FAMILY TANZANIA SAFARI DECEMBER 26, JANUARY 7, 2013

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TRAVELS FAMILY TANZANIA SAFARI DECEMBER 26, 2012 - JANUARY 7, 2013 Blend amazing wildlife and an extraordinary cultural experience with activities for all ages.

1 TRAVELS FAMILY TANZANIA SAFARI DECEMBER 26, JANUARY 7, 2013 Blend amazing wildlife and an extraordinary cultural experience with activities for all ages. Enjoy a variety of accommodations, which allow kids to explore, play games, and let out some energy outdoors, while also immersing them in the culture of Tanzania. Your kids will even have their own Tanzania pen pals, who they will meet in Tanzania! GROUP SIZE: 25 guests (Harvard exclusive) PRICING: $8,495 adult rate, $7,995 teen rate, and $7,295 child rate per person double occupancy SCHEDULE BY DAY B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, R=Reception WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26 DEPART U.S. Flights depart for Arusha, Tanzania THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27 ARRIVE ARUSHA Arrive this evening in Arusha, where you will be warmly welcomed. Transfer with the group to the Lodge. Overnight at Mount Meru Game Lodge FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28 ARUSHA / TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK With Arusha as your starting point, head to Tarangire National Park, where diverse wildlife viewing awaits. Once outside the city, you soon cross the Maasai Steppe into the wide open acacia-covered plains. The route moves past settlements and districts that are predominantly inhabited by Maasai. Arrive at the park in less than two hours. Often overlooked, Tarangire astonishes many with its massive herds of elephants, distinctive winding riverine landscapes, and swampy floodplains. Your head guide will brief you on your itinerary and review the expectations for your safari, giving you a taste of what s to come. Please ask the guide questions at this time and as they come up during the safari. This afternoon, explore the banks of the Tarangire River, where large families of elephant often gather. You'll also spend time exploring the baobab-studded plains and the miombo woodlands, where you'll surely find baboon and vervet monkey. Enjoy a welcome dinner and the full Tanzanian hospitality that comes with it. Overnight at Tarangire Treetops Lodge B, L,D SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29 TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK Spend a day in Tarangire National Park, exploring its rugged landscapes by vehicle. Bisecting the park, the Tarangire River serves as a major water source for the

2 wildlife of northern Tanzania, and its banks and waterholes attract large concentrations of elephants and zebra, among other species. Safari drives in Tarangire weave back and forth over the river and around its banks and shores, where it is also possible to see lion, leopard, giraffe, gerenuk, reedbuck, and even the rare fringe-eared oryx. Tarangire is also known for its large number of baobab trees which can live to be over 1,000 years old. Go on a full day wildlife viewing drive through baobab-covered Tarangire National Park, which has a diversity of wildlife and its own distinct charm. Besides its own migration of wildebeest, zebra, elephant, gazelle, and antelope, Tarangire attracts over 550 species of birds and some rarer mammals, such as the African wild dog. After being on the rugged park roads, there is nothing so refreshing as a dip in the pool at your lodge. The lodge's convenient location just outside the park boundary allows guests the rare privilege of a night wildlife viewing drive. Gain a unique perspective on wildlife behavior by joining this late evening safari excursion. Overnight at Tarangire Treetops Lodge SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30 NGORONGORO HIGHLANDS Drive from Tarangire into the Ngorongoro Highlands via the impressive Great Rift Valley escarpment. You will pass Lake Manyara National Park and a bustling farming community called Mto Wa Mbu. Continue up steep, winding roads, where you are rewarded with expansive vistas of the lake and surrounding plains. At the top of the escarpment lie the lush Ngorongoro Highlands where the region's rich volcanic soil makes for some of the most fertile land in Tanzania. Enjoy one last morning of wildlife viewing in Tarangire as you make your way out of the park. Visit and go wildlife viewing in Lake Manyara National Park. Tucked alongside the Rift Valley escarpment, this small national park takes its name from Lake Manyara, a shallow freshwater lake that covers nearly 80 of the park s 127 square miles. Huge mahogany and fig trees forest the hilly area near the park gate, where baboons and blue monkeys often spend their days. Manyara is also known for its tree-climbing lions and leopards, but it takes a sharp eye and excellent luck to spot the big cats in the forest. You may choose to spend the afternoon relaxing on the verandah with tea, or taking advantage of innumerable optional activities: a farm or garden tour, mountain biking, bird watching, coffee roasting, and more. Take a moment to observe the resident bush babies that live in the trees just outside the Main House at Gibb's Farm. These fascinating nocturnal creatures are typically shy, but will make an appearance if there is any ripe fruit nearby. At night, their unique call sounds just like a baby. Overnight at Gibb's Farm B,L, D MONDAY, DECEMBER 31 NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA Drive a short distance from the rural highlands to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a wildlife and cultural preserve that covers 3,200 square miles, of which a mere 102 square miles represent Ngorongoro Crater. Only Maasai are permitted to live within the area s boundaries, and they are seen throughout the highlands and conservation area wearing bright red and royal blue cloths and tending to their herds of goats and cattle. The crater floor, however, is reserved only for wildlife. At some ten miles in diameter, the crater is the world s largest intact caldera (an ancient sunken volcano), and it abounds with one of the highest concentrations of diverse animals imaginable. For half a day, work side-by-side with local residents building or mending classrooms, reading to children, teaching English, teaching sports, or doing crafts, among other things. Visit the Ayalabe Primary School in the scenic Ngorongoro Highlands. Focus on Tanzanian Communities has supported several ambitious projects at Ayalabe, including the construction of numerous classrooms. You will meet with teachers and students and learn more about education in

3 Tanzania. Join in a game of soccer at the school and observe as shyness melts away, and kids speak the universal language of fun! The game will even be a great opportunity for adults to participate. Later tonight, listen to the hypnotic sounds of life on the plains all around you as you rest at your Nyumba. Overnight at Ngorongoro Nyumba B,L, D TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2013 NGORONGRO COSERVATION AREA Spend a day in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a habitat rich in culture and teeming with wildlife. Sometimes there are more than 30,000 animals in and around the crater, including black rhino, cheetah, lion, hyena, eland, and numerous antelope. On the floor of the crater, the alkaline Lake Magadi serves as an important water source, also attracting flamingo flocks during the dry season. Nearby, the small Lerai Forest, with its yellow fever acacia trees, provides shade and shelter for wildlife. You will often see baboons, vervet monkeys, and even elephants in its thicket. Thorny bush, grasslands, hippo pools and a second small lake are also found on the floor. You ll soon see why Ngorongoro is considered to be among the world s great wonders. Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, where you are likely to find an abundance of wildlife. Over a full day of wildlife viewing, you might even see rhinoceros. The diversity of species often inspires awe. Take a lunch at a scenic picnic spot on the crater floor today. Take some time to rest at your Nyumba, enjoying the views of the crater as you write in your journal or simply put your feet up and relax. Overnight at Ngorongoro Nyumba B,L, D WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2 Depart the cool, grassy Ngorongoro Conservation Area and later arrive on the great Serengeti plains for a different but just as spectacular wildlife viewing experience. You will pass one of the world's greatest prehistoric archeological sites, called Oldupai Gorge, and then continue your way over the scrublands. The wooded knolls around Naabi Hill Gate mark the Serengeti s official entrance, which then drops into the park s signature wide-open plains. Like no other, this stretch embodies the meaning of the word Serengeti, which derives from the Maasai Siringet and has been artistically translated as the land that flows on forever. Serengeti National Park covers 6,000 square miles of pristine land and offers not only expansive vistas but the largest migration of mammals on earth, including 1.5 million wildebeest. Make a short stop at Oldupai Gorge, a deep ravine and site of fossilized remains of animals and hominids that date as far back as two million years. Take a tour of the excavation site guided by an archeologist. A brief lecture and small museum tour are included. Enjoy the journey to your next Nyumba camp, as there will be plenty to see along the way. Perhaps you will come across a chase between predator and prey; maybe you will spot a wake of vultures; or maybe you will be lucky enough to find a leopard relaxing high in the limbs of an acacia tree. What better way to enjoy a view of the Serengeti plains than over a satisfying, relaxing lunch at camp. Kids can learn some traditional games from Tanzanians, such Rede (a little like dodgeball) or Bao (a boardgame requiring chess-like strategy) among many others. Overnight at Southern Serengeti Nyumba THURSDAY, JANUARY 3 The Serengeti, Tanzania's second largest national park, covers nearly 6,000 square miles of grassland plains, savannah, kopjes, hills, woodlands, and riverine forests. The Grumeti, Mbalageti, and Mara river systems serve as critical water sources and are often excellent sites for wildlife viewing. Beyond the heralded migration of wildebeest and zebra, the Serengeti is best known for its big predators, including cheetah and leopard, as well as large prides of lions and clans of hyenas. Other

4 commonly seen animals include gazelle, buffalo, giraffe, topi, hartebeest, ostrich, and jackal, but it is the full diversity of wildlife and habitats that you will truly find amazing. The greater Serengeti ecosystem actually covers the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the Maasai Mara in Kenya, and numerous surrounding wildlifeprotected lands that combine for a total of almost 17,000 square miles. There is nothing as marvelous as traversing the plains of the Serengeti just after dawn and through the morning hours. Look for herds of wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, impala, eland, topi, and more out on the savanna. What better way to enjoy a view of the Serengeti plains than over a satisfying, relaxing lunch at camp. Spend an afternoon wildlife viewing in the Serengeti. The big cats often spend these hours lying drowsily about the plains and up in the trees while many antelope and other animals continue to graze. Forgo scheduled activities and remain at your Nyumba this afternoon. You may wish to write in your journal, do some reading, or get some exercise using one of the camp's Keep Fit Kits. How do you tell the difference between the footprint of a dikdik and a Thomson s gazelle? How about a leopard and a lion? A guide will take you on a walk and show you the tricks to identifying signs of wildlife. Overnight at Southern Serengeti Nyumba FRIDAY, JANUARY 4 Big herds and big cats. That is what has made the Serengeti famous worldwide. Wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, and an array of antelope live and travel in large groups, or what are called herds. The herds can swell to hundreds of thousands at select times throughout the year as some of the animals migrate to new lands to get water and food. Lions also live in groups, which are called prides, and generally range from 6-12 animals. But some prides can have as many as 40 lions. Both cheetahs and leopards live completely solitary lives once grown. Both have orange-yellowish coats and black spots, but cheetahs are smaller than leopards and have distinguishing dark lines running from their eyes to their jaws. Cheetahs usually reside around open plains while leopards stick to wooded areas, where they can bring their prey into the branches for safe keeping. Go on a wildlife viewing drive in the Serengeti for a full day. Your expert guide will point out wildlife that few others could hope to spot, whether a leopard wellconcealed in the trees or a lion deep in the savannah grasses. Enjoy your camp, whether you get in a workout with a Keep Fit Kit, learn a traditional Tanzanian game from your guide, write in your journal, or simply put up your feet and relax. Overnight at Central Serengeti Nyumba SATURDAY, JANUARY 5 What is the story behind the Big Five? It actually has nothing to do with the size of the animals. In the 1800s, colonial trophy hunters named buffalo, rhino, elephant, lion, and leopard as the most difficult animals to hunt on foot. Thus, they were named the Big Five. Years later, tourism companies adopted the term and the list became the so-called five must-see animals while on safari. While it is possible to spot all the listed animals on your trip, leopard and rhino sometimes prove difficult to track down as they are both solitary, reclusive species. Ultimately, however, wildlife viewing in the Serengeti will be nothing short of amazing. Explore the pristine landscapes of the Serengeti with your guide's uncanny wildlife spotting instincts leading the way. Expansive plains, rolling hills, dramatic granite outcrops and riverine valleys are home to an endless variety of fascinating creatures, from the lowly dung beetle to the impressive elephant. Enjoy dinner with your fellow safari travelers on your last night in the Serengeti. Overnight at Central Serengeti Nyumba

5 SUNDAY, JANUARY 6 ARUSHA / DEPART Enjoy your last views of the Serengeti before flying to Arusha, where you will catch your departing flight. While in Arusha, enjoy lunch at River House. After lunch, you may wish to visit the property's Shanga workshop, which employs disabled artisans to create necklaces and other items from fabric and recycled materials. A shopping mainstay in Arusha, the Cultural Heritage Center attracts many travelers each year with its abundance of wooden carvings, artifacts, apparel, and crafts. The center also has Tanzanite and other gemstones for sale. While the center caters mostly to tourists, they also have wonderful cultural displays and a separate wing that displays some of the finest African art in Tanzania. Enjoy a day room in Arusha, resting up and readying yourself for your departure. Transfer to the airport for flights home. Day Room at Mount Meru Hotel B, L MONDAY, JANUARY 7 ARRIVE HOME

12 NIGHT/13 DAY FAMILY SAFARI NORTHERN TANZANIA

12 NIGHT/13 DAY FAMILY SAFARI NORTHERN TANZANIA Day One - Lake Manyara On arrival into Kilimanjaro you are met and transferred directly to Lake Manyara National Park. Located 125 km west of Arusha town,