Marc Baker Safaris

• 1: Home
• 2: Safaris
  • 2.1: Northern Tanzania
  • 2.2: Southern Tanzania
  • 2.3: Western Tanzania
  • 2.4: Expeditions
  • 2.5: Bird watching
• 3: Under Canvas
  • 3.1: Permanent camps
  • 3.2: Mobile Camps
  • 3.3: Walking Safaris
  • 3.4: Classic Safaris
• 4: Safari Planning
  • 4.1: What to bring
• 5: Ethical Operations
• 6: Contact Marc
• 7: Environmental Consultant
  • 7.1: Publications
  • 7.2: Baker 2008
  • 7.3: Baker 2007
  • 7.4: Baker 2005-1
  • 7.5: Baker 2005-2
  • 7.6: Baker 2004
  • 7.7: Baker 2002-1
  • 7.8: Baker 2002-2
  • 7.9: Baker 2001-1
  • 7.10: Baker 2001-2
  • 7.11: Baker 2000

Southern Tanzania

Rivers, forests and wilderness

Although less well known, southern Tanzania can offer a very rewarding and varying experience throughout the year. There are the well known places such as Selous, which at 52,000 square km is the largest single protected area in Africa, centred along the Rufiji River, this is a great place to explore on foot and by boat, much in the same way as the early explorers did (although with the added bonus of malaria medication!).

Ruaha National Park, which has just been extended to 20,000 square km is now the largest National Park in Tanzania and has the largest concentration of Elephants, which congregate along the Ruaha River during the dry season. Both of these parks are great places to see the now elusive African Wild Dog.

There are other less well known areas, one of my favourite is Udzungwa National Park, aptly described as the ‘Tanzanian Galapagos’ due to the unique flora and fauna. As part of the Eastern Arc Forests (one of the worlds 22 biodiversity Hotspots), walking in these forests, with its endemic primates, birds and butterflies, you really feel that you are in world forgotten by time.

Tanzania’s newest National Park, Kitulo Plateau has been described by biologists as the ‘Serengeti of orchids’ although I prefer the Tanzanian name ‘ Bustani ya Mungu’ simply meaning the garden of god. This 412 sq km national park is a botanists and hikers paradise. Situated near the town of Mbeya , close to the Zambian border, this area is alive in the wet season, from December to April (although April can be very wet). With 350 species of vascular plant of which 45 are varieties of terrestrial orchid, Kitulo is the most diverse grassland in Tanzania.