Tanzania is a legendary safari destination due to the iconic areas of its northern safari circuit. Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar are names that epitomize African safaris and they sustained the country's tourism during the economic downturn of the 1970's and 1980's.
Where is Africa's New Frontier?
Tanzania's move to economic development has had the benefit of an increase in tourism to the country and with this increase comes the potential to develop new destinations. The result is the opening up of some of Africa's most dramatic wilderness areas in the southern and western parts of Tanzania.Africa's oldest and largest wilderness reserve, Selous Game Reserve, is a vast tract of land stretching more than 50 000 sqkm and is home to more than a million animals, including one of Africa's largest elephant populations. Selous was established in the 1890's and was renamed in the 1920's after the legendary African hunter, Courtney Selous.
Selous is on one of the oldest elephant migration paths in Africa and linked to Niassa Game Reserve in Mozambique the superpark will become the largest protected area in the world.
An African Eden
Ruaha National Park is considered by many to be the finest wildlife experience on the continent. Accepted as the crossover zone of east African savannah and southern African woodland Ruaha is truly a wilderness wonder with species unique to the park.Katavi National Park in the west of the country is arguably the least developed wildlife region in Africa. Plains support big herds of animals and the lack of human visitors is an added attraction for many.
Of Apes and Others
In the far west of Tanzania, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, are two parks that provide the best chimpanzee viewing in Africa. Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains National Park have been the subjects of much research, not least of which was undertaken by Jane Goodall. Some chimpanzee groups in the parks have been acclimatized to humans, allowing for dramatic viewing.There are many areas in Africa that can lay claim to the tag of New Safari Frontier but few can match the wild and dramatic reaches of the southern and western parks of Tanzania.
Highlights of the New Frontier
- Vast tracts of pristine wilderness
- Great species diversity
- Best chimpanzee viewing
- Range of activities
Were — God forbid — every last breathing creature to be removed from its floor, Ngorongoro would still rank among East Africa's most com...
Tanzania fulfils all dreams of Africa, with jungles and primates, wildebeest migrating across rolling grass savannahs, tropical beaches and ...