18-DAY EAST AFRICA WILDLIFE EXTRAVAGANZA

Transcription

1 18-DAY EAST AFRICA WILDLIFE EXTRAVAGANZA Flying Safari to Tanzania s Ruaha and Serengeti National Parks Private Safari to Tarangire and Ngorongoro Flying Safari to Kenya s Maasai Mara Program highlights: Our Wildlife Extravaganza is the ideal program for those who want to experience the great plains of the Serengeti and Maasai Mara as well as the remote Ruaha National Park. Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater enhance your game viewing experience. In the Ruaha, Serengeti and Mara you will have shared game drives with resident camp guides in OPEN vehicles. In the Serengeti and Maasai Mara stay in a seasonal permanent tented camps ideally located to view the "Great Migration" in the northern plains (Jul-Oct) East Oakland Park Boulevard, Suite 600 Fort Lauderdale, Florida U.S.A Tel: Tel: Fax: safari@africanadventure.com

2 Day Destination Accommodation 01 USA Europe Travel 02 Europe Dar es Salaam Dar es Salaam Serena 03 Fly Dar es Salaam Ruaha Afternoon game drive Ruaha River Lodge or Kwihala Camp or Jabali Ridge 04 Ruaha Ruaha River Lodge or Kwihala Camp or Jabali Ridge 05 Ruaha Ruaha River Lodge or Kwihala Camp or Jabali Ridge 06 Ruaha Ruaha River Lodge or Kwihala Camp or Jabali Ridge 07 Fly Ruaha - Arusha Drive Arusha Tarangire Game drive Tarangire Tarangire Safari Lodge or Maramboi Camp or Little Chem Chem 08 Full Day Game Drive in Tarangire Tarangire Safari Lodge or Maramboi Camp or Little Chem Chem 09 AM game drive in Lake Manyara Continue to Ngorongoro Lemala Ngorongoro 10 Full Day Game Drive in Crater Lemala Ngorongoro 11 Fly to the Serengeti Afternoon game drive Ubuntu Camp 12 Serengeti Ubuntu Camp 13 Serengeti Ubuntu Camp 14 Fly Serengeti Maasai Mara Afternoon game drive Rekero Camp or Naboisho or Sala s Camp 15 Maasai Mara Rekero Camp or Naboisho or Sala s Camp 16 Maasai Mara Rekero Camp or Naboisho or Sala s Camp 17 Fly Maasai Mara Nairobi - Europe 18 Fly Europe USA

3 Destinations Base Package Accommodations Ruaha National Park Ruaha River Lodge Kwihala Camp Jabali Ridge Tarangire Tarangire Safari Lodge Maramboi Camp Little Chem Chem Ngorongoro Crater Serengeti Lemala Ngorongoro Ubuntu Camp Maasai Mara Rekero Camp Naboisho Camp Sala s Camp

4 DAY 01 USA/EUROPE Depart this evening on overnight flight to Europe. ITINERARY DAY 02 EUROPE/DAR ES SALAAM This morning you will arrive in Europe. Connect with your flight to Dar es Salaam arriving in the evening. On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the evening at leisure. The Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel is located in the heart of Dar es Salaam s business district. The luxury hotel has 230 rooms with en suite facilities and offers many amenities including several restaurants including Jahazi and the Kibo Bar and Terrace, outdoor swimming pool and Maisha gym and spa. The hotel s magnificent setting of lush tropical gardens is close to great shopping, nightlife spots, culture and dining experiences. Accommodation: Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel (B) DAY 03 DAR ES SALAAM/RUAHA This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your scheduled charter flight to Ruaha. Onward transfer to your camp. *PLEASE NOTE* There is a luggage limit of 33lbs (15kg) per person on the charter flight so please prepack your luggage accordingly in a soft-sided bag. Ruaha's scenery is spectacular, and its 5,000-square-mile (12,950-km2) area makes it almost as large as Serengeti National Park. The landscape is characterized by miombo woodland with rocky hills on a plateau over 3,300 feet (1,000 m) in altitude. Park elevation ranges from 2,460 feet (750 m) in the Ruaha Valley to the 6,230-foot (1,900-m) Ikingu Mountain in the west of the park. The Great Ruaha River, with its impressive gorges, deep pools and rapids, runs for 100 miles (160 km), close to the park's eastern boundary, and it is home to many hippo and crocodiles. The black rocks of the riverbed contrast against the golden grass riverbank which is a beautiful sight indeed. This is an excellent area for walking. The dry season, June-November, is the best time to visit the park, when game is concentrated along the Ruaha River. Large numbers of greater and lesser kudu, elephant, wildebeest and impala can be seen, along with eland, sable antelope, roan antelope, buffalo, Defassa waterbuck, ostrich and giraffe. Lion, leopard, spotted and striped hyena, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox and African wild dog are also present in significant numbers. Black rhino are present but seldom seen. Over 400 species of birds have been recorded.

5 In addition to morning and afternoon excursions, midday game viewing in this park can also be very productive because wildlife can be seen walking to and from the river. On the 20-minute drive from the airstrip to camp, numerous game can be spotted. Destination Base Package Accommodations Ruaha National Park Ruaha River Lodge Kwihala Camp Jabali Ridge Ruaha River Lodge is the only lodge in the Ruaha Reserve and is built on a rocky ridge with spectacular views of the Great Ruaha River. The 24 local stone and thatch en suite accommodation bandas are individually sited along the river and offer unrivalled views of the animals coming down to the water to drink. Game drives in specially adapted 4 x 4 vehicles are offered and as well as walks. Accommodation: Ruaha River Lodge (Full Board) OR Kwihala Camp, located in the north of Ruaha National Park, is built on a hillside and enjoys views of Mwagusi Basin with wonderful sunrises and sunsets. The camp features six spacious tents, each comfortable furnished with en suite bathrooms including bucket showers and flush toilets. Solar power provides electricity and there is a outlet in each tent. The central dining room is the ideal place to meet other guests and have a drink before dinner. The game viewing in this area is prolific and you will enjoy morning and late afternoon game drives in open-vehicles. Experience the thrill of guided walks, night game drives or participate in the Ruaha Carnivore Project (pre-arrange prior to arrival, additional fees apply). Accommodation: Kwihala Camp (Full Board) OR Jabali Ridge is located in the heart of Ruaha and close to the core game viewing area of the Mwagusi River. The camp features eight suites hidden among the rocky boulders, each with en suite bathrooms including running hot water rain showers and flush toilets. Relax between game activities on your private deck, cool off in the camp s infinity pool or perhaps book a spa treatment (additional fees apply).

6 Activities include morning and night game drives in open-sided vehicles with a maximum of six travelers and exciting walking safaris. Accommodation: Jabali Ridge (Full Board) DAY RUAHA Enjoy three days of shared game activities. Accommodation: Ruaha River Lodge or Kwihala Camp or Jabali Ridge (Full Board) DAY 07 RUAHA/TARANGIRE This morning you will be transferred to the airstrip for your scheduled charter flight to Tarangire National Park. On arrival you will be met by your private guide and vehicle and continue to your camp. Tarangire is the third largest national park in Tanzania. Majestic baobab trees are an interesting feature of the park, dwarfing all but the elephants feeding beneath them. During the dry season from June to November, animals concentrate along Tarangire River, which provides the only permanent water supply. The area supports a great diversity of wildlife, including giraffe, lesser kudu, oryx and zebra. Lion, leopard and cheetahs are also present in the area. Up to 6,000 elephants inhabit the park in the dry season. Destination Base Package Accommodations Tarangire Tarangire Safari Lodge Maramboi Camp Little Chem Chem

7 Tarangire Safari Lodge is situated within the National Park and built on an escarpment overlooking the Tarangire River. The camp has tents and bungalows, a dining room, bar and a large swimming pool. Accommodation: Tarangire Safari Lodge (Full Board) Private Guide and vehicle OR Maramboi Tented Camp is located on the shores of Lake Manyara and in the migratory corridor between Tarangire and Lake Manyara ecosystem. Forty spacious tents are positioned on wooden decks, each with en suite facilities, 24 hours electric lighting and private veranda. Optional activities include guided bush walks, a visit to Lake Manyara s shore and bird watching (over 300 birds). Accommodation: Maramboi Tented Camp (Full Board) Private Guide and vehicle OR Little Chem Chem overlooks Lake Burunge and is surrounded by impressive Baobab trees. The intimate camp features five tents with en suite bathroom with shower, Molton Brown toiletries and flush toilet. Each of the traditional tents also has a private fire pit to enjoy once the sun sets. The main lounge and dining tent are the ideal place to meet other guests over cocktails and delicious cuisine. Activities include morning, afternoon and night game drives on the Chem Chem Reserve, game drives within Tarangire National Park, guided walking safaris and conservation safaris with the anti-poaching team. Accommodation: Little Chem Chem (Full Board) Private Guide and vehicle DAY 08 TARANGIRE Depart this morning with a picnic lunch and enjoy a full day game drive in Tarangire National Park.

8 Based on Little Chem Chem, enjoy the day with a variety of activities on the Chem Chem Reserve. Accommodation: Tarangire Safari Lodge or Maramboi Tented Camp (Full Board) Private Guide and vehicle DAY 09 TARANGIRE/LAKE MANYARA/NGORONGORO Depart this morning with a packed picnic lunch to Lake Manyara for a game drive. Lake Manyara National Park is most famed for its tree-climbing lions that may be seen (if you are very lucky) sleeping amongst the branches of acacia trees. The park is situated in the Great Rift Valley where hippos abound along with the excellent bird life as well as elephant and baboon. This afternoon drive through Mto wa Mbu village and continue on to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which was a pioneer experiment in reconciling the interests of wildlife animals and indigenous forests with the needs of the local Maasai tribe. Lemala Ngorongoro Crater Camp is a tented camp close to the rim of the Ngorongoro caldera tucked in a wooded valley. The camp features nine tents, a skilled friendly staff and is just a few minutes drive from the crater rim. Each expansive tent has an open verandah which is shaded, with canvas director's chairs and thoughtfully placed reading table. Inside, the bedroom features oversized windows allowing cool breezes and warm light to wash through, while keeping the insects outdoors. Electric light shines from a chandelier with a 220V plug for charging batteries and other devices. Immediately behind the bedroom is a change area with ceramic sink on a hand carved wooden counter with large mirror. There is a flush toilet and the camp features hot and cold running water. In the winter months, there are small heaters and thick duvet covers to keep you warm. Three main meals are served each day in the large canvas dining tent, culminating with five course dinners. Picnic meals can also be prepared for your full day game drives. In the evening sit in the light of a warm fire in a semi-circle of chairs. Accommodation: Lemala Ngorongoro Crater Camp (Full Board) Private Guide and vehicle

9 DAY 10 NGORONGORO This early morning depart to the Crater Rim and descend for a morning of game viewing on the crater floor. Enjoy a picnic on the crater floor. Return to your camp late afternoon. Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unflooded, intact caldera in the world. Known as the eighth wonder of the world, its vastness and beauty are truly overwhelming. Ngorongoro Crater itself is but a small portion of the 3,200-square-mile Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a World Heritage site that is characterized by a highland plateau with volcanic mountains as well as several craters, extensive savannah and forests. Altitudes range from 4,430 to 11,800 feet. Ngorongoro Crater is about 12 miles wide and its rim rises 1,200-1,600 feet off of its expansive 102- square-mile floor. The steep descent into the crater along winding roads takes minutes from the crater rim. The crater floor is predominantly grasslands (making game easy to spot) with two swamps fed by streams, and the Lerai Forest. The walls of the crater are lightly forested. Ngorongoro contains possibly the largest permanent concentration of wildlife in Africa, with an estimated average of 30,000 large mammals. In addition, this is one of the best reserves in Africa in which to see black rhino. Large concentrations of wildlife make Ngorongoro Crater their permanent home. Game viewing is good year-round. Because there is a permanent source of fresh water, there's no reason for much of the wildlife to migrate as they must do in the Serengeti. Accommodation: Lemala Ngorongoro Crater Camp (Full Board) Private Guide and vehicle DAY 11 NGORONGORO/SERENGETI Transfer to the Lake Manyara airstrip where you will bid farewell to your private guide and board your scheduled charter to Serengeti. On arrival you will be met and proceed to your camp. Enjoy three days of shared game drives. Serengeti is derived from the Maasai language and appropriately means "endless plain." The park's 5,700 square miles makes it larger than the state of Connecticut. Altitude varies from 3,120 to 6,070 feet. As you enter the park gate you will take a game drive through the open plains.

10 Nearly 500 species of birds and 35 species of large plains animals can be found in the Serengeti. The park may contain as many as 1.5 million wildebeest, 500,000 zebra, 300,000 Grant's gazelle, 250,000 Thomson's gazelle, 120,000 impala, 70,000 topi, 20,000 buffalo, 9,000 eland, 8,000 giraffe, 1,000 lion and 800 elephant. The huge herds of plains game such as wildebeest, zebra and antelope dominate the park while the attendant predators such as lion and cheetah are to be found amongst the many kopjes scattered across the plain. Leopard can often be found draped in the trees along the Seronera River. Ubuntu Camp is a seasonal mobile camp that follows the migration of the wildebeest. From May-July 16, the camp is located in the Western Corridor. During August-November 15, it relocates and is ideally situated in the northern Serengeti near the Mara River. As the migration moves south, the camp is located in the game rich Kusini area from December to March. The mobile camp features seven tents with en suite bathrooms, flush toilets and hot-cold water shower. Activities include morning and afternoon game drives. Community visits are available when the camp is located in the northern Serengeti. Accommodation: Ubuntu Camp (Full Board) DAY SERENGETI Enjoy two days of game viewing. Accommodation: Ubuntu Camp (Full Board)

11 DAY 14 SERENGETI/MAASAI MARA This morning you will be transferred to the airstrip for your scheduled charter flight to the Maasai Mara (you land at Tarime where you will clear immigration and change planes). Board your connecting scheduled charter flight. Upon arrival you will be met by your guide and driven to camp. *Please Note* there is a luggage limit of 33lbs (15kg) per person on the charter flight so please pre-pack your luggage accordingly in a soft-sided bag. Scheduled Charter flights times are estimates and may include multiple stops. The Maasai Mara is undoubtedly the finest wildlife area in Kenya. All of the big game is here: elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah and buffalo. Commonly seen species include zebra, wildebeest, Thomson's gazelle, Defassa waterbuck, eland and Maasai giraffe. This is the only place in Kenya where topi are common. Maasai Mara National Reserve, a northern extension of the Serengeti Plains (Tanzania), is located southwest of Nairobi and covers 590 square miles. Open plains, acacia woodlands and riverine forest along the banks on the Mara and Talek Rivers are home for many hippo, crocs and waterfowl. As the park teems with resident wildlife, game viewing is good year-round. The migration is when great herds of wildebeest (1.4 million) and zebra (250,000) reside in the Mara, from approximately July to October. During the migration, prides of 40 or more lion may be seen. From the southern Serengeti a major portion of the migration moves northwest toward Lake Victoria, then north across the Mara River into Kenya in search of grass, usually returning to Tanzania in late October. The best time to witness large numbers of wildebeest and zebra crossing the Mara River is from mid/late July to mid/late September.

12 Destination Base Package Accommodations Maasai Mara Rekero Camp Naboisho Camp Sala s Camp Rekero Camp is a seasonal camp that operates from June-October and December-March. Located within the Maasai Mara Game Reserve at an altitude of 4,800 feet, the camp nestles in riverine forest on the banks of the Talek River. This camp is ideally positioned for the annual migration. There are seven spacious tents featuring private terraces overlooking the river, en suite bathrooms with hot showers and flush toilets. Wildlife viewing and bird watching can be done on foot with experienced Il Dorobo and Maasai guides. Game drives are offered in custom-built four-wheel drive vehicles which allow intimate yet unobtrusive access to the animals. Picnics in the bush, sun downers and night game drives in the neighboring game concession are also featured. Optional balloon safaris are available. Accommodation: Rekero Camp (Full Board) OR Naboisho Camp features eight luxury tents with en suite facilities and private verandahs with expansive views. Activities include game drives, walking safaris, night game drives, off-roading, and fly camping (coming soon). Optional balloon trips are available (the launch site is approximately 45 minute drive from camp). For a more cultural experience the guides invite you to visit their hometowns. Feel enriched by this very personal encounter, which will always be genuine and unobtrusive. And of course, in addition you could join talks and presentations by researchers, as part of the wildlife research programs in the conservancy.

13 The Naboisho Conservancy is a 50,000 acre private game concession east of the Mara/Serengeti ecosystem. The region is host to a variety of animals including the big cats, elephants, giraffe, plains animals and rare wild dogs. The Conservancy limits the number of visitors by holding on to a ratio of one tent per 700 acres. No crowded vehicles, but guaranteed spectacular, unspoiled and exclusive views of wildlife. Accommodation: Naboisho Camp (Full Board) OR Sala's Camp is located at the convergence of two rivers, in the southern end of the Maasai Mara. This secluded spot offers tremendous views along the Sand River towards Tanzania and the Serengeti. During the migration of the wildebeest from early July to the end of October, Sala's Camp is ideally located to witness dramatic river crossings and the predators. Accommodations include seven en suite tents with hot showers and flush toilets. Electricity is solar powered and there is a standby generator to charge any equipment and camera batteries. Activities include game drives in 4x4 vehicles, bush breakfasts, sundowners and bird watching. An optional balloon safari can be arranged and the camp is 25 minutes drive from the launch site. This is a seasonal camp and is closed annually in May and November. Accommodation: Sala s Camp (Full Board) DAY MAASAI MARA RESERVE Days spent game viewing in the Mara. An optional balloon safari may be taken. Accommodation: Rekero Camp or Naboisho Camp or Sala s Camp (Full Board) DAY 17 MAASAI MARA/NAIROBI/EUROPE Morning game drive. Afternoon scheduled charter flight (3:00pm) from the Mara to Nairobi leaving behind the rolling plains of Maasai Mara. On arrival you transfer to the International airport for your overnight flight to Europe. DAY 18 WELCOME HOME! EUROPE/USA

14 2018 LAND ARRANGEMENTS: Based on Ruaha River Lodge, Tarangire Safari Lodge and Rekero Camp June Jul-Aug Sep-Oct Nov 15-Dec 15 2 people traveling $14, $15, $14, $12, people traveling $13, $14, $14, $12, people traveling $13, $14, $14, $11, Camp Substitutions Kwihala + $ $ $ $ Jabali Ridge + $ $ $ $ Maramboi + $ $ $ $ Little Chem Chem + $ $ $ $ Naboisho - $ $275 (Aug) None - $ Sala s Camp + $ $925 + $ (Aug) None Camp closure * Pricing is quoted per person sharing a room ~ Rates reflect special savings featuring Ubuntu and Rekero Camp ~ INTERNATIONAL AIRFARE: (subject to change until ticketed) Please note the following sample airfares. Lower promotional airfares are offered throughout the year so please take a moment to contact our in house air department for even better pricing options! ECONOMY AIR: from $1, per person (low season) BUSINESS AIR: from $6, per person (low season) New York/Dar es Salaam - Nairobi/New York (via Europe) - Please call for add-ons from departure city. LAND COSTS INCLUDE: - All accommodations - All meals and game activities (Full Board) on safari - Meals as stated, breakfast (B), lunch (L) and dinner (D) - Airport and road transfers - Park fees and guiding fees - Scheduled charter flights within Dar es Salaam/Ruaha/Tarangire - Ngorongoro/Serengeti/Mara/Nairobi - Flying doctor service - Drinks and laundry at Lemala Ngorongoro, Ubuntu Camp and camps in the Maasai Mara NOT INCLUDED: - Tips to hotel and lodge staff - Other Drinks + laundry not included above - Airport departure taxes - Tanzania and Kenya visas - Optional ballooning safari in Serengeti ($525.00) or Maasai Mara ($450.00) - Optional community visit (Ubuntu Camp - Aug-Nov) - Scheduled international airfares - Items of a personal nature - Travel insurance

15 DEPARTURES: Daily TOUR CODE: KT18Extravaganza Notes: 1) Please request further pricing with a longer stay discount if booking Oliver s Camp in Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Highlands at the Crater. 2) This safari operates with a minimum of two people. Please request single supplement. 3) Ubuntu Camp repositions in the Serengeti from July and Nov 1-14, During that time an alternative camp can be used. Trip reports: We found that our favorite experience was at Naboisho Conservancy. We enjoyed our "tent", central living & dining areas, the Maasai guiding, the communal meals (lunches were a highlight), & the genuine warmth of the staff especially Clea & Moses. We took advantage of their Night Game Drive & their Walking Tour with Roelof. Both were highlights of the trip. We really appreciated Roelof's extensive knowledge. Irene Ball Our last three nights were spent at Kwihala at Ruaha national park. We had morning and afternoon game dives. The park is very pretty with hills, interesting rocks, baobabs and palm trees. The highlight was a pride of lions with four Cubs sunning themselves and playing in the dry riverbed. Vikki Canfield After the northern Serengeti, Ruaha and Selous were a lovely contrast. Mwagusi Camp in Ruaha was very enjoyable: our guide Geoffrey was outstanding. We had an unexpected wild dog experience, a fine leopard, the lion who came to our bush breakfast, repeated visits to a very active hyena den, and an amazing lion pride enjoying their own dinner. Breakfast with Chris Fox on our last morning at Mwagusi was an added pleasure. Last but not least, Siwandu Camp in Selous was fantastic. George and Emma were fine hosts, our guide Kim was exceptional, and Matthew who made all of our meals a joy, including ugali the traditional way and our bush breakfast after a walking safari. Boating on the lake also made for a very different experience, with plenty of crocodiles and hippos added to the usual mix. Peter Cvek