Safari Diary

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 Tanzania 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 One‑Night Tanzania Safari, 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 Tanzania plastic bag ban June 2019 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. 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

1. 1.  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.

1. 1.  Fines for possession of Tanzania plastic bag ban June 2019 are around TSH 30,000 ($13-$15).

1.  Please see the helpful notice from the Government addressed to travellers and visitors to Tanzania.

Mt Meru - Kilimanjaro’s Stunning Little Sister!

Shadowed by the size of Kilimanjaro, Mt Meru, Tanzania despite being an impressive 4,562m, does not get the attention it deserves.

This scenic volcanic shell of a mountain, the surrounding Arusha National Park, the beautifully kept route and mountain huts are awesome!

Starting our climb we walked, like a dream, into a grassy meadow and ambled past giraffe and cape buffalo, peacefully watching us at close quarters, bemused by our enthusiasm and sprightly pace. The back drop was the spectacular (active but dormant) volcano we were aiming to summit, bust open at its centre, with only the ash cone left as evidence of its majestic past.

The walk to Miriakamba, through giant cedar trees and olives, is truly lovely. Paths are well maintained and the Mt Meru Tanzania was surprisingly pleasant with sightings of bush buck and red duiker en route. Although out of breath, we managed just fine arriving, in the sunshine, at the inviting wooden chalets that would host us for the night.

Fuelled with steaming soup, hot porridge, pancakes and bananas we set off upwards and onwards, climbing high up out of the montane forests and into the Afroalpine heath zone. Stopping for lunch on the way, again we reached our next port of call, Saddle hut, feeling strong.

Well informed by our guide we ate lots and rested early and woke at midnight. Armed with torches we struck out, determined to summit. The Mt Meru Tanzania is long, its challenging but my goodness its rewarding.

Reaching the top at dawn was stunning, and tripping back down the knife edge that we had climbed in the dark, with the views of the crags and caldera and its cone were breathtaking. Absolutely unbeatable

Shadows of Africa, you surpassed our expectations with Mt Meru Tanzania. Kilimanjaro bring it on!

The Magnificently Located New ‘Mpingo Ridge - Tarangire’, By Lemala

A visit by our Shadows of Africa Safari Consultant Inge Olde Rikkert

The saying ‘beautiful things don’t ask for attention’ is true of Mpingo Ridge . It’s just there in itself, understated, turning the spotlight onto its surroundings and guests.

This new Lemala property has been placed with the views as its top priority. High up amongst the ebony of Tarangire it gives perspective to the vastness below and an insight into the significance of nature.

Set back from the main tourist tracks of Tarangire, Mpingo Ridge Tarangire lodge is a little more interesting and a lot more peaceful. Forget the lions, buffalo, elephant, zebra and masses of antelope we had just seen, this was impressive!

The 15 tents are modern in design, spacious and give the privacy desired to absorb the panorama around you, as well as to luxuriate in a bath or shower inside or out, under a canopy of stars. Just what I needed with the rains having started and after a muddy and adventurous game drive!

Aside from the décor and the surroundings Mpingo Ridge Tarangire lodge delivered service and food beyond expectation. The picnic lunch was especially worth a mention.

Thanks, Mpingo Ridge Tarangire lodge, for being so thoughtful and for making me feel beautiful too.

A Captivating Combination

Wildlife, Community, And Culture Across A Multitude of Scenic Soda Lakes

Wildlife would not exist without the communities that are an integral part and parcel of its ecosystems and landscapes; only to experience this is to comprehend. Our 9-day safari was designed especially with this in mind.

Introduced to Africa with a day on the beguilingly beautifully forested slopes of Mt Meru volcano in Arusha National Park, and the fascinating different colors of the Momella lakes, we then headed out to the elephants and baobabs of Tarangire National Park and across to the groundwater forests and spectacular shores of Manyara National Park, witnessing a first glimpse of the vast array of Tanzania Cultural Wildlife Safari has to offer.

Dropping down to the expansive views of Lake Eyasi under the shadows of the Ngorongoro Highlands we were fascinated both with the scenery and with the different cultures of the people.

First observing the blacksmithing skills of the Datoga, we then had the most incredible encounter with the hunter-gather Hadzabe, joining them for a hunt in lands now protected for their way of life. Numbering only around 1,000, they have lived successfully with their nature in this harsh and dry environment for thousands of years.

Moving on just got better. Driving up into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, we camped right on the rim of the crater, saw rhino in the caldera and then drove on into Serengeti National Park and spent three breathtaking days in the company of millions of wildebeest, zebra, lion, hippo, buffalo, elephant, topi, impala, and warthog.

The finale was no less engaging. I have never taken in a landscape as alluring as Lake Natron, the Ol Donyo Lengai volcano and the Masonic mountains.

In this dry and thought-provoking environment, we gained yet more insight into the people of Tanzania. Learning about the Maasai, first hand, we returned to our starting point, Arusha, in awe of this country, its Tanzania Cultural Wildlife Safari.

                                 Can’t wait to experience a safari for yourself: contact us today!

Copious Cats in the Serengeti

 Serengeti Big Cats Safari never ceases to impress experienced Shadows of Africa guide, Ukadi Msuya, and this time was no less incredible! What an amazing visit for his guests Guido and Mariana! Cheetah, lion, leopard and one of the most stunning of the smaller felines – a serval cat, in just two days.

Seldom seen, serval cat are shy cats with enormous ears which they, interestingly, use them for echolocation to detect their prey. It’s a special day when you get to hang out with a serval cat.

Staying at the incredibly stylish Melia hotel throughout their time in Serengeti Big Cats Safari, Guido and Mariana could have been forgiven for choosing just to relax and look at the spectacular view! Electing to explore instead, they were well rewarded not only with the cat sightings but with views of the expansive migration of wildebeest and zebra as well as hippo, Nile crocodile, klipspringers, buffalo, topi and many other plains game.

Safaris to Serengeti National Park are often combined with visits to both Manyara National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater and this was no exception. Guido and Mariana wisely complimented their amazing wildlife experiences with some of the best accommodation in northern Tanzania.

Lucky to have Ukadi’s expert eye they spent their day in Manyara amongst elephants, lion, baboon, blue monkeys, black faced monkeys, monitor lizard, hippo, zebra and wildebeest, not to mention the birds and the stunning groundwater forest.The evening was enjoyed winding down and recollecting while looking down over Lake Manyara from the comfort and luxury of the Manyara Escarpment Lodge.

Ngorongoro was no less enthralling with still more lion sightings, finally getting to see a black rhino in the wild and both golden and black backed jackals gracing their path. The Acacia Farm Lodge in Karatu always compliments a crater visit, and allowed Guido and Mariana the choice to stretch their legs around the calm of the gardens and farm or to simply sip a glass of wine and enjoy the quiet to reflect on their amazing trip!

All photographs by: Guido Heijblok

Can’t wait to experience a safari for yourself: contact us today!

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A Weekend Safari in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania