Day 1: The tour will depart from the Hotel Boulevard at 8am on day one. Nairobi to Arusha.
Starting in Nairobi, we visit the Langatta Giraffe Centre and David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage before we head towards Tanzania and the border town of Namanga. If there are clear skies we may catch a glimpse of the snow-peeked caps of Mt Kilimanjaro. From Namanga we cross over the border into Tanzania. Tanzanian visas will be required by most nationalities and can be purchased at the border. Please note: USD$ cash will be needed for visas. Be ready to be swamped by Masai ladies selling jewellery, you can pick up some great bargains from them whilst we clear customs and immigration formalities.
Our route to Arusha takes us through the Masai tribe lands and along the western slope of Mt Meru. Some fantastic photos can be taken of the sweeping plains and Masai tribesmen herding their goats and cattle. Arusha is situated on the southern slopes of Mt Meru and was originally a coffee town. These days’ safaris have taken over as its primary industry, and it is now the gateway to the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti National Park. In town you will find an excellent market and bakery, along with a post office, banks and e-mail facilities and we will have an opportunity to indulge in some curio shopping here.
Day 2: Arusha to Lake Manyara.
It is not possible to take minibuses into the Ngorongoro Crater so for the next few days we will be using a local operator with four wheel drive vehicles.Starting early we begin our journey to Lake Manyara, travelling to the village of Mto Wa Mbu (Mosquito Creek) where there is a good curio market for more purchases. Prices here are quite expensive though, so be prepared to haggle for a good deal. Further along the road we turn and head to Lake Manyara, the largest soda lake in East Africa. We take an afternoon game drive through the spectacular park boasting the rare tree-climbing lion, elephant and flamingos lining the soda lake. Here we spend the night.
Day 3 and 4: Serengeti National Park.
Over the next few days we continue to the Serengeti. We will stop briefly to enjoy the magnificent views from the escarpment. Driving through the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area we skirt our way around the rim of the crater itself, before heading down onto the short grass plains, arriving at the gate to the Serengeti National Park late-morning. The Serengeti is the oldest and largest National Park in Tanzania, its name coming from the Masai word meaning “endless plains”. Its landscape varies from the long and short grass plains in the south, to the central Savannah, the hilly wooded areas in the north, and extensive wooded areas in the west. It is world renowned for its immense concentration of game, in particular its lion and zebra populations and the annual wildebeest migration which commences in July – the beginning of the dry season, when they move in search of pasture towards the Masai Mara. It is a time when you will see the full circle of life for these animals sometimes called “the clowns of the plains”. The migration journey is hazardous and many of the older and weaker animals will lose their lives to predators such as lions and crocodiles. The migration also coincides with the annual rutting season, the calves being born at the beginning of the rains when there is plenty of fresh grass for feeding.
After crossing into the park, we game drive through the long grass plains to our lodge in the Seronera valley at the very heart of the National Park. The next day finds us game driving in search of big game. There is also an opportunity to experience a hot air balloon ride over the fabled Serengeti plains. After approximately an hour ballooning, waiters serve a full English breakfast, together with continental pastries, accompanied by champagne and fruit juice, in colonial dress on long, white-clothed tables in the middle of the plains.
Day 5 and 6: Ngorongoro Crater and Arusha.
We make our way back across the Serengeti plains to the Ngorongoro Crater. On the way you have the option to visit to Oldavai Gorge where some of the earliest fossils of mankind have been found. Tonight we stay in a beautiful lodge built right in to the rim of the Crater, where, weather permitting, we enjoy a spectacular view into this ‘Garden of Eden’.
Early the next day we descend onto the Crater floor for a morning game drive in one of the most stunning natural wonders of the world. At 19kms across and 600m deep this is the fifth largest crater in the world. It is a world heritage site and boasts a unique eco system. The crater itself reflects a mini rift valley. It has a soda lake with flamingos, fresh water, open plains, and a forest area. There is a high concentration of animals here, and it is also a home to a small population of black rhino. We take a full tour of the crater before heading back towards Arusha. En-route we stop in at the local Masai Museum and Snake Park. Tonight we overnight in Arusha.
Day 7: Arusha to Nairobi.
Departing Arusha we transfer back to Nairobi, arriving into Nairobi approximately mid-afternoon where your tour ends. NO accommodation is included on Day 7.
Bobby Tours can organise post tour accommodation at the Hotel Boulevard. We recommend that flights are booked for the following day to allow for any delays. |
