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Expedition Highlights
Fly into Kilimanjaro International
Airport, or drive from Kenya via the Namanga
border-post, to discover the gateway to
Tanzania’s legendary northern game-viewing
circuit – Arusha. This bustling safari town
is located at an altitude of 1,500m in the
fertile southern foothills of Mount Meru and
enjoys a temperate climate; the perfect
introduction to tropical Africa.
Overnight in lodge or hotel (half-board)
Arusha – Tarangire National Park
 Head into the wilderness this morning,
through the open grass plains of southern Maasailand to Tarangire National Park in the
floor of the central Rift Valley, where huge
concentrations of wildlife congregate,
especially in the dry season months of June,
July and August when wildebeest, zebra,
gazelle, buffalo, eland, elephant, oryx and
hartebeest return to the Tarangire River,
the only source of water for thousands of
kilometers around. Overnight in camp or
lodge (full board)
Tarangire – Lake Manyara National Park
 Set off for the Great Rift Valley and admire
the spectacular scenery as you approach Lake
Manyara National Park. Our game drive in
this park starts at the gate, where entry is
through the groundwater forest, alive with
baboons, vervet and blue monkeys. Birdlife
is extravagant and prolific throughout
Manyara.
Although
Lake Manyara Park is only 330 sq km in area
(of which about 230 sq km are lake), it
supports a large number of animals. This is
due to the variety of habitats; the rift
wall, the ground water forest, acacia
woodland, areas of open grassland, the lake
shore, swamp and the lake itself.
A large
variety of water birds can be viewed at the
Hippo Pool section of the Simba River,
including herons, egrets, storks, cranes and
sacred ibis – to name just a few. Among the
mammals which roam Manyara park are giraffe,
elephant, impala, warthog, lion, wildebeest
and zebra. Overnight in camp or lodge
(full board)
Mto wa Mbu (Manyara Region) – Lake Eyasi
 Don you hiking boots this morning and
experience the pleasure of bush-walking or
biking in the achingly beautiful Great Rift
Valley. During your morning hike, take note
of your guide’s sightings, identifications
and bush-lore, listen to his stories – and
ask as many questions as you can think of!
Your guide will be an English-speaking
local, born and bred in this area and happy
to share his knowledge of flora, fauna,
avifauna and local traditions with you.
Enjoy an African buffet lunch in Mto wa Mbu
before setting off for Lake Eyasi and a
visit to the Hadzabe tribe, last of the
hunter/gatherer bushmen, related to the
Xhosa tribe of the Namibian desert.
Overnight in camp or tented lodge (full
board)
Lake Eyasi – Bushmen & other tribes
 Partake in an early morning hunt with the Hadzabe men; this is not for the squeamish,
as the most common prey is baboon and once
back in camp you will be offered the prize
delicacy to eat – the raw liver of your
catch! Walk the lakeshore and, take an
agricultural tour or visit another ancient,
colorful tribe, the Barabaig.
The Barabaig
are the most populous of a dozen closely
related tribes, collectively known as the
Datoga or Tatoga. Representatives of the
earliest known Nilotic migration into East
Africa from southwest Ethiopia, the Barabaig
are semi-nomadic pastoralists and, like the
Maasai, are dedicated cattle-herders. Overnight
in camp or tented lodge (full board)
Karatu & Iraq tribe
 Experience the lifestyle and learn the
culture of Iraq people today. Visit Elephant
Cave and enjoy a bird watching walk along
the way. Let your guide explain to you the
local farming and irrigation methods used by
the people of Karatu, located on the lower
slopes of Ngorongoro and thus a fertile
agricultural area. Overnight in camp or
lodge (full board)
Karatu – Ngorongoro Crater –Serengeti
Plains
 Rise with the sun today and set off early
for a sensational drive through the densely
forested outer slopes of Ngorongoro. Pause
at Heroes Point for your first, breathtaking
view over the 260 km crater floor, lying 600
m below. Even from this distance, it is
possible to pick out thousand-strong herds
of wildebeest, zebra and buffalo grazing
their way about; bring your binoculars into
play and try to spot a few of the elephant
which forage the edges of Lerai Forest.
Experience the thrill of entering this 600 m
deep crater by a steep, narrow track which
winds down the crater wall. Ngorongoro
Crater, the largest unbroken, unflooded
crater on our planet, is truly one of the
world’s most amazing places. Descend and
discover…
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The
Rainforest, which covers the
higher parts of Ngorongoro and
extends into the Crater in deep
gullies.
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The
Grasslands, where the forest
gives way to scrub, small trees
and bushes, much loved by
browsing rhino and family groups
of elephant.
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Lake Magadi, feeding ground for
thousands of mainly Lesser
Flamingoes
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The
Swamps of Gorigor - fed by
Ngoitokitok Springs and the
Oljoro Nyokie River, and Mandusi
- fed by the Munge River which
flows into Lake Magadi.
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Lerai
& Ngoitokitok Forests, composed
mainly of Yellow-barked
Fever-tree Acacias, enjoy
perennial fresh water and are
especially important refuges for
Black Rhinos.
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 Defend your picnic lunch from circling kites
as you dine al fresco by the hippo pool!
Back now to your safari vehicle for the
ascent along another steep, narrow track to
the Crater rim from where we continue our
adventure down to the Serengeti Plains. Keep
your binoculars handy for game-spotting en
route to Oldupai Gorge and its small museum
which contains records, fossils and pictures
of Louis & Mary Leakey’s hominid
discoveries. Driving on, we come to Shifting
Sand Dunes, just 6 km north-west of Oldupai.
These dunes
were formed from volcanic ash which erupted
from Oldoinyo Lengai and settled on the
plains. Strong north-westerly winds move the
Shifting Sand Dunes an average of about 17m
per year and they are about 9m high and
approximately 100m along the curve.
Overnight in camp or lodge (full board)
Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Serengeti
National Park (southern section)
 Explore today the lakes and kopjes of the
short-grass plains. Discover the resident
lion prides and numerous water birds at Lake
Lagarja (also called Ndutu) and nearby Lake
Masek; drive slowly between the giraffe
families in the surrounding acacia woodland.
Drive across to Moru Kopjes (rocky outcrops
on the treeless plains), where very old
Maasai rock paintings can be found at Ngong
Rock – an old Maasai ceremonial meeting
place.
The southern
grass plains are some of the most productive
and nutritious natural grasslands in the
world. When the short rains start in
November, the huge herds of migratory
wildebeest and zebra move south from the
northern woodlands. They move to exploit the
mineral-rich grass which they need to rear
their young (which are born in the Ndutu
area during January and/or February. These
plains are also used by migratory birds,
including the pallid harrier, white stork
and peregrine falcon. Overnight in camp
or lodge (full board)
Serengeti National Park (central &
northern section)
 Into the transition zone! At Naabi Hill
(official entry point to Serengeti National
Park), the short grasslands of the vast
plains gradually give way to medium
grassland. In the central area of Seronera,
longer grasses can reach a height of 30 cm.
Explore other intriguing kopjes which
provide shelter and capture water for a
wealth of wildlife and plants.
Without such
environs, lions and other large animal would
be unable to survive the dry season on the
Serengeti plains. Most kopjes are
outstanding for their size and profusion of
resident wildlife, including lion, leopard,
serval, caracal and even elephant as well as
cheetah, giraffe, baboon and large cobras.
Take time to relax in a shady spot for a
tasty packed lunch before journeying on to
the northern plains. In May and June, when
the rains stop, the migratory herds start to
move west and north once more and provide an
amazing spectacle as wildebeest march in
long, meandering lines that stretch for
miles, or bunch together into
thousands-strong groups.
They will
move through the northern woodlands in most
years from June to December, to feed on the
longer grasses which persist in the Lobo
area. Rocky hills, rivers and woodlands
typify this scenic locale where we will take
our rest tonight. Overnight in camp or
lodge (full board)
Serengeti National Park (northern
section)
 Encounter more wildlife than you ever
dreamed of! Venture into a part of the
Western Corridor to see exceptionally large
crocodiles which inhabit the Grumeti River
and lie in wait for the wildebeest’s
perilous crossing to the permanent water of
Kenya’s Masai Mara. Come face-to-face with
elephant in the woodland and klipspringers
as well as pythons on the kopjes. Watch the
powerful Martial eagle hunting game birds,
hyrax and small antelope on the plains.
Truly, today, you are in nature’s
wonderland! Overnight in camp or lodge
(full board)
Serengeti National Park – Lake Natron
 Bid farewell to Serengeti as we drive
through Kleins Gate and wend our way towards
Lake Natron, a magnificent soda lake which
provides the only known breeding ground for
lesser flamingo. Fix your eyes on superb
scenery, skies and the sight of Oldoinyo
Lengai – the Maasai Mountain of God.
Overnight in camp or tented lodge (full
board)
Lake Natron (800m) & Oldoinyo Lengai
(2,878m)
Enjoy a full day at Lake Natron. Visit the
waterfalls and drive around the lake; climb
the “Maasai mountain of God” or simply relax
in camp. Oldoinyo Lengai is one of East
Africa’s youngest volcanoes and possibly the
most active. The climb normally takes 5 to 6
hours along steep slopes which are
practically bereft of shade and the descent
(which can be very tough on knees and
ankles) takes about 2 hours.
Most local
guides recommend starting this climb at
midnight, to reach the crater rim in time
for sunrise and descend before the intense
mid-day heat reaches the parched slopes.
Suitable only for reasonably fit and agile
adventurers, this is, nevertheless, a
rewarding climb, passing through some
magnificently arid scenery and offering
spectacular views back towards the Rift
Valley before leading to the lunar landscape
of the crater, studded with ash cones, lava
pools, steam vents and other evidence of
volcanic activity. Overnight in camp or
tented lodge (full board)
Lake Natron – Arusha
 Today there are options to drive back to Arusha via Mto wa Mbu or Longido, according
to your wish. Overnight in Arusha (lodge
or hotel) [full board]
Arusha Town Tour - KIA
Morning guided tour of Arusha Town. After
lunch we will transfer you to Kilimanjaro
International Airport to connect with your
ongoing arrangements
Extension
Safari:
Side trips to Lake Victoria, Longido
Mountain, West Kilimanjaro
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