26th July 2022: Exploring the Ngorongoro Crater – Drive to central Serengeti
After a leisure breakfast at the Camp, you will descend into the crater for another morning in-depth exploration of this distinctive eco-system. Enjoy abundant wildlife viewing set against the impressive backdrop of the Ngorongoro Crater, the heart of the conservation area. These drives provide one of the best opportunities in Africa to view black rhino, which tend to spend their time on the crater floor. Ngorongoro Crater is one of the world’s greatest natural spectacles; its magical setting and abundant wildlife never fail to enthrall visitors. Another big draw card to this picturesque Caldera, is its dense population of predators, which include lions, hyenas, jackals, and if Lucky enough you will have chance to see the small cats like the Rare Caracal, Serval cat as well as the African wild cat which sometimes requires a trained eye to spot. Picnic breakfast will be served at one of the picnic sites at the crater floor, followed by another game viewing visiting the hippo pool near the Mandusi Swamp, Lake Magadi, a large but shallow alkaline lake in the southwestern corner which is one of the main features of the crater, the lerai forest as well as other parts of the crater searching for different wildlife interactions at the area. We then leave the crater and drive to the central east plain of the Serengeti via the Gol Kopjes. This area is a fragile habitat consisting of ethereal kopjes and short grass plains. Driving through the Gol kopjes is always a breathtaking experience with a vision of vast open plains and amazing wildlife, like gazelles and cheetahs. Late in the afternoon, we drive to your base for the next two nights.
Meals & overnights at Sametu Tented Camp
27th July 2022: Exploring the Central and Eastern Serengeti Plains and Kopjes
A full day game viewing around Central Serengeti plains and You have an option of breaking the days into two by doing Early morning and late afternoon game viewing, drive through the central Serengeti in the golden light of dawn looking for special wildlife interactions and photographic opportunities, whereby, you will depart the Lodge at first light with a picnic breakfast for a big day in search of the biggest herds of the great migrations. Areas that will be visited are the Retima Hippo pool, maasai and sametu kopjes and plains as well as Moru and Gol Kopjes. The Central Serengeti and seronera river valley are home to a great diversity of wildlife due to its unique ecological niches as a transition zone where two distinctly different habitats, the plain and the woodlands merge and various species of wildlife from both habitats can coexist.
Meals and overnight at Sametu Tented Camp
28th, 29th and 30th July 2022: Exploring the northern Serengeti Kopjes and Mara River
After breakfast, you will enjoy a wildlife drive enroute to Northern Serengeti where you will have a chance to visit the Kogatende area (the northern part of Serengeti) where the Mara River is situated. The Northern Serengeti is home to a huge number of resident animals including lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, buffalo, eland, black rhinos, and wild dogs. This is also a wonderful time of year to witness one of three significant events that happen during the Great Migrations – the annual river crossings. Your days will be a combination of looking for good river crossings and other wildlife interactions along the Mara River, Wogakuria kopjes as well as the Lamai triangle. The Northern Serengeti and the entire Mara River area are truly awe-inspiring and will surely be one of the highlights of your safari.
Meals & overnights at Mara River Tented Camp
Day Room at Airport Planet Lodge
