MAHALE NATIONAL PARK

Mahale Mountains National Park is located in one of the most remote locations in Tanzania, on the western border with the Congo, against the dramatic shores of Lake Tanganyika. Accessible only by small aircraft, the park is the home of a large chimpanzee population that is well acclimatized to human contact. Although the nearby Gombe Stream National Park is more famous, the primate population in Mahale Mountains is more numerous and sightings more regular and prolonged.
Observing the chimpanzees in their natural habitat, one cannot help but be touched by their natural grace and anthropomorphic features. Although remote, a chimpanzee safari to Mahale Mountains National Park is well worth the effort. Hikes to their habitation areas are accessible and not strenuous, although being in good physical condition will ease the strain of walking through the jungle! Up close, observing the endangered primates is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Did you know

that the three Tanzania tourist attractions candidates for seven Natural Wonders of Africa emerged among the seven winners? Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. Congrats Tanzania!

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Rubondo Island National Park

Rubondo Island
Located on the south-west shores of Lake Victoria, Rubondo Island National Park includes Rubondo Island and several other small islands on Lake Victoria. The park boasts a rich and diverse variety of butterflies and bird life, easily viewable from the lake shore. The rare Sitatunga, an extremely endangered amphibious antelope, can sometimes be viewed escaping charging predators by hiding and camouflaging itself in the lake shore marshes.
A visit to Rubondo Island National Park offers visitors a break from game viewing in the tranquil peace of a lake shore setting. Exploring the islands within the park makes for exciting day trips. Fishing expeditions into Lake Victoria are easily arranged through the major lodges. Rubondo Island National Park is a break from the rigours of the safari circuit and a relaxing place from which to explore Lake Victoria.

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HAPPY EASTER

Easter, the day when resurrection took place, is the day of hope and good will. Followers of Christianity exchange gifts with each other to celebrate this occasion. It not only conveys the message of hope but also gives an opportunity to reassure the fact that good deeds and truth cannot be buried for long and will always come out successfully. Such is the importance of Easter that people believe that Jesus is re- born on Easter day and is as important as Christmas. As Floyd w Tomkins said, “Let the resurrection joy lift us from loneliness and weakness and despair to strength and beauty and happiness.” Exchanging gifts is one way of sharing your love and affection for others on Easter but there is another way of doing it by sharing these quotes on Easter. happy easter guys and god blassed Tanzania and its haritage

Did you know That the three Tanzania tourist attractions candidates for seven Natural Wonders of Africa emerged among the seven winners? Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. Congrats Tanzania! and RUAHA NATIONAL PARK NAMED AS THE BEST WINTER TRIP DESTINATION FOR 2013 Ruaha National Park has just been named as the Best Winter Trip destination for 2013 by the National Geographic Traveler Magazine. The Park in featured together with other 14 Tanzania National Parks in the December/ January.

Ruaha National Park is the largest national park in Tanzania. It covers an area of about 22,000 km². It is located in the middle of Tanzania about 130 km from Iringa. The park is part of a more extensive ecosystem which includes Rungwa Game Reserve, Usangu Game Reserve, and several other protected areas.

The name of the park is derived from the Great Ruaha River, which flows along its south-eastern margin and is the focus for game-viewing. The park can be reached by car via Iringa and there is an airstrip at Msembe, park headquarters.

The creation of a national park in this area was first proposed in 1949 by the Senior Game Ranger in Mbeya, George Rushby. In 1951 it was gazetted by the British colonial authorities as an extension of the neighbouring Rungwa Game Reserve. People living in the new protected area were subsequently forced to move out. In 1964 it was excised from the game reserve and elevated to full park status. In 2008 it was extended to incorporate the former Usangu Wildlife Management Area, in the upper Ruaha catchment, making Ruaha the largest National Park in Africa

Ruaha National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Location	Tanzania
Nearest city	Iringa
Coordinates	7°30′S 35°0′E / 7.500°S 35.000°E / -7.500; 35.000Coordinates: 7°30′S 35°0′E / 7.500°S 35.000°E / -7.500; 35.000
Area	12,950 km²
Established	1964
Governing body	TANAPA

Ruaha National Park is the largest national park in Tanzania. It covers an area of about 22,000 km². It is located in the middle of Tanzania about 130 km from Iringa. The park is part of a more extensive ecosystem which includes Rungwa Game Reserve, Usangu Game Reserve, and several other protected areas.
The name of the park is derived from the Great Ruaha River, which flows along its south-eastern margin and is the focus for game-viewing. The park can be reached by car via Iringa and there is an airstrip at Msembe, park headquarters.

 History

Ruaha Gorge

The creation of a national park in this area was first proposed in 1949 by the Senior Game Ranger in Mbeya, George Rushby. In 1951 it was gazetted by the British colonial authorities as an extension of the neighbouring Rungwa Game Reserve. People living in the new protected area were subsequently forced to move out. In 1964 it was excised from the game reserve and elevated to full park status. In 2008 it was extended to incorporate the former Usangu Wildlife Management Area, in the upper Ruaha catchment, making Ruaha the largest National Park in Africa.

Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus)

 Wildlife

Ruaha is famous for its large population of Elephants. Presently about 10.000 are roaming the park. Ruaha National Park is also a true birdwatchers paradise: 436 species have been identified of an estimated total of 475. Among the resident birds are different species of Hornbills, Kingfishers and Sunbirds. Also many migrants visit Ruaha, e.g. the White Stork
Other special animals in Ruaha are: the African Wild Dog and Sable Antelope. Rhinoceros were last been sighted in 1982 and are probably extinct in the park due to poaching.
The best times to visit for predators and large mammals is the dry season (May–December) and for birds and flowers, the wet season (January–April).

 Environmental change

The park is currently facing a significant environmental challenge from the progressive drying up of the Great Ruaha River. The river used to flow all year round, but since 1993 there have been increasingly long periods every dry season in which it has dried up completely. Different hypotheses have been advanced to account for this, and one view is that it is caused by the expansion of irrigation schemes for rice cultivation and growth of livestock keeping in the Usangu wetland, which feeds the Great Ruaha River (Fox 2004).