After clearing the entry formalities for Tanzania at at the airport - you will be met in the arrivals area for the short bus transfer to planet lodge - this is no more than 15 mins away, very convenient and good just to relax - have a hot shower maybe catch up on your emails and get ready for your safari tomorrow. Always a good idea to wake up early so you can get a clear view of the towering Mount Kilimanjaro not far away.
Your driver guide will meet you this morning at the Lodge and be ready to go as soon as you have finished breakfast. The drive to Manyara will give you a great introduction to contemporary African life with a mixture of modern buildings and traditional villages as you travel along the good paved road all the way to the park entrance. You safari starts from the park entrance with a game drive through to the camp, the plan being that you would arrive ion camp in time for lunch.
While you are here in Manyara you will be able to do a combination of game drives and bush walks - this is an excellent way to start your safari in Northern Tanzania. There is a good variety of wildlife here including many of your classic African species like Elephants and lions which are noted here for climbing into the trees to relax in the heat of the day. There are also species like hippos, leopard, buffalo, impala , zebra , giraffe and many others to enjoy your days on safari.
After a morning drive and breakfast you will then set off back out out of the park and then ascend up into the highlands over the Albertine Rift to reach the famous Ngorongoro crater. There are some spectacular view points along the way which are great to stop at and take it all in. You should arrive at camp in time for lunch, so you can rest and then have a nice walk to stretch your legs and meet and learn a little about the Masai families and their way of life that live near here, keep you cameras and binoculars ready as there is always some beautiful birds, views and wildlife to be seen around this stunning part of Tanzania.
This morning you set off early for a game drive into the incredible Ngorongoro Crater, the World's largest in tact volcanic caldera and an amazing safari spectacle - you will quickly see why it is so famous as one of the best safari areas in Africa.
Species to look out for here are Black Rhino, Spotted Hyena, African Buffalo, Elephants, Eland, Southern Lions, Thompson's and Grants Gazelle, African Wolf, Large flocks of Flamingo's, Masai Giraffe and so much more.
You will have lunch down in the crater and then make your way out of here and then descend down onto the Serengeti Plains which stretch out from here. Its a beautiful drive with lots of wildlife to be seen along the way. You should arrive in camp later in the afternoon for a well earned cold drink around the camp fire and sunset.
Your typical day here will start with an early wake up call with a cup of tea or coffee and then a light breakfast at the camp dining area while enjoying the camp fire. You will then set off for the morning game drive exploring the area in search of wildlife which is abundant in this area. Depending on where you are and what you are seeing you would stop for a morning tea and loo break before continuing on and then returning to camp for lunch, an afternoon siesta and then going back out again in the afternoon for another game drive and then return to camp at last light.
You have a flight today from the nearby airstrip back to Kilimanjaro where you will be able to link with your International Flights home. If the schedule allows it you may choose to have a day use of a room at the nearby hotel which is quite comfortable and you can enjoy a hot shower and a meal before your flight home.
