Day 1: Tarangire National Park
Wednesday: Arusha - Tarangire
At 14:00 hrs, collected from your Arusha and depart for Tarangire National Park famous for its large population of elephants.
On entrance to Tarangire National Park commence game viewing to culminate in TARANGIRE SOPA LODGE for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Serengeti National Park
Thursday: Tarangire - Serengeti
After an early breakfast, a brief game as you exit the Tarangire National Park, heading to Serengeti National Park.
This day will see you traverse the famous Lake Manyara / Mto wa MBU area: a small agriculturally rich area, adjacent to the Lake Manyara National Park, on the foothills of the Great Rift Valley Escarpment.
A dramatic and scenic ascent up the escarpment into the Karatu Highlands, which forms the foothills of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
After an entry clearance (at a bathroom stop) at the gates into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, an equally dramatic ascent to the Crater rim, upon levelling out at the rim, a quick stop at a designated view point, to marvel at the Crater floor below.
Thereafter, continue further north, through the extensive Ngorongoro Conservation Area, to arrive at the NAABI Gate into Serengeti,
This makes for a wonderful picnic lunch stop – as your driver/guide deals with Park entry formalities.
Upon clearance and entry into the Serengeti, commence game viewing drive immediately, as you slowly make your way to central Serengeti (Seronera), 50 kms away!
The day will culminate with dinner and overnight at ACACIA CENTRAL/BAOBAB/ ZAWADI TENTED CAMPs.
Day 3: Serengeti National Park
Friday: Serengeti
Full day of game viewing in the Serengeti.
The Reserve, the Serengeti National Park, is a World Heritage Site teeming with wildlife: over 2 million ungulates, 4000 lions, 1000 leopards, 550 cheetahs and some 500-bird species.
You have 02 options for the day:
Full day game viewing with picnic lunch boxes out in the vast plains, allowing you to reach further and see more of the Serengeti, unbounded by need to return back for lunch.
OR
02 game viewing drives: at Sunrise and sunset, returning to the Lodge / Camp for a hot lunch and relaxation during the mid-day heat (which provides you with an opportunity for a swim and enjoyment of your accommodations’ infrastructures between 10:00 hrs to 15:30 hrs)).
In this area you will have the opportunity to sight the big: the lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino, if you are lucky!
All meals and overnight at ACACIA CENTRAL/BAOBAB/ ZAWADI CAMPs
Day 4: Karatu
Saturday: Serengeti - Ngorongoro - Karatu
Early breakfast at the Lodge.
Thereafter depart for Ngorongoro Conservation area to arrive at 10:30 hrs., upon arrival descend to the bottom of the crater for a crater tour, a truly unique wildlife experience.
Lunch for the day will be a picnic box, on the Crater floor, to allow for uninterrupted game viewing experience.
In the late afternoon, ascend the crater and exit the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for dinner and overnight at KARATU SIMBA LODGE, located in the KARATU highlands
Day 5: Karatu
Sunday: Karatu - Lake Manyara - Karatu
Breakfast at the Lodge.
Thereafter, head to Lake Manyara National Park for an extended photographic safari
Dependent on your disposition, lunch could be a picnic box or a hot (late) lunch back at the Lodge with an afternoon at leisure!).
However, unlike other northern Tanzania Parks, this is the only Park that offers opportunity for a TREE-TOP CANOPY WALK (walk on a suspension bridge, rising to 18M off the ground, at a tree-top height, for a closer interaction with primates and birdlife within the forest) ………...not to forget CANOEING! It is the only lake and park that one is able to canoe and get close to the flamingoes! – activities available at an extra cost payable directly
Day will culminate with dinner and overnight at KARATU SIMBA LODGE
Day 6: Lake Eyasi
Monday: Karatu - Lake Eyasi
Breakfast at the Lodge.
Thereafter, depart with picnic boxes and head to Lake Eyasi for a visit to the area as well as to the two notable communities: the DATOGA, famous for being Tanzanian Blacksmiths, and the HADZABE, the remaining community of hunters and gatherers, perhaps in all of East Africa.
In the afternoon, enjoy a guided nature walk along the shores of Lake Eyasi.
Dinner and overnight at LAKE EYASI SAFARI LODGE.
Day 7: Karatu
Tuesday: Lake Eyasi - Karatu
Breakfast at the Lodge.
For those interested in joining the HADZABE on a morning hunt, perhaps they could plan to visit the community at dawn on this day!
(This would be in lieu of the visit on the preceding day)
Thereafter a leisurely drive to Karatu to arrive in time for a late lunch.
In the afternoon, head out for a Maasai village visit in the Lake Manyara Area.
Dinner and overnight at KARATU SIMBA LODGE
Day 8:
Tuesday: Lake Manyara - Arusha
Breakfast at the Lodge.
Thereafter, head to Mto wa Mbu area for a village tour.
After the activities /tour, enjoy an early traditional lunch at the village.
Thereafter commence your return drive to Arusha, where it is expected you will get at around 16:00 hrs., and dropped off at your hotel in the city center.
