wonderful holidays wildlife safaris bush and beach : tanzania

overview

selous game reserve

The largest protected area in Africa, Selous National Park is bigger than Switzerland. Other than select game lodges, the reserve allows no human habitation, making this one of the continent’s most unspoilt game reserves.

Staying at Sand Rivers Lodge you will be able to get a superb all round experience of the bush -from watching the wildlife from your veranda, to game drives and river safaris, walking in the bush, or becoming involved in the Black Rhino conservation project which the lodge set up a short distance away. The scenery in the area is diverse, ranging from the riverine forest, sand banks and ravines of the Rufiji River, to open deciduous woodland, flood plains and ox bow lakes.

It is also probably the best place in Tanzania to see game by boat. Drifting down the Rufiji River from Stigler's gorge with the engine of your boat turned off can get you very close to game drinking at the waters edge. It also gives you an entirely different perspective on hippos and crocodiles. Bird life is always stunning, including lots of close ups of some very large species like fish eagles and goliath herons.

Sand Rivers also offers fly camping: sleeping out under the stars on an island in mid-stream with a 3 course dinner beneath the night sky is pretty special and not something you're likely to forget in a hurry.

The flexible attitude at Sand Rivers means that you can pretty much do what you want when you want, so long as it's within park rules. Each evening you'll have a chance to discuss and plan your activities for the following day with your guide.

The best time to visit Selous is from June to October, when the weather is cool & dry and the vegetation lush.

After your safari, enjoy the pristine white beaches, clear blue skies, delicious seafood and total relaxation of one of the beautiful Indian Ocean islands off the coast of Tanzania. This is a great complement to a safari or equally as an entirely stand-alone beach holiday. Activities on the islands include fishing, scuba-diving, dhow trips and saling although most find the atmosphere way to relaxing to do anything. Choose from Mnemba, Pemba or the Mafia Islands. 

fundu lagoon

Fundu Lagoon on Pemba island is a secluded retreat with over 2 miles of private beach. The lodge blends into the natural environment to create 20 private chalets, each with its own secluded terrace and en-suite facilities, all located in an are of outstanding natural beauty.

mnemba island

Just off the coast of Zanzibar lies the tiny island of Mnemba (only two thirds of a mile in circumference). Mnemba is surrounded by a protection zone, leaving its coral reefs, giant turtles, ghost crabs and spectacular tropical fish untouched. With just ten rustic bungalos, this barefoot luxury resort also offers exquisite food and an array of watersports.

the mafia archipelago

The Mafia Archipelago, comprising a number of islands and uninhabited coral atolls, was an important trading post during the 11-13th centuries. Today Mafia is known for its diverse and spectacular natural environment. It offers white beaches, superb coral reefs, tropical vegetation dominated by large palm groves, impressive baobab trees, fruit trees and mangroves. Monkeys, small antelopes, wild pigs, lemurs and a small colony of dwarf hippos live on the islands. The archipelago is also a nesting area for falcons and fish eagles and a breeding ground for giant turtles. 

This is a true paradise for both scuba diving and snorkelling with over 400 species of fish in the Park. At the mouth of Chole Bay, where the sheltered bay meets the open ocean, there is a deep & narrow channel through shallower coral. The reef slopes gently down to 15m and then plummets vertically to almost 30m. This wall and caverns at its base are home to big Critters, Potato Cod, Napoleans, Giant groupers and Morays. A lot of plankton and other suspended food passes through the channel, so schools of Snapper, Sweetlips, Barracuda, Trevally, Cobia, Tuna are common. If you are lucky you will encounter the occasional shark on the lookout for a snack. Giant reef rays are common, but Whale sharks, Eagle rays and Manta rays are seasonal visitors (late December through March).

With its tropical beaches and coral reefs, the Mafia Archipelago is the perfect place for complete relaxation. Explore Persian ruins, browse the local markets in Utende and Kilindoni, see the impressive Baobab trees and peculiar mangroves, which survive saline conditions; or just unwind in the sheer stress-free setting.

For further information about any of these destinations please give us a call or send us an email. We will arrange all aspects of your holiday in Tanzania, including internal flights to the islands, and transfers to your accommodation.