Rafiki rafí:q (Swahili) n. noun: friend, comrade.
Come to Africa for the wildlife. Return home with a friend for life.
Wildlife
Rafiki Safari Tours conducts tours in the majority of the parks, game reserves and conservation areas in East Africa. The following are some of the more popular attractions:
Tanzania:
Northern Circuit:
Best known for the wildebeest migration, Serengeti National Park’s savannahs are also home to teams of zebra, impala, warthogs, topi, gazelles and hyena. It is also not uncommon to spot a lion, cheetah, caracal or the elusive leopard. Balloon rides are also available to lend an unforgettable perspective of the Park’s flora and fauna.
If you have time for just one wildlife safari experience, the Ngorongoro Crater is the one we most often recommend. Often referred to the “Garden of Eden,” the Crater is the world’s largest unbroken caldera, offering refuge to over 30,000 animals. The permanent water on the crater floor creates a unique ecosystem that offers you an unforgettable experience as you relax next to a hippo pool and observe flocks of flamingoes.
Although considered one of the smaller parks, Lake Manyara is unequivocally one of the loveliest in Tanzania. Great for bird watching and home to the reknowned tree climbing lions, an excursion around Lake Manyara combined with a trip to the nearby Ngorongoro Crater easily offers you all that you might ever desire in wildlife safari experience.
Tarangire National Park is a bit off the beaten track and much less crowded than some of the other better known areas but is second only to the Ngorongoro Crater in terms of its concentration of wildlife. If elephants are your hearts desire, this is the place!
Located just an hour outside of Arusha, Arusha National Park is home to over 500 species of birds, giraffe, buffalo and colobus monkeys. In its locale at the base of Mount Meru, it offers a diverse landscape and a great place to stretch your legs.
Southern Circuit:
Ruaha is Tanzania’s second largest National Park and offers a true sense of untamed and rugged Africa. Ruaha is best known for its vast herds of buffalo, possesses one of the densest populations of elephants, and also offers refuge to the endangered African wild dog.
While Selous offers a vast array of wildlife, it is best known for the Rufiji River where, from a boat, visitors may view crocodiles, elephants and hippos.
Western Tanzania:
Located on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Gombe is home to a wide variety of monkeys, including the chimpanzees made famous due by the reknowned Jane Goodall. The park is accessible by chartered motorboats and exploration is by a guided forest walk.
Kenya
Maasai Mara is Kenya’s leading wildlife safari destination. Located at the northern tip of the Serengeti, it offers an amazing array of herbivores and carnivores. Between August and November, visitors have an opportunity to witness the infamous wildebeest migration.
One of the main attractions of Amboseli is its view of Mount Kilimanjaro. Notably, the streams that flow from the mountain to the center of the park create the perfect playground for hippos and herds of elephants.
The largest of all of Kenya’s parks, Tsavo offers both views of Mount Kilimanjaro and great game viewing, including pink elephants. Additionally, Tsavo offers an a unique volcanic landscape and geographical wonders that include waterfalls and springs. Due to its proximity to the coastal city of Mombasa, Tsavo also represents a wonderful addition to an African beach holiday.
The perfect destination for a lodge safari, Aberdares is beautifully located within a mountain range replete with abundant forests streams. Lodge accommodations are built above the ground next to water holes and salt licks, thus offering views of visiting elephant, buffalo and bushbuck.
Rafiki Safari Tours · P.O. Box 13742 · Arusha, Tanzania · (255) 754 688 933 · rafikitours@yahoo.com