A beautful cheetah lies on the top of termit nest during the early hours of the sunrise on the big plains of the Serengeti Tanzania.

10 Interesting Facts about Mount  Kilimanjaro

Mountain Kilimanjaro

Rising majestically above the African plains, the 20,000-foot Mt. Kilimanjaro has beckoned to  climbers since the first recorded summit in 1889. Here are 10 interesting facts to help    inspire your own future summit:

1. Approximately 25,000 people attempt to summit  Mt. Kilimanjaro annually. Approximately 

two-thirds are successful. Altitude-related problems is the most common reason climbers  turn back.  

2. South African Bernard  Goosen twice scaled Mt. Kilimanjaro in a wheelchair. His first summit, in 2003, took nine days; his second, four years later, took only six. Born with  erebral palsy, Goosen used a modified wheelchair, mostly without assistance, to climb the mountain.

3. Shamsa Mwangunga, National Resources and Tourism minister of Tanzania, announced in 2008 that 4.8 million indigenous trees will be planted around the base of the mountain, helping prevent soil erosion and protect water sources.  

4. The mountain’s snow caps are diminishing, having lost more than 80 percent of their mass since 1912. In fact, they may be completely ice free within the next 20 years, according to scientists.  

5. The fasted verified ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro occurred in 2001 when Italian Bruno Brunod  summitted Uhuru Peak in 5 hours 38 minutes 40 seconds. The fastest roundtrip was accomplished in 2004, when local guide Simon Mtuy went up and down the mountain in   8:27.  

6. Almost every kind of ecological system is found on the mountain: cultivated land, rain forest, heath, moorland, alpine desert and an arctic summit.  

7. The oldest person ever to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro was 87-year-old Frenchman Valtee Daniel.  

8. Nearly every climber who has summitted  Uhuru Peak, the highest summit on Kibo’s crater rim, has recorded his or her thoughts about the accomplishment in a book stored in a wooden box at the top.  

9. Kilimanjaro has three volcanic cones, Mawenzi, Shira and Kibo. Mawenzi and Shira are extinct but Kibo, the highest peak, is dormant and could erupt again. The most recent activity was about 200 years ago; the last major eruption was 360,000 years ago.  

10. Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain on the African continent and the highest freestanding mountain in the world.  

10 Interest Facts you should Know About Zanzibar Island

The name Zanzibar is an Arabic word that is translated as 'the coast of black people'. The Zanzibar archipelago is a series of islands on the Indian Ocean about 16-31 miles from the mainland Republic of Tanzania. It is a semi-autonomous region of the Tanzania. The island has the best beaches in the world - and this is not an exaggeration. If you love lazing around in the sun, then this is the place to go. Below are a few facts that will give you an overview of the Island country.

1.      Zanzibar is comprised of several islands, but two are the larger ones.  Unguja is the largest one and is erroneously called Zanzibar. The other is called Pemba.

    2. The island is home to the almost extinct Zanzibar Red Columbus Monkey, the           Zanzibar Servaline Genet, and the Zanzibar Leopard.

3. Zanzibar has been home to intelligent humans (Homo sapiens) for more than 20,000 years.

4. The capital of Zanzibar is called Zanzibar City and its most historic feature is the ancient Stone Town.

5. Due to its proximity to Equator, Zanzibar is warm throughout the year and has equal day and nights (12-hours each) like most of the East African Countries.

6. Apart from tourism, the other economic activity in Zanzibar is spice growing. In fact, the island is sometimes fondly referred to as The Spice Island due to its cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and black pepper.

7. Some ancient potteries have been discovered in Zanzibar showing that it was a major trading route for the ancient Assyrians.

8. Amazingly, the shortest war ever recorded by man is the Anglo-Zanzibar War where the British bombarded the Beit al Hukum Palace and after 38 minutes, a ceasefire was called.

9. Thanks to Monsoon Winds, by the first century, Arabs, Persians and Indians were sailing to Zanzibar in their fast sailing dhows.

10. Throughout history, the Persians, Portuguese, Omani and British have fought to control the important island. It was seen as a gateway to mainland East Africa. In fact, the Sultanate of Omani was the first to trade slaves, cloves and ivory from East African Mainland.

The Island of Zanzibar boasts pristine white sand beaches, abundant sunshine, exotic Swahili dishes, a hospitable people and luxury tourists resorts. If your idea of fun is to mix a jungle safari with lazing on the beach, then you have just found a hidden gem in Zanzibar.

Where the pepper grows

Since the 7 th century the island supplied the world with spices and attracted migrants from the most exotic countries. Vanilla, cloves, nutmeg and pepper. Apparently they stayed "where the pepper grows" voluntarily. The location of this fertile island of Zanzibar also made ​​the connection between East Africa and the rest of the world. Even distant fleets from the USA made ​​their way down to Zanzibar not only to export the spices, but also settle there. Until today, besides tourism the export of spices is the main source of income. But the trade in spices has a dark side: Under arab domination it favored slave trade who were used as workers on the plantations in the 18th century. This was so lucrative that the simple city centre rapidly transformed into a thriving one – Stone Town. The slave trade was officially abolished in 1873 by the British.

Zanzibar was not always Muslim

When in 1108, the first mosque in Zanzibar – the first in Africa – was built, the foundation stone for a small thriving Islamic empire in Africa was set. Before the Arab embossed flair was brought to the island by the Sultan of Oman, the Portuguese also wanted to write a piece of the island’s history. They set up an important trading center in Zanzibar. In less than 200 years they had to admit defeat by the Sultan of Oman and give dominion again to Muslim hands. But even if the majority is Muslim today, a Christian minority could remain on the island. As the cultural development would not have been enough contrast, not only the roots of Islam in Africa are to be found here, but also the  ones of Christianity. Again, the island served as a conduit between Africa and the rest of the world: about 150 years ago the evangelization East Africa’s started here. Even if the Christian minority enjoys widespread acceptance among the Muslim population, there are attacks by radical groups, that are to be racial. Radical Islamists not only want to expel the Christians, but also the independence of the semi-autonomous state – a struggle that crumbles the magical, multicultural image of the island

WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION

Tanzania has around  three million large mammals,making the country by far the most significant refuge for the mega fauna of the Africa continent.There can be no future for its wildlife without new generation, however.Young giraffes in Serengeti.

A world leader in wildlife

Tanzania is irrefutably among the brightest pearls among the countries harbouring the most staggering wildlife spectacles in the world,the credit for which lies with its huge variety of habitats,for alongside those that are the most characteristics of East Africa,it also boasts the last fragments of the lowland rain forests to be found in the easternmost part of Africa,exceptional extensive open grasslands,groundwater forests,multiple types of wetlands,and even glaciers.

These are the factors that enable the country to support a phenomenally diverse fauna and flora.

Tanzania is among the top 25 countries in the world as far as endemic species are concerned, with 25 mammals,20 birds,64 reptiles,at least 55 amphibians,108 freshwater fish,5 marine fish,123 butterflies and 28 genera of vascular plants in the category. This places it sixth among the African countries in this respect, after  Madagascar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon,Ethiopia and the Republic of South Africa.

The key Factor to make Tanzania unique among the African countries today for its huge numbers of large mammals are its wide variety of habitats,its strong long-term tradition of conservation work 

and in particular its extensive network of the wildlife reserves,covering extensive areas of land.Finally,Tanzania has remained largely free of political  disturbance, which is one of the most crucial things where successful wildlife conservation work is concerned.

TANZANIA HOLIDAY 2017

A bucket list item on every person who loves outdoor adventures should be to climb Kilimanjaro. And what better time than when there is a sale?
Summiting Kilimanjaro is not easy but can be achieved by anyone who is reasonably fit. Many times we have heard our returning clients say that their climb was “life changing” or the “greatest moment” in their life. Why not make it yours.
Despite the immense height, you can summit with no advanced technical skills. Mount Kilimanjaro is truly the highest, most accessible, “walkable” mountain on the planet. It stands at 19,341 feet and has a trail leading all the way to the sign on top of Uhuru Peak. From there you can see Africa in every direction. It is a spectacular view that should not be missed.
What are you waiting for? There has never been a better time to climb Kilimanjaro. 

All of our 2017 Group Climbs are on sale. Check out our dates and prices here: http://www.eco-africaclimbing.com/mount-kilimanjaro-climbing-join-group

5 Days Tanzania Camping Safari to Tarangire,

Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater & Lake Natron

Duration: 5 days 4 nights

EXTRA SAFARI INFO

Duration: 5 Days
Arrival City: Moshi
Departure City: Moshi
Activities and Interest: Cultural & Wildlife
Comfort Style: Comfort

 SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS 

Enjoy authentic interactions with the Maasai
See the big cats
See more animals than you ever thought possible
See the Endless plains of the Serengeti

AREAS VISITED

Moshi
Tarangire National Park
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Ngorongoro crater
Serengeti National Park
Lake Natron
Olduvai Gorge
The great rift valley
Lake Manyara view point
Ngorongoro highlands  

Day 0

Moshi

Distance: 30km /50km

Met on arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport. Transfer to Stella Maris Lodge for dinner and overnight HB. (40 km, 30 minutes)

• MEALS: Dinner and Overnight HB
• ACCOMMODATION:  Stella Maris Lodge or similar Accommodation

Day 1

Tarangire National Park

Non – game viewing time : 3 hrs

After breakfast the tour departs. First stop is Arusha Town for any last minute purchases before we head off on safari. Afterwards we head towards the Tarangire National Park for a game drive with picnic lunch at the park. Tarangire is well known for its huge elephant population and baobab trees. It forms the centre of an annual migratory cycle that includes up to 3000 elephants, 25,000 wildebeest and 30,000 zebras. Late Afternoon drive to Karatu/Ngorongoro highlands for Dinner and overnight at Hevean Nature Lodge and campsite

• MEALS: Lunch, dinner, bed and breakfast
• ACCOMMODATION:  Heaven Nature Lodge and campsite 

Day 2 

 Ngorongoro crater

Non – game viewing time : 1 hr

After breakfast transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, You will descend over 600 meters into the crater to view wildlife. Supported by a year round water supply and fodder, the Ngorongoro National Park supports a vast variety of animals, which include herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants. Another big draw card to this picturesque national park, is it’s dense population of predators, which include lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and the ever-elusive leopard, which sometimes requires a trained eye to spot. We will visit Lake Magadi, a large but shallow alkaline lake in the southwestern corner, which is one of the main features of the crater. A large number of flamingos, hippos and other water birds can usually been seen here. Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Simba Campsite 

• MEALS: Lunch, dinner, bed and breakfast
• ACCOMMODATION: Ngorongoro Simba Campsite  

Day  3 

Serengeti National park

Non – game viewing time : 3 – 4 hrs

After breakfast, depart for Serengeti National Park Leaving the highlands behind, we descend into the heart of wild Africa – the Serengeti National Park – with its endless plains, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. Then heard to the central park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti’s species. Arrive in time for lunch and enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Serengeti national park. Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Seronera Campsite

• MEALS: Lunch, dinner, bed and breakfast
• ACCOMMODATION: Serengeti Seronera Campsite

Day 4

Serengeti National Park – Lake Natron

Non game-viewing travel time: 4-5 hours
After an early breakfast, Do a morning game drive then after do a game en route towards north Serengeti. Check out of the park at Klein’s gate then transfer to Lake Natron for an early dinner and over night. Go for an evening lake Natron walk for sunset if time permits. Dinner and overnight at Lake Natron Campsite.

Day 5

Lake Natron – Arusha

Non game-viewing travel time: 3 – 4 hours
Night ascent & dawn summit bid, Oldoinyo Lengai (seismic conditions permitting). Optional waterfall hike and swim( Depending on what time your flight is leaving). After transfer to Moshi or Arusha for airport drop off or overnight. ( Extra cost for the overnight accommodation )

• MEALS: Lunch, dinner, bed and breakfast
• ACCOMMODATION: Planet Lodge

Rates including VAT

$2,300 per person when 1 person travels alone

$1,598 per person when 2 persons travel together

$1,364 per person when 3 persons travel together

$1,247 per person when 4 persons travel together

$1,222 per person when 5 persons travel together

$1,167 per person when 6 persons travel together

$1,227 per person when 7 persons travel together

Items included:
Transportation in 4×4 safari vehicle
Airport transfer/ pick up and drop off if applicable
Professional, English speaking guide and safari cook
Meals :Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Mineral water
Overnight stays in tents
Tents, mattresses & camping equipment
All national park fees

Items not included:
Sleeping bag
Alcoholic and soft drinks
Visa fees
Tips
Personal spending monies for souvenirs etc.
Travel insurance