• Simanjiro District; Manyara Region
• Republic of Tanzania
• Latitude: 3⁰.57’.0’’ South
• Longitudes: 36⁰.33’.0” East
• Makame – Talamai W.M.A
• Size of area: 1,663 sq.km (642 sq mls)

Makame – Talamai W.M.A

Untamed Wilderness in the Heart of Northern Tanzania

Nestled within the vast Simanjiro ecosystem of northern Tanzania, the Makame – Talamai Wildlife Management Area (W.M.A.) represents one of East Africa’s last truly wild hunting frontiers. Bordering some of Tanzania’s most important conservation landscapes, this immense wilderness forms a critical wildlife corridor linking the legendary Tarangire ecosystem with the open Maasai rangelands beyond.

Covering expansive tracts of Acacia savannah, rolling volcanic hills, seasonal wetlands and remote wilderness valleys, Makame – Talamai offers an authentic East African safari experience where wildlife still moves freely across unfenced landscapes exactly as it has for centuries. There are airstrips and helicopter landing zones available near camp if you so wish to choose an air charter. The distance across from Tarangire national Park is roughly about 70 km, and about 125 km from Kilimanjaro International Airport.

The Makame – Talamai W.M.A lies within the renowned Simanjiro Plains, an ecosystem internationally recognised for its ecological importance and incredible wildlife diversity. The area serves as a seasonal migration and dispersal zone for wildlife leaving Tarangire National Park during the rainy season, supporting large populations of elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and plains game.

This ecosystem remains one of the few remaining landscapes in East Africa where traditional Maasai pastoralism, wildlife conservation and sustainable hunting coexist across vast wilderness areas.

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.

Makame – Talamai W.M.A concession, being part of Simanjiro district, is semi- arid with an average annual rainfall of 500 – 750mm annually. 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 10C to 31C.

The Makame – Talamai W.M.A is part of Lake Natron, Lake Manyara and Tarangire Ecological system. The closest being Taringire National Park about 70 km to the West. Animals migrating from Tarangire National Park and Mkungunero Game Reserve have to pass through Lolkisale and Simanjiro Game Controlled Area.

The Talamai W.M.A forms the southern and eastern section of this extraordinary wilderness ecosystem.

Characterised by remote valleys, rolling plains and dense Acacia cover, Talamai provides ideal habitat for:

• Cape Buffalo
• Lion
• Leopard
• Elephant
• Giraffe
• Zebra
• Wildebeest
• Eland
• Greater Kudu
• Fringe-eared Oryx and many other well known Masailand species.

The region remains remarkably untouched, offering a true wilderness hunting experience far removed from heavily commercialised safari areas.

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.