/countries/show/tanzania-united-republic-of/1.rss en-us In the story of life, there is nothing as riveting as the great migration of the 1.5 million wildebeest as they cross the sprawling plains of the Serengeti. As the great migration heads north through Tanzania's Serengeti National Park, and ultimately east into Kenya's Masai Mara in search of greener pastures, the journey is not made without sacrifice. The Wildebeest are so in tune with the seasons and their dependency on water, that they will travel up to 30 miles away for thunderstorms they hear. Hunted continuously over the eight-month pilgrimage, the best time to view the dramatic climax of the great wildebeest migration is between June through August as they cross the final challenge in their trek: the Grumeti River. Some wildebeest cross the Grumeti gauntlet in shallow waters, while others unknowingly forge into deeper sections where they can become easy prey for crocodiles and other predators. Fortunately there is safety in numbers, and since the crocodiles can only take one prey at a time the rest making the crossing may go free. Under British rule of Tanzania in 1921, a partial Game Reserve was begun in an area covering only 3.2 km². Seven years later, a full game reserve was established which later became the basis for the founding of the Serengeti National Park in 1951. The film "Serengeti Shall Not Die," produced around this time is considered to be a pre-runner for the many essential conservation documentaries that followed it in Africa. During the creation and development of the Serengeti National Park in the early 1950s, the resident Masai people were moved to the Ngorongoro highlands. The move was apparently made to protect the wildlife within the Park, but there remains to this day a lot of controversy over this action. Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:16:30 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/wildebeest-migration http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/wildebeest-migration The mysticism long associated with Mount Kilimanjaro can be attributed to some of the most breath taking views as its peaks drive up from lush green foothills of Tanzania, past the clouds, into the radiant and unparalleled equatorial sun. Only three degrees south of the equator, Mount Kilimanjaro is made up of three volcanic cones Mawensi, Shira, and Kibo. All of the volcanoes are extinct except for Kibo which is active dormant and still emits heavy smells of sulfur. Although Kilimanjaro does not have the highest elevation in the world, it claims the title of highest free standing mountain, reaching over 19,340 feet at its highest point Uhuru Peak on Kibo volcano. One of the other appealing aspects of conquering this climb is that to reach the highest peak all you need is good overall physical fitness and determination. Each year over 15,000 people attempt to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, and only approximately 40% of people reach the top. There are five common routes used to climb Kilimanjaro; Marangu Route, Machame Route, and Rongai Route (all considered shorter), as well as Lemosho Route and Mweka Route. When trekking many people choose to use altitude sickness medication to avoid pounding headaches that can plague travelers at higher altitudes where oxygen levels can be half the amount that is common at sea level. The average Kilimanjaro hike takes five days, and covers about 80km with just two feet and a heart beat. There are several camps along the Kilimanjaro climb with cooking facilities, bathrooms and electricity which your guide will be able to direct you to. The final ascent from Kibo hut to Uhuru summit is quite commonly undertaken at night when the broken rock formations are frozen, making for an easier hike and synchronizing your arrival with the break of dawn. In recent years dramatic shifts in the environment and climate changes have created massive deterioration of the glaciers covering the various mountains peaks, with the most recent and ghastly retreat of more than 80% in certain cases. Several recent studies predict eradication of Africa’s tallest peak between 2020 and 2040. Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:00:51 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/climb-mount-kilimanjaro http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/climb-mount-kilimanjaro