Travel Agent - November 26, 2007 - (Page T12)

the southern CIRCUIT Photo courtesy of African Latitude Rhinos, hippos and pristine wilderness bine Ruaha National Park with Usangu Game Reserve, increasing Ruaha’s size by over 9,320 square miles, making it the largest National Park in Africa. The sheer sprawl of southern Tanzania makes for some unique game viewing. The southern circuit is the most remote region of Tanzania and visitors may ﬁnd they seemingly have a park or game reserve to themselves. Mikumi National Park: One of the largest parks in Tanzania, situated 175 miles west of Dar es Salaam, Mikumi National Park offers game drives and guided walks through a landscape of grasslands and acacia trees. This is the best park to observe the eland, the world’s largest antelope, as well as the greater kudu and sable antelope. Only three miles north of the main entrance gate are a pair of pools that are home to hippos. Mikumi is a popular stop for those en route to Selous Game Reserve or Ruaha National Park. Mkomazi Game Reserve: Located east of the Pare Mountains, and situated south of the border with Kenya, Mkomazi Game Reserve is the focus of a breeding program to save the endangered black rhino. This less-visited park is dry and dusty much of the year. Wild dogs have recently been introduced to the region, and the reserve has a wide variety of indigenous snakes. Lindi: The port town of Lindi was the ﬁnal stop for slave caravans from Lake Nyasa. In 1909, a team of German paleontologists discovered the remains of several dinosaur bones — including the species Brachiosaurus Brancai, the largest dinosaur ever unearthed — at a place called Tendaguru. Selous Game Reserve: The largest game reserve in Africa, Selous offers an abundance of wildlife. The reserve covers 34,175 square miles – an area exceeding the size of Switzerland. The park is home to hippos, elephants, cheetah, crocodiles, zebras, black rhino and a maneless variety of lion. Visitors with a yen to observe the rare African wild dog have a pretty good chance in Selous, where 25 percent of that species’ population lives. Boat trips allow visitors an up-close look at hippos. Selous Game Reserve will soon become the second location in Tanzania to offer hot-air balloon excursions. The reserve is accessed in the northern region of the reserve above the Ruﬁgi River, a 150-mile waterway whose sand banks sport out-sized crocodiles sunning themselves, and elephants bathing in its waters. The reserve is also known for adventurous trekking, where tourists are able to experience the real “heart-beat” of the Selous. Selous is also famous for its birdlife – more than 450 species. Ruaha National Park: Tanzania’s second largest national park is still relatively unknown and less-visited. It lies 80 miles west of the town of Iringa, and can be reached by charter ﬂight or by a 10-hour drive from Dar es Salaam. The park is home to over 450 bird species and 10,000 elephants – the largest population of any East Africa national park. A ﬁne network of game-viewing roads follows the Great Ruaha River and its tributaries. Activities also include day walks or hiking safaris. The Tanzanian government will soon com- 12 Tanzania Travel Specialist • Travel Agent Magazine

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - November 26, 2007

Travel Agent - November 26, 2007 Online Now Contents From the Editor From the Publisher Contributors Europe: InterContinental Geneva Puts Forth a New Look and a New Way to Get to Know the Swiss City London’s Soho Hotel Pacific/Asia: Taichung: Taiwan’s Third Largest City Pacific/Asia Briefs and Packages Tanzania Travel Specialist Mexico: A Roundup of Premier Hotels in Mexico City Q&A with U.S. Director of the Mexico Tourism Board Mexico Deals Las Vegas: A Three-Day Itinerary for Gen-X couples Creating a Kid-Friendly Vacation for Gen-X Clients that Still Includes Alone Time for Parents Richard Harper of Mandalay Bay Caribbean & Bahamas: What’s Happening in St. Kitts Puerto Rico’s Other Rainforest, Toro Negro Hawaii: The Big Island: First-Class Resorts and Native Culture Hotels: The Sky Lodge in Park City; The Lodge at Vail Tours: American Safari Cruises in Alaska’s Inside Passage Pacific Northwest: Suncadia, Eco-Friendly Resort Near Seattle Cruise: The Added Lure of Sailing with a Celebrity Onboard Small Ships Offer Up-Close Experience Cover Story: Hip Hotelier, Social Scientist Supplier Profile - Maximilian Brockmann: The New Face of Auto Europe Agent Profile: Sigrid Carter of Envoyé Travel The Orient-Express: Fabled Train Remains an Elite Product Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Europe Bookings as Dollar Falls Freestyle Cruising Casinos On the Rise in the Caribbean Maui’s Grand Wailea Resort Prepares for Major Renovation Visit Europe Media Exchange In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Classified Marketplace Trendwatch

Travel Agent - November 26, 2007

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