Hot Air Balloon Safaris

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The Serengeti
Probably the most beautiful balloon flight in the world and the ultimate Safari Experience. At dawn you take off, rising as the sun rises and floating in whichever direction the winds of the morning take you. Your pilot can precisely control the altitude of your balloon: sometimes flying at treetop height, sometimes lower, offering a unique perspective and great photographic opportunities of the wildlife below.

At other times the pilot will ascend to 1000 feet or more to see the enormity and wonderful panorama of the Serengeti. From time to time the pilot must put more heat into the balloon with the powerful whisper burners. In between these burns, there is silence apart from the natural sounds below.

The Serengeti plains and woodlands are world famous for the variety and sheer number of its animal population. A Serengeti Balloon Safari however, is not merely a game viewing experience, but rather an opportunity for an adventure and unique perspective over outstanding quintessentially African landscapes.

Some amazing wildlife has been seen from the balloon as well as many incidents such as lion kills, cheetah stalking and killing, leopard hunting and of course the annual million strong wildebeest migration, one of the natural wonders of the world.

The flight is for about one hour depending on conditions, on landing you celebrate in the traditional manner with an excellent sparkling wine, before sitting down to a full English breakfast prepared and served in the bush in 'Out of Africa' style with bone china, linen table cloths, King's silver etc.

After breakfast you receive your Serengeti Balloon certificate and are driven back to your lodge with game viewing en route.

Serengeti Balloon Safaris are acutely aware of their environmental responsibilities and are proud of their ecological credentials. A substantial royalty is paid to Tanzania National Parks for each passenger. These funds are used for conservation purposes in the Serengeti. All pilots are all committed conservationists and will share their knowledge of the area and wildlife with you. Naturally, wildlife have priority and consideration is given to them when flying.

Safety and Requirements
Serengeti Balloon Safaris will collect you from your central Serengeti lodge or camp at 5am, and transfer you by Landrover to their launch site near Maasai Kopjes. Here you will meet your pilot, receive a briefing and watch the inflation of your balloon.

Balloons used are top of the range Cameron and Ultra Magic A315 and A415. The colours are acacia green and savannah gold to blend with those of the Serengeti. The burners are state of the art ‘whisper and stealth”. Serengeti Balloon Safaris are registered as a commercial airline with department of Civil Aviation. Pilots are all well experienced and licensed commercially.

Passengers should be able to climb in and out of a basket and stand for the duration of the flight. Warm clothing is required for early mornings.

Best times to go
available most of the year round but subject to prevailing weather conditions. All balloon flights begin soon after dawn, it means an early start.

The Seronera River Valley (flying area) has excellent resident wildlife populations throughout the year, e.g., lion, leopard, hippo, buffalo, giraffe, various antelope etc. The wildebeest migration is dependent on the rains for grazing. The great herds usually pass through the Seronera Valley late May / early June heading west and north with their new calves. They return again usually late October / early November en route to the short grass plains in the south and east.

Prices per person
Per person – US$399 (GBP250)
The above rate includes the Balloon Safari (transfer from your lodge), a full champagne safari breakfast freshly cooked at the landing site, and a game drive on the return to Camp.

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Birding

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Tanzania has a wonderful number of unusual and endemic bird species and many parks in the country have over 400 species. The sheer diversity of the colours and type of bird range from the huge Crowned eagle and Vultures to the beautiful Narina Trogon, kingfishers and sunbirds.

Requirements
A mild degree of fitness as birding will probably be combined with a guided walk. In expected warm temperatures, plenty of drinking water should be carried.

Variety
Recommended National Parks and corresponding lodges that have excellent birding:

Arusha National Park
Recommended accommodation: Rivertrees Guest House, Arusha Coffee Lodge
Hundreds of different species of sedentary birds that include the Silvery cheeked Hornbill, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Giant Kingfisher, a variety of waders and Divers including Lilly trotters, Yellow billed Stork and the Macoa Duck respectively.

Best time to visit
All year around except April and mid May.

Katavi National Park
Recommended accommodation: Chada Camp

More than 400 bird species occur here and the park is home to large flocks of pelican; as well as the Grey Loerie (Go Away bird), Pale-billed hornbill, White-winged babbling starling and Tanzania Masked weaver.

Lake Manyara National Park
Recommended accommodation: Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, Lake Manyara Serena Lodge

Bird life is prolific as you approach the lakeshore, a variety of Gulls may be spotted and may be the Vulturine Guinea fowl, Blue napped mouse Bird and the mountain Wagtail. A profusion of colourful Birds awaits your discovery in the ground water forest as you spot pelicans and cormorants swimming among walloping Hippos and Flamingos in their pink on the lake.

Best time to visit
Non-stop visit to Lake Manyara, all year round.

Mikumi National Park
Recommended accommodation: Fox’s Safari Camp
This small Wildlife Jewel is dominated by Hills and Plains as well as part of the famous Miombo Woodlands, these varied habitat is an excellent spot of several special and rare Wildlife not seen any where in Tanzania. Bird Watchers may be in position to spot Miombo woodland specialities such as Racket Tailed Roller, Pale billed Hornbill, Shelley’s Sunbird, Wood Hoopoes and Hoopoes. The Boem`s Bee-eater and the Miombo Rock Thrush are the few other Species to add on.

Best time to visit
All months except March, April and May.

Ngorongoro Crater
Recommended accommodation: Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Gibbs Farm, Ngorongoro Serena Lodge

“A flock of thousands of pink coloured Flamingos on the Crater Lake.... We must be in the Garden of Eden." Apart from the many birds to be seen in the crater area, there are the thousands of flamingos to see at Lake Magadi, another soda lake. Lake Natron lies further north and is another flamingo "hot spot".

This protected area is home to over 600 bird species, the gigantic earth fracture, crater floor, volcanoes, plains, lakes, forests, archaeological site of Olduvai gorge, the great Rift valley wall - all combine to form the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The Golden winged Sunbird, the Tacazze Sunbird and the Livingstone's Turaco, the Endemic Rufous tailed weaver and the Jackson's Widow bird will be some of the special Bird species of the day to look out for while in the Ngorongoro.

Best time to visit
All year except the rainy April. The best time for flamingo viewing is January and February.

Ruaha National Park
Recommended accommodation: Jongomero Camp, Mwagusi Safari Camp, Ruaha River Lodge
Over 400 bird species reside here including Dickinson's kestrel, Violet-crested Turaco, Pale-billed hornbill, Racquet-tailed roller and Eleonora's falcon. Eurasian migrant birds flock to Ruaha twice a year - October to November and March to April on the their outward journeys to feed with resident kingfishers, plovers, hornbills, Green wood hoopoes, bee-eaters, sunbirds and egrets.

Rubondo Island National Park
Recommended accommodation: Flycatcher Hotel
Close to 400 species can be seen here, including Fish eagle, heron, stork, ibises, cormorant, Martial eagle, Goliath heron, Sacred ibis and kingfishers. The island serves as a breeding ground and stopover for fowl from east and Central Africa, Europe, and South America.

Serengeti National Park
Recommended accommodation: Grumeti River Camp, Kirawira Camp, Klein’s Camp, Migration Camp, Ndutu Safari Lodge, Serengeti Serena Lodge
The sweeping grasslands make viewing the many birds in the area a delight. The volume of raptors is incredible including several species of vulture, Bataleur Eagle, martial Eagle and many others. Two Tanzania endemic bird species occur in the Serengeti - the Fischer's Lovebird and the Grey breasted Spurfowl. Other specialities in the Serengeti include the Usambiro Barbet, Yellow throated Sand grouse and the Silver bird...the list is endless.

Best time to visit
June through October, December and May.

Tarangire National Park
Recommended accommodation: Oliver’s Camp Tarangire, Tamarind Camp, Tarangire Tree Tops
A birders paradise including endemic Bird species such as Ashy starling, Yellow collared Lovebird and the Rufous tailed weaver. Other specialities include Yellow breasted Apalis, Slender Tailed Night jar, Lilac breasted Roller, Black faced Sand grouse, Coqui Francolin, Magpie shrike and the Red and yellow Barbet.

Best time to visit
June through December and January to mid April.

Udzungwa Mountains National Park
Recommended accommodation: Fox’s Safari Camp based at Mikumi

NOTE: It is possible to base at Mikumi and access the Southern Highlands such as the Udzungwa Mountains National Park for the Southern Tanzania Endemic species as well as access the Ifakara area and the Kilombero Flood plains with her specialities and rarities. Accommodation in Ifakara and Udzungwa is basic.

The greatest altitudinal range of forests in East Africa: The eastern escarpment is the only place in East Africa with unbroken forest cover from lowland forest communities at below 250km above sea level, through intermediate types, to mountain communities at over 2,000m.
Exceptionally species-rich forest: The Udzungwa contain plant species found nowhere else in the world, ranging from a tiny new African violet to 30m high trees. Rich primate fauna: The park hosts six species of primate, two of them endemic forms - the Iringa (Uhehe) Red Colobus monkey and the Sanje Crested Mangabey. The latter was only discovered in 1979.

Richest forest bird habitat in Tanzania with several endemics. Recent studies have added several new species the park's bird list (including a new species of francolin.) This gives the Udzungwa forests a ranking in the top three areas important for bird conservation in mainland Africa.
Spectacular mountain scenery with rainforest, wooded grasslands, rock faces, rivers and waterfalls: The falls on the Sanje River drop some 170m through the forest to the valley below. The mountain plateau allows views of over 100km.

Usambara Mountains and Amani Nature Reserve
This little-known mountain range is one of the gems of Tanzania. Lying on the north coast, the Usambara’s are a relict patch of the great tropical forests that once spanned Africa from the Atlantic to the Indian Oceans, and have more in common with the forests of West Africa than those of East Africa. The Usambara’s are a treasure house of botanical and zoological and Ornithological diversity, with a huge number of endemic tree and plant species and birds of course...

Although large tracts of the original forests have been levelled for tea planting, enough of the original wilderness remains to make this a hiking, birding and primate-spotting paradise. Birders will want to keep eyes open for most of the species that are endemic to the Usambara forests and Tanzania in particular – the Usambara Eagle Owl, Usambara alethe and the Usambara weaver among others. This is one of the best places in East Africa to see notable birds like the Green-Headed Oriole, Amani sunbird, Bar-tailed and Narina trogons and Fischer’s turaco.

Endemic Species in Tanzania
Banded Sunbird
Grey-breasted Spurfowl
Kilombero Weaver
Kipengere Seedeater
Loveridge's Sunbird
Moreau's Sunbird
Mrs. Moreau's Warbler
Northern Mountain Greenbul Pemba Green-Pigeon
Pemba Scops-Owl
Reichenow's Batis
Rufous-tailed Weaver
Rufous-winged Sunbird
South Pare White-eye
Southern Mountain Greenbul Udzunga Forest Partridge
Uluguru Bush shrike
Uluguru Mountain Greenbul
Usambara Akalat
Usambara Eagle-Owl
Usambara Weaver

Information on endemics and specialities is derived from Sibley and Monroe checklists and bird distribution lists in Thayer's Birder's Diary - Version 2.5, supplemented by material found in Where to Watch Birds in Africa - by Nigel Wheatley.

Best time to visit
January to March are considered the best birding months even though this is the short rains season. At this time a large number of migrants may be spotted. Otherwise the drier months of July to October are also god for birding, especially around lakes and waterholes.

Prices per person
Generally included with the accommodation rates for the recommended camps above. To receive Specialist Birding Safari itineraries click here.

Tailor-made birding safaris with renown ornithologist – from US$240 (GBP150) per day + travelling and accommodation expenses of the specialist (Please note this rate excludes your own accommodation and other expenses. The above rate is just for the ornithologist to accompany your group.)

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Chimpanzee Tracking

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Tanzania offers the best chimpanzee tracking in the whole of Africa. On the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika there are two areas where these wonderful endangered animals are found.

Gombe in the north where Jane Goodall performed her groundbreaking studies is a small park, beautiful, but surrounded by encroaching humanity on all sides. 100 miles to the south the much larger and lesser-known Mahale Mountains are home to several hundred wild chimpanzees and are literally breathtaking.

Chimpanzee tracking is quite unlike any of the more traditional elements of safari. Here you are on your feet throughout and in awe inspiring forest that contains many west African species and bares no resemblance to anything you will have encountered elsewhere in the country. When you find the chimps you are often in close proximity to them (sometimes they pass within a few feet of you) and they more or less ignore you. Consequently you are in a remarkable position to observe the extraordinarily complex social interactions and behaviour of the chimpanzees.

In both Mahale and Gombe, individual animals are well known and their characters and relationships well documented so there is a very high level of intimacy, which is very rare in game viewing of any kind. It is somewhat unexpected and fascinating.

How easy is it to see the chimps?
In both parks there is a group of habituated chimps, but in Mahale, where the University of Kyoto has studied the animals since the sixties, there has been none of the controversial human interaction that took place in Gombe. Finding the chimps is largely a matter of luck as they can theoretically be anywhere from the top of the 8000 ft mountains to the lakeshore at 2500 ft. However, the trackers at the camp, who are full of information about the chimps, know the animals well and are nearly always in touch with their movements from day to day. If you are interested in gemming up about chimps before coming on safari, have a look at the chimpanzee section of the Jane Goodall Institute site.

Safety and requirements
Most of the professional tour guides have been co-habitating with the chimpanzees since their childhood. The guides know the chimpanzees and the region very well; just being around them and listening to their stories is an experience in itself. There is 24hr HF radio communication at both Parks and First Aid kits are kept at all camps.

Clothing
The terrain is mostly rugged and hilly with tropical climate hence appropriate clothing is required. Dress is informal and should be comfortable. Camouflage clothing should be avoided. Try also to avoid bright colours, go more for the earthy colours. Shoes, which give good traction and ankle support should be worn but also can stand getting wet. It is very important to come with raincoats during the rainy season. All linen and towels are provided.

Equipment
Binoculars will be very helpful during game viewing at the Parks, especially for bird watching. It is recommended that you bring along with you a camera equipped with 25 to 300mm telephoto lens. It is not practical to carry as much camera equipment as you would in a car. It can be dark in the forest and Chimpanzees are black subjects so you may need a fast film. There are endless possibilities for audio and video recording.

Chimpanzees are endangered species so visits to the Parks are controlled and group sizes are limited. During the high season bookings are usually back-to-back, so we highly recommend that you book your Safari well in advance to avoid any disappointment.

Variety of trips
The length of walk can vary enormously - sometimes the chimps are literally at the back of the camp and other days they are nowhere to be seen. However on average you should expect to walk for about 2-3 hours on well-defined paths in the forest. In the last few years, chimp sightings in Mahale have been excellent with only a very small number of people not finding the animals and generally the trackers will continue until they find the chimpanzees or you have had enough.

Best times to go
the best times to visit are during the dry season, May to October and during the short rains of January and February.
Prices per person (prices reduce for each extra person in group)

Gombe National Park
Luxury Tented Camp
3 day Safari – from US$695 (GBP435, min 2 people)
4 day Safari – from US$920 (GBP575)
5 day Safari – from US$1325 (GBP828)

Mahale National Park
Nkungwe Luxury Tented Camp
5 day Safari – from US$1465 (GBP916, min 2 people)
6 day Safari – from US$1870 (GBP1169)
7 day Safari – from US$2200 (GBP1375)

The Steamer MV Liemba may also be used to get to Mahale but on 7 or 8 day packages only.

Gombe and Mahale National Parks
combo of Luxury Tented Camps
6 day Safari – from US$1830 (GBP1144, min 2 people)
7 day Safari – from US$2195 (GBP1372)
8 day Safari – from US$2625 (GBP1641)

All rates include all meals, tour guide, Park entry fees, transfers from Kigoma Airport, taxes and boat hire. In some itineraries air transfers are also included. In Mahale, safaris to suit you, can also be booked at Greystoke Camp – prices on request.