• Simanjiro District; Manyara Region

• Republic of Tanzania

• Between Latitudes: 4⁰.10’.0’’ and 4⁰.50’.0” South.

• Longitudes: 36⁰.40’.0” and 37⁰.12’.0” East

•MASAI OPEN AREA (EAST) CONCESSION

•Size of area: 3,093 sq.km (1195 sq mls)

The area is easily reached from Arusha city about 25 minutes by light aircraft and about 200 km, (3 1/2 hours) by vehicle via the almost all weather road to Engasumet town headquarters of Simanjiro district and Kibaya of Kiteto district. There are several other roads to get into this area which may be longer or shorter but hard to negotiate during wet seasons. There are two airstrips one at NAIBORMURT camp -Latitude:4⁰.27’.0”South and longitude:36⁰.41’.0”East and just outside the block from LOLMOJOY camp -latitude:4⁰.32’.54”South and longitude:37⁰.01’.13”East.The distance across from Tarangire national Park is about 70 km. and about 125 km from Kilimanjaro International Airport.

The topography varies from plains to scattered ridges or rows of hills. Altitude ranges between 560mts and 2123mts above sea level. Most of the flood plains have black/cotton soils, while hills are covered with fragile soils prone to erosion. Acacia / commiphora woodland, open bush lands, grasslands and thickets cover most of the northern and southern parts of the district. Most of the vegetation is highly adapted to dry conditions and periodic droughts. Bush fires are part and parcel of the area mostly started by the livestock herders to ward off pests like ticks, tsetse flies etc. and to promote green vegetation growth for their livestock.

Masai Open (East) concession, being part of Simanjiro district, is semi- arid with an average annual rainfall of 500mm. It has dual periods of unreliable rainfall consisting of short rains in November- December and long rains in March- April. The cold months are May- July while hot months include August- February. Temperatures range between 13C to 31C.

This block is part of Lake Natron, Lake Manyara and Tarangire Ecological system. The closest being Taringire National Park about 70 km to the East. Animals migrating from Tarangire National Park and Mkungunero Game Reserve have to pass through Lolkisale and Simanjiro Game controlled areas including, open areas like Masai open (West), Irkishbor and Masai Open (South) before entering in to this concession.The Kitwai plains hunting concessions share the border eastward, therefore the migrating animals come and go through Masai Open (East) hunting block too.

The BIG FOUR are present Elephant, Lion, Leopard & Buffalo.

Other game found on our area are as follows. Giraffe-Masai, Eland, Greater Kudu, Zebra, Hartebeest, Wildebeest, Oryx-Fringe earned, Lesser Kudu, Grant’s Gazelle, Cheetah, Impala, Hyenas, Reedbuck, Bushpig, Warthog, Gerenuk, Bushbuck, Baboon, Klipspringer, Wild dog, Jackals, Thomson’s Gazelle, Steinbuck, Duiker, Porcupine, Ratel, Caracal, Serval cat, Wild cat, Mongooses, Pangolin, Civet, Genet, Dikidik, Suni and other small mammals.

Important birds species include:

Ostrich along with an extensive list of available game birds – Francolins, Spurfowls, Vulturine Guinea fowl, Helmeted Guinea fowl, Crested Guinea fowl, Quails. We also have various water birds, which include ducks and geese; Sandgrouse, Doves and Pigeons. Bustards; 

Birds of prey-vultures, eagles, falcons, kites, owls, etc.

Maasailand as a whole lacks permanent surface water sources. Most of the water is through water holes and seasonal rivers during rainy seasons. In this block water is available at Sapuro dam (Niekundo-Siron), Lordungo water hole, Nandoto water hole and Oloitururo water hole. Very few swamps and rivers cross the concession which contains enough water for human, livestock and wildlife.