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Tanzania Photographic Safari, 14 Days

Itinerary Briefing

Experience an exciting Serengeti migration safari of Tanzania. Take in the wonders of the amazing Ngorongoro Crater, the world famous Serengeti National Park, Tarangire’s gigantic Baobab trees and huge elephant populations, and the tree climbing lions of Lake Manyara, all before ending visiting the stunning Lake Natron and Ol Doinyo Lengai Mountain.

You’ll be living the high life in comfortable accommodation deep in the bush, staying in large rooms with private verandahs and full en-suite facilities, as well as small lodges, such as the fabulous lodge located on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater. You’ll be amazed by all that Tanzania has to offer!

Itinerary Day Description

Day 1:  Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) – Arusha

Upon arrival you will be met at Kilimanjaro International Airport by me and your driver. After being taken to your hotel, I or your safari manager will come and meet you for a safari briefing. Whichever you choose, tonight you can sit back, enjoy your dinner and settle into the African way of life.

1^st night dinner and overnight accommodation at The African Tulip Arusha Hotel in Arusha, meals on half board basis (O/B/D)

Driving time from Kilimanjaro international Airport to the African Tulip Arusha Hotel is approximately 45 minutes.

Day 2: Arusha      –     Arusha National Park

After breakfast drive to Arusha National Park, once the site of the action packed Hollywood movie Hatari starring John Wayne and Hardy Kruger

You pass by herds of zebra, buffalo, and giraffe on the savannah. Enjoy a picnic lunch at Momella Lake, famous for huge flocks of colorful flamingos and its views at majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro. You continue in the afternoon with a game drive around the different habitats in this truly beautiful national park.  

There are black and white colobus monkeys (unique to this location northern Tanzania), Sykes’s and vervet monkeys, shy forest duikers, elusive leopards and substantial herds of antelope.

If you wish, you can hike at the slopes of Mt Meru in dense forest or at the Crater rim while an armed ranger escorts you to protect you from some of the larger animals.

2^nd night accommodation at The African Tulip Arusha Hotel meals on half board basis

Day 3: Arusha      –     Ngorongoro Crater

After breakfast from your hotel in Arusha, you will depart to Ngorongoro Crater, upon your arrival at the crater; you will descend into the crater for a wonderful game drive (with a picnic lunch) inside the Ngorongoro Crater on World Heritage Site holding a permanent population of more than 30 000 animals.

As only very few of those migrate in and out of the crater with its 2000 ft. high walls, you can expect to see lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, hippos, flamingos, jackals, rhinos, antelopes, many birds and other species. The Crater is also home to the rare black rhino almost extinct in Tanzania.

With a bit of luck you will see the ‘Big Five’ during one game drive. After having done with your game drive from Ngorongoro Crater floor, you will drive ascending the crater rim for your dinner and overnight accommodation at your lodge within the conservation area.

Dinner and oovernight accommodation at Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge All meals included

Day 4:  Ngorongoro Crater – Serengeti National Park

After breakfast from your lodge in Ngorongoro Crater, you will drive through Ngorongoro conservation area to Serengeti National Park (driving time some 4 hours, but with plenty to see on the way!) En route you will see grazing zebras, antelopes and giraffes and sometimes some buffalos hiding in the bush. The South Serengeti ecosystem belongs partly to the Serengeti National park and partly to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You will visit the Serengeti Seronera Documentary Centre and drive furthermore to North East of Serengeti National Park. After the game drive en-route, you will arrive at your lodge at Lobo Wildlife Lodge in North Serengeti, where you arrive in time for your dinner.

Dinner and overnight accommodation in North Serengeti at Serengeti acacia Camp or similar camp all meals included

Day 5: Full day game drive in Serengeti (Wildebeest Migration)

Endless Plains of the Serengeti

After breakfast, check out of your camp and drive to the Mara River (2 hours), arriving at the river, the river waiting to shoot brilliant wildebeest migration – wildebeest crosses the Mara River.

There is an optional hot-air balloon safari (not included in the package cost), which will take place in the morning, just as the sun rises. You’ll float in whichever direction the morning winds take you. Your pilot can precisely control the altitude of your balloon; at times he will ascend to 1000′ or more to see the enormity and wonderful panorama of the Serengeti.  After the landing you celebrate with champagne and a full English breakfast prepared and served in the bush in ‘Out of Africa’ style. After breakfast you receive your Serengeti balloon Certificate and drive back to your lodge or proceed with your day’s activities and game drives around the Serengeti.                                 

After your lovely picnic lunch at Mara River, in search of Wildebeest migration, you will finally retire your day for dinner and overnight at your tented camp.

Dinner and overnight accommodation at Kisura Camp Kogatende all meals included

Day 6: Another day in the life of Wildebeest Migration in Serengeti   

After breakfast from your Mara River Kisura camp, you will drive to Mara River for another full day wildebeest migration watching and taking photos.

Waiting most of the day in the Mara River wildebeest crossing the river looking for pomp; Later on you will retire your day at your tented camp for dinner and overnight.

Dinner and overnight accommodation at Kisura Camp Kogatende all meals included

Day 7:  Full day game drive in Serengeti (Wildebeest Migration)

Early wake up and drive to Mara River to watch the migration in the morning. Afterwards, you will drive back to your camp for breakfast and check out. Later on after breakfast, you will check out and drive towards central Serengeti.

You will visit the stunning kopjes (outcropping rocks) where lions and other cats enjoy to sunburst on top of those outcropping rocks. You will pass through green savannah where elephants and giraffes roam, through a stretch of territory which is rarely visited by travelers, to reach the central Serengeti. Once you’ve seen enough game for the day, it will be time to en-route game drive to your accommodation place in time for dinner.

Dinner and overnight accommodation at Serengeti Acacia Camp (on full board basis)

Day 8: Serengeti national Park – Lake Natron

Deadly Lake Waters Turn Birds to Stone

Lake Natron is the flamingos’ breeding ground and Lake Manyara, Nakuru in Kenya their feeding ground.

In the morning you drive game en-route in Serengeti National Park to Lake Natron. The road is  on a partly bumpy and dusty road. En route you see many Masai villages, termite mounds, gazelle, giraffe, zebra, baboons, bee boxes, and birds such as vultures, ostrich, starlings, Cory Bustards, and kites. The transfer takes you some 4 hours.

Dinner and overnight accommodation at Lengai Lodge nearby Lake Natron All meals included

Day 9: Another full day activities at Lake Natron

Morning after breakfast, you will furthermore visit the Ol Doinyo Lengai (means the Mountain of God). After checking in at Lake Natron,  you go in the afternoon on a guided walk around  Lake Natron  the lowest point of the Great Rift Valley in Tanzania (600m / 2000ft) and famous for a vast numbers of flamingos and other water birds due to a high concentrate of in sodium carbonate, algae, and zooplankton.

This full day at Lake Natron will be spend taking fantastic bird photos plus all other related attraction from this exclusive destination in Tanzania.

2^nd Dinner and overnight accommodation at Lengai Lodge nearby Lake Natron All meals included

Day 10: Lake Natron – Lake Manyara National Park

Tree Climbing Lions & Pink Flamingoes

After breakfast from Lake Natron, you will depart for Lake Manyara. Nestled at the base of the Great Rift Valley Escarpment, the park is recognized for its incredible beauty. You can see many game animals such as buffalo, elephant, giraffe, impala, hippo and others.

Eventually you will arrive and stay overnight at beautiful Lake Manyara, which Ernest Hemingway once called the “The loveliest lake in Africa.” The national park is home to the unique tree-climbing lions of Lake Manyara, which you’ll have the chance to see lounging in the high tree branches.

Dinner and overnight accommodation at Marera Valley Lodge, all meals included

Day 11:  Lake Manyara – Tarangire National Park     

After breakfast from your lodge, you will depart for Tarangire, Tanzania’s third largest national park and sanctuary for an unusually large elephant population.

Majestic baobab trees are an interesting feature of the park, dwarfing the animals that feed beneath them. Animals concentrate along the Tarangire River, which provides the only permanent water supply in the area.

There is a great diversity of wildlife including lion, leopard, and cheetah and up to six thousand elephant.

Dinner and overnight at Sangaiwe Tented Lodge (all meals on full board basis)

Day 12: Another full days birding Game drive in Tarangire N. Park

Tarangire is a great bird watching site with more than 500 species recorded. Spend another full day birding in Tarangire National Park ecosystem.

Tarangire is the third largest in Tanzania, sprawling over 7,700 sq. mi The swamps, tinged green year round, have the most breeding species in one habitat anywhere in the world. It also harbors several dry country bird species at the extremity of their range, like the pied babbler and vulturine guineafowl.

En route there are bound to be birding stops, especially in the drier Acacia woodland and scrubby areas. This roadside birding can often be very productive and may include sightings of Blue-naped Mousebird, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, White-bellied Go-away-bird, Rosy-patched Bushshrike, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird and Golden-backed Weaver.

Serious bird-lovers might keep an eye open for flocks of the dazzlingly colorful yellow-collared lovebird, and the somewhat drabber rufous-tailed weaver and ashy starling – all endemic to the dry savannah of north-central Tanzania.

The Acacia woodland and Baobab studded grasslands also provide a home for a large number of avians, with the park total well over 500 species!

2^nd night accommodation at Sangaiwe Tented Lodge (all meals on full board basis)

Day 13: Tarangire N. Park – The African Tulip Hotel in Arusha

After your leisurely breakfast from your lodge at Tarangire National Park, you will drive to Arusha town. You will arrive in Arusha town around afternoon for your leisure time at Kibo Palace Hotel. In the evening you will drive around Arusha town for a city tour and visit some souvenir shops.

Dinner and overnight accommodation at The African Tulip Hotel Arusha in Arusha, meals on half board basis (O/B/D)

Day 14: Arusha – Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)

You Can Leave Africa, but Africa Will Never Leave You!

After your leisurely breakfast and a late check-out from Kibo Palace Hotel in Arusha town, you will drive to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your international flight back home. Farewell and we’ll see you again in Tanzania!

—- End of service — *** routing subject to changes if necessary ****