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| นิตยสาร สารคดี: ฉบับที่ ๒๒๓ เดือนกันยายน ๒๕๔๖ | ISSN 0857-1538 | |||
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| Story: Wiwat Pandawutiyanon Photo: Boonkit Suthiyananon |
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Tanzania's world famous game riches are often associated with the popular Northern Safari circuit that includes Ngorongoro Crater and Serengetti National Parks. In recent years, the undiscovered south of Tanzania is also opening up to offer visitors the same wildlife attractions of the north, but without the crowds. For game lovers with limited means, the southern circuit has another advantage--the park fees ($15/day in Mikumi National Park, for example) are lower compared to those (up to US$100/day) at parks with high numbers of visitors. Yet safari-ing, north or south, is no cheap pastime. As a rugged vehicle is one of the must-have items for most safari goers, even backpacker visitors are expected to pay a minimum US$100 a day for vehicle rental, gasoline and a driver. |
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Our first destination was Mikumi National Park. Located in the mid-southern part of the country, the park lies in a horseshoe of towering mountains and forested foothills which almost encloses the flood plain of the Mkata river. On the flood plain is a spectacular concentration of animals including four of the "big five": elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard (the last of the big five, rhinoceros, is not found here). One unusual feature of the park is that it is bisected by the Tanzania - Zambia Highway, making the park easily accessible by car. To prevent road kills (of the wild animals) the road is heavily lined with speed bumps. Because of its easy access, low fees and rich fauna, Mikumi is a significant center of wildlife research in the country. | ||
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Our second destination was Udzungwa Mountains National Park, a small park with exceptionally rich flora and fauna. The Udzungwa forest constitutes the so-called "Eastern Arc" mountains of Africa which were once part of one large continuous piece of the 100 million-year-old rainforests in Central and West Africa but were later separated by the arid Great Rift Valley. The ancient Udzungwa was able to survive the changes of time and surrounding arid environment, thanks to moisture from the Indian Ocean. Because of the area's hundred million years of stable climate, plant and animal species here are exceptionally diverse. Of all plant and animal species in Tanzania, a third is found in this forest and a quarter of the plant species found here are endemic. | ||
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Though car safari is the most common, our visit in the Udzungwa Mountains National Park was conducted on foot. Foot safari offers a more intimate experience with wild nature - and fit our limited budget. On our walk along the Great Ruaha River, there was no car chassis that separated us from the fresh green grass and the raw beauty of nature. The bizarre gigantic baobab trees, and the numerous baboons on our path were enough to take our breath away. |