TANZANIA, EAST AFRICA

Though Africa has many enchantments, it’s just far enough away that visiting may be a once-in-a-lifetime treat. That’s the beauty of our Africa adventure—spending ten days seeing the wildlife, meeting the people, and drinking in the spectacular scenery of Tanzania. Conjure up in your mind ‘safari’ in the classic sense—vast stretches of savannah, flat-topped acacia trees silhouetted against orange-purple sunsets, hundreds of animals streaming across the horizon—this trip is that image made real. In ten days we will visit Tanzania’s premier wildlife parks. Each park offers something unique in both the wildlife viewing as well as the intimate safari camp lodges.

It’s an African dream come true!

This afternoon you depart from Newark on KLM Airlines and fly to Arusha, Tanzania, via Amsterdam. BON VOYAGE!

Later this evening we arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport in Arusha, Tanzania. Jambo and Welcome! We will be met by our representative and transfer to the Impala Hotel in Arusha.

Arusha is the gateway to the great game parks of the north and is the hub of Tanzania's buoyant safari industry. Nestling at the foot of Mount Meru, the town of Arusha is the first stop on the northern safari circuit. Bustling and vibrant, the streets are filled with four wheel drive game-viewing vehicles criss-crossing the pot-holed roads. Masai warriors in full regalia stroll around, mingling with tourists.

After breakfast at our hotel, we will be picked up from our hotel and transferred to Bushbuck’s office for a short pre-safari briefing. Then we head west to the Lake Manyara area, arriving in time for lunch at E Unoto Retreat Lodge, our unique lodging for three nights on a full board basis. E Unoto Retreat has been methodically developed and constructed with all environmental issues and theme concepts in mind. Our lodge resembles an authentic Tanzanian Masai village and fits in with the surroundings in a most indigenous manner. The construction methods used by the Masai are what might be expected from nomadic pastoralists. Even though Masai construction methods have been incorporated into the methods used in the concept and construction of the lodge, the construction methods and materials of E Unoto Retreat are much more aesthetically pleasing and lasting. The handcrafted and imported furnishings and fittings complement the overall theme.

Tonight, we will enjoy dinner at our lodge.

After breakfast, we will be taken on a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park.

Lake Manyara is a beautiful little park that is well known for its tree-climbing lions, elephants, and large troops of baboons. Considering its small size, the park is home to an amazing variety of birds and animals. A visit to this serene park will greatly diversify our safari experience as the lush green jungle habitat is of stark contrast to the other parks we will visit during our safari in Land-Rovers with special sun roofs. We will enjoy a picnic lunch in Lake Manyara National Park.

The area of Lake Manyara National Park is roughly 125 square miles, but the shallow, alkaline lake consumes the majority of this area. The land portion of the park is tucked between the lake and the sheer rock walls of the rift valley escarpment that tower 2,000 feet above. The park is home to three distinct habitats, including a lush groundwater forest, open floodplains, and acacia woodlands. In just a two-hour round trip foray into the park, it is possible to see all the main highlights in the groundwater forest and the floodplains leading up to the lake

This morning we drive to the Ngorongoro Crater, and upon arrival at our lodge, we will enjoy lunch. This is quite possibly the most famous of all Africa’s conservation areas. Home to an abundance of wildlife, the crater is a favored spot for wildlife due to the permanent water and grassland on the crater floor. We stand a very good chance of seeing the Big 5 (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, and elephant) during our game drive this afternoon.

Ngorongoro Crater is the best self-contained safari destination in the world. The world's largest unbroken caldera, it is often referred to as the 'Garden of Eden.' The rich pasture and permanent water of the crater floor shelters a large population of animals. In fact, the crater floor is one of the most densely crowded game areas in the world and is home to about 30,000 animals. The open grassland makes it easy to police, so it is also a stronghold for endangered species such as the black rhino and the cheetah.

We spend the night at the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, where we will enjoy dinner overlooking the Crater. Perched on the very edge of the Crater, every suite in the all-suite Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge has stunning views into this wildlife paradise. Each rondavel-style suite has a luxury bathroom, a private lounge with mini-bar, an enclosed 'Solarium Verandah,' and is fully central

heated. The common areas provide magnificent views into the Crater through double story windows, where guests can enjoy the friendly hospitality for which Sopa Lodges are renowned. Open fireplaces are features of the bar, lounge, and dining room. Satellite TV and video are available. There is a bracing, 'high altitude' swimming pool and a gift shop.

After enjoying our breakfast, we drive via Olduvai Gorge to Western Serengeti, with a picnic lunch en route. Discover the archaeological history at Olduvai, an archaeological site of great importance. It features the remains of the earliest human beings, which were discovered by Dr. Louis Leakey and Mary Leakey in the earlier part of the 20th century. Olduvai Gorge is commonly called the Cradle of Mankind—as it is the place where humanity first appeared as a species. The first humans ever to exist apparently lived in Tanzania, as fossil records show that Olduvai Gorge was one of the earliest inhabited valleys.

Next, we drive to our accommodation, Kirawira Luxury Camp, which is set on a hill near the Grumeti River in Western Serengeti. The plains of this world-famous reserve are home to over 2 million wild animals.

Today we enjoy a full-day game drive in the Serengeti National Park and have a picnic lunch. Serengeti comes from the Masai word ‘Siringit,’ meaning 'the place where the land runs on forever' and it refers to the flat grassy plains that make up about a third of the park. It is these grasslands and savannahs that ensure that the area is jam-packed with game.

There are animals here at all times of the year, but from May to October, the area teems with life, including wildebeest, zebra, impala, warthogs, topi, gazelles, and hyena. Lion, leopard, cheetah, and caracal can be more easily spotted in the Kopjes, which are granite inselbergs that are scattered across the landscape.

The Serengeti is well known for the wildebeest migration, which occurs every year when two million animals move clockwise around this 9,173 square-mile ecosystem in search of grazing and water. We spend the night at the deluxe Serengeti Serena Lodge, a rustic and natural lodge in central Serengeti. The Serena Lodge is the only lodge in the area with access to special trails for game drives.

This morning we leave Serengeti and, en-route, enjoy a game drive and a picnic lunch. We spend the night at Lake Natron Camp. The Camp is located on the southern end of Lake Natron on old volcanic flows at the edge of the lake flats. Superb panoramic views of the Rift Valley can be seen in all directions. Tonight we will enjoy dinner at the camp.

This morning we visit Lake Natron and Oldoinyo Lengai. The Great Rift Valley stretches from northern Ethiopia to Mozambique in the south, a distance of about 3,480 miles. The valley was created by two tectonic plates moving apart, which caused the valley floor to drop down, leaving intact and fragmented valley walls or escarpments. The prominent escarpment in this area lies to the west. Volcanoes and craters of different ages are scattered around the valley.

Oldoinyo Lengai (Mountain of God) is the only active volcano in Tanzania. Volcanism around the Great Rift Valley produces soda (sodium carbonate), which is washed down by rain and ground water

Lake Natron sits at the lowest point of the valley in East Africa at an altitude of 2,000 feet above sea level. Here the water evaporates, leaving behind very high concentrations of soda. Algae and zooplankton thrive in this water, which in turn supports great numbers of flamingos. The combination of remoteness and the hostility of the soda mud-flats provide the flamingos with a relatively safe area to breed and rear chicks. The lake is also surrounded by scattered springs, some of which are fresh enough to provide drinking water for many species of animals, both large and small. The Camp is located at one of these oases. This is truly an ancient and unique environment.

After our picnic lunch, we continue to Lake Manyara and spend the night at E Unoto Retreat Lodge.

This morning we drive back to Arusha and check in at the Impala Hotel. We will be treated for lunch in Arusha.

This morning you will be picked up from your hotel and and taken into Arusha, where you can shop in the markets. This evening, we will transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport and board our KLM Airlines flight to Amsterdam. Kwaheri!

Early this morning you will arrive at Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport

Early this morning, you will transfer to Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport on your own and board a KLM Airlines flight for Newark, arriving in the early afternoon.
WELCOME HOME!

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