Areas of interest: Ngorongoro Conservation
Area, Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge, Serengeti National
Park, Lake Manyara, Lake Manyara National Park, Crater Highlands,
Great Rift Valley, Arusha, Wildebeest Migration
Activity: Game Drive, Game and Bird Watching, Lodge Safari,
Scenery, Culture, Ethnic, Photography, Historical Site,
Exploring on foot
Country: Tanzania
Tanzania’s national parks and game reserves cover
almost 25% of the country and protect an estimated 20% of
Africa’s large mammals. Ngorongoro Crater is said
to have the world’s densest population of lion and
Lake Manyara lions have developed a liking for residing
in the branches of trees, where they can both sleep and
watch for prey whilst the Serengeti is notable for its large
migratory herds of wildebeest and zebras with strings of
predators in trail. Olduvai Gorge offers you
Full Iterenary,
Day 1 – Ngorongoro
We depart Arusha town in the early morning hours for Ngorongoro
crater three and a half hours away and arrive at the lodge
in time for lunch after which we descend into the crater
for an afternoon tour returning to the lodge for dinner
and an overnight stay.
The Ngorongoro crater is the world’s biggest whole
volcanic caldera at 8300 sq km and is frequently described
as one of the wonders of the world, not only because of
its geological magnificence, but also because it serves
as an extraordinary natural sanctuary for some of Africa’s
largest populations of large mammals.
Within its walls are a variety of animals and vegetation,
including grasslands, swamps, forests, salt pans and a fresh
water lake. You are likely to see lion, elephant, rhino,
buffalo, and many of the plains herbivores such as wildebeest,
Thomson’s gazelle, zebra, reedbuck, as well as thousands
of flamingos wading in the shallows of Lake Magadi –
the soda lake at the craters base.
Day 2 – Lake
Ndutu / Olduvai Gorge
Departing the Lodge after breakfast we visit the world famous
site - Olduvai Gorge where the discoveries of early mans
fossil remains were made by Dr. Leakey. Arriving at Ndutu
Lodge for lunch, the afternoon is spent game viewing in
the area around the lodge; the Western corridor. The famous
crossing of the Grumeti River takes place somewhere between
May and July though the actual viewing window can be quite
short. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Olduvai Gorge cuts through rock beds layered in time sequence
from 2 million years ago to the present. It is here where
humanoid bones have been found dating back to over 1.75
million years including a direct ancestor of modern man.
Fossil footprints (over three million years old) have also
been found here and are the most ancient footprints yet
discovered. There is an excellent site museum where you
can explore the diggings with a guide and it is also a great
place to view birds.
The western corridor is embodied by crowded strands of eerie
grey whistling thorn acacia scattered with broken wood land
with the dominant feature of the region being the Grumeti
River. Likewise, this part of the park maintains a considerable
resident populace of lion, wildebeest, giraffe, zebra, and
most other usual plains animals, while the riverine woodland
harbours a few troops of the beautiful black and white colobus
monkey.
Day
3 – Serengeti
Leaving Ndutu Lodge after breakfast we depart the Western
corridor for the Seronera area in the heart of the Serengeti
National Park, arriving in time for lunch at the Lodge.
After an afternoon game drive exploring the rewarding
park we return to the lodge for a relaxing dinner and
overnight.
This is Africa’s most famous and Tanzania’s
largest park covering 14,736 sq km and is adjoining with
the Masai Mara National reserve in Kenya. With a wildebeest
population of about 2 million and several other hoofed
species (which include: zebra, Thomson’s gazelle,
impala, topi, Grants gazelle, Kongoni, Eland, Kirk’s
dik dik, klipspringer, roan, Oryx, oribi, waterbuck, buffalo,
giraffe and warthog) the park attracts a variety of predators
such as lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, golden jackals
and bat eared foxes. Elephants are relatively scarce and
the few remaining black rhinoceros are restricted to the
Moru Koppies area.
A safari in Serengeti also offers rewarding bird viewing
with ostrich and kori bustard being common, a variety
of larks, finches, and raptors can be seen but the most
distinctive small bird is the lilac breasted roller.
You can visit the park all year round but there is less
game in the park during the dry season – July /October,
where they migrate to the Masai Mara in Kenya. During
March to May the herds move in search of grazing to the
southern section and in May to June, they move towards
the western corridor of the park.
Day 4 – Lake Manyara
Departing the lodge after breakfast we depart for Lake
Manyara National Park arriving in time for lunch at a
lodge. The whole afternoon is spent game viewing in the
National Park returning to the Lodge in the late afternoon
for dinner and an overnight rest.
The Lake Manyara National park is serene and beautiful
with main attractions of a rich bird life, tree-climbing
lions, elephants, and hippos that you can see at closer
range than most other places. Lake Manyara is an alkaline
lake and at certain times of the year hosts thousands
of flamingos and a diversity of other bird life. It is
also a fine place to see blue monkeys and hippo pools
where many hippos can be seen soaking and yawning along
with countless water birds. The hot springs are an excellent
place to see buffaloes and elephants and the huge flocks
of flamingoes that regularly visit Lake Manyara itself.
Day 5 –
Arusha
We depart for Arusha Town after breakfast via the Masai
market place at Mtu wa Mbu where it is possible for you
to purchase carvings and other memorabilia. Drop off at
your hotel in Arusha town by mid-afternoon.
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