania's finest attractions myself.
If the Northern Circuit is distinguished by an abundance of acacia, then the landscape of the Southern Circuit is equally characterized by Miombo woodland. Conveniently for visitors looking for sightings of game, these trees shed their leaves in the dry season (mid-June to November), making the wildlife easier to spot. The scarcity of water also helps sightseers, as animals can usually be found gathered around the shrinking waterholes, satisfying their thirst.
Given that Southern Tanzania is home to the country's biggest National Parks and its only Game Reserve, you may be struck – as I was – by just how remote the region seems at times. It's not unusual to spend several days of a game safari without encountering another vehicle. Surely that feeling of 'being in the bush' is one that's difficult to surpass?
But I was certainly far from being alone on my trip, for there were plenty of animals to keep me company. On my walking safari in Selous Game Reserve, I was perhaps only ten metres away from a group of giraffes; on a boat trip on the Rufiji – incidentally, Tanzania's longest river – the crocodiles were even closer. Hippos also frequent the waters here.
Selous is a special favourite of mine, a huge reserve that is home to an impressive elephant population, some of whom we met as they drank from one of the watering holes, seemingly indifferent to our presence. The rare and endangered black rhinoceros also resides here and African wild dogs roam the reserve, though they are easier to spot in the rainy season.
In Selous and Ruaha National Park, I counted off the species – buffalo, leopard, hyena, jackal, cheetah, lion, zebra, gazelle, impala, antelope, aardwolf, porcupine… too many to list in full, really.
But that list grew longer as I reached Udzungwa, another of the southern national parks. For there you can find, as I did, no fewer than ten species of primate, some of them endemic to this region.
And higher up still, the skies above are the stage for many hundreds of bird species, both resident and migrant, all adding noise and colour to the landscape. Ruaha alone has recorded over 500 species and Selous and Udzungwa are not far behind.
I was pleased to learn that the Tanzanian government is introducing ever-tighter laws to protect this abundance of wildlife and I left confident that everything is been done to win the war against poaching. (Sadly, at present, hunting for both bush-meat and ivory continues in this region).
And what about that accommodation review, the main purpose for my visit to the south? Well, there are no large chain hotels on the Southern Circuit, rather the accommodation on offer is more appropriate to the natural environment.I was delighted with the small, tented camps which we at Easy Travel are using for our visitors to the south, bringing them closer to the bush and its animal inhabitants and making that 'wilderness experience' a reality. Amongst the lodges that we use, the Rufiji River Camp and the Ruaha River Camp stood out as being two of the best I visited during my tour.
At the end of my trip, I arrived home exhausted but exhilarated. Although the distances between the southern National Parks are long, this had provided plenty of opportunities for me to relax and enjoy the vast expanses of lush, varied vegetation, punctuated by a succession of typical, characterful, small towns.
I had been reminded of the South's tremendous attractions; excited by the many species I had encountered; pleased by the standard of the accommodation where our Easy Travel clients would stay; encouraged by the efforts being made to conserve the wildlife.
But most of all, I had been thrilled by the sense of adventure I had felt, the feeling of being out in the wild, and the thought that all our Easy Travel clients who visit the Southern Circuit would surely feel the same way too.
This is the real Africa. Africa resides here. Come and enjoy it with us.
by Musaddiq Gulamhussein
General Manager, Easy Travel and Tours Ltd.
July 15, 2013.
