10 Day Calving Season
JANUARY - MARCH
Arrival Day
ARUSHA
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport. After passport control, you will be met by your safari guide (who will be with you for the rest of your safari) outside the arrival lounge and transferred to your accommodations in Arusha (Approx. 60 minutes).
Sample Accommodations:
Arusha Planet Lodge
The African Tulip Hotel
Arusha Villa
Arusha Coffee Lodge
Day 1
ARUSHA
Choose one or several of our SABABU EXPERIENCES and meet the locals. Spend time with children at a school and take part in a dance, drum or cooking class. Visit Arusha’s Cultural Heritage Center or Shanga Workshop. Enjoy a relaxing evening before starting your Tanzania safari the next day.
Sample Accommodations:
Arusha Planet Lodge
The African Tulip Hotel
Arusha Villa
Arusha Coffee Lodge
Day 2
TARANGIRE NP
After breakfast you will set off from Arusha and make your way through beautiful tribal areas en-route to Tarangire National Park (2h) with picnic lunch boxes and enjoy a game drive before you check into your accommodations in the late afternoon.
After the Serengeti, Tarangire has the greatest concentration of wildlife in Tanzania. In the dry season the Tarangire River is a magnet for thirsty wildlife. The river of the park is full of wildlife ranging from a large variety of birds to lions, leopards, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes and, of course, elephants. In fact, the park has the largest concentration of elephants in the whole country and provides unique chances to observe the interaction between elephant families. This is also the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as oryx and gerenuk are regularly spotted. Tarangire is particularly known for its spectacular baobab trees, and its breathtaking views of the Maasai Steppe and the mountains to the south.
Sample Accommodations:
Maramboi Tented Lodge
Tarangire Safari Lodge
Ndovu Tented Lodge
Mpingo Ridge
Day 3
LAKE MANYARA NP
After breakfast, make your way towards Lake Manyara National Park, a narrow strip of land sandwiched between the towering cliffs of the Gregory Rift Valley and the lake itself. Although small in dimension (205 sq. miles), the park has breathtaking scenery and is well famous for its “tree climbing” lions and growing population of baboons and blue monkeys. The park also has fantastic bird life; thousands of flamingos line the shores of the lake at certain times of year. Explore the different areas of the park and enjoy mid afternoon game drives en route out of the park stopping at Mto wa Mbu, a culturally vibrant town, for a market visit along the way. You will then head towards the Ndutu Plains of the Southern Serengeti. The driving itself is spectacular. You will drive up the crater highlands, making a quick stop at the rim for an out of this world view of Ngorongoro Crater.
Sample Accommodations:
Nyikani Migration Camp – Ndutu
Ndutu Safari Lodge
Lake Masek Tented Lodge
Lemala Ndutu Camp
Day 4-5
NDUTU PLAINS,
SOUTHERN SERENGETI
You will enjoy two full days in the Ndutu Plains. The area has high densities of cheetahs and lions particularly when the wildebeest inhabit these plains from December to March. There are two beautiful sodic lakes in the vicinity. Being in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) you will be able to drive off road – a great advantage for getting close up to Africa’s large mammals! This area is also the traditional birthing ground for the wildebeest, which are attracted to the area by the high concentrations of phosphorus in the soil, an essential mineral for lactating mothers. It is one of the greatest places in Africa to sit around a campfire and listen to the night sounds under a sky full of stars.
Sample Accommodations:
Nyikani Migration Camp – Ndutu
Ndutu Safari Lodge
Lake Masek Tented Lodge
Lemala Ndutu Camp
Day 6
NDUTU to NGORONGORO CRATER
On this day we suggest a very early wake up in order to do an early morning game drive in Ndutu (when the animals are more active) and see one of the best sunrises you’ll ever witness. It’s really one of the most beautiful experiences to have. After the game drive, we return to the camp for a rewarding lunch and then we’ll proceed to Ngorongoro, the 8th Natural Wonder of the World.
Sample Accommodations:
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Lion’s Paw Camp
Day 7
NGORONGORO CRATER
In the morning after an early breakfast you will be one of the first vehicles descending the 600 meters (2,000ft) into Ngorongoro Crater for superb game viewing with picnic lunch boxes. The Ngorongoro Crater is a natural enclosure supporting 20,000-30,000 animals at any one time making it virtually a Noah’s ark and inhabiting almost every species of wildlife that is indigenous to East Africa. The Crater is considered one of the natural wonders of the world and has the highest densities of predators in Africa such as lions, hyenas and leopards. It is also one of the best places in Africa to see the endangered black rhino. In the late afternoon, slowly begin the climb out of the crater and head toward Lake Eyasi for dinner and overnight.
Sample Accommodations:
Lake Eyasi Safari Lodge
Kisima Ndega Tented Camp
Ziwani Lodge
Day 8
LAKE EYASI
You will wake up very early, just before sunrise, to visit the Hadzabe tribe, one of the last true nomadic tribes in Africa. After some explanations about the tribe, you will join them in their daily morning activities. This experience is off the beaten track and does not feel touristic by any means. The photographic opportunities are out of this world. This tour will definitely be a highlight of your safari. The activities with the tribe can either be joining the men in their daily hunting, or the women in their fruit gathering session. In either of them, you will learn about many aspects of the Hadzabe way of living. After finishing the activities with the tribe, we will visit the beautiful Lake Eyasi, a season shallow salt lake on the floor of the Great Rift Valley and then stay at camp for another night.
Sample Accommodations:
Lake Eyasi Safari Lodge
Kisima Ndega Tented Camp
Ziwani Lodge
Day 9
WEST KILIMANJARO
In the morning head back toward Arusha and end your safari with a stay at Original Maasai Lodge – a magical place where you immediately will come to rest and reflect on the essentials. At the foot of Kilimanjaro and in the middle of the wilderness of the Maasai steppe are bungalows with hand crafted furniture with great views of Kilimanjaro, Africa‘s highest mountain. Behind it is the savanna, home to the Maasai people. This is the right place to get to know them and their traditions and rituals, together with a slowing-down of your own life’s pace. It‘s all about being together, sharing traditions, stories and learning from each other. Stay in a traditional Maasai Boma, experience cultural activities and learn about the Maasai customs and traditions.
Original Maasai Lodge is built on 400 acres of protected wildlife territory which was gifted by the villagers of Ngabobo to honor the organization (Africa Amini Alama) for its constant charity work. The main purpose of the lodge is to empower the community and generate income for the social, educational, conservation and medical projects. As an authentic Maasai project, the lodge offers people from all over the world a unique and in-depth Maasai experience. The Maasai themselves consider the lodge as an essential part of their village and like to warmly welcome tourists in their home place.
Sample Accommodations:
Original Maasai Lodge
Day 10
DEPARTURE
Have breakfast and spend your day at leisure. In the afternoon, meet your private transfer to Kilimanjaro International airport (JRO), and catch your departure flight back home.
LET’S START PLANNING AND CUSTOMIZING YOUR TRIP TOGETHER TODAY!