This Unforgettable Tanzania Safari includes spectacular scenaries such as Lake Natron, Lake Ndutu, Lake Eyasi, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti plains.
Day 1: Arrival
When your driver/guide and our agent meet you at Kilimanjaro International Airport, your Unforgettable Tanzania Safari officially begins. The Rivertrees Country Inn will be our destination. Situated on a former German coffee farm, this little lodge provides breathtaking views of both Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. It is situated along the lovely banks of the Usa River. There is an animal sanctuary linked to Mount Meru Game Lodge, which offers alternate lodging. We will arrange for our safari manager to meet with you and give you an overview of Tanzania’s world-class safari circuit. Dinner included.
Day 2: Lake Manyara
The driver/guide will pick you up at 8am, then drive across the floor of the Great Rift Valley to Lake Manyara National Park for a game drive. This beautiful park, with its lush vegetation and tropical forests of giant fig and mahogany trees, takes its name from the Maasai word for “Euphorbia tirucalli”, a bush used as a thorny hedge to protect their livestock. Elephants, giraffes, buffalo The park is home to zebras, zebras and a variety of antelopes, as well as a variety of monkeys and a large population of hippos. If you are lucky, you may see the Manyara lions, known for their tree-climbing habits, lazily resting on the branches of an ‘Acacia tortilis’ tree. The bird life is also rich, with flamingos, pelicans, hornbills and numerous forest species. Overnight at Manyara Secret Lodge. All meals included.
Day 3-4: Lake Natron
In the morning you drive on a partly bumpy and dusty road via Engaruka Town towards Lake Natron. Along the way you will see many Maasai villages, termite mounds, gazelles, giraffes, zebras, baboons, beehives and birds such as vultures, ostriches, starlings, Indian bustards and kites. The transfer takes approximately 4 hours. After checking into your lodge and having some lunch, take an afternoon guided hike around Lake Natron, the deepest point of the Great Rift Valley in Tanzania (600 m / 2000 ft), known for its large numbers of flamingos and Other water birds are known to have a high concentration of sodium carbonate, algae and zooplankton. You can take a hike on the Ngare Sero River, which flows in Lake Natron. In contrast to the surrounding dry landscape, you will find a small paradise here. After a strenuous walk up the stream we reach the source of the river, the river gushes out of the mountains in cascading waterfalls. It is an excellent swim in the river and under the waterfalls to cool off from the hot sun. There may be baboons or other wildlife in the gorge. 2 x overnight at Lake Natron Tented Camp. All meals included.
Day 5: Lake Natron – Serengeti
After breakfast, visit Lake Natron to see the flamingos that Lake Natron is famous for. If you wish, you can take a walk in the salt water on the lakeshore. You will then head towards the Serengeti, where you will see some wildlife and many Maasai villages along the way. You will cross the Loliondo area, a concession area on the edge of the Serengeti National Park, and continue towards the western corridor through which the migration is expected to pass in June/July. After having your picnic lunch on a kopje (rock outcropping) in the Serengeti, we continue into the park and take a game drive on the way to the Serengeti. Overnight at our Serengeti Sound of Silence Serengeti in the Serengeti. All meals included.
Day 6: Serengeti
After an early morning game drive to spot the nocturnal predators emerging from their hunting grounds and the animals waking up, game drives throughout the Serengeti are conducted throughout the day. You may observe a variety of animals, including lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, monkeys, baboons, hippos, rhinos, antelopes, and other birds, depending on the season and the herds’ migration. Your Driver/Guide will surprise you with his ability to find the hidden creatures and will keep you informed about other safari drivers. Overnight at our Serengeti Sound of Silence Serengeti in the Serengeti. All meals included.
Day 7: Lake Victoria
In the morning you will go on game drives in the Serengeti on the way to Lake Victoria. In the afternoon, head to the nearby hills for a glimpse of rural Africa. You pass the small villages of the Sukuma people, who grow cotton, peanuts, sorghum and cassava and keep livestock. Life just goes on as it has for centuries, but with a few poignant 20th century memories! Visit the local school and take a walk to the top of a small kopje. Overnight at Speke Bay Lodge. All meals included.
Day 9: Lake Ndutu
Travel back to the Serengeti. Observations of wildebeest, lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, monkeys, baboons, hippos, rhinos, antelopes, and numerous birds and other species are possible, depending on the season and the movement of the herds. Your guide/driver will connect with other safari drivers and you will be astounded by his ability to find the creatures that are hiding. Overnight at Ndutu Safari Lodge. All meals included.
Day 10: Ngorongoro
We leave for Ngorongoro Conservation Area after breakfast. You will spend the day game driving in the crater after arriving late in the morning. With its 2000-foot-high walls, the crater sees very few animals migrating in and out, so you’re likely to see lions, elephants, zebras, hippos, flamingos, jackals, rhinos, antelopes, a variety of birds, and many other species.Overnight at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge. All meals included.
Day 11: Ngoronogoro – Lake Eyasi
You continue from Ngorongoro to Lake Eyasi, the ancestral home of the hunter-gatherers, an ethnic group of Hadzabe Bushmen who resemble Bushmen in Southern Africa. This native tribe’s small people are likely the last to live in perfect harmony with the natural world, and they have a wealth of knowledge about the flora and fauna to impart to us. Over the course of the two days, you will go on game walks and tours led by bushmen who will show you where they typically hunt. Overnight at a Kisima Ngeda Tented Camp. All meals included.
Day 12: Tarangire
We leave for Tarangire, Tanzania’s third-largest national park and home to an exceptionally large population of elephants, after breakfast. One intriguing aspect of the park is the majestic baobab trees, which dwarf the creatures that graze beneath them. Since the Tarangire River is the region’s only reliable source of water, animals congregate along its banks. The wildlife is extremely diverse and includes up to 6,000 elephants, lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Overnight at Maramboi Tented Lodge. All meals included.
Day 13: Arusha
One last game drive in the morning before departing. As we arrive in Arusha in the afternoon, you will check into a day room at the Mount Meru Game Lodge or a comparable establishment. This concludes your fantastic Tanzania safari circuit tour. Transfer to the airport upon departure for your next destination. Included are lunch and breakfast.
If you would like, we can extend your vacation with a stay in Zanzibar. This safari is also available as a camping safari (please inquire).
~ End of Tour ~
From: USD $ 6265
per person sharing
INCLUDED
- All airport transfers
- 12 days private safari
- Transport and wildlife drives in modified 4WD Land Cruiser or Land Rover with photographic roof hatch
- Services of a professional English speaking safari guide
- All wildlife reserve entry fees
- All game drives as mentioned
- 01 x HB at Rivertrees Country Inn or Mount Meru Game Lodge (or similar), Arusha
- 11 x FB at safari lodges / tented lodges as per itinerary
- 3 l mineral water per person / day during game drives
- Coffee/tea with picnic lunches
- Dayroom on departure day
- Flying doctor insurance
- New Tourist Development Levy
- new Wildlife Management Area Fees
EXCLUDED
- International Flights
- All items of a personal nature
- Gratuities for safari guide
- Travel insurance
- Visa fee (50 US$/100 US$ for Americans & Irish Passport Holders – to be paid upon arrival)
- Drinks and beverages in lodges
- Hot Air Ballon Safari at Serengeti (549 USD per person)
