DAY 1: ARUSHA SERENA HOTEL RESORT & SPA, ARUSHA
Arusha
Resting at the foot of Mount Meru, the sprawling city of Arusha is known as the safari capital of northern Tanzania. It serves as an excellent base from which to explore the remarkably scenic surrounding area which includes majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as the Manyara, Tarangire and Ngorongoro National Parks. Arusha is a good spot to take a day or two off from the safari circuit as it features a temperate climate and lush surrounds. Visitors can look forward to exploring the wildlife-abundant Serengeti National Park; the magnificent Arusha National Park; and taking on the challenge of climbing Mount Meru, Africa’s fifth highest mountain.
Day Itinerary
Arrive Kilimanjaro airport ex International Flight. Meet by our AMA Safaris Tanzania representative and transfer to the Arusha Serena Hotel for overnight.
Overnight: Arusha Serena Hotel Resort & Spa
Arusha Serena Hotel, Resort & Spa is unlike any other hotel in Tanzania with authentic, bespoke experiences that stir the traveller’s soul while showcasing the breathtaking tranquillity of the surroundings. Set among the woodland slopes of Mount Meru at the edge of Lake Duluti, there’s no better destination for soaking in the beauty and magnificence of the Tanzanian “Northern Safari Circuit.”
The ambience of this Arusha hotel is warmly reminiscent of their origins as a colonial era coffee farm, beginning with the welcoming stone-built reception area and extending to cottage-style rooms neatly arranged among landscaped lawns and the colourful banks of Bougainvillea. Traces of thei hotels heritage present themselves in elegant, country-manor interiors featuring unique artefacts, leaded windows and French doors opening to extensive lake view gardens. Social areas within the Arusha hotel include a library, a lounge and a restaurant offering an enchanting wood fireplace and lake and garden views.
Basis
Bed and Breakfast
DAY 2: TARANGIRE SOPA LODGE, TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park, situated within Tanzania’s spectacular Manyara Region, is an awe-inspiring national park comprising of granite ridges, river valleys, mixed vegetative landscapes, and free-roaming wildlife. During the annual dry season the Tarangire River is a magnet for thirsty wildlife. Large herds of elephants and migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest and eland gather and not surprisingly the predators follow. With lion being among the most commonly spotted animal, it is a rare day that a visitor does not spot this majestic animal prowling or grazing. Tarangire is also the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as oryx and gerenuk are seen regularly. This expansive area is also known for its spectacular baobab trees, its breathtaking views of the Masaai Steppe and the wondrous mountains to the south.
Day Itinerary
Breakfast at the Hotel. After breakfast drive to Tarangire National Park, Enjoy game drive en route to the the Lodge. Lunch and Dinner at the Lodge
Overnight: Tarangire Sopa Lodge
Tarangire National Park is one of Tanzania’s best-kept secrets. Close to the town of Arusha and hosting Tanzania’s highest concentration of elephant population in Africa, perhaps than anywhere else in the world. It has a horizon dominated by the magnificent baobab trees, Legend says that baobab tree once angered God and it was thrown to earth and planted upside down. The trees are known to live for hundreds of year, some say thousands of years.
Tarangire sopa Lodge has 75 large and airy rooms, accommodating 150 guests. Built to blend with the vastness of its surroundings, the Lodge nestles amongst the rocky outcrops in the north-east of the park. As the Lodge is one of only a handful in this park, visitors are often rewarded with an exclusive feel to their safari. Each of the suites has its own private lounge with mini-bar, en-suite bathroom, large bedroom with 2 queen size beds and a balcony. The Lodge has telephone facilities, satellite TV, a conference room and a uniquely-designed swimming pool with a central island.
Basis
Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
DAY 3: TARANGIRE SOPA LODGE, TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
Day Itinerary
Breakfast at the hotel, Enjoy full day at Tarangire National Park. Lunch, Dinner and overnight at the Hotel
Basis
Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
DAY 4: LAKE MANYARA SERENA SAFARI LODGE, LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
Lake Manyara National Park
Situated in Tanzania’s central-northern region with the Lake Manyara on its east and the Manyara Escarpment to its west, the Lake Manyara National Park offers breathtaking views and a large variety of habitats supporting an array of wildlife.
This small park is home to surprising biodiversity and features a magnificent landscape of acacia woodlands, water forests, baobab strewn cliffs, algae-streaked hot springs, swamps and the lake itself. The park supports 400 species of bird, and the largest concentration of baboons anywhere in the world.
Other species include giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, impala, waterbuck, warthog, the Cape clawless otter, and Egyptian mongoose. Don’t miss the opportunity to see thousands of flamingos on the lake, the renowned tree-climbing lions, and large families of elephants strolling through the forest.
Day Itinerary
Today after breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Lake Manyara National Park, Enjoy morning game, there after drive to the Lodge for Lunch, Dinner and Overnight.
Overnight: Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge
Standing high on the bluff of a dramatic ochre and terracotta streaked cliff above the flamingo-frosted expanse of Lake Manyara’s gleaming alkaline waters, the Lodge commands panoramic views across the volcano-studded floor of the Great Rift Valley.
Designed to reflect the brilliance of Lake Manyara’s unique birdlife, the Lodge draws on an inspirational architectural motif that melds swooping avian curves with the gentle concentric patterns of traditional Maasai ‘Bomas’ (encampments) whilst the vibrantly coloured frescoes lining the walls are designed to depict the colourful intricacy of bird migratory patterns. The ambiance of the Lodge is a fusion of lakeside tranquility, towering volcanic splendour and adventure-packed sporting activity.
As to wildlife, the park offers abundant sightings of; monkey, jackal, mongoose, hyena, hyrax, zebra, hippo, warthog, buffalo, Masai giraffe, duiker, waterbuck and impala. Significant numbers of elephant are also resident in the Park whilst sightings of black rhino and leopard are not uncommon. Manyara is also especially noted for its wealth of bird life, being visited by many thousands of sugar-pink Lesser Flamingos, significant numbers of Greater Flamingos and a host of other woodland, plains and water birds
Basis
Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
DAY 5: NGORONGORO SOPA LODGE, NGORONGORO CRATER
Ngorongoro Crater
Located in Northern Tanzania, the Ngorongoro Crater is best known for its natural beauty and abundance of diverse wildlife; which makes it one of Africa’s most popular safari destinations. Surrounded by Tanzania’s highlands, this UNESCO-listed crater is said to be the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. Visitors can look forward to spotting the world-renowned Big Five and a host of other wildlife species including large herds of zebra and wildebeest. It is famed as one of Tanzania’s best tourist attractions offering visitors an array of wonderful activities including excellent bird watching, trekking, wildlife viewing, and mountain biking and visiting a local Maasai village. Don’t miss the opportunity to jump on an excursion to the magnificent Olduvai Gorge.
Day Itinerary
After Breakfast at the Hotel. Drive to Ngorongoro Conservation area; descend to the crater for crater tour. Lunch, Dinner and overnight at the Lodge.
Overnight: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
Perched on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater, the magnificent Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge is the only property on the eastern rim of this World Heritage Site. Accommodating 186 guests in its 97 spacious en-suite bedrooms, the Lodge has its own private road to the crater floor. The Lodge is perfectly situated to explore the abundant game in what is often referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. Its location offers awe-inspiring views over the crater and some of the most breathtaking sunsets to be seen in Tanzania.
Each suite has a private lounge with mini-bar, en-suite bathroom, central heating and a private solarium. The Lodge has telephone facilities, satellite TV, a conference room, and a swimming pool situated on the very edge of the rim.
Basis
Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
DAY 6: NGORONGORO SOPA LODGE, NGORONGORO CRATER
Full day game drives with picnic lunch at the base of the Caldera – Ngorongoro Crater
Day Itinerary
With picnic lunches descend to the conservation area and into the crater floor for rest of the day’s game drives. The Ngorongoro Crater is often called ‘Africa’s Eden’ and the ‘8th Natural Wonder of the World,’ a visit to the crater is a main draw card for tourists coming to Tanzania and a definite world-class attraction. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is home of Ngorongoro Crater.
It was formed some 2.5 million years ago from a volcanic mountain sinking due to inactivity, and was initially thought to be higher than Tanzania’s famous Kilimanjaro. The crater has evolved into a unique and integral part of Tanzania’s eco-system. The crater is actually a caldera, measures 22.5 km’s across and the rim walls stand 600m high.
Views from within and from the rim are breathtaking (as can be seen from the picture). The crater houses 30,000 animals and a large variety of birds, which rarely move from the area due to the availability of water through wet and dry seasons. In the evening return to your lodge for
Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, LDBB
Basis
Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
DAY 7: LEMALA NDUTU MOBILE TENTED CAMP, NDUTU
Open in Dec, Jan – 31 March
Ndutu
Set in the Arusha Region, Ndutu is situated in the northern part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area within the magnificent Serengeti. The surrounding landscapes are covered in sweeping grasslands which provide the perfect habitat for the migratory route for hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, antelope and zebra.
Visitors can look forward to exploring the forest around Lake Ndutu, spotting an array of wildlife, and visiting the fascinating archaeological site at the Olduvai Gorge. Don’t miss the opportunity to jump on a game drive to view the spectacular herds of the annual Great Migration, enjoy a scenic hot air balloon ride over the plains and take a guided tour with the local Maasai and learn about culture and traditions. Other commonly spotted species include: leopard, lion, cheetah, caracal, serval, African wildcat, and a variety of prolific birdlife.
Day Itinerary
Today after breakfast. Drive to Ndutu area via Olduvai Gorge. Arrive at the Camp in time for lunch, After lunch enjoy afternoon game drive, Dinner and overnight at the Camp
Overnight: Lemala Ndutu Mobile Tented Camp
Lemala Ndutu Tented Camp is in the Ndutu region of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area near the border of the Southern Serengeti. This area is classic savannah, characterized by flat grassy plains, and our camp is in one of the finest locations in Ndutu to see the migration between December and March.
Tens of thousands of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle usually arrive in December to graze on the newly-watered, highly-nutritious short grass plains, and then by February, the main calving season takes place. Predators – especially the big cats – are highly concentrated in the Ndutu area in these months. With 9 tents, Lemala Ndutu is perched on the edge of a permanent marsh, and acts as the ultimate amphitheatre to capture the boundless drama that accompanies the migration
Basis
Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
DAY 8: LEMALA NDUTU MOBILE TENTED CAMP, NDUTU
Day Itinerary
Full day at Ndutu area. Lunch, Dinner and overnight at the Camp.
Basis
Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
DAY 9: END OF ITINERARY
Day Itinerary
Breakfast the Camp. Depart with picnic lunches from the Camp. Then transfer to Ndutu airstrip for schedule flight to Arusha airport.
Basis
Breakfast
