Namiri-Serengeti & Ngorongoro Tanzania. SMALL GROUP ESCORTED BY TONY MCKEITH 2023

Day notes

On arrival in Kilimanjaro after you have collected your luggage and passed customs etc, you will be met by Tony McKeith and our driver/guide who will be holding a name board as you exit the arrival terminal at Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Transfer to the city of Arusha, the starting point for all safaris to the northern safari circuit. takes around 50 mins.

Rivertrees lies nestled in the foothills of Mt Meru and commanding a majestic view of Kilimanjaro. This picturesque country estate combines old-world ambience, rustic African elegance, excellent farm cuisine, personal service and genuine warmth from your hosts. The inn's timeless tranquility makes it the perfect spot to get over your international flight.

We will have the afternoon to relax and we will enjoy diner togther before heading to bed after a long day.

Day notes

Depart Arusha to Tarangire, you will drive through bustling Arusha Town and then on to the Tarangire national park. The last 2 hours of your journey is a chance to game drive across less visited parts of Tarangire seeing lots of game along the way. Reaching Oliver's Camp early afternoon in time for lunch and time to settle in to your luxury tented suite before heading out on an afternoon game drive. This is a very game rich area and the team looking after you will brief you on the do and dont's in camp. Wildlife passes through camp day and night and so we will be escort you to and from your tents in the evening and early morning.

Day notes

Today after breakfast on the deck overlooking the bush we will bid farewell to the team at Olivers Camp and set off on the next leg of our safari.

We start the day game driving across the Tarangire no doubt adding to the list of wildlife encounters.

Leaving Tarangire we now head for the Ngorongoro Crater.

We will pass the outskirts of Lake Manyara and the village of Mto wa Mbu enroute, before climbing up the great rift valley, passing through the town of Karatu and reaching the Ngorongoro Conservation area. The conservation area is a vast area The crater is at its heart but there is so much to see on the drive up to the crater rim. The caldera is 2000ft. deep, and considered to be the 8th wonder of the world. Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact caldera in the world with an abundance of wildlife permanently resident on the crater floor. As you reach the rim of the crater you will be faced with some simply incredible views.

We will check in to the Serena Lodge and can spend the afternoon at leisure overlooking the Ngorongoro Crater from the viewing points in the lodge.

Day notes

Today the safari changes completely as we depart the Ngorogoro conservation area as we decend to the vast Serengeti plains, passing masai boma's and witnessing the subtle timeless mix of wildlife and herds of pastorialists cattle. We stop along the way at the entrance to the serengeti National Park and this is a chance to climb a rock kopije to get an simply stunning view of the Serengeti Plains and get a feel for the area you are entering.

Depart for Serengeti National Park. Driving towards the Serengeti Plains we expect to see some game enroute, particularly as we get closer to Ndutu area and Naabi Hill Gate, the border with Serengeti.
We then game drive to Namiri Plains.

Our safari to the Eastern Serengeti at Namiri Plains Camp really fits with the Busanga Safaris ethos. Created for safari enthusiasts it offers very good levels of comfort but the real attraction is the exclusivity in secluded surroundings, excellent guiding and a more intense wildlife experience.
The hope is that we will encounter the migrating herds  as they move to the souther plains from the Masai Mara and experience the effect the bio mass has on the  plains as predators take advantage of the glut. Of course luck will play a part in our safari but we will do our best and at anytime Namiri has a reputation for it’s great game viewing.

The migration that passes through Namiri Plains in November can unleash spectacular predator sightings as the resident big cats feast on the migrating herds of wildebeest and zebra. This area of the Serengeti is home to some of the highest concentrations of Hyena in Africa and clans of up to 30 are regularly spotted scavenging on kills. Zebra, Thompson’s gazelle and eland also migrate to Namiri Plains.

We will be exploring on game drives in search of the best sightings. Including at least one full day out on the plains with a picnic lunch
With our closest neighbour over an hour’s drive away, you may be excused for thinking that Namiri Plains belongs to us. The camp – created for safari enthusiasts seeking comfort and exclusivity in secluded surroundings – is elegant, contemporary and comfortable.

In the mess tent between game drives you can sink into one of the elegant sofas and watch the wildlife roaming over the surrounding plains or relax in the outdoor seating area under the shade of the giant acacias. In the evening, guest gather to recount the day’s adventures beside the camp fire before dinner is served in the spacious dining tent or under a glittering canopy of stars.

Namiri Plains is where the southern short grass plains meet the acacia woodland and this is our base for the next four nights Namiri is an authentic bush camp pitched in the shade of giant acacias, expect large tents, en-suite bathrooms and flush toilets, bucket showers, snug beds and a well-stocked bar. Camp has 360° views of wildlife crossing the surrounding plains, the river area with its perennial vegetation and reed beds attracts many birds and smaller interesting wildlife species.

Day notes

Today we bid farewell to Namiri and fly from the Serengeti back to Arusha where we will transfer to Kilimanjaro airport and your homeward flight.