SELOUS GAME RESERVE.
In the south of Tanzania, stretching inland from the coast, lies Africa's largest wildlife sanctuary; the Selous Game Reserve. Bigger than Denmark, it lies south of Mikumi, covers 6% of Tanzania's total area and is 4 times the size of Serengeti. It contains the greatest concentration of big game left on earth. Selous Game Reserve is internationally famous for its animals. It has the world's largest number of big game:- elephant, buffalo, rhino, sable antelope, hippo, lion. There are over 400 species of birdlife which include:- fisheagle, secretary bird, kingfisher, sunbird, hornbill, billstork and hammerkop. The best time to visit is from June - October when the weather is cool and dry, the vegetation lush and the animals easy to see.

Selous has the finest virgin bush, unspoilt by time. Although it remains one of the least scientifically researched areas in Africa, some 1700 botanical species have been identified. In the far south, the vastness of the reserve and its general inaccessibility has turned the Selous into a magnificent refuge for animals, birds, insects and reptiles. Vegetation: Woodland dominates, particularly the dry and sparse deciduous type known as 'miombo' but it is also a land of marshes, green savannah, grassland, acacia, ebony, baobab and shrubs. As little development has taken place in Selous, visitors can experience the solitude of this game reserve in its most pristine form Selous was designated a 'World Heritage Site' by the United Nations in 1982 due to its unique ecological importance. ny maid service: New York. Manhattan, 529, East 5th street Apt. RS, 10009. tel: 212-537-01-53

Selous game reserve is only 40 minutes away by air and 6 hours away by road from Dar Es Salaam. Facilities include boat safaris along the Rufiji River, walking safaris and game viewing in 4 wheel drive vehicles. The tranquillity one experiences at the Selous, the wildness of the atmosphere has no parallel anywhere on earth.

Hotels in Seleous

Rufiji River Camp
The tented camp is situated in the north-eastern part of the Selous Game Reserve on a high bank overlooking the mighty Rufiji River and the plain beyond. The camp accommodates guests in 20 comfortable tents. Each tent has twin beds with mosquito nets, ensuite bathroom and a veranda facing the river. The central resturant provides excellent cuisine. The camp makes maximum use of local materials, retaining an intimate relationship with the surrounding eco-system.

Selous Safari Camp
Luxuty tented camp which offers visitors the unparalleled experience of sleeping under canvas in the bush with all the modern comforts.

Beho Beho Camp
Located deep inside the game reserve, the camp features comfortable and secure stone-built 'bandas'. Each consists of a large bedroom, bathroom with shower and a verandah. The famous hot-springs of Selous are located not too far away.

Sand River Camp
This exclusive camp contains only six secluded cottages all with ensuite bathrooms and stunning views of the Rufiji River. An unusual combination of steep wooded hills, open Miombo woodland and grassy plains and marshes interlaced with lakes and dry sand rivers, this scenic area boasts an impressive variety of game, birdlife and wild flowers.

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MIKUMI NATIONAL PARK.
Mikumi forms the northern border of the Selous Game Reserve, and is one of the most accessible of the Tanzanian national parks. Mikumi is rich in wildlife and contains buffalo, elephant and lion. Also found are wildebeest, zebra, impala, warthog, hippo, and giraffe. Most of the animals can be seen at all seasons. Elephants can be seen throughout the area and buffaloes totaling some 3,000 are to be found on the treeless grassland.

Vegetation: The Mkate River Floor Plain with its hard ridges, swamps and black clay grassland, the miombo woodlands lie on hills of east and west, and the rivers with their fringe of tall trees and dense thickets. The TAZARA (Tanzania-Zambia) railway line marks the boundary of Mikumi with Selous to the south.

Hotels in Mikumi National Park Serious side effects of omeprazole that you should report immediately to your Doctor are.

Vuma Hill Tented Camp
Overlooking the Mkata plains and mountains in the distance, Vuma Hill offers accommodation"under the stars" allowing you to get as close to nature as you can. Whether you want to enjoy star gazing from the 360 degree viewpoint, cool off in the pool, or quietly relax in your custom made tent inbetween safari game drives, Vuma offers the luxury and privacy to suite all. All tents are self-contained with attached bathroom facilities, hot and cold water and electricity.

Kikoboga Camp
This lodge is situated near the main entrance of Mikumi National Park, and has stone-built African cottages and bandas, spacious bedrooms, bathroom with shower and large verandas with wonderful viewsoverlooking the plains and nearby waterholes. There is a small pool and sundeck area, raised look out tower, thatched bar built around a Marula
tree and a dining area overlooking a floodlit waterhole. At Kikoboga you can watch a procession of animals visiting the waterholes either from the comfort of your own verandah, having a cool drink at the bar or whilst dining.

RUAHA NATIONAL PARK
Ruaha National Park, the second largest national park in the country, is one of the unexplored parks in Tanzania and the largest elephant sanctuary. The name Ruaha derives from the great Ruaha River which flows along its entire eastern border creating spectacular gorges and scenery. Hippo, crocodile, turtle and fish inhabit the river. Elephants are often to be seen on the banks of the Ruaha River. Lion, giraffe and other animals can also be found. The special attraction of Ruaha, besides its spectacular scenery, is its unspoilt wilderness. This park is relatively unknown and only recently developed for tourism and less frequented by tourists.The park is also known for its concentration of greater and lesser kudu, its roan and sable antelope and its rich bird life; more than 400 species of birds have been recorded.Its geographical location means that it is visited by both northern and southern migrants. Ruaha also has a great variety of resident bird species. The best time for keen bird watchers is between January to April. The terrain within most of the park is a well wooded, undulating plateau at an average altitude of 915m with mountains in the south and west rising up to 1600m and 1900m above sea level respectively. Miombo woodland forms the dominant vegetation, changing to combritum/commiphora to the east. The best months for game viewing are June to December.

Hotels in Ruaha National Park

Ruaha River Lodge
Overlooking the great Ruaha River, the lodge blends into its natural surroundings to enable visitors to feel themselves part of the wild. Accommodation 'bandas', built from local stone and thatch, provide the perfect setting in which to relax between bush excursions, and watch wild animals as they descend from the hills to quench their thirst and nibble on the green grass.

Mwagusi Tented Camp
Deep inside the park, between the banks of the Mwagusi Sand River, lies the Mwagusi Camp. This 16 bed safari camp offers ensuite bathrooms and hot showers, while maintaining the design of traditional African 'bandas'.

Mdonya Old River Camp
Mdonya Old River Camp is due to open in 2003. The camp has eight spacious tents and is located under sycamore fig and acacia trees near the Ruaha escarpment and Mdonya waterfalls. Activities will include full day game drives, trips to the waterfalls falls and walking safaris. It promises to be a good small camp.

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UDZUNGWA MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

AREA : 1900 Sq. Km.
ALTITUDE : 300 - 2800 Metres

The major attraction to the park is its biologically diverse and unique forest, of leafy glades freckled with sunshine. Udzungwa Mountains National Park also harbours plant species found nowhere else in the world, from a tiny African violet to 30m. high trees.

Of its six types of primate, two are endemic - the Iringa red colobus monkey and the Sanjey Crested Mangabey, not detected until 1979. Four previously unknown species of birds make this Tanzania's richest forest bird habitat and among the three most important bird conservations areas on the continent. This undisturbed habitat is yet to reveal all its treasures, waiting for further scientific exploration to catalogue its wealth.

This park is of particular interest to those who enjoy trekking, as game viewing is done via the various nature trails on foot. There are no game viewing routes for vehicles in this park. This park can be visited as an addition to Mikumi and Ruaha.

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