TANZANIA - ADVENTURE SAFARIS 
INTRODUCTION
African Travel Review has launched this category to include the specialised
safaris one associates with Adventure, with the exception of Water Safaris,
which has its own category. As the title indicates Adventure Safaris is
specially geared towards visitors to East Africa who want to do more!
Walking Safaris
There's no substitute for walking through the bush, poised with anticipation
at the next discovery, the sun caressing your back, your senses alive with
the sights and sounds of Africa. East Africa has the richest, most diverse
terrain in Africa, ranging from snow-peaked mountains and desert to endless
savannah plains teeming with wildlife scenery to thick and secretive tropical
rain forests. Combine this with the fact that East Africa is host to some
of the most experienced operators in Africa, a legacy dating two centuries
it is unquestionably one of the best regions to pick if you've set your
heart on a trekking/walking safari. Opportunities range from up-market,
a la carte safari companies utilising both tented and private homes for
accommodation to cross country, back- packing operators, the choice is limitless.
Tented Safaris
There's nothing quite like 'safaring' under canvas if you want to experience
Africa in the true sense of the word. Mesmerised by the lure and mystery
of East Africa pioneers, and adventurers infiltrated Africa's interior in
the most difficult conditions, often trekking long hours by foot after making
headway in their trusted 'vintage' cars or having commandeered a bush pilot
in his or her 'Piper Cub' to scout the area. Either way at sundown camp
was pitched, usually consisting of a welcoming mess tent and individual
sleeping tents lit by Kerozene lamps. However basic the camp the trusted
safari staff always included a good cook (who could rustle up the most appetising
meal under the most trying conditions), and the best crockery, a gramophone
record player, along with the best vintage wine was carefully unpacked.
Our forefathers knew how to camp in style, and it is on the basis of this
that the concept of 'safaris' grew roots, earning East Africa the reputation
as 'leaders' in the world of safaris. Off course we now have a limitless
number of modern conveniences such as mobile refrigeration and comfortable
four wheel drive vehicles but in essence the magic of 'sleeping under the
stars' and leaving behind any resemblance of permanence behind is what camping
and exploring Africa is all about. In this category I've striven to bring
to you the very best East Africa has to offer, be it luxury tented camping
or the more rugged type.
Mountaineering
The dramatic and rugged mountains of East Africa represent the ultimate
challenge to hikers and mountaineers alike, be it the snow covered dome
of Kilimanjaro or the jagged peaks of Mount tanzania. Cloaked in superstition
the Kikuyu and Masai tribes believe that their secretive heights are 'Ngai'
(God's) home so it comes as no surprise that the thousands of hikers,
which take up the challenge every year, often refer to them as 'Gods country!'
Both tanzania and Tanzania are experienced in mountain trek guiding and
the opportunities and alternatives are extensive. No web site on mountaineering
would be complete without including the Ruwenzoris Mountains bordering
with Uganda and Rwanda, but because it has been less exposed to tourism
Travel Review has opted to thoroughly investigating the best options for
climbing this magnificent mountain before inclusion. So keep tuned. Its
no picnic climbing these mountains however if you're adventurous and love
the great outdoors I can assure you it's the ultimate experience of a
lifetime.
<<< click
here to see Mountaineering in Kilimanjaro >>>
Horse Riding
Horses have long been associated with safaris in East Africa, back to the days of the white hunter and pioneers who used this reliable mode of transport long before the now, old vintage model cars, first took to the dirt tracks. At the beginning venturing into the bush with horses was no easy task though. Horses were susceptible to many tropical decreases including horse sickness in the heart of Tsetse Fly country, a solution found when the most robust breeds exposed to the sickness survived and were bred. In true traditional style horse-riding safaris can involve crossing vast areas of African Savannah teeming with wildlife, resting in comfortable tented camps for the night. The alternative is to stay at a number of Bush Homes (private homes open to a limited amount of guests) or lodges offering daily horse riding excursions, which can be mixed with a vehicle safari, with the added attraction of it being less strenuous.