Classic Northern Tanzania Great Parks Expedition

Our People~ Our Culture ~Our WildlifeITINERARY SUMMARY:

DAY 1 : ARRIVAL -ARUSHA

JAMBO! Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be met by Classic Journeys Africa Customer Care Representative who will introduce the Driver Guide who will be with you throughout the safari. He will then assist you with the transfer to your hotel in Arusha, assist you with the hotel check-in and brief you on your program ahead.

Overnight: Zawadi House/ Kibo Palace Hotel        

Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast

DAY 2 : TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

This morning depart for Tarangire National Park which Tanzania’s best-kept secret on the northern safari circuit. Named after a nearby river called Tarangire, it has the same attractions as the parks up-north- the only difference is that this place is not usually as crowded as the other ones.

Hot lunch will be served at lodge or camp, following check in, depart for an afternoon game viewing drive in the park returning later as the sun sets.

This is a year-round park with distinct seasons offering different experiences, from dusty, dry and baking with animals clustered around the rapidly reducing river, to the fecund green season full of new-born animals and chattering birds.

Overnight: Sangaiwa Tented Lodge/Tarangire Sopa Lodge        

Meal Plan: Full Board

DAY 3 : NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA

This morning depart to the famous Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area (NCCA), which features rolling plains, lakes, craters, mountains and dormant volcanoes. Arrive at lodge in time for lunch. In the afternoon get to visit a Tumani Junior School in Karatu in the town of Karatu. The Tumaini Junior School sprang from the vision of Modest Bayo. Recognizing the importance of teaching the English language to help train the future leaders of Tanzania, Bayo set out to create a school where  English  would be taught from kindergarten on. For many years Bayo worked as a tour guide but portions of his income were set aside to build Tumaini.

Bayo and his wife, Lightness, set up their first classroom in their small home in Karatu. The first students filled the small room which bulged at the seams.  With no outside financial help, Bayo and Lightness, aided by various community members, would dig trenches, lay foundations, mix mortar, set bricks and built the building by hand. Encouraged by their small community they kept building as kids kept coming — with little or no money parents would send their children to Bayo and Lightness “to learn education.”

“How could I turn any one of these children away?” Bayo says with a wide smile. The number of students grew … and grew … and local teachers and others would come to volunteer, and Bayo kept working and building.

Since the founding of the school, a new grade has been added each year. The school now accommodates students up to Primary 7. While following the prescribed Tanzanian National Primary Education Curriculum, Tumaini creates an optimal learning environment. In addition to instruction by qualified teachers in English, the school offers additional review classes, family support and strong administrative involvement.

You can bring some donations in form of stationery and school books to give to the school children.

Overnight: Karatu Country Lodge/Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge        

Meal Plan: Full Board

DAY 4 :  NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA

After breakfast, descend into the ‘8th Wonder of the World’, a unique biosphere that has remained virtually unchanged since the dawn of time. Enclosed within its towering walls are grasslands, swamps, forests, saltpans, a fresh water lake and a glorious variety of birdlife. Here too are all the members of the ‘Big Five’ (lion, elephant, rhino, leopard and buffalo) as well as a large cast of plains game and one of Africa’s densest populations of predators. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor before climbing back up and driving to your next lodge in time for relaxation before dinner.

Overnight: Karatu Country Lodge/Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge        

Meal Plan: Full Board

DAY 5 : SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, you will drive crossing into the neighboring Serengeti National Park with picnic lunch boxes. Stopping en route at Ol Duvai Gorge. Known as the ‘Cradle of Mankind’, this is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world. Pioneered by famous paleontologists Louis and Mary Leakey in the 1950s it offers a glimpse into life two million years ago. Arrive at your camp or lodge in time to relax and enjoy a classic safari supper.

Overnight: Serengeti Kati Kati Camp/Serengeti Sopa Lodge        

Meal Plan: Full Board

DAY 6 : SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

Enjoy a full day game drives (meals taken in true safari style ‘in the bush’) in the vast and sensational Serengeti, which covers 14,763 sq km of endlessly rolling savannah. Venue for ‘the greatest wildlife show on Earth’, the annual migration of over one million wildebeest, the park is also renowned for its lions, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes and plains game.

Overnight: Serengeti Kati Kati Camp/Serengeti Sopa Lodge        

Meal Plan: Full Board

DAY 7 : LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast drive to the beautiful Lake Manyara, a shallow alkaline lake that shimmers in a cleft in the Great Rift Valley. Enjoy lunch and check in at your lodge. Then later enjoy an afternoon game viewing in Lake Manyara National Park famous for its tree climbing lions. Later return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Kirurumu Tented Lodge

Meal Plan: Full Board

DAY 8 : DEPARTURE

Drive to Arusha. Following lunch at Arusha Coffee Lodge, spend time doing last minute shopping then later you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro airport for your flight back home

Say good bye to the wonderful country and promise to join us on another expedition.