Experience the magic of staying in a tented camp, the unforgettable wildebeest and zebra migration in the Serengeti, the ancient Baobabs of Tarangire, the flamingoes of Lake Manyara and the mystery of the Ngorongoro Carter.
Day-by-day itinerary
Fri Day 1 Depart on KLM from your gateway city.
Sat Day 2 Arusha: Arusha Coffee Lodge
Arrive into Amsterdam and connect with your flight to Kilimanjaro. Upon arrival into Kilimanjaro, you will be met by an AfricaTours representative and escorted to the hotel. Arusha derives its name from the Warusha people, a tribe of Masai who settled around the base of Mount Meru in order to cultivate the land. Guest’s en-route to the adventurous Tanzanian Northern Circuit can look forward to a luxurious send off at Arusha Coffee Lodge. Inspired by the grace and romance of a fine ‘old-time’ coffee plantation, guests can anticipate accommodation of the highest standard with 21 private chalets featuring multi-level areas, huge balconies and beautiful fireplaces. Each chalet has its own bedroom, bathroom and living room. There is a coffee grinder and percolator in the spirit of a true coffee estate experience.
Sun Day 3 Tarangire National Park: Treetops Lodge (BLD)
After lunch, you will be met at the hotel and driven to Tarangire. Enjoy a game drive en-route to the lodge. Tarangire is one of the largest national parks in Tanzania, measuring some 1,000 square miles. The first thing to capture the eye as you enter Tarangire is the vast numbers of Baobab trees, which dwarf the animals feeding beneath them. Masai giraffe, Grant's and Thompson's gazelle, hartebeest, impala, kudu, reedbuck, gerenuk, klipspringer, fox and the usual collections of baboons, warthog and ostrich abound. During the dry season from June to November, animals concentrate along the Tarangire River, which provides the only permanent water supply in Masai land. Tarangire Treetops features 20 luxury en-suite rooms, built atop tree-attached platforms, overlooking the Tarangire Sand River. This is an innovative and stunningly original property consisting of large tree houses built upon platforms amongst a cluster of Baobab, Mopani and Wild Fig Trees that are superbly blended into the environment the dining area is situated close to the swimming pool and elephant water hole. Each en-suite unit has a private veranda and lounge area, with sweeping views over the private Conservation area. Tarangire Treetops is located within the 57,000 acre Tarangire Conservation Area, this partnership with the villages of Lokisale and Makayuni provides revenue for community development such as the building of schools and dispensaries, grading of roads and erection of water-pumps. In exchange for these benefits the local communities limit farming and grazing and stop all poaching, deforestation and charcoal burning, thus ensuring the habitat protection that will return the area to its natural state.
Mon Day 4 Lake Manyara: Kirurumu Tented Camp (BLD)
After breakfast and a morning game drive in Tarangire National Park you will continue onto Lake Manyara National Park. Enjoy an afternoon game drive in Lake Manyara. Although it covers a relatively small area, it contains five distinct vegetation zones ranging from an area of ground water forest to characteristic scrubland on the precipitous face of the Rift Valley wall. A variety of wildlife such as buffalo, elephant, leopard, lions (sometimes seen on trees), giraffe and pink flamingoes on the lakeshore, are abundant. Kirurumu Lodge is a luxury-tented lodge built upon the Gregorian Escarpment of the Great Rift Valley. Set in a stunning location, it overlooks a spectacular panorama across Lake Manyara and to Mt. Losimongori. Kirurumu is sympathetically built of local material and is inspired by the nearby traditional Mbulu tribal dwellings. Natural vegetation has been left untouched and there is no non-indigenous species. The aim is simply luxury and comfort and eco-friendliness. The well-spaced tents are private and secluded and each is raised on a base of natural stone and has a cooling thatched roof, which also covers and shades the deck style wooden verandah. Accommodation is simple but luxurious, secure and insect-proof. Bedrooms are comfortable with twin or double beds with warm duvets against the dawn chill. Modern en-suite bathrooms have hot and cold water and flush toilets. Meals are served in the airy hilltop dining room offering a selection of traditional and international menus.
Tue Day 5 Serengeti National Park: Migration Tented Camp (BLD)
After breakfast, depart for Serengeti National Park with a picnic lunch en-route. Enjoy an afternoon game drive en-route to the camp. The Serengeti National Park — a 12,800 square mile wilderness of semi-arid grasslands and woodlands in Tanzania's northwestern corner — is the pulsating heart of East Africa. Its immense grass oceans and riverine forests are home to the largest concentration of large predators and plains game in Africa. The Serengeti's pulse beats to the migration cycle. In the spring, the bright green of the grass gives the Serengeti an air of sparkling freshness. Then, the meadows reverberate with the thunder of millions of hooves — with the snarls of hyenas and hunting dogs in hot pursuit — as vast hordes of wildebeest and zebra begin their great annual migration: the most impressive wildlife pageant on earth. The name Serengeti comes from the Maasai word 'siringet' meaning 'endless plain' and at Migration Camp one experiences the vastness of the sweeping plains. The Serengeti migration masses around the site for several months en route to the southern plains with excellent sightings of lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo year round. The camp is uniquely set in the northern central Serengeti, overlooking the Grumeti River, and offers 13 secluded luxury tents with full bathroom facilities for the discerning traveler. Spectacular sunsets, open air dining, roaring log fires and star studded night skies reflect the romance of East Africa.
Wed Day 6 Serengeti National Park: Migration Tented Camp (BLD)
Enjoy a morning and afternoon game drive on the Serengeti.
Thu Day 7 Ngorongoro Crater: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge (BLD)
After a morning game drive and breakfast, drive to the Ngorongoro Crater stopping at the Olduvai Gorge en-route. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the world's hallowed places - a giant amphitheater ten miles across; "stamped like a hoofprint deep into the green hills of Africa" says one writer. The floor of this ancient volcanic crater encompasses a self-contained ecosystem, which sustains the greatest concentration of wildlife on earth! The Ngorongoro Serena Lodge is constructed of local stone and is molded onto the contours of its site. The lodge is slowly being covered with indigenous plants. Its interior decor recalls the theme of Ngorongoro’s prehistoric past, with original uses of stones, metal and wall paintings. The Ngorongoro Serena affords to its guests breath-taking views of the 102 square mile Crater beneath and of the wealth of the surroundings animal and bird life. However, thanks to its sensitive design, it is practically invisible form the Crater below. All 75 rooms are equipped with environmentally friendly heat exchange units and the roof-scape has been constructed in such a fashion that it collects significant amounts of fresh water from rainwater thus conserving this precious local commodity.
Fri Day 8 Ngorongoro Crater: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge (BLD)
Enjoy a magical full day crater tour. As you descend into the 100 square mile crater, the inert dots viewed from the top come to life and animals appear in small groups, like actors on a sunken stage of staggering and relentless beauty. Soon you are eye to eye with the animals, the beloved little "Tommie" with ever-flagging black tail, buffalo, rhino, lion, zebra, giraffe and elephant —acting out a drama of life or death on an epic scale. There are birds too, in abundance - vultures, hideous pink-necked marabou storks and thousands upon thousands of greater and lesser flamingos wading carefully through the shallow waters of the crater's small soda lake.
Sat Day 9 Departure (B)
After breakfast drive to Arusha. After lunch in Arusha and an afternoon at leisure, you will be driven to Kilimanjaro airport for your departure flight.
Sun Day 10 Arrive into Amsterdam in the morning and connect with your flight to the USA.
Rates for the Tanzania Explorer - Scheduled Safari
Land, per person double occupancy
| 16 Dec '07 - 29 Feb '08 | $3,900 |
|---|---|
| 01 Mar '08 - 31 Mar '08 | $3,660 |
| 01 Apr '08 - 31 May '08 | $2,945 |
| 01 Jun '08 - 14 Jun '08 | $3,900 |
| 15 Jun '08 - 30 Jun '08 | $4,140 |
| 01 Jul '08 - 31 Oct '08 | $3,900 |
| 01 Nov '08 - 19 Dec '08 | $3,590 |
| Single Supplement | $135 - $400 |
Land and Air from New York, per person double occupancy
| 16 Dec '07 - 23 Dec '07 | $5,745 |
|---|---|
| 24Dec '07 - 28 Feb '08 | $4,780 |
| 29 Feb '08 - 20 Mar '08 | $4,540 |
| 21 Mar '08 - 03 Apr '08 | $5,200 |
| 04 Apr '08 - 29 May '08 | $4,485 |
| 30 May '08 - 12 Jun '08 | $6,170 |
| 13 Jun '08 - 03 Jul '08 | $6,410 |
| 04 Jul '08 - 04 Sep '08 | $6,170 |
| 05 Sep '08 - 30 Oct '08 | $5,405 |
| 31 Oct '08 - 18 Dec '08 | $4,510 |
Christmas Supplement, per person double occupancy
| 24, 25, 26 Dec; 31 Dec & 01 Jan '08 | $45 |
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Easter Supplement, per person double occupancy
| 21, 22, 23 & 24 Mar '08 | $45 |
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Price Includes:
- Accommodation for 6 nights,
- Meals as mentioned
- Transport & Transfers
- Game drives with a guaranteed window seat & Game park fees
- Professional driver/guides
- Flying Doctors Service
- Travel Protection Plan ($25,000 Emergency Assistance, $50,000 Accidental death & dismemberment; $5,000 Medical Expenses; $1,000 Baggage & travel documents; $400 Baggage delay; $500 Travel delay - $100 per day maximum; TRAVEL GUARD Assistance)
Price Excludes:
- Beverages
- Gratuities
- Laundry
- Items of a personal nature
- Airline Taxes
- Tanzania Visa
- Tanzania departure taxes (approximately $30 per person, to be paid locally in US$)