An 18 day exploration of the best wildlife reserves Tanzania has to offer, the Tarangire and Manyara ecosystems, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater, the wilderness of the Ruaha National Park, as well as the historical Kondoa cave paintings
Duration:
18 Day Safari
Location:
Tanzania
Category:
Exploration
Tour Code:
SIM 907
Price:
$ 7895
Travel Recap:
Day 1
On arrival at Kilimanjaro met and transfer to Arumeru for overnight on b&b basis
Day 2
After breakfast depart for Manyara National Park for dinner overnight at Manyara Wildlife Lodge in Manyara National Park.
Lake Manyara National Park
From whichever way you approach Lake Manyara National park, the first view is spectacular. From the west as you pause at the top of the escarpment and gaze out over the thin green strip of vegetation nestled tight against the Rift Valley and the lake shining in the sunshine. Or if you approach from the east, the Rift Valley and Ngorongoro Highlands form an impressive backdrop to the lake.
The large variety of wildlife to be found in the park, mammals, reptiles and birds and the different vegetation, all within a small area make Lake Manyara a diverse and particularly interesting place to visit. The Park derives its name from the Masai word 'manyara', which is the name for the plant Euphorbia tirucalli. The Masai use this plant to grow livestock stockades, eventually producing a stock proof hedge which is more durable than that of any built of thorn.
The Great Rift Valley is part of the fault which runs from Mozambique in the south, north 8,000 kilometers to Turkey. In the Manyara area there is no eastern wall to the Rift Valley as there is in Kenya. Here it is flattish country which falls gently into a depression and towards the Masai steppes of the Lolkisale and Simanjiro region. The types of vegetation which occurs in the region is related to the geology of the area. The northern part of the park consists of volcanic rock which being porous allows many streams of clear water to flow out of the base of the rift wall, Further to the south, around Msasa River, the volcanic rock gives way to crystalline rock which is harder and less porous which allows fewer streams to emerge.
Despite being only 330 sq km's in area, of which 230 sq km's is the lake, it contains a large variety of habitats; the rift wall, the ground water forests, acacia woodland, areas of open grasslands, the lake shore, swamp and the lake itself. Due to the wide range of habitats the lake can support a diverse range of wildlife.
Day 3
Full days game viewing or walking safari in Manyara National Park with picnic lunch or returning to camp for lunch. Dinners and overnights are Manyara Wildlife Lodge. You can also have the opportunity for cultural experiences in the nearby town of Mto Wa Mbu if you wish.
Day 4
This morning depart for Ngorongoro with picnic lunch to spend the afternoon game viewing in the crater. Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the name given to the 8,300 square kilometer piece of land that surrounds the famous Crater and the Highlands of the same name. The Crater was once the headquarters of Serengeti National Park of which it was an integral part, but in 1956, after intense pressure and lobbying from the local Masai community who were dispossessed of the lands when the National Park was set up, Ngorongoro was designated a Conservation Area.
The 210 square km Crater is now one of the principal attractions on the Northern Tanzanian Safari Circuit and the reputation of the Crater Highlands is slowly developing as a premier trekking destination. The Crater is all that it is made out to be, the hyperbole about Garden's Of Eden, Eighth Wonder Of The World etc all justified by its perennial animal population. This cross-section of wildlife is about as convenient as you will find, dispersed amongst an amazing array of eco-systems within the Natural Amphitheater created by 600 metre high cliffs around it. It is home to one of the few remaining populations of black rhino in Tanzania and just about every other East African mammal, with the exception of giraffe (walls are too steep) and impala, all unafraid and used to the constant retinue of vehicles.
The crater has the highest density of lions in Africa, with over 30 lions per 100 sq km's, compared to the Serengeti, which has about 14 lions per 100 sq km's; and Kruger National Park in South Africa with about 10 lions per 100 sq km's. In Ngorongoro it is not uncommon to find the lions lying in the shade of the parked tourist vehicle!
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is unique in that the area is shared between the pastoralist Masai tribe and the wildlife the area was established to preserve.
Day 5
Early this morning we descend into the crater for a days game viewing with a picnic lunch. Late afternoon returning to the Sopa Lodge for dinner and overnight
Day 6
This morning you can again descend into the crater for game viewing before departing for the Serengeti and dinner and overnight at Seronera Wildlife Lodge in the Seronera valley.
Serengeti National Park
Arguably the most famous National Park in the world, the Serengeti Ecosystem (the name comes from "siringit" the Masai word for "endless plains") consists of some 35,000 square kilometers. It extends into the Masai Mara in neighboring Kenya and provides a vast eco-system for the wildebeest migration that takes place each year. The famed plains are found to the south of the park east of the Seronera Valley, rolling hills in the less visited Lobo area to the north and wooded riverine valleys to the remote east around Kirawira and Grumeti.
he park itself is about 14,763 sq km's in area and encompasses the main part of the Serengeti ecosystem. The ecosystem is defined by the annual migration of over 1,500,000 million wildebeest, zebras and associated predators, which occurs throughout the year and extends into the game reserves, game controlled areas and conservation area surrounding the park boundaries. As in all ecosystems, the vegetation and type of animals you will find are closely correlated, although it is impossible to say exactly where different species will occur, it is possible to build up a picture of the most likely species to be found in each area.
Day 7 & 8
These days we explore the Serengeti National Park, whether we spend the entire day game viewing with picnic lunch or return to the lodge for a hot lunch is entirely optional . It is this flexibility, which makes this safari one of the best for those who are serious game viewers! Dinner and overnight is at Seronera Wildlife Lodge.
Day 9
After breakfast, we depart the Serengeti with a picnic lunch for the Tarangire Conservation Area, visiting Olduvai Gorge en route. This is a unique area where the local Masai have set up the first village owned and operated game reserve in Tanzania: all to protect the large herds of elephants that are to be found in the Conservation Area and the surrounding National park. Dinner and overnight is at Boundary Hill Lodge. Perched on the highest point of land in the Tarangire ecosystem, BHL has spectacular views over the Goswa and Silale swamps systems and the rolling hills beyond. Dinner is on the terraces overlooking the plains below. After dinner at BHL, we will be offering a night drive in our especially equipped land rover. It is on the night drives that we usually see serval cats, African wildcats, bat eared foxes, and the occasional wandering lion or leopard! Returning to BHL for overnight.
Tarangire National Park and Conservation Area
This park represents perhaps the closest approximation to people's€™s expectations of Africa. Savannah lands, acacia stands, clusters of baobab trees, large herds of elephant and large tracts of rarely visited game lands make this perhaps the epitome of the safari experience. The park is approximately 2,600 sq km's within an ecosystem of over 20,000 sq km's on the Masai steppes, and during the height of the dry season is second only to Ngorongoro in density of wildlife. Tarangire is also arguably the best park in Africa for elephants with a population of over 3,000; and during the season, these are concentrated around the permanent waters of the Tarangire River during the heat of the day.
As in all ecosystems the vegetation and the types of animals you find are closely correlated. The principle features of the ecosystem are grasslands and floodplain's, Acacia tortillas and baobab parkland, riverina woodland, acacia commiphora woodland and combretum woodland. Three swamps form very important all year water sources for the large elephant populations, Silale and Gursi within the park, and Goswa within the conservation area.
Day 10 & 11
We spend these days exploring the Tarangire Ecosystem on walking safaris, game drives and night drives. We will have the opportunity to following the elephants' paths that wind through the acacia and baobab bush as well as marvel at their presence on the Lemiyon floodplain's. Because this is a Masai community initiative, we will also be able to visit one of the local bomas where we can learn something of their unique lifestyles. The area is also the best in Tanzania for bird watching with over 450 species being recorded. Dinner and overnight is at Boundary Hill.
Day 12
After breakfast we depart the Tarangire area and head south towards the Kondoa cave paintings located. There are over 200 sites in the hills around Kondoa which contain some of the worlds finest groups of prehistoric rock paintings. The most recent are from over a century ago, but the oldest are estimated to be 19,000 to 30,000 years old, making them some of the worlds most ancient examples of human artistic talent. Most of the sites are located in rock shelters- either vertical rock faces with overhangs, with all sites giving striking views of the surrounding hills and over the Masai steppe to the east. Dinner and overnight in our luxury camp at Kolo/Kondoa.
Day 13
Full day spent exploring these impressive sites with dinner and overnight in camp.
Day 14
Today we depart early in the morning and head south along a dirt road for Dodoma, the capital of Tanzania. Dinner and overnight is at a local guesthouse in Dodoma.
Day 15,
16 & 17
After an early breakfast we depart for Ruaha National Park stopping for lunch in Iringa to spend the next three days game viewing in the second largest park in Tanzania. Dinners and overnights at Ruaha River Lodge.
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park lies to the west of Tanzania's Southern Highlands town of Iringa. It was previously part of the huge Rungwa Game Reserve but was detached and declared a national park in 1964. The parks southeastern boundary follows closely the Great Ruaha river, with the terrain within most of the park being well wooded, undulating plateau country.
Although particularly noted for large numbers of elephants, the park is rich in all forms of wildlife except some of the plains animals such as wildebeest and topi. It is also possible to see Sable and Roan antelope as well as greater and lesser Kudu. The best time for game viewing is during the dry season from June through to November.
Day 18
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airstrip for the flight from Ruaha to Dar Es Salaam departing at 11hr40 and arriving at 14hr00 in Dar es Salaam in time for your international flight.
End of Services
Cost
Includes
This is a private safari with all game viewing in 4WD land rover or Land cruiser with English speaking guide, all transfers in Dar es Salaam and Arusha, all camping equipment on the full service luxury camps including proper beds and bedding, all full board accommodation throughout, all park fees and conservation fees, all village fees, 2 liters of bottled drinking water per person per day, unlimited kilometers on game drives, all walking safaris and night drives as stated. Includes a supply vehicle for all luxury camping
Excludes
Visas and international flights, all items of a personal nature
Lake Manyara National Park 
After breakfast we depart the Tarangire area and head south towards the Kondoa cave paintings located. There are over 200 sites in the hills around Kondoa which contain some of the worlds finest groups of prehistoric rock paintings. The most recent are from over a century ago, but the oldest are estimated to be 19,000 to 30,000 years old, making them some of the worlds most ancient examples of human artistic talent. Most of the sites are located in rock shelters- either vertical rock faces with overhangs, with all sites giving striking views of the surrounding hills and over the Masai steppe to the east. Dinner and overnight in our luxury camp at Kolo/Kondoa.