Tanzania is rich in tribal culture as well as nature’s spectacular diversity and open spaces. Our Journey into Tanzania Safari explores Tanzania’s great national parks and wildlife areas and includes amazing wildlife viewing as well as cultural interactions with the Hadzabe, Iraqw and Maasai tribes.
HIGHLIGHTS: Herds of elephants in Tarangire; the rich culture of one of the last hunter-gatherer people on earth; visits to at least three different tribes; World Heritage Ngorongoro Crater; the fossils at Oldupai Gorge; the vastness of the Serengeti; the wildebeest migration; sleeping under canvas in the wilderness.
DAY 1 ARUSHA
You will be met on arrival by Wild Exploration Safari (WES) and transferred to the hotel for a welcome briefing and overnight.
DAYS 2 & 3 TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast, we depart Arusha with picnic lunch, traveling southwest through the Maasai Steppe to Tarangire National Park where we observe a diversity of wildlife amidst the many baobab trees for which the park is famous. Tarangire, best known for its herds of elephant, is home to more than 2,500 individuals. Other common mammals include impala, African buffalo, zebra and Maasai giraffe. Rarer mammals include leopard, fringe-eared Oryx and lesser kudu. The park is also home to more than 260 bird species. Each day we have the opportunity of morning, afternoon and evening game drives as well as walking while we explore Tarangire National Park.
DAY 4 LAKE EYASI
After breakfast we drive to Lake Eyasi visiting the village of Mto Wa Mbu and an Iraqw Cultural Village en route. Dinner and overnight at our tented lodge.
Kisima Ngeda Camp. (B, L, D)
DAYS 5 & 6 NGORONGORO CRATER
Today we have an incredible opportunity to share in the day-to-day lives of one of the last hunter-gatherer groups in Africa – the Hadzabe Bushmen. The Hadzabe use an ancient dialect that is similar to the clicking languages of southern Africa. After spending the day at Lake Eyasi we bid farewell to our Hadzabe hosts and drive to Karatu. After exploring in the town of Karatu we check into our home for the next two nights, Ngorongoro Farm House. The next day we travel to the Ngorongoro Crater, the Earth’s largest unbroken caldera, a veritable “Garden of Eden”. The Crater is reputed to contain the world’s highest density of carnivores, which includes cheetah, leopard and lion. This is the only place in East Africa where one can easily observe black rhino. We have a full day in the crater with picnic lunch.
DAYS 7–10 OLDUPAI GORGE / SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
This morning we travel to the central & western Serengeti, en-route visiting Oldupai Gorge, a river canyon cutting 300 ft. into the volcanic Serengeti plains, once home to our earliest ancestors whose fossilized remains can still be found nestling in the exposed soils. After a Maasai village and school visit we descend to the Serengeti plains. Part of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, Serengeti National Park is home to the most famous wildlife spectacle on earth, the annual migration of millions of wildebeest and accompanying herbivores. We may also enjoy the option of a hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti.)
DAY 11 ARUSHA
After breakfast we fly to Arusha. On arrival we enjoy our farewell lunch at the River House and a visit to the Shanga bead making community project. Day-rooms are provided at the???? Until evening transfer to the airport for departure flight.
