Northern Tanzania Scheduled Departure Itinerary This 5-day road safari departs Wednesdays (minimum 2 guests). Spend a full day inside World Heritage Site Ngorongoro Crater one of the few places you can see Black Rhino and the Big Five! Next stop the amazing Serengeti National Park where between November to July, you can catch up with the great wildebeest migration. Your professional driver/guide be your host and a guaranteed window seat to ensure you see it all! Day 1 (Wednesday) Arusha to Ngorongoro Conservation Area Ngorongoro Serena Lodge (2 nights): Meet in Arusha. After lunch, drive through the Ngorongoro Highlands to your lodge situated on the rim of the crater. The crater covers over 300 square kilometers of land and is the home of the rare black rhino, prides of lion, elephant, cheetah and great herds of buffalo, antelope and wildebeest. Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge. D NGORONGORO CRATER A UNESCO protected World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a pioneering experiment in multi-purpose land use where people (the Maasai), their livestock and wildlife coexist and share the same protected habitat. The crater s of Ngorongoro and Empakai are reserved exclusively for wildlife, while the rest of the Conservation Area is shared by wildlife, people and livestock. The Maasai, the main residents of Ngorongoro, are pastoralists who move widely with their herds of cattle, sheep, goat and donkeys in search of pasture and water. In recent years the Maasai have been encouraged to work on the land and supplement their traditional diet of milk and meat. The Ngorongoro Crater, which is the central attraction in the area, is the largest Caldera in the world that has its walls intact. The Ngorongoro Crater floor, a sheer drop of 610 metres below the crater rim, has an area of about 300 square kilometers, with a diameter of 19 kilometers. The sight of the Ngorongoro Crater is simply stunning. There is nothing with which to compare. It is one of the wonders of the world... once wrote Professor Bernard Grzimek. The crater floor is home to tens of thousands of plains animals, including wildebeest, zebra, gazelles, elands, and a large predator population of lions, hyena and jackal which can all be viewed at close quarters. The rare black rhino can be viewed here, and if you are lucky you can see cheetah and leopard. The rain season is between November and May. The altitude at the crater rim is about 2286 metres above sea level, and temperatures can get quite chilly in the evening, especially between May to September.
Ngorongoro Crater Serena Lodge: Perched on the edge of the world s largest intact crater with panoramic views over one of the most famous wildlife arenas on planet earth, the lodge offers: 75 airconditioned rooms which are strung around the crater rim, each with its own rockenclosed balcony. The Maasai-inspired, split-level dining & bar area features a two-tier wall of windows looking down on to the constantly changing vistas of the crater below. Day 2 (Thursday) Full day in Crater: Today you will descend over 600 metres to the floor of the crater for a day crater tour. Explore the forest areas that are inhabited by monkey and elephant, the lake area, where you may see the flamingos and the open savannah where the lions hunt for food. Picnic lunches will be served in the crater. Dinner & o/n at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge B,L,D Day 3 (Friday) Ngorongoro to Serengeti Serengeti Serena Lodge (2 nights): After breakfast drive to Oldupai Gorge, site of Louis and Mary Leakey s renowned archaeological discoveries. Their findings include some of the man s earliest known ancestral remains. Continue to Serengeti National Park in time for lunch. This enormous park supports every variety of animals imaginable - from large predators such as lion, leopard and cheetah to the smaller herbivores they prey on. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Sopa Lodge. B,L,D SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK A World Heritage Site and recently proclaimed a World Wide Wonder, Serengeti National Park is undoubtedly one of the most famous wildlife sanctuaries in the world. The park is located some 320 km to the northwest of Arusha, lying in a high plateau between the Ngorongoro highlands and the Kenya/ Tanzania border, and extending almost to Lake Victoria to the west, covering a total area of 14,763 square kilometers. Aptly named endless plains by the Maasai people, you immediately experience this vastness as you enter the southeastern plains of the park from Ngorongoro. Declared a protected area in 1921 and gazetted as National Park in 1951 Serengeti is the oldest National Park in Tanzania. The principal features of the Serengeti are the short and long grass plains in t he south and east, the acacia Savannah in the central areas, the hilly and densely wooded areas in the north and the extensive woodland in the west. There is a variety of scenery, which include the plains, lakes, hills and the rock outcrops called kopjes.
The main game drive areas in the Serengeti are the Seronera Valley, the Western Corridor, and northern Serengeti. The Seronera valley in central Serengeti, endowed with permanent surface water, attract a large concentration of wildlife throughout the year. Common animals that can be seen her e are lions, buffaloes, impalas, hippos, waterbucks, elephants, cheetahs, the leopard, and over 400 species of birds. Serengeti provides sanctuary to the highest concentration of plains animals in the world. Day 4 (Saturday) Serengeti National Park: Today you spend the whole day on game drive in this National Park, which is rich with all different species of animals. To maximize game viewing you will carry a picnic lunch with you and spend full day in the Serengeti National Park. Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Serena Lodge. B,L,D Serengeti Serena Lodge: Set high on the saddle of tree-clad ridge commanding panoramic views across the endless Serengeti, the lodge is the ultimate fusion of traditional African architecture and world-class style. Drawing its inspiration from a traditional Maasai village, it offers: 66 air-conditioned rooms, each of which is accommodated in a stone-built, traditionallythatched Rondavel. Additionally there is an infinity swimming pool and sundeck, a central dining room with BBQ, a bar with panoramic viewing deck, extensive grounds and a BBQ dinner site overlooking the migration corridor. Day 5 (Sunday) Serengeti to Lake Manyara Lake Manyara Serena (1 night): Breakfast at your lodge. Drive to Lake Manyara, a soda lake lying in the Great Rift Valley. Lunch at Lake Manyara. In the afternoon game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, home of the tree-climbing lions. Apart from the varied types of landscape including jungle, swamp and savanna, there are also a large variety of animals including Giraffe, Zebra, Elephant, Gazelle, hippos, monkeys and about 400 different species of birds. Dinner & o/n at Lake Manyara Serena Lodge. B,L,D LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK: Located 125 km west of Arusha town, on the foot of the wall of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Manyara National Park is one of the oldest and most popular sanctuaries in East Africa. The park has a large variety of habitats, making it possible to support a wealth of wildlife in its small area. The main habitats include the shallow soda lake itself which occupies 77% of the National Park total area of 330 square kilometers, the ground water forest, open grassland, acacia woodland and the rift wall. The most famous spectacle in the park is the tree-climbing lions, which are occasionally seen along branches of acacia trees. Other animals found in the park include buffalo, elephants, leopards, baboons, impala, giraffes, zebra, wildebeest, ostrich and hippos. Popularly referred to as an ornithologist's paradise, Lake Manyara National Park contains over 400 bird species found in most savanna and river habitats in East Africa.
Lake Manyara Serena Lodge: Perched high on the edge of a towering cliff with panoramic views over Lake Manyara and the volcano-studded floor of the Great Rift Valley, this lodge offers a unique blend of tranquility, wildlife discovery, ornithological richness and highadventure sporting action. There are 54 rooms accommodated in circular rondavels with fabulous views over the infinity pool to the lake. Additionally the hotel offers a central bar and dining room set amidst extensive tropical gardens, a hill top BBQ restaurant and a spectacular poolside bar. Day 6 (Monday) In Transit: After breakfast drive to Arusha, lunch in a restaurant. End of Safari B,L Northern Tanzania! Land only based on 2 guests sharing in Canadian $ April & May - Adults ~$1595CDN per person sharing Children under 12 ~$995CDN per person March, Nov, Dec - Adults ~$1895CDN per person sharing Children under 12 ~$1195CDN per person Jan, Feb, June to Oct - Adults ~$2395CDN per person sharing Children under 12 ~$1495CDN per person Included: Accommodation, meals and game activities (guaranteed window seat) as stipulated in the itinerary. Transportation in a shared safari vehicle with pop-up roof for easy game viewing & photography. Services of an English-speaking driver-guide, game viewing drives and parks entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary. 24 hours stand-by contact number and two-way long-range radio communication in each vehicle. In each vehicle: First-aid kit, wildlife books, binoculars, cool box & fire extinguisher. Excluded: All items of personal nature e.g. telephone call bills, fax/email bills/laundry etc., and any other items not specified in our itinerary; Tips and gratuities to hotel, lodges, camp staff and driver guide(s). (Budget approx. $2.00 $4.00 per person per day for lodge and hotel staff, $1.00 per bag for porters and $10.00 - $12.00 per person per day for driver-guides); Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks; Any local or international flight(s) and departure/other taxes; Concession fees (Incase of any new fees introduced by parks without our knowledge); Visa fees currently US$50.00 (subject to change) per person. Visas are available on arrival at international airports or recognized border entry points; Flying Doctors coverage: Optional @ US$20 dollars per person (coverage within East Africa for 14 days inclusive of airlift to a hospital in Nairobi where all costs will be payable by the patient); Travel Medical/Cancellation/Interruption insurance which we highly recommend. To Book Your Safari Seat Contact: Nature Encounters Tours & Travel Ltd. Toll Free 1-866-949-3007 inquiry@natureencounterstours.com www.natureencounterstours.com
About Nature Encounters Tours & Travel Ltd. Welcome to Nature Encounters Tours & Travel! We have travelled the globe in search of destinations that will put you in touch with our passion nature! Our experience, and that of our guides, is matched by a personalized service that keeps our guests returning to travel with us year after year. From the moment you inquire about a location to the start of your small group departure we are dedicated to ensuring your trip is memorable. On safari, you can experience everything from watching a lioness care for her young in the hollow of an old tree to having a magnificent five-ton elephant display his enormous ears and mock charge your vehicle... or lay on a sandy beach that goes on for miles and miles while listening to the sound of the Indian Ocean. Your accommodation and meals, in either lodges or tented camps, range from truly comfortable to absolutely luxurious. Backpacking was never like this! Swimming pools, gardens and the fragrance of wild basil will surround you as your binoculars scout the magnificent scenery for cheetah, elephant, zebra, lilac breasted rollers, hyena, and tawny eagles to name a few. Your game activities can include driving in national parks watching for wildlife along the way, walking with an experienced guide looking for all the little things you may have missed by driving, and boating or canoeing enjoying some of the most incredible rivers and lakes. Ecotourism is an important part of the Nature Encounters Tours & Travel experience. Our guests are happy to contribute to a sustainable industry where the local people, as well as the wildlife, benefit from their visit. Be it the CAMPFIRE project in Zimbabwe, where the local fishing villages gain from having tourists visit and bring school supplies, or Daphne Sheldrick s Elephant Orphanage in Kenya where our guests help provide financial assistance for antipoaching efforts. Nature Encounters Tours & Travel Ltd. support many schools, such as the Jacob Basson School in Khorixas, Namibia, the A.I.C. Girls School in Kajiado, Kenya, and conservation groups that are near and dear to us: the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia, Jane Goodall Chimp Research in Gombe Stream, Wildlife SOS in India, Friends of the Galapagos & The Serengeti Lion Research Project to name a few. We do indeed walk the talk! Our goal is to give our guests an experience they won t ever forget from dancing with the Maasai in East Africa to enjoying watching the antics of a pair of polar bears enjoy a tussle in the snow to photographing and observing the many species that live in our great world. Join us for the vacation of a lifetime!