“I believe there is no sickness of the heart so great it cannot be cured by a dose of Africa. Families must go there to learn why they belong together on this earth, adolescents to discover humility, lovers to plumb old but untried wells of passion, honeymooners to seal marriages with a shared sense of bafflement, those shopworn with life to find a tonic for futility, the aged to recognize a symmetry to twilight. I know this all sounds a bit much but if I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa”
John Hemingway’s, African Journeys
Arrival into Kilimanjaro airport (JRO) , our guide will be waiting, to drive you to the "Mount Meru Hotel" in Arusha.
Relax at your hotel and get a good night's rest, as our adventure begins in the morning.
International flight
23rd October 2020
Drive about 90 miles southwest to Tarangire National Park, stopping at an authentic Maasai Boma and having a ‘chat’ under a tree with the Local Chief. This is a great opportunity to interactively experience life of the Maasai. We will arrive at our tented camp for lunch and a bit of relaxation prior to our afternoon game drive.
24th October 2020
Today's explorations take us deep into Tarangire National Park. The landscape is spectacular with winding creeks, vast Baobab trees, savannah plains and lush nutritious swamps where the prey congregate and the predators prowl. During the heat of the day, we will relax at our beautiful camp.
This evening we will go for a night game drive to discover the nocturnal life of the bush.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Maasai Boma (village) interactive experience
games drives - mornings, afternoons & evening
25th October 2020 ( Tarangire --- 3 hours --- Ngorongoro Crater )
Our first stop will be Mto wa Mbu, where the local guide lends us an insight into rural life and importance of sustainable living, which is direct result of a successful NGO project . Today's lunch will be traditional cuisine catered by the local ladies from the banana plantation. After this truly mind enriching experience, we will continue onto the Ngorongoro Highlands arriving at "Lemala Ngorongoro Camp" for a customary sundowner.
26th October 2020
The Ngorongoro Crater, the largest intact caldera in the world , observe incredible concentration of wildlife - hippos basking in the mud pools, lions lazing in the sun, and one of the highest density of hyenas in all of Africa's parks. Early morning, we plan to descend to the floor of the crater, to watch the morning awake.
An exclusive picnic lunch in the Crater to be enjoyed prior to continuing our game viewing.
Sundowners
Sundowners are more than just a happy hour, they are a very cherished African tradition and form an integral part of your safari experience. It is a time to relax, reminisce the day gone by, enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine in a very special and private location.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Cultural excursion -Mto wa Mbu
Ngorongoro Crater gameviewing
Exclusive lunch in the crater
27th October ( Ngorongoro --- 3.5hrs +additional stop time--- Eastern Serengeti )
This morning we will leave the Ngorongoro Conservation area, driving through the Maasai homelands, stopping at Olduvai Gorge, where Mary & Lewis Leakey discovered the earliest evidence of the existence of human ancestors. We will continue our drive through to Eastern Serengeti, game viewing along the way.
The name Serengeti was derived from a Masai word ‘Siringit’ that literally means; endless plains.
Huge"kopjes", massive granite outcrops randomly dot the endless grassy plains. This is an area of stunning beauty and excellent game viewing all year round. Predators love the rocks as they provide the ideal look out points and plains game gather because of the water and precious shade.
28th & 29th October 2020
The next two days, will be full on game viewing in the vast SERENGETI .... both via our safari land-cruisers and on foot! (led by highly skilled and knowledgeable guides).
A walking safari is a sensory adventure like no other. Follow in the footsteps of animals, identify the spoor, scat and sounds of the bush. Learn about fascinating plants, look for the smaller animals and insects, and MAYBE even feel the buzz of tracking some of the larger game.
Overnight at "Lemala Nanyukie"
Olduvia Gorge
Safari/Nature Walk
30th October 2020 ( Eastern Serengeti --- 4.5hrs game drive --- Northern Serengeti )
This morning we will drive north through the park, game viewing along the way. Afternoon relax and enjoy the beautiful camp surroundings.
31st October & 1st November 2020
The 14,763 square kilometers of the Serengeti are probably most famous for being the southern end of the Great Migration. Every year over 1.5 million animals, mostly wildebeest but also zebra and Thompson's gazelle, follow their instincts and move through the western corridor on their 1000 km. journey to the fresh grazing of the Masai Mara. Predators pick off the weak, the laggardly and the young and crocodiles feast as the vast herd crosses the rivers but they continue their trek, as they have done since time immemorial. This is one of the earth's great sights - but it is by no means all the Serengeti has to offer.
Nature dictates the when and where the massive herds movement, however, we are confident that we will see the migration and maybe even witness a river crossing!
Serengeti National Park is undoubtedly the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world, unequaled for its natural beauty and scientific value. With more than two million wildebeest, half a million Thomson's gazelle, and a quarter of a million zebra, it has the greatest concentration of plains game in Africa. The name 'Serengeti' comes from the Maasai language and appropriately means an 'extended place'.
Enjoy breakfast while taking in the spectacular views of the Serengeti for the final time. We will transfer from our camp to the airstrip for our flight to Arusha.
Upon arrival in Arusha, we will go to the Shanga gift and workshop (see expert tips). Here we will also enjoy a hot lunch before our life enriching trip comes to an end with a drop off at Kilimanjaro Airport for our respected flights home.
Shanga is a social enterprise based in Arusha Tanzania that trains and employs people with disabilities to produce high quality handmade craft items - glass blowing, beading and other activities, the interactive workshop is located on the grounds of Elewana Arusha Coffee lodge.