The Seychelles Islands are among the leading Africa travel destinations. Situated in the Indian Ocean, the islands consist of 115 coralline and granitic islands. Visitors looking for luxury beach holidays in a serene environment or a perfect honeymoon vacation in Africa find the Seychelles archipelago the ideal destination.
Placed 4 degrees south of the Equator, between 480 km and 1600 km off the coast of East Africa, Seychelles is home to some of the most uncrowded and picturesque beaches in the world. These beaches include Anse Source d’Argent the famous beach on La Digue that is framed by impressive granite rocks, Anse Cocos on the eastern coast of La Digue - accessible only by foot and Anse La Reunion placed along its shore on The La Digue Island (the fourth largest island in Seychelles). Other beaches are Anse Patates lying on the northern most tip of the La Digue, Anse a la Mouche situated on the south western coast of Mahe, Anse Union, and Anse Forbans among many others.
La Digue, Praslin, and Mahe Islands form the cultural heart of Seychelles. The many other remaining islands extend in a gleaming arc towards the East African coast, and are often referred to as the outer islands. Among these outer Islands, only Alphonse and Desroches have accommodation facilities for tourists. Over the years, travelers undertaking holiday tours in Seychelles mostly visit either Mahe, La Digue, or Praslin Islands.
Mahe, the principal Island in Seychelles, measures about 8km wide and 28km long. The Island hosts the Mahe International Airport. The second most popular island is Praslin, which is famous for among other things the Coco-de-mer nut produced from giant ancient palms in the Vallee de Mai Forest. Located 44km northeast of Mahe, Praslin island is also home to several exquisite beaches including Anse Lazio, Anse Georgette, Anse Boudin, Anse La Farine, Anse Matelot, Anse Volbert, Grand Anse, Anse Possession, and Anse Kerlan. La Digue Island, Seychelles’ third popular Island, has the Anse Source d’Argent, a dream beach destination.
The main point of entry for international travel into Seychelles is the Mahe International Airport, the hub of Seychelles Republic’s national airline ” Air Seychelles. The airline conducts weekly scheduled flights between four European capitals and Seychelles, and also connects Seychelles with three other Indian Ocean cities. Air Seychelles also operates internal inter-island flights in Seychelles. Several Seychelles hotels can also arrange special flights upon visitor’s request, though a helicopter flight service is available between Mahe, Silhouette, Fregate, and North Islands.
In addition to the world famous beaches of Seychelles, there are numerous attractions that fascinate visitors to the Seychelles islands. These include the legendary Vallee de Mai, Aldabra, Aride Island, Ile Coco Marine National Park,and Curieuse Island among others. The Vallee de Mai, once thought to be the Garden of Eden, and legendary Aldabra, the world’s largest raised coral atol, are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. On its part, Aride Island is said to be one of the world’s most important Nature Reserve. The island is home to breeding seabirds of ten species endemic birds such as Magpie Robins, Fodies, Brush Warblers.
Seychelles Islands have a tropical climate. Between the months of October and March, during the North West trade winds, the weather is warm and humid and the sea generally calm. Visitors to the Islands can move around relatively easily with the aid of the self explanatory map of Seychelles.
Kenya has for long attracted travelers from the world over because of its magnificent wilderness and the wildlife animals in its national parks and game reserves. In Kenya, explorers seeking a wildlife adventure get to experience the best of the African wild in the form of diverse landscapes and natural land features, different animal species, amazingly diverse ecosystems.
With 27 national parks and 33 national reserves hosting over 4 million animals, Kenya is a paradise for the wildlife enthusiast. From the internationally acclaimed Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration to East and Central Africas greatest concentration of flamingos wading in Lake Nakuru, Kenya offers some of the best wildlife safari adventures in the world.
Every year, thousands of visitors from around the world flock into the Masai Mara to witness the great wildebeest migration. The migration takes place between July and October, with about 2 million wildebeest, and hundreds of thousands of zebras and Thompson gazelles crossing from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania into the Mara. The migration pattern is dictated by the availability of water and pasture in the two game reserves, due to the different rainfall patterns. The large ungulates start their northward journey at the end of May, the onset of the dry season in the Serengeti.
The Mara is a great wildlife watching destination throughout the year, even in the absence of the great migration. Many people however like to take a safari to Masai Mara during the wildebeest migration season. It may be a bit tricky to correctly predict the migration schedule because it depends on the rains.
Situated on Kenya’s southwest about 300km from Nairobi, the Mara is owned and managed by the local Maasai people. The game reserves occupies an area of 1510 sq. km. Getting to Maasai Mara takes around 5 hours by road and 45 minutes by flight from Nairobi. Scheduled flights to the Mara are available from either Wilson airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Charter flights are also available from Wilson airport. Most travel agents and tour operators in Kenya organize safaris to the Mara and game drives within the reserve.
For visitors who may not wish to travel much across Kenya, the Nairobi National Park is a convenient destination for wildlife safaris. The park, lying 7km from the city center, is the only natural game reserve in the world situated within a metropolis. It was the first national park to have been established in Kenya way back in 1945, and occupies 117 sq. km.
The park is a sanctuary to a large variety of game and bird life. The big five are well represented in the park, with exception of the elephant. Other animals include the hippo and crocodile, found in the Athi River pools, large herds of wildebeest, giraffe, eland, Thompson’s gazelle, cheetah, monkeys, hyrax, antelope, warthog, waterbuck, hyena amongst others. More than 400 species of birds, both migratory and local, which include ostrich, secretary birds, doves, African hawk and martial eagles, hornbills, crowned cranes, marabou storks and many more.
The Nairobi animal orphanage in the park is home to many young, injured, or deserted animals. These are taken care of here before being released back to the wild when ready. Also located in the park is a rhino sanctuary, one of the few remaining places in Kenya where you can see the black rhino in its natural environment. The Nairobi safari walk, a spacious picnic site, and the walking trails near hippo pools are some additional attractions in the park.
Visitors frequent the park any time of the year, as there is a permanent population of game and carnivores. However, the best times are during the July/August period when large herds of wildebeest, eland and zebra migrate into the park, and during the dry season, when animals flock in the northern part of the park in search of water made available from the man-made dams.
Tsavo National park, famed for the movie ‘man eaters of tsavo’, is yet another good wildlife destination. Tsavo is the largest national park in Kenya, and is located about 300 km from Nairobi. The park is divided into Tsavo East and Tsavo West national parks, with the Mombasa-Nairobi highway separating the two parks. Tsavo West neighbors the Serengeti plains on the south, and has many wild animals owing to the favorable altitude. Tsavo’s major attractions include the underwater hippos and crocodiles observation point in Mzima springs.
Tsavo animal population consists lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, buffaloes, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, hippos, and crocodiles among many more. There are a host of other smaller animals including dik dik, hyrax, and mongoose. You can travel to Tsavo both by road and by charter flight. Some operational airstrips in Tsavo include Kilaguri, Maxtar, Kamboyo, and Tsavo Gate.
Other Kenya national parks popular for wildlife safaris are Amboseli, Aberdares, Lake Nakuru and Mount Kenya national parks, and Samburu game reserve.
While on safari in Dar es Salaam, you, like many other travelers, may also find it worthy visit other Tanzania tour destinations like Selous game reserve and Mikumi, Udzungwa and Ruaha national parks, which fall in the country’s southern safari circuit. Mikumi National park for example is just a few hours’ drive away. It also takes two hours to Zanzibar by ferry, and an even shorter time by flight. You can arrange day trips from Dar to nearby islands through some Dar es Salaam hotels including White Sands and Bahari Beach hotels.
Mikumi national park occupies 3,230 sq km and hosts a great diversity of African wildlife. Animal species found there include lion, buffalo, elephant, giraffe, zebra, warthog, and several antelope species. The park is also home to hippos, monitor lizards, and crocodiles and a good number of the endangered wild dogs. During the wet season, up to 300 bird species gather in Mikumi, many of which are migratory birds for Europe and Asia. The most dominant feature of Mikumi national park is its flood plain, which borders Uluguru mountains and Lumango hills range. Mikumi lies on the Northern border of Selous game reserve, forming a vast ecosystem of wilderness covering 75,000 sq. km. The plains of Mikumi are covered by grassland while miombo woodlands are found on the higher grounds.
Mikumi is generally accessible all year round, unlike many other southern circuit safari destinations. It takes four hours to Mikumi by road, and one hour by flight from Dar es Salaam. For budget travelers, It is possible to take a bus ride to the park’s gate then arrange game drives from there. At the few luxury lodges and tented camps and the three campsites in Mikumi , limited accommodation is available. Should you find yourself in Dar es Salaam on a weekend, Mikumi is a perfect destination for seeing African wildlife.
65 km southwest of Mikumi, and 348 km west of Dar lies the 1,990 sq. km. Udzungwa Mountains National park. Udzungwa mountains are found southeast of Kilimanjaro and are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains. This unique Tanzania national park was created purely for purposes of plant species conservation. Many rare plants inhabit the mountain forest in Udzungwa. Animal life in the forests consists of six primate species, including the Iringa red colobus monkey and the Sanje crested Mangabey both of which are endemic here. Lions, elephants, buffaloes and hunting dogs are found on the plateau area, though in smaller numbers than in other parks and game reserves in Tanzania. The park is an important conservation area for bird species, with more than four previously unknown species discovered by scientists recently. The dry season from June through October is the best time to visit Udzungwa. During the wet season, hiking routes get unpleasantly slippery.
The Ruaha National Park is rightly named after its lifeblood- the Great Ruaha River. Occupying 12,950 sq km, it is Tanzanias second largest national park and the world’s biggest elephant sanctuary. Home to numerous crocodiles and hippo, the Great Ruaha draws many thirsty water buck, leopard, buffalo, reed buck, wild dogs, lion and hyena to its banks. Plain animals such as zebra, greater and lesser kudu, sable and roan antelope, impala and giraffe are found on the plains stretching from the rivers edge. The topography is agreeable to hiking and walking safaris are allowed. In wet season months of March to April and October to November the bird population peaks and the park has over 370 bird species, including some Eurasian migrants.
The flora is very diverse and over 1650 plant species flourish here. The Ruaha has the unique distinction of having plant and animal life found in both eastern and southern Africa. The climate here is hot and dry and temperatures can reach 40 degrees Celsius in October. The Ruaha is located 128 km west of the central Tanzania town of Iringa. It was previously inaccessible, but there is now year round road access. From Dar, road travel is a backbreaking 10 hours while a charter flight takes 1 ” hours. The best time for a safari is over the dry season- May to December. Then, the Ruaha River is magnetic to the animals and right at the banks, the drama of their daily life is on display- feeding, fighting, courting and mating. The accommodation is currently limited, but there is a luxury lodge, and a few self-catering chalets and campsites.
Selous Game Reserve is the star of the southern safari circuit. The reserve is named after the intrepid Fredrick Courtney Selous, a celebrated Victoria era explorer and naturalist. He met his end here in a sideshow of the First World War. The Great War had spilled over from Europe as the Germans then ruled parts of todays Tanzania. Located 500 km to the southwest of Dar, the reserve occupies a staggering 55,000 sq km ” larger than Switzerland- and is the largest of its kind in Africa. The Selous was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982 due to the significance of both its flora and fauna. This immense wilderness has a diversity of habitats including savanna woodlands, swamps, open grasslands and forests.
There over 2,100 plant and tree species in Selous. Rufiji river is the lifeblood of the game reserve and has many oxbow lakes and tributaries suitable for boating safaris. Lions, elephants, black rhinos, buffaloes, hippos, wild dogs, elands, impala, water bucks, giraffes, zebras, greater kudu, baboons, and bush bucks are just some of the wild animals found in Selous. Birdwatchers also have an exciting tour in Selous, with over 420 bird species. Just like in Ruaha, game animals in Selous are widely scattered due to the large size of the reserve. The best game watching experience is attained by taking a slow pace, preferably 3-4 days. Visitors can enjoy a rewarding photographic safari in Selous, with Stiegler’s gorge being a favorite spot also favored by leopards.
From Dar, you arrive after a 1-” hour charter flight or by traveling for 7 hours by road. Travel by road is not advised, except for the most adventurous souls. Selous is near the coast and is just a few hundred feet above sea level. The climate is hot and humid, particularly between October and March. Part of the reserve is closed in the wet season between March and May. The best time to visit is over the dry season period of June to October. Then on safari you can walk, boat and ride a 4WD vehicle. Accommodation is limited to just a few luxury tented and no-frills camps.
Sadani game reserve is yet another Tanzania safari destination worth visiting. Situated in the North Coast, about 50km from Bagamoyo, the reserve gives the visitor a unique beach and bush experience. African game found there include elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, leopards, and zebras. To get to Sadani however, you have to make your own special transport arrangements.
Getting to Dar es Salaam, and Tanzania in general, requires visitors from yellow fever infected areas to obtain yellow fever international certificate of vaccination. Exemptions are made for visitors arriving from non-endemic areas such as Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. The northwestern forest region of Tanzania is considered a high-risk area for yellow fever. Visitors are strongly advised to take anti malaria medication commencing two weeks before travel as malaria is common in Tanzania. Vaccinations against hepatitis A, polio and typhoid are also recommended. In addition, all visitors are required to have a visa except citizens of some African and commonwealth countries. It is advisable to obtain visas in advance from Tanzania Embassies and High Commissions as some airlines may require it before allowing you to board. Visa can also be issued on arrival at Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Kilimanjaro international airports and at the Namanga Gate on the Kenya /Tanzania border.
It is easy to get to Dar es Salaam through the top travel hubs in Africa e.g Nairobi, Johannesburg and Addis Ababa. Within Tanzania, there are many domestic flights connecting Dar and other Tanzania airports like Dodoma airport and Kilimanjaro international airport. From Mombasa in Kenya, there are ferry services by sea to Dar es Salaam. Traveling within Dar city itself is easy by use of Taxis. Per every journey within the city center, the taxis charge a standard Tsh 2000. Visitors can also get to Zanzibar by ferry, with four choices available: a catamaran, a hydrofoil, and 2 ordinary boats. Before boarding the ferry for Zanzibar, you will have to produce the yellow fever vaccination certificate. You will also pay an additional US$5 for port charges, apart from just the boat fare.
And like the rest of Tanzania, Dar es salaam never really gets cold and light clothing is recommended. Average daily temperatures hover in the 30 degrees celsius range with October to March being the hottest period. Warmer clothing such as sweaters is however necessary to get you through the evenings and early mornings if you are heading for the highlands. Short sleeve shirts, shorts and trouser for men are sufficient and so are short sleeve blouses, slacks and skirts for the ladies. Nudity is totally unacceptable in the whole country.
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