Boat Safaris in Tanzania
Boat Safaris in Tanzania: Tanzania is a destination of many lakes and rivers, which offer interesting boat safaris and canoeing activities to visitors. Waterways in Tanzania harbour different wildlife which can be viewed during the Tanzania boat safaris, for example, aquatic bird species like flamingos and aquatic animals like hippos and crocodiles, and offer scenic views of animals like elephants, buffaloes, lions, and 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 the Rufiji River in the Selous Game Reserve, the River Wami in the Saadani National Park, canoeing on Lake Duluti near Arusha town, Lake Manyara and the Momella lakes in Arusha National Park.
Boat Safari on Rufiji River in Selous Game Reserve
The Rufiji River is the largest river in Tanzania that flows from the 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 sections, which harbour the largest mangrove forest and large herds of elephants.
The Rufiji River has two tributaries, the River Ruaha and the Kilombero, and it’s an important attraction in the Selous Game Reserve in that it harbours different fish types like yellowfin, dogtooth tuna, wahoo, dorado, five-fingered jack, red cord, and kingfish, among others; acts as a breeding area for turtles, remnant dugong, and shrimps; and is home to aquatic animals like hippos and Nile crocodiles and water birds like crab plover, little stint, Caspian tern, and flamingos, among others.
Tanzania boat safaris in the Rufiji River are done in two types: the afternoon boat trip, which is about a 2- to 3-hour ride, or the full-day boat trip. During the boat trip you will explore the beautiful scenery and enjoy great views of wildlife like hippos and crocodiles in water and other animals like elephants, lions, buffaloes, and warthogs, among others, which will be seen drinking water along the shores, and water birds like yellow-billed storks, African fish eagles, African skimmers, Bohm’s bee-eaters, African spoonbills, Pel’s fishing owls, and white-fronted bee-eaters, among others.
Boat safari on the river Wami in the Saadani National Park
The Wami River is a water body that is located in the southern part of the Saadani National Park. The river offers an amazing Tanzania boat safari, which is either done in the morning or in the afternoon and takes about a 2- to 3-hour ride.
During the boat trip, you will enjoy spectacular views of the beautiful scenery and see hippos and crocodiles in the water and riverine birds like the giant kingfisher, African fish eagle, ground hornbill, malachite and pied kingfisher, bateleur, Pel’s fishing owl, purple heron, African skimmer, little bittern, greater flamingo, goliath heron, and 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 and groundwater, and it has a dense rainforest around the edges, which grows right up, surrounded by steep walls. Lake Duluti harbours different fish types, reptiles, water birds and different animals.
Lake Duluti is one of the few water bodies in Tanzania that offers 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 and water birds like cormorants, bee-eaters, kingfishers, egrets, fish eagles, herons, pelicans, and ospreys; view the sunset/sunrise; see fishermen preparing their nets for night fishing; and 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 in blackish water.
Lake Manyara has crusty white deposits of soda glitter like diamonds around the edge and saline water, which appears 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 and migratory species like flamingos and waterfowl, among others.
Lake Manyara offers canoeing activity, which is either done in the morning at around 7:00 am or in the afternoon at around 2:00 pm, taking about a 3- to 4-hour ride. During canoeing visitors will paddle on the salty waters where they will be able to view animals like elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, lions, impalas, and waterbucks on the water shores; hippos in the water; and bird species like flamingos, great white pelicans, yellow-billed storks, grey herons, pink-backed pelicans, cormorants, saddle-billed storks, African spoonbills, and hammerkops, 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, and 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 a 2- to 3-hour ride, and during the activity you will have great views of animals like bushbucks, buffaloes, and giraffes along the water shores; hippos in the water; and peaceful and great views of the beautiful scenery and different bird species like flamingos, Egyptian geese, sacred ibis, helmeted guinea fowl, grey-headed kingfishers, and white-breasted cormorants, 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 from 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’s shores to drink water.
Boat safaris in Tanzania are a must-do activity 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, and others. For more information about boat safaris, you can contact Focus East Africa Tours.
Conclusion
Boat safaris in Tanzania present an entirely distinct opportunity to take in some of the most remarkable wildlife and landscapes from a different vantage point. As you travel down the Grumeti River in the Serengeti Safari ecosystem, the Rufiji River in Selous Game Reserve, or the shallow waters of Lake Tanganyika, you will surely see hippos lying on the riverbanks soaking up the sun, elephants taking a break along the shore, and an abundance of birds soaring through the skies above.
Unlike a typical Tanzania game drive, a Tanzania boat safari will get you immersed in the cadence of nature, calm, close and full of surprises. If you are a wildlife photographer, a birdwatcher or a first-time traveller, traversing one of Tanzania’s innumerable waterways combines adventure with tranquil experiences, making for an experience that is hard to top and is likely one that you will never forget and one of the most unique Tanzania safari experiences that you can experience within Africa.
