Gorillas and Wildlife Safaris
Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengetti and
Parc National des Volcans
Safari type
An 14-day safari combining mobile luxury lodges and camping. This safari
allows you to combine a visit to the Northern Tanzanian National Parks
with a visit to the gorillas at Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda.
Itinerary
Day 1
On arrival in today met and transfer to the Fairview Hotel in Nairobi for overnight on b&b basis.
Day 2
After breakfast this morning we depart Arusha at 09hr00 for Tarangire National park for lunch and to spend the rest of the day game viewing, dinner and overnight is at Boundary Hill lodge where we will also be able to experience a late afternoon walking safari and a night drive.
Tarangire National Park and Conservation Area
This park represents perhaps the closest approximation
to people's expectations of Africa. Savannah lands, acacia stands, clusters
of baobab trees, large herds of elephant and large tracts of rarely visited
game lands make this perhaps the epitome of the safari experience. The
park is approximately 2,600 sq kms within an ecosystem of over 20,000
sq kms on the Masai steppes, and during the height of the dry season is
second only to Ngorongoro in density of wildlife. Tarangire is also arguably
the best park in Africa for elephants with a population of over 3,000;
and during the season, these are concentrated around the permanent waters
of the Tarangire River during the heat of the day.
As in all ecosystems the vegetation and the types of animals you find are closely correlated. The principle features of the ecosystem are grasslands and floodplains, Acacia tortillas and baobab parkland, riverina woodland, acacia commiphora woodland and combretum woodland. Three swamps form very important all year water sources for the large elephant populations, Silale and Gursi within the park, and Goswa within the conservation area.
Tarangire is also one of the only places in Tanzania where you are able to combine the traditional game viewing from vehicles with other activities such as night drives, walking safaris and fly camping. For avid birders, to be able to walk in the Conservation Area with one of the trained Masai guides is incredibly rewarding as it is at this pace it is far easier to spot and observe the many bird species. Night drives also enable visitors to spot the nocturnal animals such as African wildcat, Serval cats, genets, civets and bat eared foxes. The larger predators are also active at night and it is not uncommon to spot leopards hunting in the woodland margins or lions on the plains.
For birders, species to note include Hildebrandts Starling, the endemic Ashy starling, Yellow collared lovebird and Orange bellied parrot. Also seen around the camp are Brown parrots, Von der Deckens Hornbill, Northern pied babbler, Northern white crowned shrike, white bellied go away bird, plus a variety of rollers, woodpeckers and other species. On the night drives we also have the chance to see some of the many owls in the area, as well as two banded coursers and Montane nightjars.
Community Conservation
During the late eighties and early nineties, Tarangire
National Park was in danger of becoming an island surrounded by marginal
agricultural activities. This would have been a disaster for the Tarangire
National Park and the world would have lost one of the top three wildlife
migrations. The local Masai communities, seeing their natural heritage
endangered entered joint partnerships with private investors and established
areas set aside for habitat and wildlife preservation. It is in these
areas that we offer our walking safaris, night drives and fly camping,
with economic benefits flowing back to the local Masai communities.
Days 3 and 4
Full days game viewing, walking safaris and night drives. We can also
offer full day mountain biking at an additional cost. Dinner and overnight
at Boundary Hill Lodge
Day 5
After breakfast this morning we depart Naitolia for Lake Manyara National Park with a picnic lunch to spend the rest of the day game viewing, dinner and overnight is at Wild Africa Tented Lodge.
Lake Manyara National Park
From whichever way you approach Lake Manyara National
park, the first view is spectacular. From the west as you pause at the
top of the escarpment and gaze out over the thin green strip of vegetation
nestled tight against the Rift Valley and the lake shining in the sunshine.
Or if you approach from the east, the Rift Valley and Ngorongoro Highlands
form an impressive backdrop to the lake.
The large variety of wildlife to be found in the park, mammals, reptiles and birds and the different vegetation, all within a small area make Lake Manyara a diverse and particularly interesting place to visit. The Park derives its name from the Masai word ' manyara', which is the name for the plant Euphorbia tirucalli. The Masai use this plant to grow livestock stockades, eventually producing a stock proof hedge which is more durable than that of any built of thorn.
The Great Rift Valley is part of the fault which runs from Mozambique in the south, north 8,000 kilometres to Turkey. In the Manyara area there is no eastern wall to the Rift Valley as there is in Kenya. Here it is flattish country which falls gently into a depression and towards the Masai steppes of the Lolkisale and Simanjiro region.
The type of vegetation which occurs in the region is related to the geology of the area. The northern part of the park consists of volcanic rock which being porous allows many streams of clear water to flow out of the base of the rift wall, Further to the south, around Msasa River, the volcanic rock gives way to crystalline rock which is harder and less porous which allows fewer streams to emerge.
Despite being only 330 sq kms in area, of which 230 sq kms is the lake, it contains a large variety of habitats; the rift wall, the ground water forests, acacia woodland, areas of open grasslands, the lake shore, swamp and the lake itself. Due to the wide range of habitats the lake can support a diverse range of wildlife.
Day 6
After breakfast we depart early for the Ngorongoro Crater with a picnic
lunch to spend the rest of the day game viewing in the crater. Dinner
and overnight at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the name given to
the 8,300 square kilometre piece of land that surrounds the famous Crater
and the Highlands of the same name. The Crater was once the headquarters
of Serengeti National Park of which it was an integral part, but in 1956,
after intense pressure and lobbying from the local Masai community who
were dispossessed of the lands when the National Park was set up, Ngorongoro
was designated a Conservation Area.
The 210 square km Crater is now one of the principal attractions on the Northern Tanzanian Safari Circuit and the reputation of the Crater Highlands is slowly developing as a premier trekking destination. The Crater is all that it is made out to be, the hyperbole about Garden's Of Eden, Eighth Wonder Of The World etc all justified by its perennial animal population. This cross-section of wildlife is about as convenient as you will find, dispersed amongst an amazing array of eco-systems within the Natural Amphitheatre created by 600 metre high cliffs around it. It is home to one of the few remaining populations of black rhino in Tanzania and just about every other East African mammal, with the exception of giraffe (walls are too steep) and impala, all unafraid and used to the constant retinue of vehicles.
The crater has the highest density of lions in Africa, with over 30 lions per 100 sq kms, compared to the Serengeti, which has about 14 lions per 100 sq kms; and Kruger National Park in South Africa with about 10 lions per 100 sq kms. In Ngorongoro it is not uncommon to find the lions lying in the shade of the parked tourist vehicle!
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is unique in that the area is shared between the pastoralist Masai tribe and the wildlife the area was established to preserve.
There is the option of being able spend some days trekking on the Ngorongoro Highlands to Empakai Crater and Oldoinyo Lengai.
Day 7
Early this morning we head into the crater to spend the morning game viewing. We then depart for the Serengeti National park with a picnic lunch via Olduvai Gorge. We will be game viewing en route to our camp which will be either in the north, west or south depending on the migration at that time of year.
Serengeti National Park
Arguably the most famous National Park in the world,
the Serengeti Ecosystem (the name comes from "siringit" the
Masai word for "endless plains") consists of some 35,000 square
kilometres. It extends into the Masai Mara in neighbouring Kenya and provides
a vast eco-system for the wildebeest migration that takes place each year.
The famed plains are found to the south of the park east of the Seronera
Valley, rolling hills in the less visited Lobo area to the north and wooded
riverine valleys to the remote east around Kirawira and Grumeti.
The park itself is about 14,763 sq kms in area and encompasses the main part of the Serengeti ecosystem. The ecosystem is defined by the annual migration of over 1,500,000 million wildebeest, zebras and associated predators, which occurs throughout the year and extends into the game reserves, game controlled areas and conservation area surrounding the park boundaries. As in all ecosystems, the vegetation and type of animals you will find are closely correlated, although it is impossible to say exactly where different species will occur, it is possible to build up a picture of the most likely species to be found in each area.
Days 8 and 9
These two days are spent exploring the Serengeti. Dinners and overnights are within camp.
Day 10
This morning we spend game viewing in the Serengeti, after lunch we depart for the Serengeti airstrip for the flight to Kigali. On arrival in Kigali this afternoon met and transfer to the Chez Lando for dinner and overnight.
Day 11
After an early breakfast at 4.30, leave Kigali at 5.00 for a 2 hour-drive to arrive at Kinigi as the first light of dawn breaks through the curtain of mist clinging to the summits of Karisimbi, Bisoke, Sabyniyo, Gahinga and Muhabura. Meet the park authorities and make our way into the Parc National des Volcans. Tracking the gorillas through the unique vegetation can take several hours of challenging walking in wet and muddy conditions. To see a gorilla, the trek will have been worth the hardship. Overnight Assoferwa Guesthouse.
Day 12
Today you will trek for a second time with the mountain gorillas, then
with time remaining drive along Bulera and Ruhondo Lkes, dinner and overnight
Assoferwa guesthouse.
Day 13
This morning we leave for Kigali after breakfast, dinner and overnight
Chez Lando.
Day 14
Morning transfer to airport for flight to Nairobi.
End Of Services
Included:
This is a private safari with all game viewing in 4WD land rover or Land
cruiser with English speaking guide. Included: all full board accommodation
throughout, all park fees and conservation fees, unlimited kilometers
on game drives, all walking safaris and night drives as stated. Gorilla
permits as stated. Flights Serengeti to Kigali, Kigali to Nairobi.
Not included:
Soft and alcoholic drinks, all items of a personal nature, visas and international
flights.
This safari can also start and finish from Kilimanjaro airport.
Please contact us for more information, details of
availability and price:
East African Safari and Touring Company
P.O. Box 1215,
Arusha,
Tanzania
Tel: (+255) 786185567
e-mail: simon@eastafricansafari.info
