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Oliver's Camp is situated in the remote south-eastern
part of the park, in the middle of Tarangire's unspoilt wilderness.
Tarangire
National Park is located in northern Tanzania, 120 km southwest of Arusha. The
park is named after the Tarangire River that runs through the center of the park
from south to northwest and drains into lake Burungi. Tarangire is known for its
large herds of elephant and majestic baobab trees. You can find many of the large
African mammals here, including lion, leopard, buffalo, and lesser and greater
kudu. The park hosts an enormous variety of birds - more than 500 species.
Oliver's
Camp is ideally placed to access the yearly migrations of wildlife, and to view
impressive concentrations at waterholes and in the spectacular Silale swamps.
This area offers the best chance of seeing lion, leopard and cheetah and, especially
during the dry season, the swamps are filled with elephant, buffalo and zebra.
The camp is the perfect base to explore the busier baobab-country in the north
of the park, but at the end of the day, guests return to the absolute exclusivity
of Oliver's Camp.
Accommodation
The camp features only 8 beautifully
furnished guest tents. Solid wooden furniture, beautiful cloth and gorgeous warm
showers that can be taken under the Tarangire sky. Every evening, guests relax
or read in the lounge and library tent, or drink sundowners at the fireplace,
from which superb views of landscape and sunset can be enjoyed
Oliver's Camp's
crew has been a team for many years and as a result, a stay in camp feels like
joining into a warm family. A family that will not only prepare amazing meals
for you, but one that will also share with you a deeper knowledge of this stunning
national park and its inhabitants.
Activities
The range of activities
on offer at Oliver's Camp is unique for a camp inside a Tanzanian National Park.
Off-road driving makes wildlife drives more intense and interesting and allows
you to get closer to the action. Walking and fly camping add another unique element
to a safari that is hard to find in other parts of Tanzania. The park's stunning
natural beauty is ideal for wildlife and nature photography.
Game drives
from Oliver's Camp are usually carried out in open vehicles, giving a feeling
of absolute freedom. Off-road driving, allowed only in the remote areas of the
park, gets you closer to nature and wildlife.
Walking is the absolute specialty
of Oliver's Camp. The privilege of walking in these prime natural areas gives
you exhilarating feeling of adventure. Walking safaris are very safe: the experienced
naturalist guides of Oliver's Camp avoid confrontations with animals (watching
is not the same as disturbing!) and an armed national park ranger accompanies
every walk.
The light weight fly camp is an extension of the main Oliver's
Camp. The fly camp is typically booked as part of a walking safari or simply as
a completely private night away from the main camp. Fly camping is about adventure,
not luxury: beds are comfortable and the crew cooks amazing meals in the middle
of the wilderness, but tents are simple, with outside shower and bathroom facilities.
Seasons
Oliver's Camp operates from June through to March. Although a visit during
any of these months is very rewarding and excellent concentrations of game can
be enjoyed year round, the park has distinct seasons. Note that the description
of seasons below is of typical seasons: as in any part of the world, weather is
unpredictable and in any particular season, the weather deviates from normal weather
patterns.
JUNE AND JULY: In June the landscape is decked in wonderful
wild flowers. Migrant birds have left for the north and wildlife has dispersed.
The days are typically bright with some cloud cover and the mornings and evenings
are quite cool.
It is the start of the dry season (or winter). The baobab trees
are slowly losing their leaves, and after the wet season of April and May, plant
life is at its most beautiful. But the signs of the dry season are starting to
show. Some grasses are drying out, and, viewed from a high point, the land is
a complex mosaic of green, brown and straw colored grass, with every shade of
wildflower imaginable (particularly in June) decorating the landscape. It is very
picturesque.
Wildlife viewing is unpredictable, but resident animals such
as elephant, giraffe, lion and leopard, dikdik, impala and other smaller antelopes
are usually easy to find. The large herds of zebra and wildebeest are now making
their way into the park and, depending on the rainfall over the previous two months,
are usually within the park boundaries by July.All in all, it's a beautiful time
to visit. Late July is an excellent time for long walks.
AUGUST TO OCTOBER:
This is the dry season. The landscape becomes straw colored dotted with green-topped
fig and acacia trees. The days are getting hotter and the mornings and evenings
less cool. Normally, there is no rainfall during this period. Wildlife concentrations
during these months are incredibly high and guests typically stay 3 or more days
to enjoy the extraordinary variety. Water sources are shrinking and the grass
is trampled down by thousands of hooves. Great herds of buffalo, zebra, wildebeest
and elephant stay close to the last surface water. Bird life is also concentrated.
Exploring the wilderness areas is easier, and we do just that. Lion prides are
more sedentary and easier to find, and elephants are more concentrated. This time
is possibly the best time to visit Tarangire and enjoy all the activities around
Oliver's base camp, especially walking, or fly camping near waterholes.
(LATE
OCTOBER AND) NOVEMBER: Early October is very dry and wildlife viewing is excellent.
There's a slight humidity in the air, and this indicates that the rains are coming.
By mid to late October some light showers typically arrive, and this is a real
delight. Fresh new grasses sprout in days and wildlife thinks about moving. But
it takes a few good downpours to disperse the herds. This state of flux can extend
into November, and even December. Nature is waiting for the rain. It is a time
of change, and as the land is refreshed a wonderful transformation takes place.
Migrant bird species arrive and, as the grass is short, walking in this period
is a delight - the flowers are back!
DECEMBER TO MARCH: It's more
humid and warmer at this time of year. By mid December the short rains have typically
slowed; the land is regenerating and greenery returns. This is the start of the
breeding season for much of this area's wildlife, and our safaris concentrate
on this spectacle. Elephants have extra energy and young mammals and birds fill
the days with joy.
We have some excellent safari itineraries that include Olivers Camp,
please click below for details.
Olivers & Suyan Safari [Click
Here]
Tarangire, Crater & Serengeti Safari [Click
Here]
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