Sunday, June 12, 2011

How to get to Tanzania, East Africa
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Capricorn Beach Cottages
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.
Other interesting destinations in the surrounding area
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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
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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.
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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.
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Golf: Plans in place for 18 hole golf course 5km south of Capricorn.
The ideal holiday is to …Go on Safari first then relax on the beach
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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. 
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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!
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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 Information
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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
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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. 
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