Embark on an extraordinary adventure through Tanzania, venturing off the traditional routes with this dynamic wildlife and cultural safari. The journey encompasses visits to the Tarangire and Serengeti National Parks, the Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Eyasi. Commencing and concluding at Arusha Airport, the expedition unfolds across the northern region of the country. Explore the richness of Tanzania’s diverse landscapes and immerse yourself in the vibrant local cultures, creating lasting memories along this off-the-beaten-path exploration.
Overview
Embark on an extraordinary adventure through Tanzania, venturing off the traditional routes with this dynamic wildlife and cultural safari. The journey encompasses visits to the Tarangire and Serengeti National Parks, the Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Eyasi.
Commencing and concluding at Arusha Airport, the expedition unfolds across the northern region of the country. Explore the richness of Tanzania’s diverse landscapes and immerse yourself in the vibrant local cultures, creating lasting memories along this off-the-beaten-path exploration.
Itinerary
Following breakfast, your driver-guide will pick you up, marking the commencement of your safari. The journey to Tarangire National Park spans approximately 3 hours. This park showcases its spectacular beauty throughout the year, hosting a variety of migratory wildlife near the permanent waters of the Tarangire River. Witness large herds of wildebeests, zebras, elephants, elands, and oryx congregating until the onset of rains, prompting their migration to more fertile grazing areas. Your evening will conclude with dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge.
Staying at Serena hotels
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Embark on a journey to Serengeti National Park through Olduvai Gorge, a captivating archaeological site, with the drive lasting between 3 and 4 hours. Olduvai Gorge, situated in the eastern Serengeti plains, holds historical significance as the site where early human fossils were initially unearthed. Its expansive and breathtaking landscape led to its Maasai name, Serengeti, meaning endless plains. In the evening, partake in a game drive, a prime opportunity to witness wildlife in action, especially carnivores during their favored hunting time. As daylight fades, return to the lodge for a delightful dinner and an overnight stay. Experience the beauty and wildlife of the Serengeti, a destination mostly searched for its natural wonders.
Staying at Serena hotels
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
After breakfast, you will venture out to Serengeti’s watering holes, hippo pools and other sites of interest in a full-day game drive. At midday, you will enjoy a picnic lunch while viewing the vastness of the Serengeti which has the largest concentration of plain game on earth. In the late evening, you will return to the lodge for rest, dinner and an overnight stay.
Staying at Serena hotels
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
After breakfast, you will drive down to Ngorongoro Crater and enjoy a full-day game drive. This is undoubtedly one of the best places to see the rare black rhinos in Africa, not to mention the pride of lions and the magnificent black-manned lions. There are lots of colourful flamingos and a variety of water birds. In the crater, you are also likely to see leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, many members of the antelope family, and small mammals of all sorts. In the late afternoon, you will drive onward to Karatu town where you can settle in for dinner and rest at the lodge.
Staying at Serena hotels
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Commence your day with a well-prepared breakfast before embarking on a scenic drive to the enchanting Lake Eyasi. This picturesque lake not only offers a breathtaking view but also hosts a diverse array of birdlife along its shores, making it an ideal destination for a multi-night stay. The meadows flanking the lake are habitats for a rich variety of wildlife, including leopards, hippos, various monkey species, and, notably, both greater and lesser flamingos. Enhancing the experience are several delightful private lodges and tented camps nestled in the forest clearings by the lake, providing exceptional accommodation crafted from local materials to add significant value to your stay.
Upon being picked up from your hotel by your private safari guide and boarding the 4 x 4 safari Land Cruiser, embark on a transfer to Lake Manyara National Park. Nestled beneath the cliffs of the Manyara Escarpment, at the edge of the Rift Valley, this park boasts diverse ecosystems, a plethora of birdlife, and awe-inspiring panoramas. Positioned along the route to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, Lake Manyara National Park is not just a transit point but a destination worthy of exploration in its own right. From groundwater forests to bush plains, baobab trees to cliff-strewn landscapes, and algae-streaked hot springs, the park showcases remarkable ecological diversity in a compact area, teeming with wildlife and an abundance of birds. This stop adds significant value to your safari experience.
Staying at Eileen’s Trees Inn
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
The Trip Cost Includes
- Park fees
- (For non-residents)
- All activities
- (Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation
- (Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation
- (Unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals
- (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinking water
- (On all days)
The Trip Cost Excludes
- International flights
- (From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips
- (Tipping guideline US$20.00 pp per day)
- Personal items
- (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Frequently asked Questions
Annapurna Base Camp is a Grade B or a moderately difficult trekking route. So any fit person can do this trek, even if you do not have any previous experience. You should be aware of what to expect and mentally prepare for it. Then, as long as you will to, you can.
On average, you walk about 4 to 6 hours per day. One or two days can be as less as 3hrs and one or two days can be as long as 7hrs.
The highest altitude reached is 4190m. This is the elevation of Annapurna Base Camp. ABC is the highest we will climb in this trek.
Yes, you can charge batteries en route. Charger should be brought. There are hot shower facilities as well. You may have to pay certain amount for both ($1-$2). Negotiate. Also, hot water facility could be free at lower elevation.
No. There are no ATMs on this trek route. You will have to draw enough cash in Pokhara or Kathmandu. There are a number of ATMs in these cities. Everything is paid in Nepali rupees. So money should be exchanged before the start of the trek.
Yes. Internet can be accessed in most places. Sometimes, there might be some technical problems. Internet in Nepal is not as fast as you are used to and at times you can just lose connection.
Not really. It depends on you. If you want, ABC trekking can be done independently. You could hire a guide and a porter by yourself instead of going through an agency or not hire a guide at all. Although, not having a guide can be a little problematic during off season.
It really depends on you. Is it your first time in Nepal? How confident are you of being able to find your way around? How pressed on time are you? If you go through an agency, it will be costlier but everything will be planned. You will only have to come, trek and return.
For Annapurna region, pay for guides range from $20 to $30 per day and porters take $15 to $25 per day.
