TRAVEL WITH ORIGINS SAFARIS TO TANZANIA - THE LAND OF SUPERLATIVES - Origins Safaris

TRAVEL WITH ORIGINS SAFARIS TO TANZANIA – THE LAND OF SUPERLATIVES

by | Oct 6, 2017 | Blog | 0 comments

When you picture that perfectly red African sun rising up over the horizon and over the giraffes roaming the savannah, the lions surveying their kingdom, and the elephants playing in the water, your mind’s eye could very well be creating a scene from Tanzania.

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If you want turquoise blue water, if you want to climb the highest mountains in Africa, and if you want to see the most ferocious and colorful beasts of the continent, Tanzania is the place. This country really does have it all for adventurers who want a real taste of Africa. So don your safari hat and grab your binoculars!

Tanzania is a true wilderness – over a quarter of this magnificent country is dedicated to incredibly wild and beautiful national parks and reserves.  It is East Africa at its best.  Tanzania is also a land of superlatives: the deepest, the highest, the largest, and the oldest.

Tanzania is mountainous and densely forested in the northeast, where Mount Kilimanjaro is located. Three of Africa’s Great Lakes are partly within Tanzania. To the north and west lie Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake, and Lake Tanganyika, the continent’s deepest lake, known for its unique species of fish. The eastern shore is hot and humid, with the Zanzibar Archipelago just offshore. The Kalambo water falls in the southwestern region of Rukwa are the second highest uninterrupted fall in Africa and are located near the southeastern shore of Lake Tanganyika on the border with Zambia. The Menai Bay Conservation Area is Zanzibar’s largest marine protected area.

Approximately 38% of Tanzania’s land area is set aside in protected areas for conservation. Tanzania has 16 national parks, plus a variety of game and forest reserves, including the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. In western Tanzania, Gombe Stream National Park is the site of Jane Goodall’s ongoing study of chimpanzee behaviour, which started in 1960.

Tanzania is highly bio-diverse and contains a wide variety of animal habitats. Tanzania is home to 35 species of antelope and over 1.5 million wildebeest – over 80% of the total population in Africa….  Tanzania is also home to about 130 amphibian and over 275 reptile species, many of them strictly endemic and included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red Lists of different countries. Tanzania has developed a Biodiversity Action Plan to address species conservation.

Famous parks such as the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area offer some of the best safari opportunities in Africa. The Serengeti plains alone support over 3 million animals whilst the Ngorongoro Crater hosts the greatest concentration of large mammals in Africa on the floor of an extinct volcano; a natural refuge for big game. Whilst these two parks are the best known there are many others that offer more diverse opportunities for the more adventurous. Parks such as the Ruaha and Selous Reserves are huge and relatively untouched.  The incredible wilderness of the Miombo woodlands in Southern Tanzania offers dramatically changing scenery and wildlife.  And the exotic lure of the islands: Pemba, Zanzibar – incredible ‘getaway’ destinations.

There are over 120 different ethnic groups among Tanzania’s population. But no one group is dominant, many being fairly small. Among the different ethnic groups, the vast majority are Bantu-speakers; the largest is the Sukuma, with others including the Nyamwezi, the Makonde and the Chaga of the Kilimanjaro region. Unlike in other African countries, most people identify themselves as Tanzanian first and foremost. This reflects the ideals which were introduced by the leader of the nation for over twenty years, Julius Nyerere.

In northern Tanzania, groups speak Khoisan or ‘click-sound’ languages, such as the Sandawe. Some groups speak Nilotic languages such as the Maasai. These nomads live as they have for centuries, herding cattle across large areas and living off the animals’ milk, blood and meat. The Maasai are particularly known for their distinctive dress and the warrior-status of their men.

With large communities of both Muslims and Christians, it’s not uncommon for towns to have a mosque and a church. And festivals/holidays of both religions are given equal recognition.

 

On The Move – Serengeti Migration

Few people forget their first encounter with Serengeti National Park. Perhaps it’s the view from Naabi Hill at the park’s entrance, from where the Serengeti’s grasslands appear to stretch to the ends of the earth. Or maybe it’s a coalition of lions stalking across open plains, their manes catching the breeze. Or it could be the migration of wildebeest and zebra in their millions, following the ancient rhythm of Africa’s seasons. Whatever it is, welcome to one of the greatest wildlife-watching destinations on earth.

The 14,763 sq km Serengeti is also renowned for its predators, especially its lions. Cheetahs, leopards, hyenas and jackals are on the hunt here, too, feasting on zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, gazelles, topis, elands, hartebeests, impalas and more. It’s also an incredible bird-watching destination, with over 500 species to spot. A few black rhinos around Moru Kopjes offer a chance for the Big Five, although they’re rarely seen.

The Serengeti Migration is the world’s most spectacular wildlife event as herds of Wildebeeste, Zebras and Antelopes roam the vast savannah eco-system that stretches from Ngorongoro Crater to The Maasai Mara.  Each year almost two million wildebeest take part in a great migration from the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara.  It’s an amazing sight to behold. As Summer arrives in the Serengeti, the two million strong migration makes its way from the increasingly hostile plains of Tanzania to the green and abundant Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. The more numerous (1.7 million) white-bearded wildebeest make the 1,900km odyssey with the support of 400,000 Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelles, 300,000 zebras, 12,000 eland and impalas.

The annual wildebeest migration starts with the birthing of the calves in southern Serengeti.  It is a dramatic spectacle, as the herds press together and young calves are born hourly, encircled by their Big Cat and smaller predators.  And so the cycle begins each February/March as the swollen numbers are forced to traverse the plains in search of fresh grazing, crossing the border into the neighbouring Maasai Mara as the dry season takes hold of the Serengeti in July – September.

It’s a true wonder to observe this Great Migration and one of the most dramatic moments occurs when the wildebeest must cross the Mara River in the Maasai Mara, which is full of crocodiles.  Many do not survive this part of their passage.  The herds remain in the Mara until mid-October, when they return to the short-grass plains of the Serengeti for the winter months.

Origins Safaris offers incredibly flexible and targeted migration programmes.  In the Serengeti we recommend a lightweight mobile camp – a self-sufficient base that can be moved regularly – to follow the migratory pattern of the herds.  We can guarantee your safari is at the heart of the migration, with the option of a classic mobile tented camp that moves with the herds and the seasons.

Ngorongoro Crater

To the great writer and naturalist Peter Matthiessen, the Crater Highlands were ‘the most beautiful of all the regions….seen in Africa’. To the Maasai, this is God’s country; the Almighty himself lives here, a useful, if occasionally troublesome, neighbour. Extinct volcanos dominate the highlands, marching northwards towards sulphurous Lake Natron: Oldeani, Lemagrut, Ngorongoro, Olmoti, Loolmalasin and Embagai. The Maasai god Ngai lives on the last and most beautiful of these: Ol Doinyo Lengai. Its silhouette is like a child’s drawing of a mountain – solitary, pointed, symmetrical – the blue of its flanks running over the lines to merge with the sky. Alone of these volcanoes, Ol Doinyo Lengai is still active. When God is displeased with his people, he blows his top; the eruptions can blight the pasture for miles around. When he is pleased, he sends the Maasai rain and children.

The Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania is the largest unfilled inactive volcanic crater, or caldera, in the world. However, it’s not entirely empty as a wildlife spectacle unfolds in this dramatic setting. At the base of 610m cliff faces elephants trumpet, lions roar, and antelope…eat grass. The crater is arguably the best place in Tanzania to see the big five. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most mesmerizing natural features in the world. Surrounded by steep escarpment walls, Ngorongoro’s caldera, 12km across and more than 600 metres deep, contains one of Africa’s richest concentrations of game – an enclosed Eden of grass and animals. Humanity has been banished from this place for several generations, and the density of wildlife here can hardly be exaggerated.

Humanity has deep ties to the crater; the Ngorongoro Conservation area is home to footprints that date back the oldest humanoids walking upright, nearly 3.7 million years ago. The age combined with other finds, suggest that Northern Tanzania and the Ngorongoro Conservation area is the birth place of human kind. One’s first descent into the crater is filled with a sense of our primordial origin. In the early morning a fine mist rolls over plains filled with wildlife. To watch the sun rise from within the Crater it is one of life greatest experiences.

The name Ngorongoro comes from the Maasai tribe. The translation is roughly “gift of life.” There is the Oldupai Gorge situated in the plains area of the conservation, which is widely regarded as the most important prehistoric site in the world, with even the famous Mary and Louis Leakey having done research in the valley. The footprints and skeletal fragments have been instrumental in understanding early human evolution and development.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, NCA, was formed in 1976. With its deep ties to humanity, cultural heritage is well prized in regards to the conservation. It is an area of land that has deep significance for both human and animal life and it is the only park in Tanzania where both human settlements, Maasai tribesmen, and animals live together. When driving around the crater rim guests will see pastoralist villages with the Zebra and buffalo walking through herds of cattle.

Nestled between Lake Manyara and the Serengeti, the crater is a water supply that attracts animals to stay in the area instead of migrating. Zebras and wildebeests are the predominant species in the crater floor area, but visitors might also see hippos, Thomson’s gazelles, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes and lions. Bird watching and large game viewing is a popular pastime here and the Ngorongoro crater is home to roughly 30,000 animals, making it one of the most densely populated animal populations in the world. It is famed for its healthy black rhino population.  Many large animals call the crater home and you’ll likely spot many within a few hours drive. Large mammals include Grant’s zebra, Thomson’s gazelle, eland, hyena, elephants, cape buffalo, and lions. The majority of the craters landscape is a large grassy plain, so spotting wildlife is very easy.

Mt. Kilimanjaro

Tanzania is dominated by Kilimanjaro; one of the world’s most massive extinct volcano’s and Africa’s highest mountain, soaring some 15,000 feet above the surrounding arid plains and 2.5 square miles of its surface ascending to over 18,500 feet.  Beneath its ice dome, snow extends down long gullies that have been eroded into the mountain sides.  Kilimanjaro’s summit crater, known as Kibo, measures an incredible 1.5 miles across.  The highest point on Kibo’s steep rim is Uhuru, the highest peak in Africa. Nestled in the center of Kibo is a smaller crater, 600-feet deep in sulfurous ashes.

As the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, Mount Kilimanjaro is a mecca for mountaineers and amateur trekkers alike; whether you wish to hike to the summit of this “Roof of Africa”, or simply view the spectacular wildlife in the shadow of its snow-capped peaks.

You can climb the mountain at any time of the year, but the recommended period is during the dry season that runs from late June to the month of October. Kilimanjaro is a World Heritage site. It was formed more than one million years ago, and its Uhuru Peak is one of the world’s Seven Summits.

The lower level of the mountain is farmland, and as you climb, you’ll go through rainforests, alpine meadows and then lunar landscapes. Eland, monkeys, leopards and buffaloes roam the rainforest slopes, and the alpine area is a great spot for viewing birds of prey.

Lake Tanganyika

The world’s longest and second deepest lake is a natural wonder in the Albertine Rift Valley (which spans across four countries). A great inland sea; it is perfect for scenic boat cruises, kayaking, sport fishing and scuba diving with its endemic cichlids. Most exciting of all however, are the opportunities on the forested shores to come face to face with our closest relatives – Chimpanzees. Travel by dhow boat on the crystal clear lake waters to visit with the chimpanzees in one of Tanzania’s most untouched destinations. Highlights of this safari include chimpanzee trekking, bird watching, fishing excursions, kayaking, barbeques and sundowners on the beach around a campfire.

In addition to being one of the best places in the world for up-close encounters with chimpanzees, Mahale Mountains National Park (nestled on the shoreline in western Tanzania) is absolutely stunning. Forested mountains cascade down to the lake shore, the mist-covered peak of Mount Nkungwe rises up in the background and crystal-clear waters teeming with fish lap against white sand coves.

The park, Tanzania’s most remote and one of its most alluring, is first and foremost a chimpanzee sanctuary. About 1700 chimpanzees live within its 1613sqkm area, but the focal point for visitors is the 60-strong Mimikere, or ‘M’ group, which has been the subject of research for more than four decades. While the M group chimps are well habituated, spotting human’s closest relatives is almost always a challenge. Don long trousers, sturdy boots, a hat and a surgical mask (these are distributed to all visitors by park guides at the beginning of a tracking expedition) and prepare yourself for some sweaty, steep climbing through often-dense vegetation.

You may not spot any chimps on your first try, but it is rare to spend two or three days in the park without seeing one. The experience itself is captivating: almost without warning, a chimp brushes past you on the trail, several individuals become visible in a clearing just ahead or high above in the tree tops. Time stops, and the one-hour viewing period permitted by park authorities is over in a flash as the chimps play and hoot in delight.

During the wet season, from November until May, the chimpanzees spend much of their time in the trees and can be difficult to find. In the height of the rains from March through May, the trails become unpleasantly muddy. In the dry season months of June to October the undergrowth is less dense and the chimps frequently come down near the main lodge area to feed.

In between chimp tracking expeditions, Lake Tanganyika beckons for snorkelling, kayaking and hippo- and crocodile-spotting forays. The forest around the main lodge area is full of birds, with guinea fowl, hornbills, kingfishers and many more all readily seen on short walks. In the evening, the setting is magical as the sun sets over the Congo Mountains in the distance, and tiny lights from fishing boats flicker across the lake.

For anyone with additional time and energy, the brooding peak of 2462m-high Mount Nkungwe is eminently climbable and makes a fine adventure. Depending on the time of year, you may need to hack your way through high grass and brush for part of the climb, but the remoteness and the stillness are wonderful. Elephants, giraffes and even lions wander around the eastern slopes of the mountain, and it is essential to be accompanied by an armed guide, although encounters with these animals are rare. More common are roan and sable antelopes, porcupines and the ubiquitous warthog. Allow two days to climb up and one day to return for Nkungwe climbs, camping en route, although a more strenuous two-day option is also possible.

Southern Wilderness

Katavi National Park is universally recognized as one of the few truly remote and untouched areas of Tanzania’s immense conservation areas. The nearby Selous Game Reserve is Africa’s largest protected wildlife reserve. In addition, with Ruaha – Tanzania’s second largest park, and others, they form a massive, wild wilderness in Southern Tanzania that covers almost 10% of the countries’ total land mass.

Katavi is about as far away as you can possibly get from the tourist circuit; an outpost in far off western Tanzania and somewhere that even today, few people have been lucky enough to visit.  Perhaps because of this, it feels untouched, almost like travelling back in time.

The park centers on a series of wide flood plains, blond with waist high grass in the early dry season, green and flooded like a mini Okavango after the rains. Connecting the main flood plains – Ngolema, Katisunga, Katavi and Chada – is a network of fragile seasonal rivers.  It is these rivers that form the focus of the game viewing for which Katavi is renowned during the dry season.

Water rapidly becomes a limited resource in Katavi during the dry so animals of all kinds are drawn to the Katuma, Kavu and Kapapa Rivers. Hippo in their thousands cram the remaining pools, crocodiles retire to caves in the mud walls of the river banks, buffalo and elephant are drawn to the rivers to drink. The lion, hyenas and other predators know this.  In the late dry season, there are few places that offer such a raw and wild experience as Katavi.

Selous Game Reserve is a vast, 48,000-sq-km wilderness area lying at the heart of southern Tanzania. It is Africa’s largest wildlife reserve, and home to large herds of elephants, plus buffaloes, crocodiles, hippos, wild dogs, many bird species and some of Tanzania’s last remaining black rhinos. Bisecting it is the Rufiji River, which cuts a path past woodlands, grasslands and stands of borassus palm, and provides unparalleled water-based wildlife-watching. The wealth of Selous’ wildlife and its stunning riverine scenery rarely fail to impress.

The Spice Islands

Zanzibar is probably a name you’ve heard before, synonymous with white sandy beaches and bright blue water. You could spend weeks on Zanzibar alone, enjoying spice tours, the culture of Stone Town and the numerous beautiful beaches elsewhere on the island.

Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia form a beautiful archipelago just off the Tanzanian mainland, renowned for their spice plantations and cloves. The palm beaches have beautiful protecting coral reefs and are carpeted with white coral sand. It is famous for its clear-water, white-sand beaches with varying surf levels. The warm clear water is perfect for swimming, snorkelling and other water sports.

Zanzibar is the birthplace of Swahili, Sultans’ Palaces, and the rich Persian history. In its heart, you’ll find Stone Town, a multicultural World Heritage site with old Arabian townhouses and a maze of narrow alleys lined with homes, mosques and bazaars. Its winding lanes present minarets, carved doorways and 19th-century landmarks, such as the House of Wonders; a former sultan’s palace.

The northern villages Nungwi and Kendwa have wide beaches lined with hotels. The diving there is great, as is the snorkeling, the little islands you can visit, the seafood, and wealth of activities.

Tarangire

Welcome to one of Africa’s most underrated parks. Thanks to its proximity to Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park is usually assigned only a day visit as part of a larger northern circuit itinerary. Yet it deserves much more, at least in the dry season (August through October). It’s a place where elephants dot the plains like cattle, and where lion-roars and zebra-barks fill the night.

But this is one place where the wildlife tells only half the story. Dominating the park’s 2850 sq km, Tarangire’s great stands of epic baobabs should be reason enough to come here. There are also sun-blistered termite mounds in abundance, as well as grassy savannah plains and vast swamps. And cleaving the park in two is the Tarangire River, its meandering course and (in some places) steep riverbanks providing a dry-season lure for so many stirring wildlife encounters. If you’re into birds and elephants, the Tarangire National Park is another great spot for wildlife viewing.

Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is one of Tanzania’s smaller parks and, although many safari itineraries skip it, we highly recommend you make the detour. The dramatic western escarpment of the Rift Valley forms the park’s western border. To the east is the alkaline Lake Manyara, which covers one-third of the park, but shrinks considerably in the dry season. During the rains, the lake hosts millions of flamingos and other birdlife.

While Manyara lacks the raw drama of other northern circuit destinations, its vegetation is diverse, ranging from savannah to marshes to evergreen forest (11 different ecosystems in all) and it supports one of the highest biomass densities of large mammals in the world. Elephants, hippos, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes and wildebeest are often spotted. Leopards and hyenas are also here. Lake Manyara is also home to a famous population of tree-climbing lions.

Profiled Trip 2017-18 : Wonders of Tanzania Migration Safari

Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Loliondo, which make up the famed “Northern Circuit”, tempt you with a million-strong Wildebeest migration, a huge volcanic caldera, a flamingo rimmed lake, rhino, buffalo, black-maned tree-climbing Lions and elephant bathing in rivers. Experience the Ngorongroro Crater with its unique ecosystem isolated from the rolling savannahs that surround it.

You will also visit Arusha on your you will also visit Arusha on your luxury Migration Safari, which is the gateway to the safari circuit; a small bustling town that exudes a great sense of anticipation and excitement, which sprawls beneath the massive bulk of Mount Meru filled with craft shops selling local artisans’ work.

Our exclusive Migration Safari will let you experience the integral and complete wonders of Tanzania.

In Summary

For many, Tanzania may be the most well-known country in Africa. It is the country that has become synonymous with the Serengeti, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar. People from all over the world flock to Tanzania; they want to have a safari in some of the best national parks in the world. The country is staggeringly beautiful, populated by a warm Swahili culture, and home to some of the best wildlife on this planet.

Tanzania travel has so much to offer tourists that it is overwhelming. Tanzania has beautiful turquoise beaches in Zanzibar, lush mountain vistas in the Usumbara mountains, the tallest peak in Africa, wild jungles in the Mahale Mountains, and endless plains in the Serengeti. With a country that’s rich in wildlife and culture, it’s hard to get bored.

If you make the effort to travel to Tanzania we would recommend experiencing several different climates. The most popular route for many is to finish a safari or Kilimanjaro climb with some much-needed relaxation on one of the best hotels on Zanzibar.

At Origins Safaris we are passionate about wildlife, cultural heritage, adventure and exploration. We customize each and every safari to your personal requirements and expectations, ensuring an exclusive, unique and authentic experience every time. For more information on safaris to Tanzania, please contact us on https://originsafaris.com/tanzania-overview/

 

Origins Safaris – Authentic African Experiences Since 1963

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The Sahara & Zakouma - Chad

 

The Sahara & Zakouma – Chad

March 2020

Chad has is a country full of adventure and an experience that visitors never forget – Chad is ‘Africa for the hardcore’. Travel here is tough – many of the roads are broken due to years of conflict and lack of maintenance. There are few comfortable hotels and added to that, the summer heat is mind-melting.

So why bother, you may ask? Well, we could list the sublime oases lost in the northern deserts, tell you about the stampeding herds of wildlife in the national parks or the deep blue lure of a boat trip on Lake Chad. But let’s be honest about it, these things alone aren’t why people come to Chad. Chad offers an opportunity to break emphatically with a comfortable Western world and come to a place that promises experiences, good and bad, that you’ll be recalling forever.

The Ennedi desert is an adventure through remote and breathtaking landscapes that sums up our ethos, and takes you to places that few western travellers have ever been. This part of the Sahara offers a vast collection of sandstone mountains sculpted by the wind and sand over millennia into stunning rock formations and arches. Here, you can enter the land of the Tubu; one of Africa’s most traditional and least known people, who live amongst a myriad of petroglyphs and rock paintings from generations before. A video for you to watch is on this link: Watch Video

Nearby the Zakouma National Park is a park of extremes and abundance – we encounter flocks of tens of millions of red-billed quelea flying to roost, and is the last stronghold of a thriving population of Kordofan Giraffe, Roan Antelope, Tiang and a host of other somewhat unusual antelope species being hunted by a healthy Lion population. Herewith a link to a video on Zakouma: Watch Video

Click here for more Information about Chad

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The Cradle of Mankind, Kenya

 

The Cradle of Mankind, Kenya

February 2020

Nowhere in the world is as well-endowed with traditional and tribal cultures as Ethiopia. Our typical cultural expedition takes you into this remote region of the African continent where you will be immersed into an array of tribal lifestyles and biblical-like living museums. You will also enjoy ‘street level culture’ with a fascinating blend of cafes, bars, sidewalk musicians, small galleries and bistros; where it is hard to draw the line between participant and observer, or between creativity and its creators. This trip will include the following incredible attractions: the picturesque and historic town of Lalibela (The Coptic Christian’s “New Jerusalem”), the colourful town of Harer (Africa’s most holy Islamic city), the night-life of Addis, the Dassanech Dimi Ceremony, the Suri Stick Fighters, Hamar bull jumping, The Mursi & the cradle of mankind, the Nyangatom, and the Kara – masters of paint.

After several years of “no foreigner access” to the amazing Donga stick sighting of the Suri in Ethiopia, I am thrilled to say that this door has now re-opened, and all of our trips to the Suri this last season (June to August) have all been lucky enough to experience this awesome spectacle.

 

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Lowland Gorillas & Forest Elephants, RCA

 

Lowland Gorillas & Forest Elephants, RCA

June 2020

The Central African Republic (CAR) is a country with staggering rare natural beauty and some of the world’s most amazing wildlife. It’s one of the best places in Africa for encounters with forest elephant and lowland gorillas, and the best places in the world, some say, to see butterflies. It’s also one of the most impoverished and least developed countries on the continent.

Dzanga Bai is a Garden of Eden in the dense Central African Rainforests. It is a clearing in the middle of nowhere, with a tree platform, where large herds of Forest Elephant (especially bulls in musth ready to fight and looking for fertile females) and other species, such as Sitatunga, Bongo, Red Forest Buffalo and even Lowland Gorilla come to drink, feed, search for salt and socialize. It is quite an amazing spectacle for even the most seasoned African traveller.

This is on my bucket list. Please send me details of a safari that includes this component.

Click here for more Information about The Central African Republic

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Cultural & Tribal Group Trip, Ethiopia

 

Cultural & Tribal Group Trip, Ethiopia

September 2020

Nowhere in the world is as well-endowed with traditional and tribal cultures as Ethiopia. Our typical cultural expedition takes you into this remote region of the African continent where you will be immersed into an array of tribal lifestyles and biblical-like living museums. You will also enjoy ‘street level culture’ with a fascinating blend of cafes, bars, sidewalk musicians, small galleries and bistros; where it is hard to draw the line between participant and observer, or between creativity and its creators. This trip will include the following incredible attractions: the picturesque and historic town of Lalibela (The Coptic Christian’s “New Jerusalem”), the colourful town of Harer (Africa’s most holy Islamic city), the night-life of Addis, the Dassanech Dimi Ceremony, the Suri Stick Fighters, Hamar bull jumping, The Mursi & the cradle of mankind, the Nyangatom, and the Kara – masters of paint.

After several years of “no foreigner access” to the amazing Donga stick sighting of the Suri in Ethiopia, I am thrilled to say that this door has now re-opened, and all of our trips to the Suri this last season (June to August) have all been lucky enough to experience this awesome spectacle.  A quick video clip: Watch Video

So, why not join Origins on the most amazing cultural expedition of your life, to see people and lifestyles totally unaffected by the western world. You will feel nothing but sheer privilege at being able to travel amongst them. HOWEVER, if you are inconvenienced by spartan accommodation or are apprehensive in unfamiliar situations, then this expedition is not for you!

Click here for more Information about Ethiopia

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Gerewol Ceremony, Chad

 

Gerewol Ceremony, Chad

October 2020

This is possibly Africa’s most spectacular tribal festival. Every year, after the rainy season, the nomadic Bororo (Fulani) people, with roots lost in prehistoric times, meet in secret areas of the Sahel, straddling Niger, Chad and Cameroon, to celebrate. The men devote their time to show off and display their best physical features and celebrate. This is a crucial time to exchange news, make friends, and have love affairs. Click on the link for a quick video clip: Watch Video

Click here for more Information about Chad

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Tigrai by Helicopter, Ethiopia

 

Tigrai by Helicopter, Ethiopia

March 2020 and April 2020

During October 2017, Origins Safaris will be positioning Phil Mathews with his EC130 B4 Eurocopter in the Tigrai region of Northern Ethiopia, providing an exclusive opportunity to guests travelling in the region over the optimum season.  Our exceptional itinerary highlights the spectacular scenery, endemic wildlife and lesser known historical sites that remain exclusive to travel by helicopter.  These will not only include the historic and picturesque town of Lalibela, the spectacular Tekezze Gorge, the Mountain churches of Tigrai, the inaccessible regions of the Danakil Depression, but also full overnight stops on the top of The Simien Mountains, and the caldera of Erta Ale Volcano, to totally immerse yourself in such a spectacular region. Herewith a video of a helicopter ride in Ethiopia: Watch Video

Click here for more Information about Ethiopia

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About Benin

 

The birthplace of voodoo and a pivotal platform of the slave trade for nearly three centuries, Benin is steeped in a rich and complex history still very much in evidence across the country.  A visit to this small, club-shaped nation would therefore not be complete without exploring the Afro-Brazilian heritage of Ouidah, Abomey and Porto Novo, learning about spirits and fetishes.  But Benin will also wow visitors with its natural beauty, from the palm-fringed beach idyll of the Atlantic coast to the rugged scenery of the north. The Parc National de la Pendjari is one of the best wildlife parks in West Africa. Lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants and hundreds of other species thrive here.

In fact, Benin is wonderfully tourist friendly compared to most of its neighbours. There are good roads, a wide range of accommodation options and ecotourism initiatives that offer travellers the chance to delve deeper into Beninese life. Now is an ideal time to go because the country sits on the cusp of discovery.

Benin has varied resources of wildlife comprising flora and fauna, which are primarily protected in its two contiguous protected areas of the Pendjari National Park and W National Park. The former is known for many species of avifauna and the latter park is rich in mammals and predators.

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About The Central African Republic

 

The Central African Republic (CAR) is a country with staggering rare natural beauty and some of the world’s most amazing wildlife. It’s one of the best places in Africa for encounters with forest elephant and lowland gorillas, and the best places in the world, some say, to see butterflies. It’s also one of the most impoverished and least developed countries on the continent.

The Central African Republic is a landlocked nation within the interior of the African continent that consists of flat or rolling plateau savanna.  In the south west, where the Sangha River flows close to the Republic of Congo, exists a truly unique and special expanse of rainforest.  This is the world of the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park – this protected area has gained international importance and it contains the last unlogged forest and intact fauna in the country.
 
The Central African Republic is home to many different species from the beautiful blue headed doves to the sleek and slender serval.  In the savannah regions you can find lions, cheetahs, leopards, baboons, antelope, buffalo, and other species of insects, amphibians and reptiles.  In the dense Congo jungle you can find the smaller forest elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, leopards, and other primates.  Located in the rivers you cannot forget the crocodiles, hippos and large variety of fish species. A special population of “Bili” apes is also established within the Congo region; this particular type of chimp is larger than their cousins and they also build their nests on the ground instead of in the trees. The Black Rhino also inhabits the area, one of the last niches this rare species can be found.

 

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About Chad

 

Chad has always been someplace where travellers wave goodbye to their comfort zone and say hello to adventure. Put simply, Chad is a country and an experience that visitors never forget. If Ghana and Gambia are ‘ Africa for beginners’, Chad is ‘Africa for the hardcore’.  At the moment terrorism and violence has put the dampeners on even the most ambitious travel adventures here.

Even when at peace, travel here is tough. Many of the roads are broken due to years of conflict and lack of maintenance. There are few comfortable hotels and added to that, the summer heat is mind-melting and travel costs can be astronomical.

So why ever bother, you may ask? Well, we could list the sublime oases lost in the northern deserts, tell you about the stampeding herds of wildlife in the national parks or the deep blue lure of a boat trip on Lake Chad. But let’s be honest about it, these things alone aren’t why people come to Chad. Chad offers an opportunity to break emphatically with a comfortable Western world and come to a place that promises experiences, good and bad, that you’ll be recalling forever.

Chad is best described as having broad, arid plains in the center, desert in the north, mountains in the northwest and lowlands in the south.  Chad’s animal and plant life correspond to the three climatic zones. Chad is home to an abundance of different animals. There are 134 species of mammals -17 of which are becoming endangered – and 588 species of birds in residence. One of Chad’s most prominent mammals is the Red River Hog, or Bush Pig, along with the African Bush Elephant, the Cape Hyrax, and a type of old-world monkey called the Mantled Guereza. While Chad is primarily composed of deserts in the north, to the South there are fertile grasslands which provide a suitable habitat for grazing animals such as buffalo, rhinoceroses, giraffes and antelopes to dwell in. The birds that live in Chad range from the flightless ostriches to the wetland dwelling herons.

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About The Democratic Republic of Congo

 

Of all the countries of Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo is the closest to “Tarzan’s Africa”. You can very easily imagine him swinging on a vine right in front of you as you travel through this country, visited more by adventurers than tourists. No one goes there to rest and sit in a chair for a couple of weeks. Congo is an experience and asks for active people who (with respect for nature and local culture) like to learn, observe and have no objection against social contact.

Located in central Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo covers more than 2.3 million square km. More than half of the country is covered by dense rainforests. It is two thirds the size of Europe with only 450 km of paved road – an area of vast jungles and dark corners, scattered outposts and tribal strong-holds, equatorial rainforests and active volcanoes – truly one of the most untamed countries on the surface of the earth.

The rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo contain great biodiversity, including many rare and endemic species, such as both species of chimpanzee: the common chimpanzee and the bonobo (also known as the Pygmy Chimpanzee), mountain gorillas, okapi and white rhino. Five of the country’s national parks are listed as World Heritage Sites: the Garumba, Kahuzi-Biega, Salonga and Virunga National Parks, and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve. The civil war and resultant poor economic conditions have endangered much of this biodiversity. All five sites are listed by UNESCO as ‘World Heritage In Danger’.

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About The Republic of Congo

 

A land of steamy jungles hiding half the world’s lowland gorillas, masses of forest elephants, and hooting, swinging troops of chimpanzees; the Congo (not to be confused with the Democratic Republic of Congo across the Congo River) is on the cusp of becoming one of the finest ecotourism destinations in Africa. Parc National Nouabalé-Ndoki and Parc National d’Odzala are two of the most pristine forest reserves on the continent and between them they are arguably the highlight of the whole of Central Africa.

The Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) is a surprising Central African gem with seemingly endless pristine tropical forest and fingers of moist savannah covering its interior. Nearly 150 distinct ethnic groups exist in the Congo and the region’s Ba’Aka people are among the most well known representatives of an ancient hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Their lives and well-being are linked intimately with the forest. A mosaic of rivers, forests, savannahs, swamps and flooded forests, the Congo Basin is teeming with life. There are approximately 10, 000 species of tropical plants and 30 percent are unique to the region.

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About South Sudan

 

Although South Sudan is one of the lesser-known nations in the world, the very fact that South Sudan is so undiscovered is what makes it likely to attract the first intrepid visitors here.  Tourism in South Sudan is a very new field, however the rewards for those adventurous spirits who are up to the challenge, are immeasurable. South Sudan is a diverse country boasting a wealth of tribal groups and is an anthropologist’s dream. Wildlife buffs can get excited over the vast numbers of large mammals that appear to have survived the decades of war relatively unharmed, trekkers may take on the challenge of the Imatong Mountains on the bountiful border of Uganda, whilst other travellers may dream of following the White Nile across the length of the world’s newest country and its unique splendour.

The White Eared Kob migration in Southern Sudan is one of the biggest animal migrations in the world and has been described as more spectacular than other migrations on the African continent and that its scale may exceed that of Tanzania’s Serengeti.  Boma National Park provide a habitat for large populations of kob and topis (two types of antelope), buffalo, elephants, giraffes, Hartebeests (another antelope), and lions. Southern Sudan’s forest reserves also provided habitat for bongo (also an antelope), giant forest hogs, red river hogs, forest elephants, chimpanzees, and forest monkeys.

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About Kenya

 

“Jambo na Karibuni” (“Hello & Welcome”). This friendly Swahili greeting will be your introduction to all the new friends and acquaintances you make on safari in Kenya. As you plan for the safari ahead we suggest you run through the information that follows so that you get the very most out of your safari. Kenya is rightfully described as “All of Africa in One Country”, and it is exactly that. It is a fact that Kenya enjoys some of the world’s greatest environmental diversity resulting in unparalleled species and sub-species varieties.

Kenya is simply the best wildlife viewing destination in Africa. People from all over the world are drawn here by its essence: the chance to immerse yourself in the spectacle of the big game: the predators and the prey ritually entwined in a cycle of life and death. Kenya straddles the Equator with geography ranging from snow capped Mt. Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa, to lush tropical rainforest and golden sands at sea level.  Kenya is a land of contrasts and extremes: a country with an extraordinary variety of landscapes and locations, all of them striking in their own particular way. It has earned the epithet ‘the cradle of mankind’ for the discovery of archaeological evidence of the earliest origins of mankind. Kenya not only boasts every known landform but also a wealth of animal and bird life which owes its very existence to the contrasts in the country’s terrain. You do not have to be an ornithologist to enjoy its one thousand species of birds or a zoologist to be amazed by its variety of animals – birds range from the beautiful to the bizarre and the wildlife from the weird to the wonderful…

We are among the last generations to have the opportunity to experience the vanishing cultures of East Africa. Kenya is the tribal home to 40 different ethnic groups, many still living exactly as their ancestors did thousands of years ago. You can immerse yourself in the ways and culture of some of Africa’s proudest and most striking tribes.

 Kenya has 480 kilometres of Indian Ocean coastline and a coral fringe reef, which is home to a colourful plethora of marine life.  You can explore its balmy waters by dhow, yacht or powerboat; dive, snorkel and swim in the clear azure waters over fabulous coral beds; hunt for Marlin, Tuna and Sailfish or explore the mangrove swamps and creeks where the cycle begins.  The coast is home to a striking mix of people and cultures with beautiful ancient architecture contrasting with the modern day bustle of the 21st century.

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About Tanzania

 

Tanzania is a true wilderness. Over a quarter of this magnificent country is dedicated to incredibly wild and beautiful national parks and reserves – it is East Africa at its best. Tanzania is a land of superlatives: the deepest, the highest, the largest, and the oldest. Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Loliondo – which make up the famed “Northern Circuit” – tempt you with a million-strong Wildebeest migration, a huge volcanic caldera, a flamingo-rimmed lake, rhino, buffalo, black-maned tree-climbing lions and elephant bathing in rivers. Experience the Ngorongoro Crater, a unique ecosystem isolated from the rolling savannahs that surround it.

Tanzania is dominated by Kilimanjaro; one of the world’s most massive extinct volcano’s and Africa’s highest mountain. It soars some 15,000 feet above the surrounding arid plains, and 2.5 square miles of its surface ascends to over 18,500 feet.

Tanzania is home to 35 species of antelope and over 1.5 million wildebeest – over 80% of the total population in Africa…. Famous parks such as the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area offer some of the best safari opportunities in Africa. The Serengeti plains alone support over 3 million animals whilst the Ngorongoro Crater hosts the greatest concentration of large mammals in Africa on the floor of an extinct volcano; a natural refuge for big game. Whilst these two parks are the best known, there are many others that offer more diverse opportunities for the more adventurous. Parks such as the Ruaha and Selous Reserve are huge and relatively untouched. The incredible wilderness of the Miombo woodlands in Southern Tanzania offers dramatically changing scenery and wildlife. And the exotic lure of the islands; Pemba & Zanzibar, are incredible ‘getaway’ destinations.

Lying between Lake Natron and Lake Eyasi the Olduvai Gorge is one of East Africa’s most amazing archaeological hotspots, where Drs. Louis and Mary Leakey discovered Homo Habilis (Handy Man); a 1.8 million year old fossil, whose bones were discovered in the wall of the Gorge. Early hominid footprints, estimated to be 3.5 million years old, were discovered at Laetoli by Dr Mary Leakey here in 1979.

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About Uganda

 

Uganda – “The Pearl of Africa” – is one of East Africa’s better kept secrets.  It has long been a favourite haunt for back-packers.  Uganda has it all: remote wilderness areas, breathtaking scenery, extraordinary cultural diversity and incredible wildlife.  Uganda is one of East Africa’s better kept secrets.  It has long been a favourite haunt for back-packers.  In the past its tourism strengths have often been ignored in favour of its sexier neighbours… in fact Uganda has it all: remote wilderness areas, breathtaking scenery, extraordinary cultural diversity and incredible wildlife.

It is a lush, green country straddling the equator.  The country’s dominating feature is water: the vast blue of Lake Victoria, the ever-flowing river Nile, Lakes Edward, George and Albert, and the expansive network of wetlands and marsh. Dramatic mountains punctuate the landscape: the snow- capped Rwenzori Mountains (Ptolemy’s famous ‘Mountains of the Moon’), the volcanic ranges of the southwest, and the massive Mount Elgon in the East of the country.

Uganda is a shameless cross-dresser – here lush tropical rainforest and ‘jungle’ snatch your attention away from miles of arid savannah on par with its more famous rivals the Mara & Serengeti. Tourism musts include: Murchison Falls, the Mountains of the Moon and Africa’s greatest river; The Nile – all form part of the mystique that drew explorers, pioneers and settlers from across the world to compete for this beautiful country in the famous ‘Scramble for Africa’ in the 19th century.

Uganda is where the East African savannah meets the West African jungle. Where else but in this impossibly lush country can one observe lions prowling the open plains in the morning and track chimpanzees through the rainforest undergrowth the same afternoon, then the next day navigate tropical channels teeming with hippos and crocodiles before setting off into the misty mountains to stare deep into the eyes of a mountain gorilla? Certainly, Uganda is the only safari destination whose range of forest primates is as impressive as its selection of plains antelopes. And this verdant biodiversity is further attested to by Uganda’s status as by far the smallest of the four African countries whose bird checklist tops the 1,000 mark.

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About Rwanda

 

Rwanda is a mountainous country with a moist, temperate year-round climate. Its conical mountains and shrouded equatorial jungles have helped it earn the well-deserved nickname as the “Land of a Thousand Hills”. Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa and the country carries the burden of recent history following an infamous civil war.  Mention Rwanda to anyone with a small geopolitical conscience and that person will no doubt recall images of the horrific genocide that brutalized this tiny country in 1994. But since then a miraculous transformation has been wrought and today the country is one of tribal unity, political stability and a promising future.  Visitors to Rwanda are now openly amazed at how far the country has come and how willing its people are to talk about and regret the terrible happenings of the past.
 
Rwanda has a number of unique delights to offer travellers: Parc National des Volcans in the Virunga volcanoes is home to the Mountain Gorillas to which Dian Fossey dedicated her life.  Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the world’s most majestic and pristine mountain rainforests. It is believed to be one of Africa’s oldest and largest forests remaining in Central Africa. Home to chimpanzees and 12 other primates species (including a 400-strong troop of Ruwenzori Black and White Colobus Monkeys as well as a rich variety of orchids. Akagera National Park is central Africa’s largest protected wetland and the last remaining refuge for savannah-adapted species in Rwanda. The rolling highlands, vast plains and swamp fringed lakes of this north-eastern territory contain a rich biodiversity and are home to a number of rare species, such as the shoebill stork. With more than 12,000 large mammals and 482 bird species, this breath-taking landscape is every nature lover’s wildest dream. Finally Lake Kivu is one of a string of huge fresh water lakes which lie along Africa’s Great Rift Valley. Lake Kivu is Rwanda’s largest lake, and the sixth largest lake in Africa that is home to a large variety of birds.

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About Ethiopia

 

Nowhere in the world is as well-endowed with traditional and tribal cultures as Ethiopia. Our typical cultural expedition takes you into this remote region of the African continent where you will be immersed into an array of tribal lifestyles and biblical-like living museums. You will also enjoy ‘street level culture’ with a fascinating blend of cafes, bars, sidewalk musicians, small galleries and bistros; where it is hard to draw the line between participant and observer, or between creativity and its creators. So, why not join Origins on the most amazing cultural expedition of your life, to see people and lifestyles totally unaffected by the western world. You will feel nothing but sheer privilege at being able to travel amongst them. HOWEVER, if you are inconvenienced by spartan accommodation or are apprehensive in unfamiliar situations, then this expedition is not for you!

A journey through Ethiopia’s historic route is a trip back in time. From the reign of King Solomon, Ethiopia (then known as Abyssinia) was the epicenter of religious mystique and the supposed resting place for the Arc of the Covenant. Rumours and mystery are interwoven with history and heritage: the Knights Templar, the so-called Crusaders, came here in search of their Holy Grail.

Although Ethiopia’s rich cultural history may be the primary focus – the sheer breathtaking beauty of this country’s scenery overwhelms your senses and embeds itself in your mind’s eye. Every journey is a visual feast. The spectacular highlands are a haven for endemic and endangered species such as the Simien Wolf, the Walia Ibex, the Gelada Baboon and the Lammergeyer Vulture.

Your journey becomes a quest to absorb and understand the myths and religious crusades that have dominated this land: from the incredible rock-hewn underground churches of Lalibela (‘A prayer in Stone’) and the numerous festivals that happen throughout the year, to the dizzying heights of the Simien Mountain Range (described by one writer as ‘the chess pieces of the Gods’) or the spectacular Danakil Depression – the hottest place on earth. The Ethiopian experience is multi-dimensional and intense.

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Kenyan Guides

 

 

STEVE TURNER
The Turner’s have a long and established history with Africa. Steve’s upbringing in the wildernesses of East Africa fostered a very special and dedicated interest and extensive knowledge in not only natural history, but also the communities who live within these rich environments. He has travelled widely throughout the region with and without guests searching for similar experiences – including a massive 25,000 kms photographic expedition taking some 6 months across north, west and central Africa. His passion for culture, wildlife and nature has taken him and his guests throughout the African continent, and as far afield as Australia, Asia, The Amazon, The Arctic and Antarctica. He is one of the few Gold certified guides in East Africa.

 

SELEMPO EDWIN LESOINE
‘Known as Selempo’ for short, (pronounced – “Sell–em-po”), Edwin is a Maasai, and is one of Kenya’s top ornithological guides with massive experience and knowledge of bird species in the more remote areas of East Africa; he currently leads birding safaris in Kenya and Rwanda. Additionally Edwin is an all round guide with great knowledge on the smaller creatures that are often ignored in the shadow of big game, reptiles, amphibians, dragonflies, butterflies and wild flowers. Multi-talented, mild and a fascinating guide and raconteur, Selempo is one of the few Gold members of the Kenya Professional Guides Association (KPSGA). As a member of the board of directors, he regularly sits on the examination committee to set and invigilate.

 

STANLEY KARITHI
Stanley is Kikuyu by tribe and grew up on his family farm in Nakuru in the Great Rift Valley. He is one of our top guides: a fully qualified, silver member of the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association. Stanley enjoys the diversity of cultures and influences that his job exposes him to – he strongly believes that he learns something new with every trip he guides from the clients in his group. He is an extremely sought after and popular guide – a true ‘people person’. He enjoys meeting visitors and sharing stories of his upbringing, culture and typical family life in Kenya also sharing traditional songs in Swahili.

 

ZACHARY METHU MBUTHIA
Zachary Methu Mbuthia is from North Kinangop and is a Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association (KPSGA) silver member. Zachary joined Origins Safaris in 2005 as an expert in ornithology and an accomplished all-round driver-guide. Due to Zachary’s love and passion for nature, he has proved to be a wonderful guide in all the other areas of guiding, which include wildlife, culture and history of Kenya.

 

 

PETER LIECH ADEDE
A love for Africa and its wildlife is in Peter’s blood. Peter is an accomplished naturalist with broad knowledge of birds, mammals’ and plants. He also has a larger than life personality and transforms each game drive into fun, vibrant, informative and life changing experience. He is one of the few Kenyan guides leading anthropological trips to the Northern Kenya – where the Giants trod, for the last of the dying cultural experience, and exploration of origins of mankind sites that yielded hominoids like the 1.5 million years Homo Erectus skull. He is a member of the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association and holds a Silver medal.

 

FELIX WAMBUGU
Felix is Kikuyu by tribe and specialises in leading professional photography clients throughout Kenya. He is a member of the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association and has achieved Silver Level accreditation. Felix is an excellent guide, he has good people skills, a sense of humour and a deep knowledge of the bush, the wildlife, the culture and the different eco-systems.

 

 

JOSHUA SONKOYO
Joshua is Maasai by tribeand is now qualified as a bronze level guide with the Kenya Professional Safari Guide Association. Joshua is currently studying for his Silver level exam. Joshua’s upbringing gives him deep insight into the Maasai tribe, which he delights in sharing with clients on safari. His knowledge and familiarity with wildlife throughout Kenya and particularly in the Mara makes him an extremely accomplished safari guide.

 

 

HENRY MIWANI
Henry is Maasai by tribe and joined Origins Safaris in 2003. He enjoys the variety of clients that he now accompanies on trips. He also enjoys giving Maasai Cultural talks to his clients. He is a member of Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association (KPSGA) and has achieved the Silver Level certification.

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About Benin

 

The birthplace of voodoo and a pivotal platform of the slave trade for nearly three centuries, Benin is steeped in a rich and complex history still very much in evidence across the country.  A visit to this small, club-shaped nation would therefore not be complete without exploring the Afro-Brazilian heritage of Ouidah, Abomey and Porto Novo, learning about spirits and fetishes.  But Benin will also wow visitors with its natural beauty, from the palm-fringed beach idyll of the Atlantic coast to the rugged scenery of the north. The Parc National de la Pendjari is one of the best wildlife parks in West Africa. Lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants and hundreds of other species thrive here.

In fact, Benin is wonderfully tourist friendly compared to most of its neighbours. There are good roads, a wide range of accommodation options and ecotourism initiatives that offer travellers the chance to delve deeper into Beninese life. Now is an ideal time to go because the country sits on the cusp of discovery.

Benin has varied resources of wildlife comprising flora and fauna, which are primarily protected in its two contiguous protected areas of the Pendjari National Park and W National Park. The former is known for many species of avifauna and the latter park is rich in mammals and predators.

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About Chad

 

Chad has always been someplace where travellers wave goodbye to their comfort zone and say hello to adventure. Put simply, Chad is a country and an experience that visitors never forget. If Ghana and Gambia are ‘ Africa for beginners’, Chad is ‘Africa for the hardcore’.  At the moment terrorism and violence has put the dampeners on even the most ambitious travel adventures here.

Even when at peace, travel here is tough. Many of the roads are broken due to years of conflict and lack of maintenance. There are few comfortable hotels and added to that, the summer heat is mind-melting and travel costs can be astronomical.

So why ever bother, you may ask? Well, we could list the sublime oases lost in the northern deserts, tell you about the stampeding herds of wildlife in the national parks or the deep blue lure of a boat trip on Lake Chad. But let’s be honest about it, these things alone aren’t why people come to Chad. Chad offers an opportunity to break emphatically with a comfortable Western world and come to a place that promises experiences, good and bad, that you’ll be recalling forever.

Chad is best described as having broad, arid plains in the center, desert in the north, mountains in the northwest and lowlands in the south.  Chad’s animal and plant life correspond to the three climatic zones. Chad is home to an abundance of different animals. There are 134 species of mammals -17 of which are becoming endangered – and 588 species of birds in residence. One of Chad’s most prominent mammals is the Red River Hog, or Bush Pig, along with the African Bush Elephant, the Cape Hyrax, and a type of old-world monkey called the Mantled Guereza. While Chad is primarily composed of deserts in the north, to the South there are fertile grasslands which provide a suitable habitat for grazing animals such as buffalo, rhinoceroses, giraffes and antelopes to dwell in. The birds that live in Chad range from the flightless ostriches to the wetland dwelling herons.

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About The Central African Republic

 

The Central African Republic (CAR) is a country with staggering rare natural beauty and some of the world’s most amazing wildlife. It’s one of the best places in Africa for encounters with forest elephant and lowland gorillas, and the best places in the world, some say, to see butterflies. It’s also one of the most impoverished and least developed countries on the continent.

The Central African Republic is a landlocked nation within the interior of the African continent that consists of flat or rolling plateau savanna.  In the south west, where the Sangha River flows close to the Republic of Congo, exists a truly unique and special expanse of rainforest.  This is the world of the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park – this protected area has gained international importance and it contains the last unlogged forest and intact fauna in the country.
 
The Central African Republic is home to many different species from the beautiful blue headed doves to the sleek and slender serval.  In the savannah regions you can find lions, cheetahs, leopards, baboons, antelope, buffalo, and other species of insects, amphibians and reptiles.  In the dense Congo jungle you can find the smaller forest elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, leopards, and other primates.  Located in the rivers you cannot forget the crocodiles, hippos and large variety of fish species. A special population of “Bili” apes is also established within the Congo region; this particular type of chimp is larger than their cousins and they also build their nests on the ground instead of in the trees. The Black Rhino also inhabits the area, one of the last niches this rare species can be found.

 

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About South Sudan

 

Although South Sudan is one of the lesser-known nations in the world, the very fact that South Sudan is so undiscovered is what makes it likely to attract the first intrepid visitors here.  Tourism in South Sudan is a very new field, however the rewards for those adventurous spirits who are up to the challenge, are immeasurable. South Sudan is a diverse country boasting a wealth of tribal groups and is an anthropologist’s dream. Wildlife buffs can get excited over the vast numbers of large mammals that appear to have survived the decades of war relatively unharmed, trekkers may take on the challenge of the Imatong Mountains on the bountiful border of Uganda, whilst other travellers may dream of following the White Nile across the length of the world’s newest country and its unique splendour.

The White Eared Kob migration in Southern Sudan is one of the biggest animal migrations in the world and has been described as more spectacular than other migrations on the African continent and that its scale may exceed that of Tanzania’s Serengeti.  Boma National Park provide a habitat for large populations of kob and topis (two types of antelope), buffalo, elephants, giraffes, Hartebeests (another antelope), and lions. Southern Sudan’s forest reserves also provided habitat for bongo (also an antelope), giant forest hogs, red river hogs, forest elephants, chimpanzees, and forest monkeys.

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About Chad

 

Chad has always been someplace where travellers wave goodbye to their comfort zone and say hello to adventure. Put simply, Chad is a country and an experience that visitors never forget. If Ghana and Gambia are ‘ Africa for beginners’, Chad is ‘Africa for the hardcore’.  At the moment terrorism and violence has put the dampeners on even the most ambitious travel adventures here.

Even when at peace, travel here is tough. Many of the roads are broken due to years of conflict and lack of maintenance. There are few comfortable hotels and added to that, the summer heat is mind-melting and travel costs can be astronomical.

So why ever bother, you may ask? Well, we could list the sublime oases lost in the northern deserts, tell you about the stampeding herds of wildlife in the national parks or the deep blue lure of a boat trip on Lake Chad. But let’s be honest about it, these things alone aren’t why people come to Chad. Chad offers an opportunity to break emphatically with a comfortable Western world and come to a place that promises experiences, good and bad, that you’ll be recalling forever.

Chad is best described as having broad, arid plains in the center, desert in the north, mountains in the northwest and lowlands in the south.  Chad’s animal and plant life correspond to the three climatic zones. Chad is home to an abundance of different animals. There are 134 species of mammals -17 of which are becoming endangered – and 588 species of birds in residence. One of Chad’s most prominent mammals is the Red River Hog, or Bush Pig, along with the African Bush Elephant, the Cape Hyrax, and a type of old-world monkey called the Mantled Guereza. While Chad is primarily composed of deserts in the north, to the South there are fertile grasslands which provide a suitable habitat for grazing animals such as buffalo, rhinoceroses, giraffes and antelopes to dwell in. The birds that live in Chad range from the flightless ostriches to the wetland dwelling herons.

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Big Game Safari – Kenya

 

Big Game Safari – Kenya

Any Time of Year

Kenya is rightfully described as “All of Africa in One Country” and it is exactly that – it is a fact that Kenya enjoys some of the world’s greatest environmental diversity resulting in unparalleled species and sub-species varieties.

Kenya is simply the best wildlife destination in Africa. People from all over the world are drawn here by its essence – the chance to immerse yourself in the spectacle of big game; the predators and prey ritually entwined in a cycle of life and death. Kenya is known for its safaris, diverse climate & geography, expansive wildlife reserves and national parks.

On your luxury Big Game Safari to Kenya you will be visiting some of the most contrasting examples of our Kenyan parks in order to see the extensive range of wildlife and scenery, with stop-overs in Nairobi at either end of your safari, where you will be able to visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage.

You will visit the following:

  1. Meru National Park – a wild, beautiful, lesser-known and more private park, beloved of the late George Adamson and his wife Joy.
  2. Samburu National Reserve – a rugged, remote park with some of the most colourful game viewing and 6 species rarely seen elsewhere – Grevy’s Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, Somali Ostrich, Gerenuk, Guenther’s Dik Dik and Beisa Oryx.
  3. Ol Pejeta – an award-winning catalyst and model for community conservation and home to a remarkable variety of wildlife including White & Black Rhino.
  4. Maasai Mara National Reserve – a park of wonderful volcanic scenery, rolling grasslands and plenty of game especially during the Great Migration; an amazing spectacle of nearly 2 million zebra & wildebeest move through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem searching for grass and water.

Join us on an exclusive trip of a lifetime with Big Game Safaris.

This is on my bucket list. Please send me details of a safari that includes this component.

Click here for more Information about Kenya

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The Wonders of Voodoo, Benin

 

The Wonders of Voodoo, Benin

January 2020

“If you want to plumb the secrets of Voodoo you’ll have to wait for the end of the world”. These are the words of a Voodoo song. Voodoo is one of the least understood religions of the world. There are fifty million believers just in West Africa alone, but few westerners understand many of its beliefs, which go back thousands of years.

This is on my bucket list. Please send me details of a safari that includes this component.

 

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Migration Safari - Tanzania

 

Migration Safari – Tanzania

July – October 2020

Tanzania is a true wilderness – over a quarter of this magnificent country is dedicated to incredibly wild and beautiful national parks and reserves. It is East Africa at its best. Tanzania is also a land of superlatives: it has the deepest, the highest, the largest and the oldest.

Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Loliondo, which make up the famed “Northern Circuit”, tempt you with a million-strong Wildebeest migration, a huge volcanic caldera, a flamingo rimmed lake, rhino, buffalo, black-maned tree-climbing Lions and elephant bathing in rivers. Experience the Ngorongroro Crater with its unique ecosystem isolated from the rolling savannahs that surround it.

You will also visit Arusha on your you will also visit Arusha on your luxury Migration Safari, which is the gateway to the safari circuit; a small bustling town that exudes a great sense of anticipation and excitement, which sprawls beneath the massive bulk of Mount Meru filled with craft shops selling local artisans’ work.

Our exclusive Migration Safari will let you experience the integral and complete wonders of Tanzania.Top of Form

This is on my bucket list. Please send me details of a safari that includes this component.

Click here for more Information about Tanzania

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Tribes of South Sudan

 

Tribes of South Sudan

March 2020

Although South Sudan is one of the lesser-known nations in the world, the very fact that it is so undiscovered is what makes it likely to attract the first intrepid visitors here. Tourism is a very new field, and of course there is still conflict in some regions of the country, however the rewards for those adventurous spirits who are up to the challenge, are immeasurable as it is a diverse country boasting a wealth of tribal groups.

 

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Conservation Safaris to the Pendjari, Benin

 

Conservation Safaris to the Pendjari, Benin

Pendjari National Park in Benin and it’s surrounding larger wilderness eco-system is one of the largest remaining wildlife strongholds in West Africa. The park, which spans 4,800 km2, is becoming a safe haven for iconic species thanks to improved law enforcement and stability in the region. Pendjari’s expansive landscape contains important wetlands which are critical for many local species including West Africa’s largest population of elephant, cheetah, buffalo, and various antelope species. The park is home to more than 460 avian species and the critically endangered West African lion, of which fewer than 400 adults remain, and 100 live in Pendjari. Historically the park has faced major threats, including poaching, demographic pressure on surrounding land, and exponential resource use. But the Benin Government wanted to change this trajectory and chart a different path for this critically important landscape, with the aim of providing better protection for the people and wildlife who live there. By partnering with The African Parks Network, the National Geographic Society, the Wyss Foundation, and the Wildcat Foundation a lifeline has thrown to this little-known but globally important protected area.

 

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Marine Safaris in East Africa and the Red Sea

 

Marine Safaris in East Africa and the Red Sea

December 2020

Our Marine Safaris span across the eastern coast of Africa and the Red Sea, travelling by private live aboard boats to areas that our specialist marine guides know and love. These safaris, conservation quests, vacations and educational experiences take you to unique, lesser known ocean destinations with incredible ecosystems. You shall explore beaches, seagrass beds, mangroves and coral reefs, and you will come face to face with sea turtles, dugong, whales, whale sharks, hammerhead sharks and manta rays. Whether swimming, scuba diving, fishing, sailing, stand up paddle boarding or witnessing marine conservation under a palm tree, the team will immerse you in the ocean’s lore, helping you to appreciate its significance in this ever-precarious world. You will leave with a love and respect for the sea, its creatures and all its natural wonders.

 

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The Sudd Migration, Gambella

 

The Sudd Migration, Gambella

February 2020 and April 2020

The Sudd wetlands of southern Sudan and western Ethiopia, nourished by tributaries of the White Nile, are home to an astounding number of white-eared kob – hundreds of thousands of animals – Africa’s second-largest mammal migration. Join us on some of the pioneering expeditions into these road-less and inaccessible swamps.

This is on my bucket list. Please send me details of a safari that includes this component.

 

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Black Pharaohs

 

Black Pharaohs

October 2020

Sudan is simply the original, mysterious and unique destination, still unknown to the most, this is the area where the African and Arabic culture meet. Its ancient history is very much connected to the Egyptian one, where the Nile Rivers meet and then cross the Sahara Desert and along its valley lay interesting archaeological sites of the Egyptian and Meroitic civilizations, most of them are World Heritage protected by Unesco. This is the Land of Kush, home to the Black Pharaohs who’s kings and queens built “more pyramids than Egypt” (220 vs 11). The astonishing landscape of the three deserts, associated to the beauty of the Nile Cataracts, the hidden Nubian villages and the welcoming people make of this place an innovative, unexpected destination for the modern day explorer.

This is on my bucket list. Please send me details of a safari that includes this component.

 

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