12 Days Tanzania Wildlife Safari & Trible Visits
Destinations: Mount Kilimanjaro Base Camp | Tarangire National Park | Lake Manyara National park | Serengeti National Park | Ngorongoro Crater | Lake Natron | Lake Eyasi | Karatu
Tribes: Chagga | Maasai | Hudzabe
12 Days Tanzania Wildlife Safari Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival Day: Kilimanjaro International Airport:
You’ll be met by our ground handling team at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred you to the delightful accommodation of your choice.
- Overnight: Arusha Town
Day 2: A Day trip to Mount Kilimanjaro Base Camp (Shira Plateau)
Early in the morning of your Kilimanjaro day trip, we will pick you up at your hotel – an active day in Tanzania’s wilderness area waits. The drive to your destination of West Kilimanjaro takes you through a forest reserve, where you can look out for Colobus Monkeys in the trees. Your porters will push your wheelchairs through the beautifully rugged landscape of Shira Plateau starts at 3,500 m above sea level. Get out and take in the sounds, smells, and colors of Tanzania’s stunning wilderness. Along different trails and accompanied by a ranger, you can enjoy views of Kibo, Kilimanjaro’s highest peak, and its northern glaciers, when the weather permits. The vast plains of neighboring Amboseli National Park in Kenya and the deep gorge of the Simba River contrast the views of the world’s highest free-standing mountain. When you reach the northern rim of Shira Crater, take a quick stop at different observation points and see the volcanic cones dotting the landscape below. We will enjoy a picnic lunch under the open sky along the way. It’s a moderate hike and you don’t need to be an athlete to be able to enjoy it. After a 4-5h hike – or earlier, after lunch, hike back to park gate, and drive back to Arusha.
- Overnight: Arusha Town
Day 3: Arusha to Tarangire National Park Safari
After breakfast your guide will pick you from hotel lobby and drive you to Tarangire National park, the is the elephant Sanctuary, the giant baobab trees, bush savannah and the seasonal marshes add to the wonder of this nature reserve. The Tarangire National Park is considered as one of the best places to view elephants up close. The park is also home to buffaloes, zebras and wildebeests which are always closely followed by a range of predators such as lions. Leopards are seen now and then but cheetahs are rarely spotted. From the open roof of the safari vehicle you will be able to absorb the landscape and watch the animals. In the late afternoon you will drive outside Tarangire and drive to Karatu town for overnight stay.
- Overnight: Tarangire National Park.
Day 4: Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park:
After breakfast you will drive to Lake Manyara National Park, whose lake Ernest Hemingway claimed was “the loveliest I had seen in Africa”. The park offers a compact game viewing circuit and is one of the most diverse reserves in the country. The lake itself covers two-thirds of the park and the Great Rift Valley provides a stunning backdrop.
Over 400 species of birds can be found in the Manyara, including thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large water birds such as pelicans, cormorants, and storks. In the afternoon you will head to your Accommodation for dinner and overnight.
- Overnight: Karatu town.
Days 5: Hadzabe Experience & Ngorongoro Conservation Area & Overnight Crater rim
After breakfast, you will experience Lake Eyasi, the home to the hunter-gathers ethnic group of Hadzabe Bushmen, who share similar characteristics to those of Bushmen in Southern Africa. These indigenous tribes are probably the last living in true harmony with nature and are well known for their communication via clicking rather than speech. Try hunting with them and experiencing their way of life. After lunch travel for around 2 hours to the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater for overnight. On Day 6 you will venture into the crater. Ngorongoro crater is unique in that almost all the wildlife lives within the crater walls, hence you have the opportunity to find game easily. Rhino in particular can be seen regularly, as well as prides of lion and other predators like cheetah. Enjoy lunch by the hippo pond. Afternoon we will drive to Ngorongoro Crater rim for Dinner and Overnight.
- Overnight: Ngorongoro Crater Rim.
Day 6: Full Day Ngoro Ngoro Crater full Day
Rise and shine! After breakfast you travel to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area before you drive down into the crater floor for a full day game drive. The massive collapsed volcano is home to over 25,000 mammals ranging from the Big Five – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard – to spotted hyenas, rare wild dogs and some of the more than 500 bird species of the area. After an extensive game drive and a picnic for lunch, you will leave the caldera in the afternoon we will leave crater floor and drive to Central Serengeti.
- Overnight: Serengeti National Park.
Day 7&8: Serengeti National Park Full Day
These two full days are dedicated to game viewing in the Serengeti National Park. Your guide will take you to the best spots to observe the wildlife. Elephants, buffaloes, lions, cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, topi, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles and many more can be seen in this large national park. Especially in the Seronera Valley you will be able to experience fantastic game viewing all year round. The Serengeti is home to the largest animal migration on the planet.
Optional Serengeti Balloon: Prepare for a 4 am wakeup call so that you can fully enjoy your sunrise hot air balloon safari, Enjoy an incredible Safari from The Sky over the Serengeti National Park, boosting enchanting scenery and uninterrupted views as you embark on an extraordinary adventure. Special arrangements are made for you to depart before the break of dawn. This gives you a rare chance to experience the awakening of the surrounding wildlife and a wonderful sunrise. With amazing opportunities for stunning photographic moments, this miraculous glide over the Serengeti ecosystem allows you to absorb the magnitude of the size of the park. Planned take-off is at dawn – 6am. The flight depends mostly on the weather and the wind, thus varies from day to day, but generally it is an hour’s flight. Once you land, our ground team will escort you to your breakfast area where you will commemorate this special event with a hearty breakfast amidst the wild ambiance.
- Overnight: Serengeti National Park.
Day 9: Serengeti National Park Half Day – Lake Natron:
After Morning game drive we will journey to Lake Natron, taking much of the day, viewing the game as you travel. Lake Natron is a hauntingly beautiful and desolate landscape and the breeding ground of around 75% of the world’s lesser flamingo. Algae thrive in the water of this soda lake, turning the surface into an alkaline, salt-encrusted vibrant spectacle of color! Mountain of God, or Ol Doinyo L’Engai in the Maasai language, looms high above Lake Natron on the Great Rift Valley.
- Overnight: Lake Natron
Day 10: Lake Natron to Maasai Village full day.
Today’s Highlights: The main focus today is to follow the activities of the Maasai people. Arrive when the Maasai are getting their cattle out for gazing, your personal Maasai guide is explaining the life, past and today’s life of the Tanzania Maasai, Men will join other warriors for grazing and will guide you along their paths and explain your typical medicinal plants, extraordinary trees, tracks and the local wildlife. In addition to that, the usage of local tools, hunting techniques and fire preparation is a part your unforgettable bush excursion.
Women will join other Maasai women for their daily activities including fetching water, building small house and later you will learn how the do milking from the cows.
During the sunset a group of Maasai men and woman gathering around for the traditional singing & dancing performances. This evening experience a traditional Maasai goat ceremony and join them dancing.
- Option: Oldonyo Lengai Hike during the night
- Overnight: Lake Natron
Day 11: Full day Hike to Leparakash Plains
You will leave around 6am with the sunrise, to get to the foot of the Rift valley’s escarpment. There, you will begin the ascent to reach the place called “Leparakash”, place of transhumance of the semi nomadic Maasai, who graze their herds in these pastures of altitude in seasons. You will meet warriors with their animals but also families who live up there temporarily. They call these houses “temporary bomas”. Your Maasai guide will have plenty of time to explain his culture, local rituals and traditions. Change of scene guaranteed. The climb lasts about 3 hours, just like the descent. Maasai Giraffe will prepare you a good picnic. Good pair of shoes is advised during this piece of adventure.
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Guided with an English speaking local Maasai guide you will leave the hotel just after your breakfast. After some walk, you will ascent to the Rift Valley Mountains to discover the gorges of Engaresero River. Breathtaking landscapes and change of scenery guaranteed. You will climb up to a rocky wall from which hundreds of springs gush out giving birth to the river. Swimming and natural showers along the way. We will provide you with a lunch box for picnic lunch during the day.
The round trip to the summit will take 5 to 6 hours (ascend & descend)
- Overnight: Lake Natron
Day 12: Departure:
The last day you will enjoy the sunrise on the top of hill near Lake Natron and observe flamingos from Birds Viewpoint. Then After returning to the lodge for breakfast and drive to the Kilimanjaro Airport. Arrival at the airport around 6PM.
Prices Based on 2Pax:
- Standard Budget Safari: 4,485 USD. per Person.
- Semi-Luxury Safari: 5,241 USD. per Person.
- Luxury Safari: 9,160 USD. per Person.
- High End Luxury Safari: 13,529 USD. per Person.
- Budget Camping Safari: 3,850 USD. per Person.
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What included on Prices
- Safari according to the itinerary
- 4×4 Safari Jeep – 7seater.
- Service of Professional English speaking guide
- All-inclusive accommodations.
- Meals according to the itinerary in Full Board Basis.
- Mineral water on safari.
- All mentioned activities.
- All national park fees and Entry Fees.
- Flying Doctors insurance (AMREF) during the safari.
- Accommodation before Safari
- Airport Transfers
What is Excluded on Prices (Available on request)
- International Flights.
- Optional activities.
- Alcoholic and soft drinks.
- Tips to Driver/Guide ($15 – 20/group/Day).
- Personal spending money for souvenirs.
- Travel Health insurance.
- Serengeti Balloon ($.599/person).
- Cannoeing at Lake Momela ($. 150/person).
- Night Game drive at Lake Manyara ($100/person).
Important information's to know
- Children under 5 years are free of Charge.
- Children are paid 50% of Adults rate – Children are considered from 5 to 15 years.
- Child rate applies only when sharing with paying adults.
- Children under 6-years must be accompanied by an adult.
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking.
- A small amount of walking May involved, carry with you hiking shoes.
- The duration of transfers are approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions.
- A Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory when enters Tanzania.
- Visas are available on arrival. All visa requirements are the sole responsibility of the traveler.
- A deposit of 20% is required to confirm the booking; this amount is for booking accommodations and domestic flights if applicable. (Refundable up to 7-days before Departure date)
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