Boat Safaris in Tanzania
Boat Safaris in Tanzania: Tanzania is a destination of many lakes and rivers which offer interesting boat safaris and canoeing activity to visitors. Waterways in Tanzania harbor different wildlife which can be viewed during the boat safaris for example aquatic bird species like flamingos, aquatic animals like hippos, crocodiles and offer scenic views of animals like elephants, buffaloes, lions, warthogs among others which gather around the water bodies to drink water especially during the dry season. Boat safaris in Tanzania are popular in different water bodies like Rufiji River in Selous game reserve, River Wami in Saadani national park, canoeing on Lake Duluti near Arusha town, Lake Manyara and Momella lakes in Arusha national park
Boat Safari on Rufiji River in Selous Game Reserve
Rufigi River is the largest river in Tanzania that flows from southwest highlands to the eastern part of Tanzania entering the Indian Ocean. The river bisects the park into two different sections that is the northern and southern section which harbors the largest mangrove forest and large herds of elephants. Rufiji River has two tributaries of River Ruaha and Kilombero and it’s an important attractions in Selous game reserve in that it harbors different fish types like yellow fin, dogtooth tuna wahoo, dorado, five-fingered jack, red cord, kingfish among others, acts as a breeding area for turtles, remnant dugong and shrimps, aquatic animals like hippos, Nile crocodiles, water birds like crab plover, little stint, Caspian tern, flamingos among others. Boat safaris in Rufiji River are done in two types that is the afternoon boat trip which takes about 2 to 3 hours ride or the full day boat trip. during the boat trip you will explore the beautiful scenery, enjoy great views of wildlife like hippos and crocodiles in water, other animals like elephants, lions, buffaloes, warthogs among others which will be seen drinking water along the shores, water birds like yellow billed stork, African fish eagles, African skimmer, bohms bee eater, African spoonbill, pels fishing owl, white fronted bee-eater among others.
Boat safari on river Wami in Saadani national park
Wami River is a water body that is located in the southern part of Saadani national park. The river offers an amazing boat safari which is either done in the morning or in the afternoon and takes about 2 to 3 hours ride. During the boat trip you will enjoy spectacular views of the beautiful scenery, view hippos and crocodiles in water, riverine birds like giant kingfisher, African fish eagle, ground hornbill, malachite and pied kingfisher, bateleur, pels fishing owl, purple heron, African skimmer, little bittern, greater flamingo, goliath heron, African cuckoo hawk among others.
Canoeing on Lake Duluti near Arusha
Lake Duluti is a small crater lake that is located in the shadow of Mount Meru in Akheri ward, Arumeru district in the Eastern part of Arusha city Tanzania. The lake has water throughout the year because it gets its water from seasonal rainfall, ground water and it has a dense rainforest around the edges which grows right up surrounded by steep walls. Lake Duluti harbors different fish types, reptiles, water birds and different animals. Lake Duluti is one of the few water bodies in Tanzania that offer the amazing canoeing activity which can either be done in the morning or in the afternoon with the company of an experienced guide. During canoeing which takes about 2 to 3 hours you will be able to enjoy beautiful scenery, views of monitor lizards, water birds like cormorants, bee-eaters, kingfishers, egrets, fish eagles, herons, pelicans, ospreys, view the sunset/sunrise, fishermen preparing their nets for night fishing, view different plant species among others.
Canoeing on Lake Manyara in Manyara national park
Lake Manyara is a shallow alkaline lake that covers two thirds of Lake Manyara national park, the lake was formed as a result of the Great Rift Valley, receives water from four rivers and streams from the surrounding Ngorongoro highlands and has no outlet due to intense evaporation that allows salt and other minerals to accumulate resulting into blackish water. Lake Manyara has crusty white deposits of soda glitter like diamonds around the edge and saline water which appear soapy due to accumulated salt and concentrated minerals. The lake attracts different animals including hippos, elephants and different bird species like vultures, fish eagles, owls, pelicans, storks, migratory species like flamingos, waterfowls among others. Lake Manyara offers canoeing activity which is either done in the morning at around 7:00am or in the afternoon at around 2:00pm taking about 3 to 4 hours ride. During canoeing visitors will paddle on the salty waters where they will be able to view animals like elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, impalas, waterbucks on the water shores, hippos in water, view bird species like flamingos, great white pelicans, yellow billed stork, grey heron, pink backed pelican, cormorants, saddle billed stork, African spoonbills, harmmerkop among others which come to feed on the water algae.
Canoeing on Momella Lakes in Arusha national park
The Momella lakes are a collection of multiple alkaline lakes such as Lake Rishetani, El Kekhotoito, Kusare, Tulusia, Lekandiro, small and big Momella that are fed by underground streams located in the northeastern part of the park. Canoeing in Arusha national park is carried out on the small Momella lake taking about 2 to 3 hours ride and during the activity you will have great views of animals like bushbucks, buffaloes, giraffes along the water shores, hippos in water, enjoy peaceful and great views of the beautiful scenery and different bird species like flamingos, Egyptian geese, sacred ibis, helmeted guinea fowl, grey-headed kingfisher, white-breasted cormorant, white browned coucal among others.
Best time to go for boat safaris in Tanzania
Boat safaris in Tanzania can be done anytime throughout the year though the best time is in the dry season during the months of June to October because this is the time when you will be able to have spectacular views of abundant animals that gather around the water shores to drink water.
Boat safaris in Tanzania are a must-do activities that will offer you breathtaking views and lifetime experiences as you paddle along the water bodies with an experienced guide who will be explaining about different animals, birds, plants among others. For more information about boat safaris you can contact Focus East Africa Tours.
