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Tanzania Safari
Sample Itinerary |
Day 1 Arusha
Arrive in the evening on KLM. VIP Meet and greet by Unique Safaris and transfer to Arusha for a late dinner and a well deserved night of sleep. VIP service means that the cost of your Tanzanian visa is covered in the cost of the tour, and that you will be met on the tarmac by a private security officer to have your passports processed while you proceed to baggage claim.
Overnight at Arumeru River Lodge,
www.arumerulodge.com Day 2 Tarangire
After breakfast, we will drive to Tarangire National Park, with a stop along the way to visit the Mesarani Snake Park. This small park outside of Arusha has an excellent collection of reptiles. Snakes are a thrill to see in the wild, but often very difficult to observe because they feel the vibration of vehicles and avoid being observed. This visit will give you a nice opportunity to be introduced to the famous snakes of Tanzania so that we can hope to see them in the bush. We will then continue to Tarangire River Camp, near the park entrance gate, check in for lunch, and then head out for an afternoon game drive in the national park. Tarangire National Park, which is the “Baobab Capital of the World”, is 120km and 2 hours drive from Arusha (75 miles). Tarangire is renowned for its wild landscapes and diverse habitats. The Tarangire River, from which the park derives its name, is the only permanent water source within 2600 square kilometers (1625 sq. miles) of protected wildlife area. In addition to numerous animals, the park has over 300 species of birds and has the highest recorded number of breeding bird species of any habitat in the world. Tarangire is most famous for its elephants. There are 3,000 resident elephants in the park and another 3,000 individuals migrate into the park during the dry season of July-October.
Elephants can begin to migrate into Tarangire as early as May and June as they follow the long rains and love the tall swamp grass found in Tarangire National Park. Elephant watching is excellent in Tarangire all year round. Bird watching is amazing all year round as well and Tarangire boasts the largest number of breeding species in one park in all of Africa. During the dry season, herd animals of all kinds (elephants, wildebeest, zebra, gazelles and antelopes) migrate from the surrounding areas for the water found inside the park. This is the second largest migration of animals in Africa after the Serengeti Migration. Tarangire has a very large swamp, called Silali Swamp, which attracts animals and birds of all kinds. During the dry season, the famous giant rock pythons leave the swamp to avoid being stepped on by herd animals and live in the trees on the edge of the swamp. These are amazing creatures and some of the most unusual wildlife viewing is of rock pythons killing large animals of all kinds! Tarangire is also home to the last remaining pack of wild dogs in northern Tanzania. They remain an extremely elusive find.
Overnight : Tarangire River Camp.
http://www.chimpanzeesafaris.com/tarangire.php Day 3 Tarangire
Today we will spend the entire day exploring the Tarangire National Park.
Overnight: Tarangire River Camp. Day 4 Lake Manyara
After breakfast, we drive one hour to Lake Manyara National Park and enjoy a short game drive in the park. Manyara is one of Tanzanias smallest parks but what it lacks in size is made up for by the wildlife we find there. We then continue to the nearby Karatu village and arrive at Bougainvillea for late lunch and a relaxing evening.
Overnight: Bougainvillea Lodge.
www.bougainvillealodge.net
Lake Manyara National Park is 135 km (81 miles) from Arusha town. It is a small park (127 square miles) and is bordered by the western wall of the Great Rift Valley (3,150 feet altitude) and the shallow alkaline Lake Manyara. The park is small, due to the fact that two thirds is by the lake. One third harbors a variety of wild animals are supported by open savannah grassland with rocky outcrops, mashes and woodland. It is noted for its elephant population and tree-climbing lions. Actually, it is quite hard to see tree-climbing lions in Lake Manyara, due to the brush and woodland. The behavior of lions climbing trees was first observed in this park, but lions do climb trees in Tarangire and the Serengeti as well. The park was first made famous by the elephant researcher Ian Douglas Hamilton and Manyara was established specifically to protect the elephants herds. This park has the highest density of elephants boasting 7 elephants per square kilometer. Manyara is a birding paradise more than 380 species have been recorded among them; bee eater, forest – dwelling crowned eagle, heron, flamingo, water fowl, crowner snipers and pratincole. The park is also known for its large troops of baboons and its many hippos, which can be seen either basking or submerged in the hippo pools near the forest. Day 5 Serengeti
After an early departure from Bougainvillea Lodge we drive to the Serengeti National Park, stopping along the way to visit Oldupai Gorge, the site of Louis and Mary Leakey’s famous archeological discoveries. Continue into the national park and game drive to your private mobile camp in central Serengeti. At this time of the year, the massive wildebeest and zebra herds are usually on the move, crossing the Mara River and moving into the Serengeti. The males move in a clockwise direction and the pregnant females move straight south, all with the goal of arriving in the southeastern plains by January. A mobile camp in central Serengeti will allow you to explore various areas and monitor the cats that anxiously await the prey. For the next two nights you will get to experience the true feeling of the African bush at our private mobile camp. Our camp is complete with en-suite facilities, comfortable beds, and wonderful food. Our mobile-tented camp is typically the highlight of our accommodations on our African adventure.
Overnight: Mobile Tented Camp. Day 6 Serengeti
Today we will spend the full day exploring the park.
Overnight: Mobile Tented Camp.
Serengeti National Park is one of the most famous wildlife areas in the world. The park’s 5,700 square miles are part of the 9,600-squire-mile Mara- Serengeti ecosystem, home to incredible herds of wildebeest and other grazing animals. It is the largest national park in Tanzania, with a staggering animal population of about 4 million within 14,763 km sq. It is the largest wildlife sanctuaries in the world and the site of one of the most breathtaking events in animal kingdom-the migration of more than a million wildebeest. The area consists of treeless central plain, savannah dotted with acacia and granite outcroppings called kopjes, and riverine bush and forest in the north. The park’s name is derived from the Maasai language “SIRINGET” which means endless plains. The famous “Migration” that people dream to experience, is actually a dynamic process taking a full year to complete. There are different ‘events’ that happen at different times of the year and in different locations in this park. The basic migration occurs in a clock-wise direction, but it is guided by rain and the growth of grass, so at any time the animals can ignore “tradition” and just follow rain clouds in a more haphazard direction.
There are three “seasons” in the Serengeti. They are short rains, long rains and dry season. During the start of the “short rains” of November and December, the large wildebeest and zebra herds leave the northern part of the Serengeti Eco-system (the Mara in Kenya) and travel east and south around the Gol Mountains and into the short grass plain of the southern and eastern Serengeti. The female wildebeest need to be in this area to begin the calving, as they rely on this particular kind of grass for calving and milk production, that is high in calcium and magnesium. Wildebeest calving can begin anytime between January-March. More than 750,000 females will drop their calves within a 3-week period of time, so predator/prey activity is at a peak. The short grass plains also offer some of the best protection against predators, as they are more visible to the herd animals. Herd animals will remain in this area as long as there is decent rain that continues in the following months, although they only need short bursts of rain to be happy. April is usually the month of long rain, meaning it rains fairly constantly and heavy. At this time, the herd usually begins to move to the Central Serengeti and begins to prepare for the wildebeest rut of May and June. These are some of the most amazing herd sightings, as the male and females herd reunite for breeding. The herd movement continues both west and north between May usually to the end of July. At this point, the herd disperses a bit and males without females may migrate directly north to the Mara and some may move to the famous Western Corridor and remain year round in the Serengeti. If rains are normal, we can expect the majority of the herd to leave the Serengeti by the middle to the end of July. The dry season of July-October still remains excellent for viewing cats of all kinds. In fact, some cats are easier to locate because they must remain more active during the daytime to search for dwindling food. During these months, clients usually stay in the Central Serengeti or the Western Corridor. The famous “river crossings”, which everyone hopes to see, are hard to predict and can occur in a short number of days. But, there are herds that cross at a few different locations on the Grumeti River in Tanzania and the Mara River bordering Kenya and Tanzania. Crossings typically occur October-November on the Mara River and July on the Grumeti River in Tanzania.
Day 7 Loliondo
Today we will continue with a game drive to the northern Serengeti, enjoying a special trip to the Mara River on the border between Kenya and Tanzania. This is the famous river where the huge herds cross during July and November. The herds still congregate around the River, as it is a good source of food and water. We will then continue to the private reserve of Buffalo Luxury Camp. Buffalo is located just outside of the Serengeti and we can enjoy unrestricted off-road game driving, night drive, game walking with Maasai and a very special interaction with Maasai that have not been impacted by mass tourism.
Overnight: Buffalo Luxury Camp.
www.buffaloluxurycamp.com Day 8 Loliondo
Today we will enjoy a full day of activities, including game walking, game drives and a night drive this evening.
Loliondo Game Controlled Area, The Serengeti is much larger than just Serengeti National Park. The park is actually just the center of a vast natural ecosystem, which includes the area known as Loliondo, or more specifically, the Loliondo Game Controlled Area. Loliondo encompasses a vast area, from the north to the south, along the eastern border of Serengeti National Park. Although it is part of the Serengeti ecosystem, it is not subject to the same rules and regulations of the National Park system. This offers many benefits to visitors because there is more freedom of activities here, such as night drives, escorted walking safaris, and more intimate interactions with the Maasai. This magnificent area contains breathtaking scenery and a vast diversity of landscapes, including beautiful mountains, deep gorges, rivers, acacia and riverine woodlands, rolling hills and lush valleys, grassy plains dotted with rocky outcrops (called kopjes), and even a volcano (Ol Donyno Lengai). There is abundant resident game, which enjoys the region’s many waterholes and river areas, as well as seasonal migratory herds, which pass through on their annual trek to and from Maasai Mara in Kenya.
Visitors who are here when the herds decide to cross the Mara River are in for a memorable sight, as thousands of wildebeest and zebra swim for their lives while crocodiles lie in wait for them to try to make this very dangerous crossing. In addition to the luxury of being able to enjoy walking safaris and night drives, visitors also enjoy the fact that there are fewer tourists in this more remote region of Tanzania. People who venture here experience a more private and intimate experience with the wildlife, and people, who live in this spectacular region. One other bonus of visiting Loliondo is that there are two packs of wild dogs that appear to be thriving here, producing puppies for the last three years. While there is never a guarantee of seeing wild dogs, one of your best opportunities for finding these rare and fascinating animals is in Loliondo.
Overnight: Buffalo Luxury Camp. Day 9 Loliondo
Today we have an early morning visit to the Maasai village. We will be back at Camp for lunch and then continue with a game drive this afternoon.
Overnight: Buffalo Luxury Camp. Day 10 Ngorongoro Crater
This morning we have an early breakfast and then drive out of the Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater. This will be a long day of driving, but if we leave early enough, we can reach the Crater in time for a late afternoon game drive.
Overnight: Crater Serena Lodge. Day 11 Ngorongoro Crater
This morning we should be prepared to leave the lodge just before 6am. Our hope is to be one of the first vehicles in the crater. We will have a full day in the crater, a truly unforgettable experience.
Overnight: Crater Serena Lodge.
Ngorongoro Crater is one of seven World Heritage Sites designated in Tanzania, and it is the world’s largest un-flooded caldera. This means the entire rim of the old volcano is intact. The Crater is a memorable experience, while only 100 square miles in total, it also offers six distinct habitats: acacia forest, swamp, short grass, long grass, riverine and woodland. Each habitat attracts a variety of animals. NCA is also the world’s first multi-purpose land use experiment, combining tourism, research, archeology, wildlife management, grazing rights and farming. The rim of the Crater sits at 7,800 feet in altitude and the Crater floor descends to 5,000 feet above sea leave. The Crater is home to almost 30,000 animals in an area naturally enclosed by the slopes of the volcano. The Crater is the best location for viewing black rhino and the huge old bull elephants. There is not enough vegetation to support the large cow and calf herds, but the old males “retire” to the Crater for the wonderful swamp grass and acacia forest. The only animals you will not see in the Crater are the impala and giraffe. It is not known why impala do not inhabit the Crater, but giraffe are unable to descend the steep grade without lowering their heads, which raises their blood pressure to dangerous levels. Day 12 Arusha / Flight Home
After breakfast, drive to Arusha town (3 hours), arriving in time for some shopping at the Cultural Heritage Center. We will then continue to Arumeru River Lodge where we will check into our dayroom with time to shower, pack and relax at the lodge. We will meet for a final farewell dinner and then transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for our KLM return flight to the US. |
