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Start: Arusha
Scheduled flights: Arusha Airport |
Day 1: Arusha/Ngiresi Village Tours
Arrive in Arusha and transfer to hotel. There will be a briefing before the safari, with advice on what to expect and suggestions on how to maximise your enjoyment of your safari. You will start with a half day visit to Ngiresi Village. Meet Mzee Loti. A walk past many houses and meet a lot of people on their way in to Arusha to sell their crop at the market in Arusha or on the way back from Arusha hectic life to visit their family. Ngiresi Village is situated 7 km from Arusha on the slopes of Mount Meru.
Mzee Loti will show how he has constructed a drum to make bio-gas that by a pipe travel into his house where it is used for gas to the stove for cooking or the light in the living room. He will also show you the school, the village plantations of different crop, how the village has planted trees and bushes to prevent soil erosion, he will show the village irrigation system and finally you can spend the evening by the light lit by the bio-gas with Mzee Loti's family and exchange experience and thoughts. Meals prepared by Mrs Loti. Your return is via the banks of the Marisha River -amidst the bursts of tropical birds and playful monkeys to Moivaro Coffee Plantation Lodge for dinner and overnight. |
Day 2: Tarangire Tarangire National Park
After breakfast depart for Tarangire National Park. This is the classic Africa of lore with shimmering acacia stands, old baobab trees, Masai herds and herds of elephant. After arrival, game drive towards Tarangire Safari lodge, beautifully sited on a bluff over-looking the Tarangire River, arriving at lunch. Depart on an afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at Tarangire Safari Lodge. |
Day 3: Tarangire Tarangire National Park
A full day of game-viewing, exploring Tarangire National Park in our 4WD safari vehicle. In the dry-season of July-October, Tarangire National Park surpasses the Serengeti in terms of animal concentration as big herds begin to congregate around the permanent water of Tarangire River. It is not uncommon to see herds of 50+ elephant as well as every other mammal species including the rare Kudu and Oryx. The park is also noted for its prolific bird life and the occasional sighting of cheetah and the rare African Hunting Dog. You will return to the Lodge for brunch, relaxing at the camp during the hottest hours of the day, before setting out again in the afternoon. Dinner and Overnight at Tarangire Safari Lodge. |
Day 4: Manyara/Mto Wa Mbu Village Tour Lake Manyara National Park
Depart for Lake Manyara after breakfast, traversing the Great African Rift Valley that scars Africa from the Red Sea to Mozambique, and arriving at Kirurumu Tented Lodge for lunch. Afternoon game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. Lake Manyara National Park was immortalised in Hemingway's "Green Hills Of Africa" and represents a habitat distinct from elsewhere in your safari. Your afternoon game drive allows you to explore the ground-water forest, rich in birds and monkeys, visit the hippo pool, and the acacia woodlands that border the soda lake swathed in the pink of the resident flamingos. There is also the option to stop and explore Mto Wa Mbu, the nearby market town. Dinner and overnight at Kirurumu Tented Lodge perched atop the Rift Valley escarpment. |
Day 5: Serengeti/Walking safari Lake Manyara National Park
Early morning game drive in the Park to examine the wildlife as it goes about its business before the heat of the day. Today you might visit the Hot Springs at the southern tip of the park and perhaps catch a glimpse of the elephant population that was the inspiration for Ian Douglas-Hamilton's "Amongst The Elephants". Return to the Lodge for a late breakfast and a short rest. After a siesta you will hike to a nearby hippo pool to see the jostling residents and myriad of water birds that co-habit with them. There will also be the opportunity to meet some of the local Tanzanian residents, such as the Masai or cushitic Iraqw people. Dinner and overnight at Kirurumu Tented Lodge. |
Day 6: Serengeti/Night game drive Serengeti
After an early breakfast, carve your way through the forested slopes of the Ngorongoro Highlands, en route to the Serengeti. Stop at Olduvai Gorge to visit the site where Mary and Louis Leakey first discovered the remains of Zinjanthropus Bosei, a distant ancestor of man believed to be 1.8 million years old, Australopithecus Bosei, the 'Nutcracker Man', a species that became extinct about 1 million years ago and fossilised foot prints that date back 3,6 million years. From here the predator-rich plains of the Serengeti unfurl before you as you game drive through the park to arrive at Ikoma Camp, just before dusk. Dinner and Overnight at Ikoma Bush Camp. |
Day 7: Ngorongoro Serengeti
A day hiking in the Serengeti region requires an early start and so hiking starts at 06:30 am, tracking the game as it takes advantage of the cool temperatures to find water and food. Your guides are invaluable when it comes to finding tracks and spotting distant animals but the principal attraction is learning about the birds and plant-life that form such an important part of the Serengeti eco-system. Take refuge from the heat of the day with a picnic lunch en route, and perhaps a siesta, before continuing the foot safari until dusk. Enjoy Sundowners on a hill overlooking Serengeti before driving back to camp. |
Day 8: Ngorongoro Serengeti
A full day to explore the Serengeti, the most famous National Park in Africa. Your driver-guide will choose your route based on his extensive knowledge of the park and local conditions but the Serengeti rarely disappoints. A packed lunch goes with you so as to make the most of the day, but your trip might include a trail along the banks of the Grumeti River in search of basking lions, tracking cheetah through the Gol Kopjes or hunting for leopard along the Seronera River. Dinner and Overnight at Ikoma Bush Camp. |
Day 9: Kisima Ngeda Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast depart for Ngorongoro Crater, with a final Serengeti game drive en-route, to arrive at the Lodge in time for lunch. Descend down the 2000-ft walls of the Crater, a World Heritage Site and home to nearly 25,000 animals, for a game drive. Here you have a very real chance of spotting the big five: lion, elephant, endangered black rhino, buffalo and leopard plus countless other African mammal species. Return to the Lodge just before dusk. Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, perched on the Crater Rim. |
Day 10: Kisima Ngeda Ngorongoro Crater
After an early breakfast you will meet the guide and ranger that accompany you to Olmoti Crater for a full day hike with packed lunch. Olmoti is one of the lesser known craters that stud these highlands and is away from the usual tourist trails. Visit the Munge Falls, named after the colobus tail that it is said to resemble and examine the birds and plants that lie on the forested slopes. There is also game in the area such as buffalo, bushbuck, Waterbuck and others and you must be careful to stay close to the group and ranger as buffaloes can be aggressive, if taken by surprise. Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge. |
Day 11: Arusha/Longido Masai Arusha
After breakfast depart for Longido where you will meet up with your Masai guide before driving to their village. You will meet Esto's son in his home and have the chance to talk about the Masai, their lifestyle and their traditions. Lunch will be served by the women group before an afternoon visit to the Masai boma. The group will bring a gift such as tea or sugar to the boma before spending the afternoon with the Masai, who are happy to show you around their homes, proud of their lifestyles. Dinner and overnight at Moivaro Coffee Plantation Lodge. |
Day 12: Arusha
Day room at Moivaro Coffee Plantation Lodge if needed. Transfer to Nairobi by shuttle bus or to Kilimanjaro International Airport for departure flights. |
End: Nairobi
Scheduled flights: Nairobi Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport |
Family
There is no age limit for this safari, but if you have small children it is recommended that you do a private safari. Parents should also be reminded that distances can be long and some trekking may be involved. Children may not be allowed to participate in all activities. |
Rate includes:
. Full board while on safari (3 meals per day)
. park entrance fees
. transport
. visit to Oldovai Gorge
. game drives
. transfers to and from Arusha. |
Rate excludes:
. beverages
. tips
. visas
. laundry
. international airport taxes
. or any other items of a personal nature. |
Group size
Minimum: 2 |
Note:
Christmas, New Year and Easter supplements apply. |
a cultural encounter
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