Tanzania Walking Safari

The tour starts in Arusha. This morning we head south-west via Makuyuni to Lake Manyara National Park. Lake Manyara is nestled at the bottom of the Great Rift Valley and for a national park only 330 sq km, of which up to 200 sq km is the lake from which the park receives its name, it is the perfect introduction to a variety of habitats, ecosystems and animals found in Tanzanian parks. The various habitats of the lush forests, the acacia woodlands, the grassy floodplain, the alkaline lake surface and the volcanic peaks are home to prey and predators large and small, as well as over 400 species of birds! This afternoon we go out for our first game drive in the park.

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Lunch, Dinner

After an early breakfast we will head out the the edge of the lake for our first walking safari. We have the opportunity to view wildlife such as zebra, giraffe, and buffalo at close range in their corridors of migration between the lake and the National Park. We then have a long but rewarding journey into the world famous Serengeti National Park. The scenery and views are spectacular as we traverse the Ngorongoro Crater and transit through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, passing several Masai homesteads. In the Masai language Serengeti means “endless grass plains”. Once in the Serengeti we’ll move slowly through the park, keeping a close eye out for game as we head to our campsite in the central Seronera area.

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we continue our game-viewing in this iconic park. Here we see the daily drama of the struggle between prey and predator, large and small, from lion, leopard and cheetah to elephant, giraffe and buffalo. Every turn of the game drives reveal something of this stunning world where more than 500 species of birds have also been recorded. Depending on the weather, there may be the possibility to take an unforgettable optional early morning balloon safari today, allowing you to see the Serengeti from a completely unique and different perspective. This can be pre-booked direct with the supplier before departure to guarantee a place (please see details below).

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an early breakfast we drive back to the Ngorongoro crater area taking in the wildlife en route. We then arrive at the Olduvai Gorge, where in 1959, anthropologists Dr and Mrs Leakey discovered the remains of an almost intact human skull named ‘Nutcracker Man’. It was here at this important prehistoric site, together with other startling discoveries, that have contributed to the furthering understanding of early human development. Olduvai Gorge and the fossils that it contains give a unique insight into the way that this part of the world has changed and humans with it. Accompanied by a local guide we visit Olduvai Gorge visitor centre and museum to learn more of this fascinating place and its secrets. Later this afternoon we will head to the Olmoti Crater which lies north of the Ngorongoro Crater at an altitude of 3080 metres. This is a sunken caldera home to many grazing animals. Here we will take a trek around the rim and forests along the well maintained nature trails of the crater.

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we head back to the Ngorongoro crater for a half day game drive. We descend from the upper rim, driving down a steep track that drops about a staggering 600m to the grassy plain, lake and marshes of the basin floor below. This winding track is restricted to small 4WD vehicles. Among the animals to watch out for are elephant, blackmaned lion, cheetah, buffalo and rhino. The perennial marshes teem with birdlife. The crater itself, technically classed as a caldera, owes its existence to the violent fracturing of the Rift Valley over a period of some 25 million years. At one time a volcano occupied this spot that then became extinct and collapsed into the empty magma chamber beneath it, leaving only the gigantic natural basin and is now considered a veritable “Garden of Eden”. We will return to our camp for lunch before heading out for a walk around the rim of the crater this afternoon to enjoy the magnificent scenery of this area.

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we drive to Tarangire National Park. Its name derives from the Tarangire River that flows through the length of the park. One of the most striking features of the park are the majestic old baobab trees with massive silvery trunks and gourd-like fruit that dominate the skyline. Tarangire has the greatest concentration of wildlife outside of the Serengeti Ecosystem and is part of a larger ecosystem that extends further south into the Masai steppes. The permanent water sources of the park attract large herds of elephants and other herbivores to them. The park is home to the shy fringed eared oryx and the gerenuk antelope not seen in other parks. Once in the park we will enjoy a walking safari and a game drive taking in the wonderful location, views and game of this stunning area.

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we will drive to Momela and our campsite. In the afternoon we will start the walk into the forest on the Meru crater floor where we may encounter buffalo. On the way up, we will pass through three different vegetation zones, starting from savannah, to forest and into dense jungle. After reaching Kitoto view point situated at an altitude of 2500m, we have the final section of the walk up and into the crater. Returning back downhill our walk will take us close to a picturesque waterfalls and offers spectacular views of rolling plains and Mt. Kilimanjaro looming in the background. We will then return to our camp for the night.

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a leisurely breakfast we transfer to Arusha city for either last minute shopping or an optional visit to a coffee plantation. After a farewell lunch the tour ends in Arusha.    

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch