Traveling is not just seeing the new; it is also leaving behind. Not just opening doors; also closing them behind you never to return. But the place you have left forever is always there for you to see whenever you shut your eyes. ~ Jan Myrdal, The Silk Road
Things Tanzania is known for
Part Twelve: Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Known as the land of the Maasai, their cattle and fauna, this protected area is located in the Great Rift Valley (a gigantic fracture of the earth's crust). Volcanoes, mountains, plains, lakes, forests and archeological sites from this magnificent landscape takes up more than 8,000 sq km. At 1,600 meters altitude, the bottom of the crater (100 sq miles) is dotted with watering-holes and shelters for almost 30,000 animals. The area is naturally enclosed by the slopes of the volcano that rise up to 610 meters. It's called the eighth wonder of the world for a good reason and its crater has been declared a World Heritage Site.
To do: A trip to the Oduvai Gorge, which holds a paleontology museum, is where the Australopithecus Boise's skeleton was discovered. This early ancestor of man dates back millions of years. Take a walking safari to Maasai country with donkeys (2 days minimum). Don't miss: An entire day in the crater where the beautiful show never ends and finish with tea time while watching the sunset above the crater.
Known as the land of the Maasai, their cattle and fauna, this protected area is located in the Great Rift Valley (a gigantic fracture of the earth's crust). Volcanoes, mountains, plains, lakes, forests and archeological sites from this magnificent landscape takes up more than 8,000 sq km. At 1,600 meters altitude, the bottom of the crater (100 sq miles) is dotted with watering-holes and shelters for almost 30,000 animals. The area is naturally enclosed by the slopes of the volcano that rise up to 610 meters. It's called the eighth wonder of the world for a good reason and its crater has been declared a World Heritage Site.
To do: A trip to the Oduvai Gorge, which holds a paleontology museum, is where the Australopithecus Boise's skeleton was discovered. This early ancestor of man dates back millions of years. Take a walking safari to Maasai country with donkeys (2 days minimum). Don't miss: An entire day in the crater where the beautiful show never ends and finish with tea time while watching the sunset above the crater.
Things Tanzania is known for
Part Eleven: Mount Meru (Alt. 4,565 meters)
Mount Meru is located in Arusha national park in northern Tanzania. This mountain has never gained its rightful place as a major tourist attraction in Tanzania. However, to anyone visiting Arusha, the jagged profile of this grand volcano, rising from its densely forested flanks, sends a fascinating and challenging call.
The climb up Mt. Meru is not a difficult or technical one, but the altitude may affect some people. For the 3-4 days invested in the trek, Mt. Meru yields an rich abundance of scenery, wildlife, flowers and geology. Whether its a warm-up for a Kilimanjaro climb, a weekend trip for Arusha residents, or part of an extended visit to the various national parks around Arusha, Mt. Meru rewards it’s visitors!
Mount Meru is located in Arusha national park in northern Tanzania. This mountain has never gained its rightful place as a major tourist attraction in Tanzania. However, to anyone visiting Arusha, the jagged profile of this grand volcano, rising from its densely forested flanks, sends a fascinating and challenging call.
The climb up Mt. Meru is not a difficult or technical one, but the altitude may affect some people. For the 3-4 days invested in the trek, Mt. Meru yields an rich abundance of scenery, wildlife, flowers and geology. Whether its a warm-up for a Kilimanjaro climb, a weekend trip for Arusha residents, or part of an extended visit to the various national parks around Arusha, Mt. Meru rewards it’s visitors!
Serengeti National Park
Activities: A balloon safari in the park at dawn. Two side trips: Lake Natron to the north, at the roof of Ol Donyo Lengai volcano (2-3 days roundtrip) and the possibility of visiting Lake Victoria, the source of the Nile, to the west (2-3 days roundtrip). From Mwanza, the regional capital, visit the Rubondo National Park located on an island in the middle of the lake.
Don't miss: The big cats on the kopjes (huge granite rocks) which dominate the plains. Hundreds of crocodiles in the Grumeti River. The Maasai painting at Moru Kopjes.
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