Driving conditions GRADED OR UNGRADED DIRT & GRAVEL, TARMAC & POTHOLES Campsite facilities VERY BASIC Lodges & hotels EXCELLENT Route finding MODERATE We recommend that only people who are very experienced in independent self drive travel in Africa undertake a Safari Drive journey in Tanzania. The areas we travel through are remote and the private camping areas can be rather difficult to find. Camping sites are unfenced and very basic (with no facilities) and the plentiful game may come wandering into camp. Off the tar roads the driving can be challenging. Fuel is fairly easy to find and distances are not big but do not expect food shops outside the main towns. The towns are highly populated and generally very busy, which can be unnerving for some people. SELF DRIVE CONDITIONS – TANZANIA S A F A R I D R I V E T A N Z A N I A T A N Z A N I A 42

Tanzania overview & wildlife notes Geography: The landscape is generally flat and low along the coast. A highland plateau constitutes the greater part of Tanzania and comprises semi-desert, savannah and scattered bush. It contains Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika and is home to the great Mount Kilimanjaro. Key attractions: Serengeti National Park. Its name comes from the Maasai word ‘siringet’ meaning ‘endless plains’. The size of Northern Ireland, its huge plains are home to the greatest concentration of zebra and wildebeest in Africa and support an estimated 3 million large mammals and 4 million smaller animals and birds. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the great natural wonders of the world. It is up to 2,300 feet deep and 12 miles in diameter boasting the world’s largest caldera (the large crater formed by the collapse of its volcanic cone). Massive herds of game wander its vast floor including black rhino and masses of lion and hyena. There are lodges perched high up on the rim offering wonderful views. At 19,340 feet, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free standing mountain in the world. Its name comes from the local phrase ‘Kilema Kyaro’, which translates as ‘that which can not be conquered’. There are several routes to the summit with the easiest and most used, the Marangu route, taking about 5 days (we encourage people to use other routes). Its steep slopes are inhabited by an interesting range of flora and fauna. Selous Game Reserve is the largest in the world and is second only to the Serengeti in terms of game concentrations. It is home to a large share of Tanzania’s elephant population, with an estimated 55,000 elephants. It comprises acacia woods, grassland and swamp and its sand rivers support a fascinating variety of game and bird species. Population: 36.7 million people. There are more than 100 tribal groups, mainly of Bantu origin. In Zanzibar and Pemba there is a strong Arab influence. When to go: The long rains are in April and May so not a great time to travel but all other times are good. 43