13 Days 12 Nights Tanzania Safari

DAY 1: ARRIVAL ARUSHA
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport where you will be met by a Afritrends Safaris representative, who will transfer you to Arusha National Park. Despite its small size, Arusha National Park has a rich variety of wildlife and within the park’s three vegetation zones, many different kinds of animals can be found. The Mount Meru eco-system is especially diverse and home to some of the more elusive larger mammals, such as leopard and hyena. Almost 400 species of birds have been recorded in the park. Some of them are migratory and only present between October and April, others are permanent residents. Overnight stay at the Lodge.

OPTION: Walking Safari – Accompanied by a ranger and lasting for up to four hours, his is an opportunity to enjoy the park away from the usual game drive from a safari vehicle. You can discuss which walking route you opt for with your guide and armed ranger. 

DAY 2: TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
Drive to Tarangire National Park. Game viewing in the park until late afternoon. Tarangire is famous for its huge herds of elephants and the density of baobab trees. Throughout the dry season, thirsty antelope and elephants trek hundreds of kilometers to drink at the Tarangire River. Overnight stay at the Lodge

DAY 3: TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK GAME DRIVES
Early morning game drive. Return to the lodge for breakfast and continue exploring Tarangire for the rest of the day. Take time to take in the views from the strategically located lodge and to relax in its surroundings. Overnight stay at the Lodge.

 Day 4: Mto Wa Mbu Cultural Tourism
After an early morning game drive in Tarangire National Park, drive to Mto wa Mbu where you will participate in the Mto Wa Mbu Cultural Tourism Program. Mto wa Mbu is a good place to meet/see some of the different people of Tanzania, notably the Mbugwe, Iraqw, Gorowa, Irangi, Chagga and Maasai. Here you will see many of the different peoples of Tanzania living alongside each other. Each day on this tour offers a different cultural immersion depending on the activities going on in the village. You can do a farming tour by visiting a Chagga family who brews banana beer or a farmer from Kigoma who makes palm oil press. Alternatively, walk towards the Papyrus Lake where you can meet the Rangi people who collect materials from the lake to make baskets and mats. On the way, you can see rice farming and visit Sandawe families who still make traditional bows and arrows for hunting. You may also visit the Makonde carver families of the South of Tanzania who have generations of skills passed on in carving and art. Overnight stay at the camp/lodge.

DAY 5: DRIVE TO LAKE MANYARA
After breakfast head into Lake Manyara National Park for game drive with picnic lunch on route. Explore the park till late afternoon. Return to Camp for a second night’s stay.

OPTION: Afternoon canoe safari in Lake Manyara National Park where you will have the opportunity to see an incredible array of birdlife including thousands of pink-hued flamingos. You can get very close to giraffes, elephants, buffalos and other animals grazing on the shoreline.

OPTION: Night game drive – Experience a whole new world of nocturnal animal species and get a different perspective of the park and wildlife. Head into the thick ground-water forest of Lake Manyara where porcupines, genets and civet cats are frequent visitors. It is highly likely you will see many hippos grazing on the side of the road. Lion sightings are common as at night they are almost always active.

DAY 6: LAKE MANYARA
Early morning bicycle ride to the lakeshore. You will ride through the stunning vistas of the lake, the Rift Valley Wall and small herds of wildlife. The ride is on fairly flat single tracks. Option to also go for a local canoe on the lake with local fishermen.  Head to Karatu for lunch at the famous Gibbs Farm and undertake a coffee and farm tour of this historic working farm. Enjoy the cool air and the hilly surroundings of Karatu. Overnight stay at the Lodge.

DAY 7: DRIVE TO SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast, head for a 3 hour guided nature walk to the Elephant Caves, accompanied by an armed ranger. Starting from a track in Karatu town, hike through Ngorongoro rainforest, a corridor for animals between Lake Manyara National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. Walk through the untouched forest enjoying its wild nature and abundant bird life, discovering its hidden waterfalls. Visit the Elephant Caves where for centuries the elephants have dug into the hills for necessary minerals and vitamins for their daily diet. If you are lucky, you may see elephants in the vicinity. 

Drive to the Central part of Serengeti with a picnic lunch on route. Serengeti, or Seringit in Maa, meaning ‘endless plains’, is home to the annual migration of more than a million wildebeest, 200,000 zebras and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelle undertaking the long trek to new grazing grounds. Overnight stay at the camp/lodge.

Day 8 – 9: Serengeti National Park game drives
Early morning game drives. Return to the camp for breakfast and enjoy exploring the variety of Serengeti ecosystem for the rest of the day. The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the oldest on earth. The essential features have changed little in a million years; Serengeti’s famous plains are interspersed with wooded hills, towering termite mounds, rocky kopjes and rivers lined with acacia trees. Return to Camp for an overnight stay

OPTION: Balloon Safari in Serengeti – A special way to get a glimpse of some of the elusive nocturnal inhabitants of Serengeti. Enjoy the sun rise in the distance across the Serengeti plains as you take in the aerial view of the national park. This will be followed by a glass of champagne and a delicious bush breakfast in the park.

DAY 10: DRIVE TO NGORONGORO CONSERVANCY
After a final morning game drive in Serengeti, drive for approximately3 hours to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Not only is Ngorongoro Conservation Area a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it is also considered one of the natural wonders of the world. It is unique in that it allows over 40,000 Maasai pastoralists with their cattle goats and sheep to live alongside the abundant wildlife in a natural setting. The conservation area gives you a rare insight into how people lived in harmony with nature and wildlife in ancient times all over the globe.Picnic lunch at Naabi Hill gate. Head to the Ngorongoro Crater rim for overnight stay. 

OPTION: Visit Olduvai Gorge. This is one of the most important fossil sites in the world, holding the earliest evidence of the existence of human ancestors. Over thirty miles long and about three hundred feet deep, the gorge is famous for the evolutionary discoveries of some of the earliest signs of human development. Hundreds of fossilized bones and stone tools have been found in the area dating back millions of years, concluding that humans evolved in Africa. 

DAY 11: NGORONGORO CRATER TOUR
Descend into Ngorongoro Crater for a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch on route. Ngorongoro Crater is a spectacular setting and is the world’s largest caldera measuring 600 meters in depth and covering 250 square kilometers in area. It contains an abundant and stable population of wildlife, with over 20,000 large animals, including Tanzania’s remaining critically endangered black rhino. Chances of sighting the Big Five are always good here. Ascend back onto the crater rim and return to the Lodge for a second night’s stay.

DAY 12: DRIVE TO ARUSHA
After breakfast, drive to a remote old Maasai trail from where you walk, accompanied by an experienced armed ranger, along the Ngorongoro Crater rim for over 2 hours on a steady incline. Enjoy the unique flora and fauna of the Ngorongoro Highlands, notably the variety of birdlife in this ecosystem as well as larger animals such as giraffes, zebras and elephants. Learn about the traditional medicinal uses of various plants, as well as spot animal tracks and dung. This walk offers spectacular views into the Crater that you can enjoy on your own in peace and calmness. With a picnic lunch on route, drive to Arusha for bed and breakfast overnight stay at the Lodge.

DAY 13: TRANSFERS TO THE AIRPORT
Enjoy a morning relaxation at the Lodge and later drive to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward journey.