many of these images have a larger version -click to view | ||
Capricorn Beach Cottages Guests have the option to either cook or barbecue themselves, have their barbeque catered out under the stars or dine out at other restaurants in the surrounding area.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Direct flights from major airports with: British Airways, Swiss Int, Air, KLM, Emirates, South African Airways, Ethiopian Airways, Air Malawi, Air India, Kenya Airways, Oman Air. Or......... Enjoy a night or two en route and connect with any of the above airlines. International Airports: Kilimanjaro International Airport (between Arusha and Moshi); Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. | ||
North-eastern Tanzania has lured foreign visitors to the region for many years. Inland are the lush, forested Usambara and Pare Mountains, which offer scenic landscapes, hiking and intriguing cultures. Along the coast are beautiful long beaches and further south is Saadani, Tanzania’s only seaside game reserve. Pangani: A small Swahili town located at the mouth of the Pangani River. According to some, Pangani’s origins can be traced back almost two thousand years to the trading centre of Rhapta. The town is also home to a community-based cultural tourism program which offers a variety of guided walks and river cruises, and visits to fossilized dinosaur remains | ||
Tongoni Ruins: Just up the coast road. These ruins include the remains of a mosque and some graves estimated to date from the fourteenth or fifteenth century when Tongoni was a significant coastal trading port. | ||
Amboni caves (Mapango ya Amboni): Located about 8km north-west of Tanga. The caverns are thought to have formed during the Bathonian period (176-169 million years ago), when sea levels were much higher than they now are. Winding passageways, dripping stalactites, colonies of bats, an assortment of legends, and hot-water springs. Tours can be arranged, although it’s easy enough to do this on your own. | ||
Saadani Game Reserve: Where bush meets beach. A unique shoreline wilderness combining marine, savanna, forest and riverine environments together with the historic village of Saadani. 70km north of Bagamoyo. Trips can also be arranged from Pangani. | ||
Bagamoyo: The infamous transit point for the nineteenth-century slave and ivory trades. Also the place where a host of explorers and missionaries set off into the African interior. A few kilometers away the ruins of the medieval Swahili trading centre of Kaole give a taste of what life was like almost eight centuries ago. | ||
Golf: Plans in place for 18 hole golf course 5km south of Capricorn. | ||
Northern Tanzania: Three of the top five natural wonders of the whole of Africa are in Northern Tanzania. The Serengeti, Mount Kilimanjaro and Ngorongoro Crater, as well as Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks. Tarangire is a hidden gem, with a high concentration of wildlife. Manyara’s main attractions are its superb birdlife, its tree-climbing lions and hippos. | ||
Southern & Western Tanzania: They say the Southern Circuit epitomizes Tanzania in her most pristine form. Selous National Park is the largest game park in Africa and home to half of Tanzania’s elephants. Remote Katavi National Park was described by Travel Africa and Africa Geographic magazines as “Africa’s best kept secret”. In a recent survey Katavi recorded the highest concentration of game of any of the parks in Tanzania. Experience the highest concentration of game with the lowest number of people. Ruaha National Park, where the Great Ruaha River is the lifeline of the park. Ruaha’s main asset is its location within the “transvergence zone” between northern and southern hemispheres. There are 1600 plant species compared to 600 in the northern parks. This transvergence zone is also the reason for a diverse range of wildlife. | ||
Types of safaris: There are many types of safaris. Vehicle safaris are the most common, and in some parks still the only option. Walking safaris are just starting to come into their own in Tanzania as well as river safaris. It is also possible to float over the Serengeti National Park in a hot air balloon! | ||
When to go: Tanzania is so diverse that it really depends on where you want to go and what you want to do. The best times to visit the northern circuit range are from June to August and December to March. This coincides with the migration pattern through the Serengeti and avoids the rainy season. Some 1,500,000 wildebeest and 250,000 zebra migrate in a circular pattern throughout the year. This is on-going and certain areas of the Serengeti experience major concentrations of animals at certain times of the year. The best time to climb Kilimanjaro is January, February or March, as it’s warm and less likely to be cloudy. The best time to visit the coast is in the dry season. The wet season is the best time in many areas for birding. (Long rains March – May. Short rains November – December). | ||
Safari prices usually include park entrance fees, camping or lodge fees and exclude drinks, extra requirements and tips. Although the days of organizing things on arrival is not over, during high season you might have difficulty getting reliable operators, and may have to wait until openings arise or a vehicle is free. Pre-booking your safari is advisable. | ||
Budget: Most safaris at the lower end of the price range are camping safaris. To keep costs to a minimum camping is sometimes outside the national park areas (thereby saving park admission and camping fees). Also by working with larger groups they minimize per-person transport costs. There are also likely to be kilometer limits placed on how far a vehicle drives each day | ||
Mid-Range: Most mid-range safaris use lodges, where you’ll have a comfortable room and dine in the restaurant. One of the main variables here as far as price is concerned is which lodge or hotel you use. In general safaris in the mid-range category are comfortable, reliable and good value. A disadvantage can sometimes be that you are traveling with larger groups of people. When selecting the safari company perhaps inquire about the number of other people you would be traveling with. | ||
Top End: Private lodges or luxury tented camps, and sometimes, private fly camps are used in top-end safaris. For the price you will pay expect a full range of amenities and a high level of personalized service. Even in the most remote settings without running water you will still be able to enjoy hot, bush-style showers, comfortable beds and fine dining. |
Capricorn Beach Cottages
The cottages are very secluded, yet step through the gate and you are on the beach. Guests have the option to either cook or barbecue themselves, have their barbeque catered out under the stars or dine out at other restaurants in the surrounding area. Visit Capricorn Deli, where you can buy locally caught fresh fish, prawns, squid and other seafood, along with smoked fish and smoked fish pate, home-baked baguette, cheese, wine and a variety of specialty grocery items. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rates per night
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Recommended Restaurants Peponi Resort, within walking distance www.peponiresort.com Mkoma Bay Tented Lodge, 8 km south www.mkomabay.com For lunch, The Tides, a scenic drive south.... www.thetideslodge.com Reservations required at all above restaurants Website www.capricornbeachcottages.com Email: capricornbeachcottages@gmail.com Phone: Annabel +255 784632529 Capricorn Beach Cottages, P.O. Box 5861, Tanga, Tanzania. East Africa. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Road Drive to Tanga which is well connected by tarmac roads. From Tanga head south on the Pangani road. This road is gravel and rough in spots. Capricorn is 30km south of Tanga, just north of Kigombe village. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Air From Dar es Salaam:Coastal Airways to Tanga. A wonderfully scenic flight with stops at Zanzibar and Pemba. Coastal Aviation: 255-22-2117959 www.coastal.cc | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Car rental There are many car rental agencies in Dar es Salaam and Arusha. Some agencies to review: evergreen@raha.com avis@raha.com europcar@raha.com hertz@cats-net.com, greentourcarhire@gmail.com, info@smartcars.co.tz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bus From Dar es Salaam or Mombasa: Scandinavian Express Bus service to Tanga is good. Phone: 255-22-2184833 www.scandinavia.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
From Arusha Both Kizota Bus lines and Ngorika Bus lines to Tanga are good and run daily. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Clarence and Annabel moved from Canada to Belize in 1996 with the idea of semi-retiring. There they built and operated Capricorn Resort on Ambergris Caye, and after a successful eight years in business, they sold the resort in 2003. During a holiday and family visit to the Tanzania coast, that was it. Back to Tanzania for Annabel who grew up there, and the start of another new venture for Clarence. Annabel started Capricorn Casuals, a line of casual clothes and Clarence is enjoying ‘smoking’ the wonderful fish caught daily by the local Kigombe fishermen. |
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