Tanzania Safaris

DAY 1 – KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO ARUSHA
Arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by one of our experienced driver guides, ready to greet and escort you to Arusha and your chosen hotel. He will introduce you to this wonderful city and country.!
After your long flight, you will be pleased to discover that Arusha – the undisputed ‘safari capital’ of East Africa- is perched at 1400 meters above sea level, keeping the temperatures and humidity relatively low. All around this important city are some of Tanzania’s greatest delights. Mount Meru towers above Arusha, while even distant Kilimanjaro can be seen on a clear day. Arusha provides the ideal starting-point for safari-lovers, within reach of Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.
The city even has its own natural attraction, Arusha National Park, close by. Named after the Wa-arusha residents of the town, this busy agricultural, administrative and tourist centre is the perfect place to relax after a long journey… and before you set off on safari, the holiday of a lifetime. Welcome to Arusha and welcome to Tanzania!
Accommodation: African Tulip Hotel Meal Plan: Dinner Journey time and Distance: 1 hour, 55 km from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha
DAY 2 – ARUSHA TO TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
Today we set out early, collecting you from your Arusha hotel and heading south to stunning Tarangire National Park. We arrive at your lodge by noon, in time for a pleasant lunch. Your afternoon game-drive will reveal all the wonders of Tarangire, a National Park often referred to as the ‘Elephant Playground’. Herds of up to 300 of these mighty mammals are sometimes seen in the park.
Serengeti may be better known, but Tarangire in the dry season easily rivals it for animal densities. As well as the herds of elephant Tarangire is home to buffalo, lion, wildebeest, zebra and gazelle while gerenuk and fringe-eared oryx are ‘local specialties’. Lake Burungi’s marshy shores are the lure for these mammals and the waters attract many beautiful bird species, too. Look out for giant kingfishers, hoopoes and the delightfully-named white-bellied go-away bird. Tarangire is noted for its splendid baobab trees, rolling savannah and acacia woodland. At the end of an inspiring afternoon amongst the wildlife, we retire to the comfort of the lodge for an evening meal and some rest.
Accommodation: Sangaiwe Tented Lodge (up to May 2019) / Tarangire Tortilis Camp (from June 2019 onwards) Meal Plan: Breakfast, Picnic lunch box and Dinner Journey time and Distance: 2 hours, 120 km from Arusha to Tarangire National Park
DAY 3 – TARANGIRE TO LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
After our breakfast at the camp, we collect picnic lunch box and leave Tarangire early and enjoy a short, pleasant morning drive to Lake Manyara. First of all, we enjoy this morning exploring the stunning landscape of the park, looking for wildlife on the plains, in the acacia woodlands and by the shores of the shallow alkaline lake.
Lake Manyara is rightly famous for its tree-climbing lions, but they’re far from the only highlight: by the end of an exhilarating afternoon, you could easily have spotted elephant, hippo, wildebeest, buffalo and giraffe, plus many other species. Pink-hued flamingos, one of 400 bird species recorded here, provide a splash of colour. At the end of the afternoon, it’s back to your camp for some relaxation and a delicious dinner. Accommodation: Lake Manyara Tortilis Camp Meal Plan: Breakfast, Picnic lunch box and Dinner Journey time and Distance: 2 hours, 115 km from Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park
DAY 4 – LAKE MANYARA TO SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK After breakfast, we collect our lunch boxes and leave Lake Manyara National Park. Our journey takes us west and north, our exciting destination being a name familiar to everyone – the Serengeti! Along the way, the sheer scale of the territory and the raw beauty of the landscapes reveal themselves and your driver-guide will help you to spot animals and birds. This is just a preview of things to come, for the Serengeti is home to what is possibly the world’s greatest gathering of wildlife.
After enjoying a picnic lunch, you’ll be eager to pursue some more great wildlife-spotting opportunities in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set in the grasslands, savannahs, woods and mountain scenery, which creature will show itself next? These ‘endless plains’ are home to elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah, hippo and crocodile the adventure has truly begun. At the end of the afternoon, exhausted and exhilarated, it’s back to your chosen accommodation for dinner and to talk about the many fantastic experiences you’ve had today.
Accommodation: Serengeti Tortilis Camp Meal Plan: Breakfast, Picnic lunch box and Dinner Journey time and Distance: 4.5 hours, 205 km from Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park
DAY 5 – SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
Waking up in the Serengeti is something really special. Sights, sounds and smells of Africa are all around us, and ahead is a full day of adventure in the world’s most famous national park. After breakfast, we start today with the morning section of our game drive in Serengeti National Park, marvelling at the stunning scenery, ever changing light and always entertaining wildlife, all explained to you by your expert driver-guide. After our picnic lunch, we set off again, searching for wildlife in this awe-inspiring park. Serengeti’s wonders evolve subtly as the day progresses. The myriad animals and birds are the ‘stars of the show’ and Nature’s dramas can unfold at any time. Of course, the animals don’t work to any schedule, so we may find lion or leopard, elephant and zebra, cheetah and antelope at any time on our drives. At the end of the afternoon, we return to the camp for dinner and some much needed rest. Note : For those who have booked the Balloon Safari for today, you will be picked up from the camp at 05.00 hours for a 06.00 hours departure. If you wish to book balloon safari, please let us know in advance, The price is $545 per person. After your 60 – 90 minute (depending on wind condition) aerial adventure, experience bush breakfast and champagne, thereafter your driver guide will pick you up for your full-day game drive.
Accommodation: Serengeti Tortilis Camp Meal Plan: Breakfast, Picnic lunch box and Dinner
DAY 6 – SERENGETI TO NGORONGORO CRATER TOUR
The exciting sounds of Africa will rouse you from your sleep. We make the most of the day with a 08:00 start, heading off on our morning game-drive. Later, the adventure will continue when we travel up to Ngorongoro, another African icon. It’s almost impossible to spend too much time in Serengeti and with more than 1.6 million herbivores – plus thousands of predators – there’s always something new and interesting to see. The changing seasons and natural light simply add to the diversity. This morning your driver-guide will help you spot some more of the many species at Serengeti, teaching you about their fascinating habits and habitats. After a pleasant picnic lunch, it’s time to drive eastwards to visit another spectacular setting for Tanzania’s wildlife, the famous Ngorongoro Crater. On arrival, settle in at the camp while a tasty, hot dinner is prepared for you. Tomorrow, the wonders of the crater await us. Accommodation: Ngorongoro Tortilis Camp Full Board – Breakfast, Picnic lunch box and Dinner Journey time and Distance: 3.5 hours, 145 km from Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater Tour
DAY 7 – NGORONGORO CRATER TOUR TO AIRPORT Today may be ‘departure day’, but there will be plenty of time to enjoy another true spectacle, before your thoughts turn to home. Ngorongoro Crater is often referred to as a wonder of the world and your early morning game drive shows you why. First, there’s the volcanic caldera (the world’s largest), full of grassland, forest and swamp, a setting of jaw-dropping beauty. Secondly, the permanent water of the crater floor supports a resident population of more than 25,000 large mammals. Here you’ll find many of the reasons you chose to come on safari: elephant, lion, leopard, hyena, jackal, wallowing hippo, waterbuck, baboons… even the rare black rhino finds shelter here. Sharing this awesome space with the animals are the Maasai, grazing their cattle in an area which has been a separate conservation area since 1956 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978. This harmonious co-habitation of man and beast makes Ngorongoro unique in Tanzania and your driver guide will be pleased to explain this incredible co-existence to you. After your early morning game drive, we have our picnic lunch in the crater before we return to the airport for your flight home. You will drive for 5 hours from Ngorongoro Crater floor to Kilimanjaro International Airport, Read Departure Instructions below Meal Plan: Breakfast and Picnic lunch box Journey time and Distance: 5 hours, 245 km from Ngorongoro Crater Tour to Airport Price are quoted per person in sharing room