SAFARI !  SAFARI !  SAFARIS !!!!!

Safari, in Kiswahili, simply means "journey". But in English it has become a synonym for a wildlife viewing adventure in the African bush. 'To go on safari' in Tanzania is, and always will remain a fascinating and exclusive experience!

It is well known that Tanzania has beautiful nature reserves rich in wildlife. There are, however, still many false ideas about this big southern neighbor of Kenya. It is true that Tanzania, measured in terms of pro-capita income, is one of the world's poorest countries. It is a fact that the country can feed itself and, what is of greater significance is that since independence Tanzania politically has been among the most stable African countries. In regard to safety, both for its own citizens and for tourists, it is well ahead of its more economically advanced neighbors. 

In the past, tourism was of little significance to Tanzania and few people chose to visit it. To have to deal with all the uncertainties, and at the same time not really be sure what natural attractions the country had to offer made one question whether the cost was reasonable. In fact this did not have a negative effect upon the nature reserves and major efforts were undertaken to maintain the national parks and also to create new ones.

Today, several sections of the tourism infrastructure have developed well and a couple of new hotels and luxury, charming camps conforming to 'international' standards have opened. 

Let us now welcome you to Tanzania and discover yourself the secrets of this beautiful land. Below are few sample itineraries for your scrutiny, they can be changed to suit your own needs. Any combination of these with other Northern or Southern parks, a climb on Kilimanjaro, or Zanzibar are possible.

How to reach Arusha: by road or flight, daily from:-
a) Nairobi Airport/City – Arusha - 08:00am or 02:00pm shuttle road transfer via Namanga

boarder ( 04h30min or 01:00 hour flight.)
b) Kilimanjaro Airport - ( shuttle road transfer 45 minutes drive or 20 minutes flight.
c) Dar es salaam Airport - ( luxury coach bus - 8 to 9 hours drive or 1-2 hour flight.
d) Moi International airport Mombasa Airport - ( 1 hour flight )

 

OHT - 01 -  1 Night/2 Days - LION TRAIL.

 

DAY - 1 - Arusha - Lake Manyara - Ngorongoro Crater. 

Breakfast, 08.30 a.m. leave Mount  Meru Hotel  for Lake Manyara National Park birdwatcher's paradise for a morning game drive. Marvel at the variety of species, the Pelican, kingfisher, hornbill and cormorant. In the trees forest monkeys leap from one branch to another, on the slopes of the Great Rift Valley escarpment elephants stand in the shade, while in the acacia woodland lions sleep draped along the branches of the umbrella trees. Lunch and afternoon rest at Lake Manyara Hotel. Evening Proceed to Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge/Ngorongoro Serena Lodge for dinner and overnight.

 

DAY - 2 - Ngorongoro - Arusha. 

In 4 X 4 vehicles (07.30 a.m.) descend into the Crater floor for game drive. Picnic lunch at the hippo pool.  Evening return to Arusha.  Overnight Mount  Meru Hotel/Impala Motel or similar.

 

END OF TOUR.

 

 

OHT - 02 - 2 Nights/ 3 Days - RHINO TRAIL

 

DAY - 1 - Arusha  - Manyara - Ngorongoro Crater.

Breakfast, 08.30 a.m. leave Mount  Meru Hotel for Lake Manyara N. Park for a morning game drive. Lunch and afternoon rest at Lake Manyara Hotel. Evening Proceed to Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge , Ngorongoro Serena Lodge for dinner and overnight.

DAY - 2 - Ngorongoro Crater - Lake Manyara.

Breakfast at 07.30 a.m. descend 610 m into the Crater floor for game drive. Picnic  lunch at the hippo pool.  Evening ascend to your Lodge pick your luggage and drive to Lake Manyara Hotel or Lake Manyara Serena Hotel  for dinner and overnight.

 

DAY - 3 - Manyara - Tarangire - Arusha.   

Breakfast at 07.45a.m with picnic lunch boxes depart for Tarangire National Park for full day tour until late evening. Drive back to Arusha with stop over at Oldoinyo Orok or Heritage centre for purchases of carvings and precious stones. Dinner and overnight at Naura Spring Hotel/ Hotel Impala or similar.

 

END OF TOUR. 

OHT - 03  - 3 Nights/4 Days - PYTHON  TRAIL. 

DAY - 1- Arusha - Tarangire - Ngorongoro.

Breakfast at 07.45 a.m. Leave for Tarangire National Park for game viewing in the morning. Break for picnic lunch at the campsite. Afternoon further game drive along the Tarangire river. Evening proceed to Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge or similar for dinner and overnight.

 

DAY - 2 - Ngorongoro Crater - Seronera.

Early breakfast at 07.00 a.m. Depart for Serengeti National Park with game drive en-route. Lunch at Seronera Wildlife Lodge or similar. Afternoon at leisure at the lounge. Late afternoon till sundown, game viewing in Serengeti around Seronera area. Dinner and overnight.

 

DAY - 3 - Seronera Balloon Safari - Ngorongoro.  

Early breakfast drive to Seronera Balloon launch site. The flight will take approximately one hour. Champagne full English breakfast will be served in the bush.  Drive back to Seronera balloon office for flight Certificates and onwards to your lodge.  Depart for Ngorongoro for lunch via the Olduvai Gorge, visit to the small museum to view the archaeological fossil fragments believed to be the old ancestors of current day man . Afternoon descend 610 m into the Crater floor for game viewing. Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge or Ngorongoro Serena Lodge.

 

DAY - 4 - Ngorongoro Crater Arusha.

Breakfast at 07.45 a.m. descend 610 m. into the Crater floor for crater tour. Picnic lunch at the hippo or Lerai Forest. Late afternoon depart for Arusha. Overnight Naura Spring Hotel or similar. 

END OF TOUR.

OHT- 04 - 4 Nights/ 5 Days  - ELEPHANT TRAIL. 

DAY  -1 - Arusha - Tarangire - Ngorongoro.                                                                                               After breakfast  with picnic lunch boxes leave Arusha 08.00 a.m. for morning game drive in Tarangire National Park. Late evening proceed to Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, Ngorongoro Serena Lodge for Dinner and overnight.

DAY  -2 - Ngorongoro - Lobo Area. 

Breakfast at 07:30 a.m. leave Ngorongoro with game drive via the Olduvai Gorge. Lunch at Seronera Wildlife Lodge or similar. Afternoon proceed with game drive en-route to Lobo until sundown. Dinner and overnight at Lobo Lodge.

 

DAY  -3 - Lobo - Seronera. 

Sunrise game drive starts at 06.30 a.m. return to the lodge breakfast 08.30 am. Proceed to Seronera area for game drive. Lunch break at Seronera Wildlife Lodge or similar. Afternoon further game drive along the Seronera river. Evening free at the lounge, dinner and overnight.

 

DAY  -4 - DAY Seronera - Ngorongoro. 

Breakfast at 08.00 a.m. leave for Ngorongoro with game drive en-route. Lunch break at Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge or similar. Afternoon descend 610 m. into the crater floor for game viewing in search of the black Rhino. Dinner and overnight.

 

DAY  -5 - Ngorongoro - Manyara. 

Breakfast at 08.00 a.m. with picnic lunch boxes depart for full day game view in Lake National Park visiting the hot water sulfur springs (60^OC.) called Maji moto and will reputedly cook an egg in about 30 minutes. In the evening return to Arusha for overnight at Naura Spring Hotel or similar. 

 

END OF TOUR.

 

 

THE WILDEBEEST MIGRATION.

The annual wildebeest migration undoubtedly heads the list of wonders offered by the Serengeti. The long lines of wildebeest, outlined against the skyline through the dust clouds raised by their flying hovers, are an unforgettable sight. The plains are carpeted by over 3.5 million wildebeest, 500,000 thousands zebras and One and quarter million associated species.  This is the longest running show on earth and one of the most chronicled wildlife phenomenon.   

 

The 800 km. long trek begins suddenly in late May or early June, depending on the weather conditions. This is when the wildebeest and zebras move away from the short grass plains between the Ngorongoro Highlands and Serengeti to spread towards the north and west in search of water and fresh grass followed by the predators, lion, cheetah, hyena and hunting dogs, who ensure that only the fittest survive, while overhead vultures and other birds of prey circle, waiting to descend upon the weak and dying, or to scavenge on the kills left by the predator.

 

(See their movement on the chart.)

OHT - 05 - 5 Nights/6 Days - MIGRATION TRAIL.

DAY - 1 - Arusha  - Manyara. 

Early breakfast. With lunch boxes leave for Arusha National Park for walking safari. Afternoon tour around the park. Evening proceed to Lake Manyara Hotel or /Lake Manyara Serena Hotel for dinner and overnight.

 

DAY -2 - Manyara - Ngorongoro. 

After breakfast descend 600 m. the Great Rift Valley escarpment into Lake Manyara National Park for game tour. Break for lunch at your Hotel. Afternoon at leisure at the swimming pool. Late evening proceed to Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge or  Ngorongoro Serena Lodge for dinner and overnight. 

 

DAY - 3 - Ngorongoro -Serengeti. 

Breakfast, with lunch boxes depart for game viewing around the alkaline Ndutu Lake. Early evening leave leisurely with game en-route to Seronera Wildlife Lodge, Serengeti Sopa Lodge or Serengeti Serena Lodge for dinner and overnight. 

 

DAY - 4 - Serengeti. 

Breakfast at 07.45 a.m. with picnic lunch boxes depart to encounter one of the most incredible sights you will ever see.  Un unending streams of wildebeest, zebras and Thomson gazelle pour across the plains in search of pasture and water while a parade of hungry predators lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena anxiously try to prey upon the younger or the weakest members of the herds.  Tour  along the Kirawira River to view the giant crocodiles. Dinner and overnight.

 

DAY - 5 - SERENGETI BALLOON.

Early breakfast drive to Seronera Balloon launch site. The flight will take approximately one hour .  Champagne full English breakfast will be served in the bush.  Drive back to Seronera balloon office for flight Certificates and onwards to your lodge.  Depart for Ngorongoro for lunch via the Olduvai Gorge. Afternoon descend 610 m. into the Crater floor for game view. Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge or Ngorongoro Serena Lodge.

 

DAY -6 - Ngorongoro - Tarangire - Arusha.

Breakfast at 07.45. With picnic lunch boxes leave for game viewing in Tarangire National Park famous for it's dense elephant population and other plain animals.  Late evening return to Arusha with stop over at Oldonyo Orok or Heritage Centre for carvings and precious stone purchases. Dinner and overnight at Naura Spring Hotel/ Hotel Impala or similar. 

                           

END OF TOUR.

 

 

OHT -  06 - 6Nights/7 Days -  CHEETAH TRAIL.  

 

 

DAY - 1 - Arusha - Tarangire - Lake Manyara.

Breakfast at 07:30 a.m. with picnic lunch boxes leave for full day game drive at Tarangire National Park. Late evening drive to Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge or similar via Mto wa Mbu fruit market for dinner and overnight.

 

DAY - 2 - Manyara - Serengeti.  

After breakfast descend 600 m. the Great Rift Valley escarpment into Lake Manyara National Park for morning game tour. There after depart for lunch at Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge or similar. Afternoon proceed to Serengeti Tanzania's famous National Park, on the seemingly endless and most treeless plains where millions of hoofed animals constantly on the move.  Dinner and overnight at Seronera Wildlife Lodge, Serengeti Serena Lodge or Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge.

 

DAY - 3 - Seronera Area - Lobo Area.  

After breakfast drive to Lobo with game viewing en-route for lunch at Lobo Lodge. Afternoon free at the swimming pool. Evening till sundown game tour Lobo area, dinner and overnight. 

 

DAY - 4 - Lobo - Ngorongoro.  

Sunrise tour starts at 06.30 a.m. Breakfast 08.30 a.m. leave for Seronera area with game drive en-route. Break for lunch at Seronera Wildlife Lodge or similar. Afternoon proceed to Ngorongoro Crater what has been compared to the garden of Eden via the Olduvai Gorge famous archaeological site where Dr. Louis Leakey and his wife Mary in 1959 after 28 years of intensive research unearthed the skull and jaws of a species of man that become extinct more than 1.7 million years.  Dinner and overnight Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge or Ngorongoro Serena Lodge.

 

DAY - 5  - Ngorongoro. 

Early breakfast at 07:30 a.m. descend 610 m. into the Crater floor for a full day Crater tour in search of the big five, lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant. Break for picnic lunch at the hippo pool or lerai forest. Dinner and overnight.

 

DAY - 6 - Ngorongoro - Arusha National Park. 

Early breakfast at 07:30 a.m. leave for a tour at Arusha National park. Lunch break at Momella Lodge. Afternoon rest. Late evening tour of the seven (7) Momella Lakes. Dinner and overnight.

 

DAY - 7 - Arusha National Park - Arusha.  

Early breakfast, with picnic lunch boxes and an armed Ranger, leave for a walking Safari in the park. Evening return to Arusha for dinner and overnight at Hotel Impala or similar.

 

END OF TOUR.