There is no other region in which visitors can experience the pristine splendour and beauty - as well as the sense of adventure in Africa - than those like Selous enjoyed. The Selous Game Reserve has been declared a World Heritage Site, one of three in Tanzania.

Ruaha National Park
For anyone seeking a true African wilderness experience, a visit to Ruaha National Park is essential. Although the second largest in Tanzania, the reserve is perhaps the least well-known and yet to connoisseurs it is without doubt one of the most spectacular in Africa.  Covering a conservation area of 10,300 square kilometers in the south-west of the country, Ruaha sprawls within and along the Great Rift Valley, covering a unique transition zone where the Eastern and Southern species of both fauna and flora meet against a dramatic topographical backdrop.  This is also one of the few Tanzanian parks where sightings of the rarer antelope, such as the Sable, the Roan and both Lesser & Greater Kudu, are a probability rather than a possibility.  The proliferation of plains game in the park also ensures that the larger predators - leopard and large prides of lion - are unusually active. The bird life, too, is unparalleled with some 530 species recorded.

The Itinerary

Day 1: Depart from Europe to Dar-es-Salaam where you will be met by a Love Live Africa representative and transferred to your hotel for overnight and breakfast.

Day 2:  After breakfast you will be met by your driver for the transfer to Dar-es-Salaam Airport for your domestic flight to Selous Game Reserve.  The flight will take approximately 45 minutes.  On arrival at the airstrip, your camp representative and vehicle will be waiting for you to transfer you to your camp for your check in.  Depending on the camp you choose, as well as the game you see en route, this transfer can take between 10 to 45 minutes.  On reaching the camp the friendly staff will show you to your room.  After lunch, a range of various activities will be offered to you to be able to enjoy that afternoon and throughout your stat at your camp of choice in the Selous Game Reserve.  Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 4:  Coffee or tea and cookies will be delivered to your tent this morning and will serve as a welcoming wake up call.  Depart the lodge at 06.00 hrs for an early morning game drive.  Alternatively, you may choose a more leisurely morning with breakfast at the camp and just relax there.  Once again, you will choose what activities you wish to carry out that day; ranging from open vehicle 4x4 photographic safaris, boat cruise or a more energetic walking safari.  Full board accommodation and overnight at the camp.

Day 6:  After and early breakfast you will choose what activities you wish to carry out that day; ranging from open vehicle 4x4 photographic safaris, boat cruise or a more energetic walking safari.  Full board accommodation and overnight at the camp.

Day 7:  After and early breakfast you will choose what activities you wish to carry out that day; ranging from open vehicle 4x4 photographic safaris, boat cruise or a more energetic walking safari.  Full board accommodation and overnight at the camp.

Day 8:  Your safari experience in Southern Tanzania has sadly come to its final day.  After breakfast you will be transferred to the airstrip for your return flight to Dar-es-Salaam.  This takes approximately 2 hours.  (End of Services)

Prices for 2008 / 2009

Itin Using Selous Safari Camp + Jongomero Camp

Inclusions at properties above

Exclusions at above properties

Itin Using Sand Rivers (Standard) + Jongomero Camp

Inclusions at Sand Rivers

Inclusions at Jongomero Camp

Itin Using Beho Beho + Jongomero Camp

Inclusions at Beho Beho

Inclusions at Jongomero Camp

Supplement for Kilimanjaro Kempinski instead of Holiday Inn GBP £50 per person

Inclusion in the Safari Sector

Exclusions in the Safari Sector

PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE

IMPORTANT NOTES         

Grumeti Camp (Serengeti)
Located in a remote valley in the western corridor of the Serengeti National Park, just 30 miles east of Lake Victoria, this flamboyant and vibrant safari camp overlooks a tributary of the Grumeti River –one of the crossing points of the great annual wildebeest migration (usually during June and July). Grumeti has just ten spacious tented suites under thatch, all beautifully crafted in wood, stone and canvas. The river, alive with hippo and crocodiles, is lined with tall riverine trees, home to countless birds and colobus monkeys.

Prices for 2008

Deluxe: Onsea House, Lake Manyara Tree Camp, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Grumeti Camp, Oliver’s Camp

Drinks (except champagne and vintage spirits) and Laundry are included in Lake Manyara Tree Camp, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge and Grumeti Camp

Superior: Arusha Hotel, Lake Manyara Serena, Ngorongoro Serena, Serengeti Serena, Kikoti Camp

Classic: Rivertrees, Kirurumu Camp, Gibb’s Farm, Mbuzi Mawe, Kikoti Camp

Inclusions

Exclusions

KATAVI NATIONAL PARK
Katavi National Park is universally recognized as one of the few truly remote and untouched areas of Tanzania’s immense conservation areas. This is primarily due to its position in the far south west of the country and the associated cost and time involved in reaching the park. For those who do take the time to visit, an unforgettable safari awaits them. Being one of the least visited National Parks is a bonus for the few who make it, not a reflection on the experience to be had there – it is a place for those seeking the Africa of decades ago. Katavi is predominantly high plains grassland, which becomes swampy wetland during the rains, interspersed with fringes of miombo woodland and scattered acacia. At more than 1 million hectares, Katavi is the third largest National Park; it has 2 lakes, Lake Katavi in the north and Lake Chada in the south, fed by the Kutuma river. These lakes are cracked open plains during the dry season from June to November, only filling in the rains. Kutuma River shrinks to a narrow stream, with pools which become the extremely cramped quarters of hundreds of hippos and crocs. In fact, Katavi has the highest density of Hippos and the largest Crocodiles in all of Tanzania. The remoteness and vast ecosystem has meant that the lush floodplains attract a very large biomass and huge herds of wildlife; it is not uncommon to see herds of 1600 Buffalo at a time. Along with large herds of Topi and Zebra the Buffalo graze the plains during the day when they are less vulnerable to predators, preferring to return to the relative safety of the woodland at night. Their predators maintain the balance by ambushing them as they return to the woodland. There are over 400 bird species and many of the rarer antelope such as Sable and Roan.

Accommodation and facilities
Katavi Wildlife Camp
The camp is very exclusive as befits the location with just six tents, luxurious in size and furnishings and cunningly set back amongst the trees that line the floodplain, providing both shade and camouflage in the prime game viewing area of the park, where the wildlife are unaware of your presence. The camp is small and select with personalised hosting and guiding by an experienced guide. The camp is open from June until the end of November to coincide with the dry season. 6 tents with en suite facilities. Solar lighting and power for recharging batteries. Shared mess tent. Game drives taken in open adapted 4WD vehicles.

Getting there:
The easiest and most cost effective way of reaching Katavi is by light aircraft.
We offer a shared charter flight into Katavi from Ruaha, Southern Highlands, Mikumi or Dar es Salaam on request.
The flight time from Ruaha is just over 2 hours and from Dar is over 4 hours, so it if you are combining Katavi with other parks it is adviseable to split the journey in Ruaha, Mikumi or the Southern Highlands.
Driving in takes a full day from Sumbawanga and the roads are very rough.
Katavi makes the perfect combination with Ruaha for the ultimate off the beaten track safari.

KILIMANJARO

On the roof of Africa
"...and there, ahead, all he could see, as wide as all the world, great, high and unbelievably white in the sun, was the square top of Kilimanjaro. And then he knew that was where he was going." The Snows of Kilimanjaro - Ernest Hemingway. The snow capped peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro stand majestically on the border of Kenya and Tanzania like a mirage against the arid savanna landscape . It has inspired mountaineers since 1889 to conquer it's peak, the highest in Africa. It comprises of three extinct volcanoes: Kibo 5895m (19,455 ft), Mawenzi 5149m (16,992 ft) and Shira 3962m (13,075ft) and covers four square kilometres.

Lazy Lagoon Island
This idyllic exclusive island is 2km off the shore of main land Tanzania opposite the historical town of Bagamoyo, north of Dar es Salaam. A sand spit protected by a coral reef, the island is inaccessible by land at all times, thus maintaining its exclusivity to visitors to Lazy Lagoon. The coral reef surrounding the island offers a great opportunity for snorkelling off the beach. Being an island, Lazy Lagoon is quite unique with sea swimming possible at all tides. The island has an interesting ecosystem, with many small mammals such as bush babies, (Galagoes) suni antelope and bush pig, plus birds and butterflies. Low tide washes up a plethora of exotically coloured star fish, sea urchins and crabs. All of these share their habitats with natural mangrove forest. Guests are free to wander along the 9km island – although no one has yet reached the end!

Historically important areas of interest :
Ras Kaole: The 12 Century Kaole ruins remaining from the Arab Shirazi era with the oldest mosque on the mainland lies only 2kms across the ocean from Lazy Lagoon. The settlement went into decline two hundred years later following the disruption of Arab trading routes by the Portuguese. Bagamoyo Slave town: Following the decline of the nearby Kaole settlement Bagamoyo grew out of the slave and ivory trade. Its was also referred to as the“gateway to the dark continent“ by explorers including Livingstone, Burton, Speke, Stanley, Grant and others who used Bagamoyo to launch their expeditions to find the source of the Nile. Livingstone’s sundried body was later carried by his two faithful servants 1600km back to Bagamoyo. Later Bagamoyo became the Capital of German East Africa.

The Southern Highlands
The Southern Highlands of Mufindi, Iringa District, is at an altitude of around 6700ft resulting in a cool temperate climate not generally expected in Africa. The country side is spectacularly undulating ending abruptly at the 2000ft rift valley escarpment. The area has stunning scenery, dark thick montane rainforest and pristine tea estates interlaced with lakes, rivers and streams. Although sightings of lion and leopard have not been reported for decades, there is a plethora of bird life in Mufindi. The Highlands are in complete contrast to the hotter, dustier, lowlands and the area gives a matchless sense of freedom to roam where you please by foot, horse, mountain bike or vehicle. Also at Lulanda you can find the ancient remnant of the eastern arc rainforest similar to Udzungwa which is also full of endemic species that have excited the Scientists.

Accommodation:

Mufindi Highland Lodge is set on a private 2000 acre estate close to the rift valley escarpment and surrounded by rainforest, tea estates and lakes. Small and select with 8 log cabins and a double roomed chalet, the lodge is very personalised and self sufficient with home grown and organically produced fruits & vegetables, dairy products, fresh and cured meats, and coffee beans. The lodge is usually hosted by Geoff & Vicky Fox who managed the adjacent tea plantations after arriving in Tanzania in 1959. Apart from offering a welcome break to the intense game driving and travelling of the remainder of your trip, Mufindi offers a rare insight to the cultural aspects of this out of the way rural community. You can walk, ride or cycle into nearby villages to meet the local people and observe their local customs. Your stay at the Highland Lodge includes full board accommodaton and activities such as: horse riding, mountain biking, guided forest walks, golf, swimming or boating in the lakes, and fly fishing for rainbow trout. Equipment and instruction are provided for the uninitiated willing to have a go. 10 rooms, double or family sized with en suite bathroom (bath tub, shower attachment, basin, toilet)
240V Electricity is supplied by generator for lighting and recharging batteries.
Full board accommodation includes 3 meals, tea, coffee and laundry.
Reception building with dining room and upper storey bar (warmed with open log fires)
Billiard/snooker room
Satellite television room

Ruaha National Park
History:
Ruaha National Park is named after the river that runs through the southern portion of the park. The word Ruaha is a corruption of ‘luvaha’, which means river, brook or stream in Kihehe, the local tribal language of this area. The real name of the river is Lyambangari, but this is largely forgotten except by the very eldest of tribesmen. The area that is now know as Ruaha National Park was originally part of the Saba River Game Reserve which was established in 1910; following on from this it became part of the larger Rungwa Game Reserve (est 1946). It was only gazetted as a ‘national park’ in 1964 and mapped into the present boundaries in 1973. The park itself covers 10,300km2 , but it is part of a much larger ecosystem including the original Rungwa Game Reserve which adjoins the northern boundary and the Kizigo Game Reserve which continues on north east. There is a proposal to increase the total area under Game Reserve protection by adding in a new area to be named the Muhesi Game Reserve. It is now Tanzania’s largest National Park.

Ecosystem:
The ecosystem which covers the entire conservation area of combined Game reserves and National Park is centered around the watershed of the only 2 perennial rivers within the Park, the Great Ruaha and the Nzombe Rivers. Both of these rivers no longer flow all year round, although water remains in pools (see Ruaha River Disaster). The Ruaha River valley is commonly thought to extend from the Great Rift Valley and it runs for the entire 160km boundary of the park, which takes it through rugged gorges and open plains. To the south and west the land rises to 1000m and 1830m respectively and there is corresponding differences in rainfall with an average of 500mm in the flat areas to 800mm on the escarpments. As would be expected with such a variety of habitats, the vegetation changes from treeless grasslands and swamps, to evergreen forests. The river valleys sport acacia species, fig species, tamarind trees, clumps of palms as well as patches of open black cotton soil grassland. The more undulating terrain is covered with Baobabs accompanied by Combretum and Commiphora woodland, with occasional flat-topped acacias. Above the escarpment which rises up from the plain, the Brachystegia and other miombo deciduous species dominate.

Biodiversity:
Ruaha stands out due to its position in the transvergence zone between northern and southern hemispheres where species (bird migrants, mammal species, and plant species) from both overlap. It is the southern most point for some typical nykia plants such as evergreen and thorny shrubs and some perennial grasses. Thebrachystegia zone includes the most northerly of some Zambezian miombo species, mainly legumes and some perennial grasses. The varied topography also results in a correspondingly varied diversity of species so that there are 1600 plant species compared to 600 in the Serengeti and now over 500 bird species which approximates to half that found in the entire country. For example you find Roan antelope, Sable antelope, Greater Kudu,Lichtenstein hartebeest, all rarely found further north and yet at the same time can find Lesser Kudu and Grant's gazelle not common further south. While you will find the full range of predators such as Lion, Cheetah, Striped & Spotted Hyaena, Leopard, Side Striped Jackal, Black backed jackal, and good populations of Wild Dog in Mikumi, Ruaha and Katavi National Parks. No major game migration occurs in Ruaha such as those found in the northern parks so game can be seen in Ruaha at any time of the year. Although the game is most concentrated along the river during the long dry season the park becomes a different world after the rains in December with the trees erupting into leaf and the Great Ruaha River swelling into a bursting torrent while the bird population explodes with migrants from both hemispheres visiting Ruaha. A visit during this time will open your eyes to a completely different Africa to the one you thought you knew well. The road infrastructure is excellent and all weather.

RuahaRiver Lodge
Accommodation and Facilities.
Ruaha River Lodge occupies a unique and privileged position set around a series of rocky kopjes in a bend of the Great Ruaha River, blending seamlessly into its surroundings and affording views up and down the river. Game is drawn to the river from the neighbouring hills and guests can witness the great wildlife dramas unfold from the comfort and protection of their self contained natural stone and thatch 'banda'. With resident hippos and crocs there is always plenty of action to watch and several incidents of lion or leopard kills have been seen from the lodge. The Lodge has recently being upgraded, with much larger and more luxurious rooms, allowing for a lounge area with sofa and chairs in each room, wide doors opening onto a deep and shady verandah and large bathroom at the rear. The Lodge has 2 separate dining and bar areas servicing 10 rooms each, thus maintaining a personalized small camp atmosphere in each. 20 self contained stone and thatch ‘bandas’ with bathroom and verandah 240V electricity provided by generator for lighting and recharging of batteries. Solar heated hot water. Laundry service. Full board accommodation – 3 meals a day with tea and coffee available at all times.

Selous Game Reserve

History:
The Selous Game Reserve is named after Frederick Courteney Selous who died in the reserve in 1917. He followed his hero David Livingstone to Africa and served as a guide for Cecil Rhodes in Rhodesia before joining the 25th Royal Fusiliers at the age of 64 and serving in the First World War. He was part of the campaign that chased General von Lettow-Vorbeck down Tanzania to the south, finally driving them out in 1916. The area of land between the Mgeta and Rufiji Rivers was declared a reserve back in 1896 by the German Governor. Later, in 1922 the land was named ‘Selous’ by the British Protectorate and the area under protection was expanded. The last addition to the present Reserve area is the southern bank of the Rufiji River in 1974 during the Ujamaa villagisation campaign, the masterplan of President Nyerere. The Reserve was declared a ‘World Heritage Site’ in 1982 and the Wildlife Division of the Tanzanian Government with the help of organisations such as Frankfurt Zoological Society, Worldwide Fund for Nature and African Wildlife Foundation turned the Reserve into one of the best managed protected areas in Africa.

Biodiversity:
Selous is bisected by the Rufiji River, with the tourist area north of the river. This area of miombo forest with dense areas of hardwood is home to the around 50% of Tanzania’s elephant population. The Rufiji River is a sprawling waterway with 5 distinctive ‘lakes’ all joined together with a myriad of channels. This is the only Game area in Tanzania to offer a safari on the river. Boating safari add a new point of interest to any trip as seeing the birds nesting in the banks, the crocs and hippos at close to eye level. Selous is also home to large numbers of buffalo and lion, as well as a healthy population of Wild Dogs,where they are found in the highest density of anywhere in Africa. The population peaks in September andOctober. A normal pack size would be around 20 dogs, but packs of up to 56 dogs have been seen in the past. Antelope are always a beautiful sight with their doey eyes and graceful and athletic leapings. Selous is home to a great many antelope species; Impala, Waterbuck, Reedbuck, the largest – the Eland, Lichenstein’s Heartebeest and the yellowy grey Nyassaland Gnu, or Wildebeest. In the northern buffer zone areas can be found the relatively rare Sable Antelope. In comparison to other habitats, the Selous Sable are found in large numbers (around 4000); they are smaller and a lighter colour than found elsewhere and have been designated as a subspecies of the Roosevelt Sable. The sandbanks, oxbow lakes, islands and channels are home to over 440 species of birds, including 2 rare species – the Pel’s Fishing Owl and the White-Backed Heron, which habituate the wooded sections of the riverbank.

Accommodation and facilities:
Accommodation at Rufiji River Camp is in permanent tents with en suite bathroom facilities.
Each tent is located with a view of the Rufiji River. The camp has a refurbishment programme starting 2008.
Currently: 20 tents Swimming pool, dining room and bar area.
Power is available for recharging batteries.
Filtered drinking water available

Coming soon for 2009 – The Frederick Selous Private Camp – a luxury 6 tented camp on the banks of the Great Rufiji River.
Game drives are taken in open, shared 4x4 vehicles
Boat safaris in shaded flat bottomed boats
Walking safaris.
Fly camping is also available.

ZANZIBAR

The Spice Islands as Zanzibar is otherwise known as, is ideally suited for those looking for a lazy, yet romantic beach holiday. It is also perfectly suited for the more adventurous of mind with Scuba Diving and snorkeling topping the activities list.Zanzibar is also a firm favorite for the honeymoon market, with several places vying for the title as the most romantic spot for a honeymoon.The following 3 night package is perfectly suited for both the leisure traveler and the honeymooner alike.more..