The Camp is located at the foot of Kilimanjaro, deep in Masai land, in an area known as South Amboseli. Seasonally the surrounding savannah bush teems with wildlife - large herds of elephant, eland, zebra and wildebeest and Oryx as well as Grants and Thompson Gazelle. Lion and Cheetah rub their paws!
Starting in June 2012 Shu’mata Camp will be reachable by flight for the first time. From here you can also connect flights via Arusha to Serengeti or Zanzibar.
Coastal Aviation will fly the following new routes staring June 2012:
West Kilimanjaro Airstrip (Shu’mata Camp) – Arusha – Serengeti and back.
West Kilimanjaro Airstrip (Shu’mata Camp) – Swahili Coast (Pangani) – Zanzibar and back.
“You can now get to our beautifully situated camp much faster with this newly introduced flight.”
“Beginning from Shu'mata we are now able to offer a planned or spontaneous Flying Safari to Serengeti or a trip to Swahili Coast, Pangani and Saadani and further to Zanzibar.”
Marlies Gabriel
The legend that is the elephants of Amboseli
This barren land, scattered with `islands´ of old acacia forest and seasonal swamps flank the pans of the `emboseli´ ecosystem which stretches to the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. It is this region, away from the busy tourism areas of northern Tanzania, where the elder elephants retreat to live out their final years – in peace and harmony and away from the madding crowds.
On foot with Masai warriors or in open-top game-drive vehicles, the Shu'mata team get within meters of Africa’s largest mammals. Sensing the great peace and beauty of these magnificent creatures and calmly sharing the habitat with the Masai and their cattle.
Timeless moments that will last a lifetime.
(…) We have been safari sceptics for years - always wanting to go, but put off by friends' reports of convoys of sightseers, and few chances of photographing animals that weren't surrounded by cars.
Then we heard about Tanzania's 'eastern circuit'. Combined by a flight schedule to unique, independent and privately owned camps and lodges: from the lush green mountain rainforests of Mt Meru surrounded by craters, lakes and countless hills to the wide and open spaces of the Maasai plains surrounding majestic Kilimanjaro. To the newly gazette Mkomazi National Park which borders only behind the horizon and stretching out to the Usambara Mountains. Through lowland coastal forest, acacia woodlands and dry river beds cooled by the gentle breeze from the Indian Ocean touching the Saadani National Park. All ending with a beach experience on the unspoiled coast of Tanzania – only a Dhow trip away from the picturesque Stone Town of Zanzibar.
We were after a path less traveled by: no well trodden paths, through famous national parks, no deep rutted tracks from minibuses and Land Rovers and no big hotel chains (…)
SAFARIS
A variety of half or full-day activities can be arranged to suit the preference of each individual guest, due to our location near to the northern savannah and dry plains of the western Kilimanjaro area that borders Kenya’s Amboseli reserve.
The “African Experience” can be enjoyed in many different ways. Close encounters with wildlife on our game drives or the experience of the rich and diverse flora and fauna on a guided walk; An adventurous canoe trip or simply let the resident buffalo, giraffe and plenty other animals come to you as you relax.
FLORA & FAUNA
The park’s greatest attractions are its spectacular landscapes and its rich flora. Although the surrounding countryside is rather dry, the park itself is green throughout the year, and offers three different and impressive natural habitats. Waterfalls and lakes, steep cliffs and gorges, swamps and waterholes, all provide great opportunities to encounter wildlife.
Arusha National Park has the highest giraffe population density in Africa. It is home to groups of forest elephant, many buffalo, water and bushbucks, duikers and dik diks. Spotted hyenas, leopards and civet cats are some of the predator inhabitants. A major attraction is the large number in primates; especially the Black and White Colobus and the shining Blue- or Sykes Monkeys, which are very likely to be seen on a game drive or a walk in the park.
The special combination of Arusha National Park and the South Amboseli region a seasonal Shu'mata Kilimanjaro Safari Camp guarantees visitors a great safari in Tanzania.
Off the beaten safari tracks, a piece of unspoilt wilderness awaits your discovery.