MOUNT MAKAROT, Tanzania As I snuggled into my sleeping bag the
thin nylon tent as the only barrier between me and animals that
roamed the savannah I mused on the difference between this safari
experience and most others.
Usually, travelers to East Africa take the standard package:
sleeping in lodges at night and going on game drives in a 4x4
vehicle during the day.
Tanzania-based Hoopoe Adventure Tours offers a completely
different experience for the more adventurous traveler but there
are luxury camps for a bit of respite, too.
Combining conventional game-viewing with back-to-nature basics,
Hoopoe’s “Walk on the Wild Side” itinerary focuses on the game
parks of northern Tanzania, offering an unusual experience for
travelers wanting a little bit of everything.
My favorite camp was Mount Makarot, located in the dense
mountain rain forest that makes up the Ngorongoro Highlands. We
pitched camp in a beautiful grove of acacia trees, the instantly
recognizable signature tree of East Africa. Sitting by the fire at
night, the view of the sunset through their thorny branches was
exquisite.
Restricting yourself to adventure camping could be a bit much,
so the last three days are spent at Loliondo Camp, a luxurious tent
encampment, on the boundary of the Serengeti National Park. It was
a welcome treat!
Through a special conservation and wildlife management
partnership, Hoopoe and the Maasai tribe of Oloipiri created the
camp. Tourists have an unusual chance to interact with the Maasai
people, visiting their villages and trek with Maasai guides. The
tribe is using the proceeds to build schools and water-purification
projects.
Hoopoe sees the alliance as a continuation of its motto: “A
traveler without knowledge is like a bird without wings.”
At Loliondo, the tents come equipped with two beds, a toilet,
shower, sink and ample living space. Much cozier than a lodge, the
tent has the feel of camping with all the comforts of a first-rate
accommodation. And the food was some of the best I have had in
Africa. The amazing soups carrot ginger, green banana, cream of
celery were worthy of a recipe book.
At Loliondo, you have can choose to go on walking safaris, trek
up mountains or look for game while riding in a comfortable
four-wheel drive vehicle.
The mountain trekking can be strenuous. There is no path up the
side of Losimongori mountain, so you must push through waist-high
scrub, up a steep slope.
But the views of the expansive Rift Valley escarpment and the
blue waters of Lake Manyara are well worth the sweat it takes to
get to the top.
Hoopoe can be reached via e-mail at [email protected] or
through the Colorado-based Africa Travel Centre, 800-361-8024 or
info@africa tvl.com. Hike Away
The snow-capped peaks of Kilimanjaro, which top out at more than
19,000 feet, have long been a goal of many avid hikers.
Tropical Trekking, the hiking arm of Hoopoe Adventure Tours of
Tanzania, offers a variety of itineraries; but more than 80 percent
of its clients use the Marangu route, nicknamed the “Coca-Cola”
route, because of its mainstream appeal.
After much research, I chose the eight-day Machame tour,
considered by many to be the most beautiful and scenic route. An
extra day is included to help hikers become accustomed to the
altitude.
The Machame itinerary involves hiking through five distinct
ecosystems: tropical montane rainforest, moorland, heather,
highland desert and the peaks. With an eye on making the final push
to the summit, aided by the moon, the climb is scheduled to begin
in the early morning hours.
Tropical Trekking coordinates all aspects of the climb:
English-speaking guides, porters, tents and furnishings.
All guides carry two-way radios, in case of emergencies.
Jonas, Stanley and Harold our Tropical Trekking guides had
in-depth knowledge of the local flora and fauna; wonderfully
positive dispositions (which is needed on a strenuous hike), and
were well-versed in signs of Acute Mountain Sickness.
Tropical Trekking can be reached at [email protected]
or through Africa Travel Centre, 800- 361-8024;
[email protected].
