DAY 1: ARRIVAL

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be met by our customer care representative who will give you an overview of your safari as you are transferred to the African Tulip for check in and overnight stay. Arusha, the gateway to the world-famous game sanctuaries of Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Lake Manyara, is one of the oldest towns in Tanzania. From a tiny German garrison in 1900, Arusha has grown to become the tourist capital of Tanzania with a population of about 400,000 people. At 1,540 metres above sea level, Arusha enjoys a very agreeable climate throughout the year. Positioned at the centre of Africa between the Cape and Cairo on the Great North Road, Arusha is the administrative seat of the East African Community made up of Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Accommodation: African Tulip –Standard Room Meal Plan: Breakfast

DAY 2: DRIVE TO NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA

After breakfast, you will journey to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The area was founded in 1959, following a conflict between the National Parks and the Maasai, as a nature reserve to protect a unique wildlife but also as a haven for the Maasai. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area covers approximately 8288 km2, 890 km2 of which is montane forest covering part of the crater wall. Ngorongoro offers a wide range of habitats: wetlands, grasslands, forests, streams and savannas. The crater itself covers about 260 km2. A World Heritage Site, it is in fact a caldera, caused by the collapse of a massive volcano nearly 2.5 million years ago. Have your game viewing at the crater while enjoying a spectacularly panoramic view of the interior of the crater. The crater boasts the largest animal density in Africa with some 20,000 animals including around 55 species of mammals, ostriches, Kori bustards, dwarf flamingos, crowned cranes, zebras, gazelles, warthogs, wildebeest, hartebeest all are present. Eland, jackal, black rhino and some servals are also among the principal inhabitants. The Ngorongoro Crater is further home to many predators such as hyenas, lions and leopards. Cheetahs, giraffes, hartebeest and impala, however are missing. Have your hot lunch at a local restaurant. Later proceed for a Masai Village visit in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The Masai arrived in this region approximately 200 years ago and today there are over 42 000 tribal people living in Ngorongoro alongside their cattle, donkeys, goats and sheep. They have the right to roam freely through the area and during the rainy season they move to the open plains while in the dry season they set up their homesteads in the adjacent bushland and mountain slopes. Their homesteads are arranged in bomas, where huts are clustered in a circular shape and surrounded by thorn tree branches for protection, and during your visit you can learn more about their culture and lifestyle. Drive to your lodge for dinner and overnight Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge Meal Plan: Full Board

DAY 3: DRIVE TO SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK VIA NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA

After breakfast, you will depart for Serengeti national park with picnic lunch boxes. Serengeti is Africa’s most famous and Tanzania’s largest park covering 14,736 sq km and is adjoining with the Masai Mara National reserve in Kenya. With a wildebeest population of about 2 million and several other hoofed species (which include zebra, Thomson’s gazelle, impala, topi, Grants gazelle, Kongoni, Eland, Kirk’s dik, klipspringer, roan, Oryx, oribi, waterbuck, buffalo, giraffe and warthog), the Serengeti is sure to attract a string of prey such as lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, golden jackals and bat eared foxes. Elephants are relatively scarce and the few remaining black rhinoceros are restricted to the Moru Koppies area. Serengeti also offers rewarding bird viewing with ostrich and Kori bustard being common, a variety of larks, finches, and raptors can be seen but the most distinctive small bird is the lilac breasted roller. Accommodation: Serengeti Serena Lodge Meal Plan: Full Board

DAY 4: FULL DAY EXPLORING SERENGETI

This morning you will depart for the balloon safari which is charged at an extra cost, alternatively enjoy an early morning game drive through the park to see the nocturnal predators returning from their nightly hunt and very active animals waking up in the early morning light. Depending on the time of year and the migration of the herds, you can expect to see wildebeest, lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, monkeys, baboons, hippos, rhinos, antelopes, birds and other species. You will get to enjoy morning and afternoon game viewing drives on the vast Serengeti plains. In the early morning and evening light, the Serengeti landscape is stunningly beautiful. The Serengeti ecosystem supports the greatest remaining concentration of plains game in Africa, including more than three million large mammals. The park is one that can never disappoint. One is spoilt by the variety of bird and wildlife species in this game reserve. Depending with wildlife movement, we can have hot lunch at the camp or enjoy picnic lunch packets. Overnight at the lodge. Accommodation: Serengeti Serena Lodge Meal Plan: Full Board

DAY 5: DRIVE TO LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, you shall drive overland to Lake Manyara National Park via Ngorongoro Conservation Area with packed lunch while discovering enroute views. Nestling at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, a beautiful park, Lake Manyara contains a diverse range of habitats and topographical features ranging from the rift wall, ground water forest, acacia woodlands and open grasslands to the shores of Lake Manyara and the lake itself. Have afternoon game viewing in the park searching for the diverse flora and fauna of the park. There are some 350 different bird species in the park. The park provides sanctuary to a variety of animals such as the gazelle, impala, buffalo, wildebeest, hyena, baboon, giraffe, hippo and the famous tree-climbing lions that are unique to the Lake. The park is generally recognized for its incredible beauty. Arrive at your lodge in time for late check in and refreshments. Dinner and overnight at the lodge Accommodation: Lake Manyara Best View Lodge Meal Plan: Full Board

DAY 6: DRIVE TO TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

This morning you will you have an early breakfast and depart for Tarangire National Park, passing through the semi-arid savannah landscapes of the Great Rift Valley floor with picnic lunch box. Discover the Tarangire National Park. Old hunting grounds declared a National Park in 1970, Tarangire is the sixth largest park in the country. Its name comes from the Tarangire River, which runs through the park from south to north. Covering an area of 2600 km2, Tarangire has an amazing diversity of plants (sausage trees, acacias tortelli) but is best known for the huge baobab trees dotting its rocky slopes. The park also offers a very diverse fauna. Many birds have been identified including lapwings, African hoopoe, kingfishers, ostriches, Kori bustards, secretary birds, vultures and marabou storks. The savannah of the Tarangire National Park is also home to many animals. Thus, although the park is best known for hosting one of the largest concentrations of African elephants, Lions, leopards and cheetahs are also present but are harder to see because of the tall grass. it also houses many other residents. Impala, waterbuck croissant, buffalo, hartebeest, Cape eland, kudu and hyraxes live there. Check in in your hotel in time for dinner and overnight. Accommodation: Tarangire Sopa Lodge Meal Plan: Full Board

DAY 7: FULL DAY EXPLORING TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

This morning, you shall depart for a full day game drive in the Tarangire National Park. This beautiful park covers 2 600 km² of undulating grasslands and swamps that stretch from the plains of the Maasai Steppe in the southeast to the lakes of the Great Rift Valley to the north and west. The north of the park is the most visited area where the perennial Tarangire River meanders across the landscape, while the south consists of a series of vast swamps that transform into verdant plains during the dry season. During your game viewing, you can expect to see plenty of elephant and lion, the most renowned residents of the park, as well as in excess of 400 species of birds. Admire the rising sun shimmering across the grassy savannahs and the dappled light that filters through the branches of epic baobab trees while large herds of buffalo and zebra graze peacefully on the plains. Accommodation: Tarangire Sopa Lodge Meal Plan: Full Board

DAY 8: DEPARTURE

After breakfast, you will drive back to Arusha. Have lunch on own arrangement. Do some last minute shopping before being dropped off at Kilimanjaro International Airport to board your flight back home. Say good bye to the wonderful country and promise to join us on another expedition!

TYPICAL DAY ON SAFARI

Our professional guides are there to assist you every step of the way. Even though there is a general outline of your safari, your guide will talk with you regarding mach day’s plans. He will tell you about the country you are visiting, its history, traditions, the area you are visiting, what you see ; he will take you to the lovélies places, look after any formalities or négociations with the local people, and take care of your safety and comfort. They all are proficient in bush craft, and can also tell you about the local traditions, wildlife, identify the birds, and help you learn more about the world around you. All our guides speak English as well as their local language and some speak French and Spanish as well. Days will vary depending on your specific schedule, road conditions, and what you would like to do. A typical day may unfold like this ; You will get up before dawn when hot coffee and tea are served. The air is cold as the sun rises and shimmers on the open plains. This is the best time to see the wildlife. Your camera is ready to go and you have layered your clothing to keep you warm. Head into the bush and search for lions, elephant, giraffe and plains game. Each turn will offer something unique – a lioness and her cubs, a herd of elephant moving to a waterhole, a cheetah stalking a gazelle. Your morning game drive lasts about two hours, depending on what you see. Return to the lodge for a delicious breakfast. After breakfast there is time to relax from being up at sunrise or now is the time to participate in any additional activities that the lodge may offer – such as walks, village visits, or bike rides. Lunch is usually served in camp/lodge, unless you are out for a full day’s game drive, when they will have a picnic lunch. You will head out again in the afternoon ; searching for the special species that may have eluded you. As the sun sets, return to camp for a hot shower. Then indulge in a delicious dinner and after dinner drinks in the lounge. There may also be a chance to sit around the campfire exchanging tales of the bush. Everyone retires early with great anticipation of the next day's adventure ! When you are out on safari your schedule is flexible at most locations ; however, some locations have set times for game drives or walks. You can always talk with the hosts of the camps/lodge to adjust schedules and they will try to accommodate you. The restriction will be to stay within park rules and travel times required to get you to your destination. Your guides will always give their recommendations but are there to listen to your needs.