OFF THE BEATEN SAFARI 2

Overview

This safari highlights the top wildlife areas in Tanzania! The value we bring to the program is that you are guided by a member of a superb team of knowledgeable and fun-filled naturalist guides who knows the area best and has been in the guiding industry for 18+ years.

Discover the best of Northern Tanzania through an unforgettable adventure combining wildlife, culture, and breathtaking landscapes. Explore Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, and the Northern Serengeti, home to the spectacular wildebeest migration along the Mara River. Experience authentic cultural encounters with the Maasai, Datoga, and Hadzabe tribes, spot elephants, giraffes, and Colobus monkeys, and visit the flamingo-rich Lake Natron with stunning views of Oldoinyo Lengai, Tanzania’s only active volcano.
 
  • 17 Days
  • Age 12+
  • Tanzania
Included:
  • Accommodation in Campsites and Hotel.
  • Meals: 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners
  • Transport: 7-seat 4×4 safari vehicle
  • Wildlife safari drives in Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park
  • Entrance to Olduvai Gorge.
  • Park entry fees + Camping fees.
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Excluded:
  • Airfare to and from destination
  • Minimum medical and emergency evacuation insurance
  • Trip cancellation insurance or any other travel insurance
  • Visas
  • Any activity not described in What’s Included
  • Meals on your own
  • Gratuities

Safari Itinerary

  • DAY 01: ARRIVAL AT KILIMANJARO AIRPORT – ARUSHA

    Meet and Greet on arrival at Kilimanjaro Intr. airport, you’ll be transferred to Under The Shade Safari Lodge for Overnight.

  • DAY 02: ARUSHA – ARUSHA N. PARK - ARUSHA

    Breakfast this morning is enjoyed at the Lodge before driving to Arusha National Park for a 2hrs walking safari in the park followed by game drive in the park. Lying between the peaks of Mt. Kilimanjaro and Meru, Arusha National Park is an outstandingly beautiful area. The Park has wide range of habitat, from the string of crater lakes where many water birds can be watched, through the highland Montane Forest and on up to the imposing summit of Mt. Meru. The forest contains a wealth of birds and other animals, like the beautiful bushbuck easily glimpsed in the glades between the ancient cedar trees, or the black and white Colobus monkeys climbing along their branches. The interesting geology of the area is reflected in the impressive view of the ash cone and cliff face leading to the summit of Mt. Meru, following a picnic lunch enjoyed along Momella Lakes thereafter in the evening we drive back to Under the Shade Safari Lodge for overnight.

  • DAY 03: ARUSHA – SIMANJIRO COMMUNITY WILDERNESS AREA – NAMAYANA CAMP

    Simanjiro District is south of Arusha that shows the Tanzanian rural life, starting with Wa Arusha people cultivating closer to Mt. Meru and entering Maasai pastoralist range-lands the further south you drive, a very important calving area for Tarangire wildebeest and zebra in February and March Simanjiro wilderness area. Today’s stage will be one of the most special moments of the holidays as we’ll be driving through the Simanjiro community wilderness area A circular route through which we will cross different ecosystems, On the way we will have the opportunity to see Maasai herders with their cattle. We will have the opportunity to see a lot of zebras along the way. Also, in less quantity we will see wildebeest, Grant gazelles, jackals, ostriches as well as Giraffes Also on this day we’ll have the opportunity to visit one of the weekly Maasai Market in one of these village we go through such as Sukuro, Narakauo and finally to Loibosieret village which is going to be our base for 2 nights. We will be served our picnic lunch along the way on the plains thereafter we will drive to our Private Camp which is adjacent to the South Eastern border of Tarangire National Park. Wildlife densities are generally low except seasonally when Tarangire ungulates migrate through, however, with luck some special and less common species can be seen Fringe Eared Oryx, Greater and Lesser kudu, Wild Dog and Striped Hyena in addition to more common species such as impala, hartebeest, giraffe and seasonally lion, elephant, buffalo, wildebeest & zebra. Dinner and Overnight at Namayana Camp.

  • DAY 04: SIMANJIRO WILDERNESS AREA – SIMANJIRO WILDERNESS AREA

    This day we can either go out on an early morning walking safari in this community wilderness area accompanied by a local Maasai Guide from the camp with armed ranger as well, Walking Safari is a unique experience that allow you to connect with nature on a deeper level. Walking in the bush provides a great complement to the amazingly close encounters one has on traditional vehicle game viewing drives; Breakfast will be served in the bush thereafter on this day you have the opportunity to visit a Maasai boma and get a glimpse into everyday life for these rural pastoralists. It is important to mention here that these interactions are structured, not staged! The boma’s are not cultural boma’s and may only get one or two visits from guests per year. We’ll also stop by women sewing center in Loibosieret village run by local women, honey beekeeping project and see all products they produce out of this project such as Honey packaging, Lip Bums and Candles. Hot lunch will be served back at the Camp, afternoon is spent at the Camp until late afternoon when we go out for evening game drive and sundowner will be followed with a night game drive before we head back to the camp for late dinner and overnight at Namayana Camp.

  • DAY 05: NAMAYANA CAMP – TARANGIRE N. PARK - NAMAYANA CAMP

    After breakfast at the camp we drive to Tarangire National Park with picnic lunches. The Park runs along the line of the Tarangire River and is mainly made up and low-lying hills on the Great Rift Valley floor. Its natural vegetation mainly consists of Acacia woodland and giant African Baobab trees, with huge swamp areas in the south. The birdlife in Tarangire is outstanding, sitting directly underneath a fly by between southern Africa and Europe, capturing migrants from both hemispheres. Leopards are particularly abundant here, as giraffe. But above all are the large numbers of elephant families that concentrate in the park during the dry season in search of precious water in the Tarangire River This area is very good for herbivores (plant eaters) and you stand a good chance to see Giraffe, Impala, Dik dik and many more. Dinner and overnight at Namayana Camp.

  • DAY 06 & 7: NAMAYANA CAMP - LAKE EYASI SAFARI LODGE

    After early breakfast at the lodge, we leave for cultural excursion in Mto Wa Mbu town guided with Local guide from the area whereby several tribes lives here, we’ll visit local farmers, local brew factory then we’ll enjoy delicious local lunch which will be served in the village, later in the afternoon we proceed to Lake Eyasi Basin meeting up with one of the smallest tribe in the country Hunters and gatherers tribe, after visiting their village we will accompany them on their evening activities fruits gathering, tubers digging or hunting using bows and arrows (baboons, monkeys, some medium sized antelopes and some birds species makes most of their kills in the area) Thereafter we drive to Lake Eyasi Safari Lodge for dinner and overnight.

  • DAY 08: LAKE EYASI SAFARI LODGE – CRATER – NDUTU AREA

    Wake up early for breakfast, then check out and drive with packed lunch and game viewing en route to Ngorongoro Crater for half day game drive. You’ll quick descend once on the floor you’ll understand why this is so often referred to as “Africa’s Garden of Eden” Is home for over 20000 large mammals that include some of last remaining black rhinos, the highest density of lions in Africa, hundreds of hyenas and jackals and large number of plain games. The central soda lake is often filled up with flamingoes, enjoy your picnic lunch beside the pool which is usually frequented by hippos. Later in the evening drive for overnight at Ndutu Fly Camp.

  • DAY 09: NDUTU AREA – NDUTU AREA

    These days we’ll be exploring Ndutu area whereby at this time of year is more likely to be dry, we leave the camp in the morning in search of residents predators and with other residents animals species found in the area also the area is rich in birdlife two lakes Ndutu and Masek found within this region provide the best sight for bird expects. All meals and overnight at Ndutu Fly Camp.

  • DAY 10: NDUTU AREA – CENTRAL SERENGETI

    Today you will leave after leisurely breakfast and drive to the Central Serengeti National Park known as Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti’s species. We enjoy a game drive en-route to the camp. Dinner and Overnight at Harmony Safari Camp.

  • DAY 11: CENTRAL SERENGETI - CENTRAL SERENGETI

    Leave the camp early in the morning for full day game drive around central Serengeti and explore the beauty of Seronera Valley. The valley is a transitional zone, an area where the Serengeti plains ends and the Woodlands begin, Seronera valley is well- known game viewing area, Lion, Buffalo, Impala, Hippo, Waterbuck and Elephant are all found in this game-rich valley. The most sought after of the valley’s inhabitants, however, must be the elusive Leopard. Unlike Leopards disturbed in other parks, the Seronera leopards are quite placid and easily photographed. Dinner and Overnight at Harmony Safari Camp.

  • DAY 12: CENTRAL SERENGETI – NORTHERN SERENGETI

    After breakfast leave with packed lunch, game drive en-route to Northern Serengeti. Dinner and overnight at Pure Migration Camp.

  • DAY 13 & 14: NORTHERN SERENGETI – NORTHERN SERENGETI

    We’ll spend these days exploring the far Northern reaches of the Serengeti along Mara River and perhaps if you are very lucky we should be able to witness great migration crossing the mighty Mara river to the other side of Serengeti ecosystem, you’ll be able to see some of the residents Crocodiles, Black Rhinos if we will be lucky and many other resident animals in the area. Overnight at Pure Migration Camp.

  • DAY 15 & 16: NORTHERN SERENGETI – LAKE NATRON

    Leave the Camp early in the morning with packed lunch and proceed to Lake Natron. Dinner and Overnight at Natron River Camp. LAKE NATRON. This lake has been formed by eruptions of Ol’doinyo Lengai and due to its high concentration of alkaline soda and warm waters it makes up a perfect breeding and feeding ground for thousands of lesser pink flamingoes. As well as many other water birds come here to rest and feed which make the area very attractive for passionate birders. Lake Natron and its dramatic landscape is definitely an off-the-beaten path destination and holds so much in stall for adventure travelers. OL’DOINYO LENGAI MOUNTAIN. This is the only still active volcano in the world that erupts carbonatite lava. This dark, thin lava is cooler than usual lava and upon reaching the lake Natron down to its slope’s lava cools down to become Natron carbonate and nourishes the lake with soda ash. The volcano is certainly a phenomenon to geologists worldwide and its movements and recent eruptions are under constant observation. The volcano can be visited and a hike usually takes up to 7-10 hours, reaching the top you can have insights into the crater. Be aware of a steep, technical climb at an altitude of 2880 meters. (OPTIONAL: IF ITERESTED TO HIKE THIS MOUNTAIN ADDITIONAL CHARGES APPLIED) $100 + 18% VAT fees paid directly to the Village Office per person.

  • DAY 17: LAKE NATRON – KILIMANJARO AIRPORT – HOME

    You’ll transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport for your evening flight back home.