Safari Diary

Lake Eyasi, Ziwani, the Hadzabe and Datoga

Shadows of Africa recent safari with the Fritz group took in an exciting spread of both activities and lodges. Our skilled safari consultants can match your ideas and aspirations with what’s on the ground.

One desire of theirs was to see not only wildlife but also the different cultures of Tanzania. Lake Eyasi and Ziwani were obvious choices.

Lodge overview: Photo from Ziwani lodge

Ziwani Lodge overlooking Lake Eyasi is a refreshing refuge after a few days of concentrated game viewing in Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater.

Interior. Photo from Ziwani lodge

Ziwani has a style of its own. Created to provide a peaceful escape, fabulous views and the cool that’s required in this sometimes, harsh environment. Ziwani is gorgeous!

But it’s not all about putting your feet up, relaxing by the pool and sipping an ice-cold drink, Eyasi is home to the Datoga and Hadzabe tribes and offers an insight into two different and intriguing cultures.

Hadzabe with bow. Photo from Ziwani lodge

The Hadzabe numbering around 1,000 in Tanzania are hunter-gatherers, living off the land. Using only bows and arrows they have no lasting impact on wildlife populations. They don’t cut trees and they don’t dig water holes, and they don’t ‘own’ things – instead they live in harmony with their environment, and we have a lot we can learn from them.

The Datoga are highland Nilotic pastoralists dependent on their livestock and skilled blacksmiths – often trading their arrowheads with the Hadza in exchange for skins and honey.

Finishing touches on an arrow head – Datoga tribe. Photo from Ziwani Lodge

Step out of your box and discover a culture that’s not your own, that teaches you something different and that makes you appreciate more fully, the diversity of our beautiful world.

Extend your safari and spend a day around the fascinating lake Eyasi.

Get Out and Take a Walk – Ngorongoro Crater, Empakai, Lengai to Natron

Tired of sitting in a safari vehicle? Take a hike, stretch your legs, enjoy the smells and sounds of your surrounds and the most incredible scenery.

One of the most incredible adventures offered by the Shadows of Africa team is walking from the Empakai Crater in the Ngorongoro Highlands down to the soda lake of Natron, passing the classic volcano of Ol Donyo Lengai.

Ngorongoro Highlands

Before you start to walk you have to visit the Ngorongoro crater and take in a chance to see the Big 5. The next day you move onto the neighboring crater of Empakai with its forested slopes, flamingo encrusted lake floor and your first chance to get those legs working.

Refreshed by the beauty of this lovely cultural area you’re now ready to walk a little further. With donkeys to carry your kit, expertly guided by local Maasai, you are freed up to shake your shoulders and skip down the highlands, and out of the chill, to the drylands below.

Flamingoes on Lake Natron

Spending a night camping en route you walk on with the most astounding of views ahead. It is hard to concentrate on the walking with such a distraction.

Ol Donyo Lengai volcano

With choices of climbing Lengai at night to reach the active top and its molten lava by dawn, cooling off in the nearby waterfalls, or taking a drive to get close to the flamingoes at the lake’s edge, there’s plenty to entertain you at your destination.

Waterfalls alongside Lake Natron

Lakeside Natron

Chill out another day, staying at one of Natron’s many options of accommodation, before heading back into Arusha.

Come take a walk with us and book your safari now!

Disney’s The Lion King and Conservation

Since Disney’s The Lion King’s first release 25 years ago, half of Africa’s lions have disappeared.

With the much anticipated new ‘live’ version of the Lion King out of the 19^th July 2019, Disney have initiated a global conservation campaign, Protect the Pride, working primarily with The Lion Recovery Fund to double the number of lions in the wild by 2050.

The Lion Recovery Fund currently support 9 different projects in Tanzania alone, including KopeLion in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Honeyguide Foundation south east of Tarangire National Park.

Make the most of your safari with Shadows of Africa and learn about some of the work that is happening to protect lion in the areas that you visit.

See how you can help support this significant action https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VdOSE8pb7i8

Follow "The Lion King," Disney Conservation Fund, and the Lion Recovery Fund on social media to stay up to date on #TheLionKing #ProtectThePride campaign and share information with your friends and family about how they can help Protect the Pride.

Come and see a lion in the wild for yourself. Book your safari now with Shadows of Africa.

Ngorongoro Crater East – Lemala Camp

Is the drive around the crater worth staying on the eastern side?

Ngorongoro crater

We think so…..especially if you get to stay somewhere as refreshing as Lemala’s lovely camp on the rim, like Shadows of Africa recent safari guests, Robert Humphreys and friends.

Sundowners under the Lahai – Ngorongoro crater east side at Lemala camp

The east side of Ngorongoro Crater is blessed with the exquisite Acacia Lahai trees – magical and reminiscent of shapes from a Tolkien novel, looming out of the mist. Beneath these majestic trees the camp is welcoming and warm and comfortable – all that you need after a long day of game drives and excitement.

Warmth on the east side of the Ngorongoro Crater in Lemala camp

The east of the crater also ‘own’ the Olmoti and Empakai craters where you can walk and take in the flora and fauna as well as wander amongst the Maasai and their cattle in the grasslands that abound. A welcome diversion after a few days driving around the Serengeti, these walks in the Ngorongoro highlands get you up close and personal.

It’s a bit different, slightly off the beaten track, and a whole lot more interesting.

Take the time to explore……book your safari now!

On Safari with Shadows of Africa, Few Things to Know!

When you take a trip with Shadows of Africa, its extra special!

Not only do you get amazing safari guides, durable and reliable 4WD Land cruisers specially customised for comfort and 360 degree views of the action, wonderful wildlife spectacles and scenery to die for…. you also get added extras, the small things that make all the difference:

A hot picnic lunch on your first day of safari, laid out with tables and chairs and our traditional Maasai blankets as tablecloths. Enjoy our freshly prepared selection, together with home baked sweets and a superb cup of Tanzanian coffee to finish.

Two bottles of wine to enjoy at your leisure throughout your safari.

Daily coffee and tea, as well as a coolbox with mineral water in your vehicle, keeping it chilled to enjoy in that perfect moment.

A pair of binoculars available for your use in every vehicle.

An in-car charger to ensure that your camera batteries never run out.

Free wifi in your vehicle for whenever it is available en-route, in case you need to connect with the world you left behind.

Emergency air evacuation membership with every trip.

It’s the attention to detail, and the small things that make the difference!

Book your safari now with us and we’ll take care of your every need.

Big Cats in the Serengeti

This month our Shadows of Africa safari guests have encountered amazing big cats and cubs. They are delighted and the photos rolling in from our guides are incredible.

Here’s just a few to samples to share with you and give you a taster of what Shadows of Africa can offer.

Big cat Serengeti. Lion - Yen Yu Li safari with Edwin Diah - June 2019

Big cat Serengeti – leopard on rock - Michael Morris safari with Edwin Diah, June 2019

Big cat Serengeti – older lion cub – Robert Humphrey & friends with Moody Kabongo, June 2019

Big cat Serengeti – lions mating – Robert Humphrey & friends with Moody Kabongo, June 2019

Big cat Serengeti – cheetah - Robert Humphrey & friends with Moody Kabongo, June 2019

Big cat Serengeti – huge scarred male lion - Robert Humphrey & friends with Moody Kabongo, June 2019

Impressed yet?

Take a trip with Shadows of Africa and you will be.

Contact us now!

Making the Most of a One Night Safari – Tarangire, Lake Manyara, or Ngorongoro

Can I Take a One Night Safari?

It’s really possible!

You might be travelling for business in Arusha and only have a tiny window at your disposal, or just want to get out of town and away from city stress, or simply to impress – you need a one-night safari, to see as much as you can, and a gorgeous place to stay.

It can be done! Shadows of Africa just did this last week, covering Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro!

Starting with a morning in Tarangire with elephants, lion and all the rest of the plains game, you still have time to visit the groundwater forests of Lake Manyara and sample the lakeside wildlife before climbing up the escarpment to the luxury Escarpment Lodge, a view to die for, and a delicious ice cold beverage to sip.

Ready to go early, you climb up the Ngorongoro crater rim, round the top and down into the heart of the caldera. What a blast of East African wildlife awaits – Ngorongoro is amazing!

One-night safari? Absolutely!

It’s on offer, it’s achievable, it’s Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater, it’s exhilarating!

It’s Shadows of Africa. Book now!

Shadows of Africa Honored with Certificate of Excellence

Tanzania Bans Plastic Bags Effective June 1st 2019

Please help to support Tanzania with this much needed new initiative.

From June 1st 2019 plastic bags are banned in Tanzania and there are restrictions on plastic bottles, which is long awaited and very welcome, new legislation!

What this means for your visit to Tanzania is the following:-

1.  Please ensure that when you enter Tanzania you do not have any of the following items or that you dispose of them as you arrive in the country i.e. at a specially provided desk in the airport terminal:-
   ·         Any single use plastic bag
   ·         Any carrier bag that is not single use but that is made out of plastic. All bags must be made of material, paper, card or biodegradable substances (but not bio-degradable plastic as this will possibly not be recognized by Customs here)
   ·         Any plastic bag used to protect shoes etc. from the rest of the items in your luggage.
   ·         Any plastic wrapping on duty-free purchases made en-route.
   ·         Any plastic used to wrap around/seal your bags for your trip.

2.  Please make sure that you are aware not to accept any plastic bags with purchases made in Tanzania

3.  Please do not bring in single use drink/water bottles.  If you already have a reusable metal/solid water bottle at home, then you could bring one to use for the journey over and on your safari.  Otherwise, Shadows of Africa as well as many lodges and camps give out reusable water bottles as gifts and/or for use while on safari. Please ask for details.

4.  Fines for possession of banned plastics are around TSH 30,000 ($13-$15).
5.  Please see the helpful notice from the Government addressed to travellers and visitors to Tanzania.