7-Day Safari Adventure with Crater Rim & Maasai Experience
- Places to visit: Lake Manyara NP, Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater
Overview
On this 7 days walking safari, sunset walk at the crater rim and Maasai village visit, you will experience the breathtaking wildlife in the midst of some of the most diverse landscapes on the northern circuit. Monkeys in the forest, lions in trees, elephants among acacias and a huge variety of animals inside a collapsed volcano. You will also visit the Maasai village and do a walking safari on the rim of the crater at sunset which gives you a priceless remarkable experience that you will never forget.
Itinerary
Day 1: Kilimanjaro International Airport - Arusha
On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK) which caters for domestic flights, you will be met by a Aardwolf Africa Adventures representative who will drive you to your accommodation in Arusha. Your overnight stay will be at Arusha Planet Lodge where the rhythm of nature pounds to the beat of an African drum, and where life is all about a revival of the senses.
Accommodation: Arusha Planet Lodge
Day 2: Tarangire National Park
In the morning, you will be picked up from your lodgings in Arusha by our personal safari guide. Weāll set out for Tarangire National Park across gently rolling Masai plains with scattered acacia trees. As we zip along, weāll pass many Maasais in their colourful dresses walking on the roadside, riding bicycles, herding cattle and driving donkeys carts. Tarangire is well known for its large elephant herds, is also host to a multitude of other creatures. From the open roof of our safari jeep, weāll experience the seasonal swamps, savanna and life-giving Tarangire River endeavouring to encounter a multitude of creatures from zebra to wildebeest, buffalo, elephant, and giraffe, to name but a few. It is possible we will glimpse lions stalking prey or leopards relaxing in the trees above.
After our extensive game drive, we depart to drive to one of our mid-range partner lodges for dinner in a tasteful restaurant and a most capacious room to harbour our ease and dreams of wild cats!
Accommodation: Marera Valley Lodge
Day 3: Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, we journey on heading up towards the fertile highlands where wheat, coffee, and corn, are grown by the Iraqw people. Passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, we will be afforded a view of the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater before travelling onwards to the Serengeti National Park which we will reach by midday. The Serengeti National Park is the largest park in Tanzania covering an astounding 15,000km squared with diverse landscapes and habitats such as grassy plains, swamps, lakes, savannah and mountains. Here the great migration of wildebeest, zebra, and antelope takes place and depending on the season, we may have the opportunity to witness thousands of animals on their search for food and water.
After an extensive game drive, weāll drive to the Seronera Valley for an evening meal and overnight stay at Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp. Newly renovated, with tents raised on wooden daises, a beautiful buffet dining tent, musicians and a fire on the plain.
Accommodation: Central Serengeti Luxury Camp
Day 4: Full Day Serengeti National Park
This entire day is set aside for game drives upon the Serengeti. The Serengeti, the habitat of an abundance of wildlife such as impala, buffalo, crocodile, and hippo, is more well-known for its great migrating herds of zebra, antelope, and wildebeest. The animalsā trek is determined by the rainfall and varies from year to year. In November and December, the animals move from the northern region, dominated by woodlands and hills, to the grassy plains of the south. During the longer rainy season from April to June, they return to the north. Apart from the migrating herds, we may have the opportunity to see the resident predators, leopards, cheetahs, and lions, fulfilling their role in the circle of life.
After an unforgettable day, we will return to the Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp for relaxation, dinner and our overnight stay will be on the endless plain.
Accommodation: Embalakai Tented Camp
Day 5: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area via Maasai Village & Walking on the Rim of the Craterr
After an early breakfast, weāll head out for another game drive upon the Serengeti. We may have the opportunity to spot the āBig Fiveā ā lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard ā before embarking on our journey to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. On the way to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will pass by a Maasai village where you will get a unique opportunity to learn about some of the customary practices such as fire-making and beadwork. You may also get the chance to meet and speak to villagers in their homes and your guide will happily interpret if needed. This activity takes approximately 1 hour and after that, you will drive straight to the rim of the crater for the walking safari at sunset with an armed ranger. During the walking safari, you will explore extinct volcanoes, landscapes, and wildlife in these beautiful highlands. The views and scenery are truly breathtaking and after about 2-2.5 hours, you will drive straight to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Rhino Lodge
Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater to Karatu
Early risers are rewarded with breathtaking views of the rising sun over the craterās edge and, after a hearty breakfast, we rumble down the adventurous track into the crater. This UNESCO world heritage site, one of the seven wonders of Africa, formed about three million years ago, is 610 m deep and covers roughly 260 square kilometres. Due to its dense animal population of approximately 25,000 ungulates, the crater offers the best game viewing of all the parks in Tanzania. In a matter of minutes we will be able to see wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, elephant, and some of the more than 500 bird species here inhabiting. With a little bit of luck we may catch a glimpse of the endangered black rhino through the grass. After an extensive game drive and a picnic lunch we leave the crater in the afternoon to travel back to Karatu, again staying at one of our, hand picked for quality, mid range partner lodges.
Accommodation: Marera Valley
Day 7:Lake Manyara to Arusha
After breakfast we drive to our final destination on this epic safari ā Lake Manyara National Park. This relatively small but diverse park, 120km west of Arusha, is so named for the shallow salt lake which covers a good seventy percent of the parks surface area. Flooding and drying with the seasons the soda lake is home to thousands of flamingo as well as over 500 other bird species. On our exploration of the park we will see monkey, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, elephant and, with some luck, lions lounging in the trees. The park is known for its diverse landscapes; not only open grassy plains, but also primate-filled woodlands and baobab dotted cliffs. After another memorable game drive we, with our adventure at an end, return to Arusha in the late afternoon, replete with images of the African wilds to last a lifetime.
Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
- Inclusions
- Exclusions
- Park fees
- All activities (unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation as stated in the itinerary
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- All Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
- International flights (from/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips (tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Alcohol drinks
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