| Rubondo Island National Park |
Area: 240 km²
Rubondo Island - hiden paradise is only a dot of land in 69,490 sq km Lake Victoria.
Rubondo is Tanzania's only island park
Flora / Fauna
humid forest, lakeside papyrus beds, open grassland
Habitat
Yellow-spotted otters, Nile perch, Fish eagle, hippopotamus, vervet monkey, genet, mongoose, bushbuck, sitatunga, birds (African grey parrot, Malachite kingfisher, Paradise flycatcher, herons, storks, spoonbill |
Area: 1,613 km²
Mahale is on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika and is the least accessible of Tanzania's 14 national parks.Only about 2,000 Long-haired chimpanzees survive in the wild. They are found in their greatest numbers on the western bank of the Malagarasi River, the largest flowing in to eastern Lake Tanganyika.
The use of crude tools, once associated only with humans has been seen frequently among Mahale chimpanzees.
Mount Nkungwe that peaks at 2,462 metres is the highest point of the park where six peaks top 2,000 metres. The hilly country below contains several rapidly flowing streams that discharge their water into Lake Tanganyika.
Flora / Fauna
miombo forest, Kasoge (lowland) forest, montane rainforest
Habitat
chimpanzee, Red colobus, Red-tailed monkey, Blue monkey, giant squirrel, Red-legged Sun squirrel, Brush-tailed porcupine, Bushy-tailed Mongoose, Angolan black-and-white Colobus, Sharpe's Grysbok; Red-collared Widowbird, Speckled Mousebird, Crowned Eagle, Bee-eater, Roller, Crested Guineafowl, Ross' Turaco, White-browed Robin-Chat, Red-winged Starling, Violet-backed Starling, parrots |
| Area: 4,471 km²
Katavi Plains is noted for its spectacular dry season concetrations of big mammals and the inevitable predators.
Except for Lake Manyara, the total number of animals per sq km in Katavi is higher than in any other protected area in East Africa, while densities of buffalo, roan, water buck, and bush pig are higher than anywhere else in Tanzania. The areas around Lakes Chada and Katavi have the largest numbers of animals in the park.
The best way to get to Katavi is to fly by charter plane.
Flora / Fauna
miombo woodland, river, lakes, floodplain
Habitat
eland, sable antelope, roan antelope, hippopotamus, crocodile, lion, leopard, elephant, zebra, buffalo, topi; pelican, waterfowl
more than 400 bird species. |
| Gombe Stream National Park & Kigoma |
Area: 52 km²
Gombe stream, internationally known for its Chimpanzees, is Tanzania's smallest national park, It is a narrow strip montane forest cut steep-sided valleys that are gauged into the landscape by swift flowing mountain streams. Around it is cleared, agricultural land.
Approximately 120 chimpanzees live at Gombe in three distinct territorial communities. Chimpanzees form friendships that can endure throughout their lives of 60years or more. They swagger and punch, kiss and embrace. They have emotions such as happiness, anger, sadness and despair. They are capable of both brutality and compassion. The dividing line between Chimpanzees and humans is indeed blurred.
Gombe is also notable for its Red colobus and Red-tailed mokeys.
Flora / Fauna
miombo woodland, gallery forest
Habitat
chimpanzee, olive baboon, Red-tailed Monkey, Red colobus, Diademed Monkey, leopard, bushbuck, buffalo, waterbuck; barbet, Palm-nut Vulture, Forbes' Plover, Fish Eagle, Peters's Twinspot |
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Western Circuit
Rubondo Island National Park
Mahale National Park