Wildlife, beaches and river
A safari combining mid range camping with some luxury thrown in, superb game viewing, remote parks and game reserves, wildlife on the Indian Ocean, river cruises on the Wami River, Stone Town and the beaches of Zanzibar(and of course the Tanzanian cultural experience).
Day 1
On arrival at Kilimanjaro (or Nairobi) met and transferred to Arumeru
River lodge for overnight on b&b basis. (this day can be varied to
meet your specific flight details.)
Day 2
After breakfast transfer to the airport for the flight to Serengeti, where
on arrival this morning you will be met by your guide for the safari.
You will spend the rest of the day game viewing in the Serengeti. Dinner
and overnight within camp in the Seronera valley.
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.
Seronera Valley
Located virtually in the geometric centre of the park,
the Seronera Valley provides the best all year game viewing within the
National park. The area consists of a varied habitat of acacia riverina
and plains of red-oat grasslands. To the east and south are the lightly
wooded Nyaraswiga and Mukoma Hills. The Seronera Valley provides probably
the widest variety of game viewing in all of the Serengeti park, being
on the crossroads for the migration and having a number of permanent water
courses . It is justly famous for both leopards and lions, both of which
are usually seen in the area without difficulty. Just to the north of
the valley along the road to Lobo is the only place where you are likely
to see hippopotamus in the Serengeti.
Days 3 and 4
These days are spent exploring the Serengeti, either on game drives early
in the morning and late in the afternoon with hot lunch in camp, or on
full day game drives with picnic lunches. Dinners and overnights within
camp.
Day 5
After breakfast we depart early for the Ngorongoro Crater via Olduvai
gorge, to spend the afternoon game viewing in the crater with picnic lunch.
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.
Day 6
This morning is spent game viewing in the crater with picnic lunch, mid
afternoon depart for Tarangire for dinner and overnight 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.
Day 7 and 8
Full days game viewing in Tarangire, walking safaris and night drives,
we will also take the opportunity to visit one of the local Masai bomas
found in the area, dinners and overnights at Boundary Hill Lodge.
Day 9
This morning we depart for Mkomazi Game Reserve, passing Mt Meru and Kilimanjaro
as we head north east. Dinner and overnight within camp at Ibaya campsite
in Mkomazi.
Mkomazi Game Reserve
The Mkomazi Game Reserve is located is a wild and
beautiful stretch of land behind the Pare and Usambara Mountains and forming
the Tanzanian extension of the Tsavo National Park of Kenya. The acacia
and boabab habitat is home to over 400 bird species as well as dozens
of large mammals usually found in the Somali - Masai habitats; including
gerenuk and kudu. The landscape is dominated by a ring of mountains. The
reserve is also home to migratory mammals from Tsavo at the beginning
of the short rains in December but mainly during the long rains in April
and May. Thousands of elephant, buffalo, oryx and zebras are common during
this period, as well excellent chances of spotting lions and leopards.
African Wild dog and black rhinoceros have been reintroduced
into the reserve and are to be found in a semi- captive environment near
Kisima. Mkomazi is one of the few areas in northern Tanzania where we
are able to walk with armed rangers, and makes for exciting game viewing!
Day 10
Today is spent exploring the Mkomazi game reserve on game drives and walking
safaris, dinners and overnights within camp.
Day 11
After breakfast this morning we break camp and head south east along the
main road to the port city of Tanga.Tanga is the second largest port in
Tanzania but its decaying grandeur is only a remnant of its heyday during
the German colonial administration at the start of the 20th Century. From
Tanga we will be visiting the Amboni caves as well as the atmospheric
fourteenth century Swahili trading town of Tongoni. Tanga seems to have
missed the developed experienced elsewhere in East Africa during the last
hald of the 20th century, and the buildings lining the streets all date
back nearly a century. The central market is one of the few left which
is typical of what was in every town in East Africa.
Tanga is also the location of the first land engagement of WW1 in East
Africa when British and colonial troops attempted an amphibious landing
in November 1914. Dinner and overnight is at the Mkonge Hotel overlooking
the bay.
This morning you will depart Dar es Salaam for Bagamoyo, north along the
coast from Dar Es Salaam. Bagamoyo has a rich history relating to the
slaving era as well as the German colonization. For a while in the late
19th century it was the capital of German East Africa. This history is
reflected in the wealth of historic buildings to be found here. After
exploring Bagamoyo we will head north to our camp set up on the beach
just north of the historic Sadaani Village arriving mid afternoon. Dinner
and overnight is within camp, either our mobile standard camp or our full
service "semi-luxury" camp.
Day 12
This morning we depart Tanga and head south towards Sadaani National Park
arriving hopefully for lunch at the Saadani Safari Lodge. Late afternoon
game drive in the park before returning to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Each bungalow is located right on the beach with the Indian ocean spreading
away to the horizon.
Sadaani National Park
Sadaani is Tanzania's newest National Park and one
of the most fascinating and least visited of all the parks and reserves
in East Africa. Being 500 sq kilometres in size the park is located on
the Indian Ocean between Dar es Salaam and Tanga and boasts a variety
of habitats, historical villages and is East Africa's only coastal National
Park.
The park consists of three environments, the coastal strip and plains on the Indian Ocean, the fluvial system around the Wami River and the acacia forests and swamps inland. This is home to about thirty different mammal species, including elephant, although most of this is very shy due to the poaching which occurred unchecked until early 2000. Exploring the park can be quite exciting, a boat trip down the coast and up the Wami River and the estuarine mangroves found here, a traditional game drive in the parks acacia forests and a more exciting walking safari with one of the parks rangers.
Complementing the game viewing and bush experience
is the historic village of Sadaani, which is in the traditional Swahili
style and is thought to date from the late 16th century.
Day 13 and 14
These days are spent exploring the Sadaani National Park as well as its
southern boundaries along the Wami River. One of the unique experiences
to be had is an early morning boat trip on the Wami River, its banks crowded
with lush growth, and during the dry season home to many hippopotamus
and crocodiles. Dinners and overnights at Saadani Safari Lodge. The birding
is quite spectacular, Malachite and Pied kingfishers, a variety of herons
and both flamingoes on the salt pans.
Day 15
Morning transfer to the airstrip for short 15 odd minute flight to Zanzibar,
where on arrival you will be met and transferred to the Dhow Palace in
Stone Town for overnight on b&b basis.
Day 16 and 17
Transfer to the Pongwe Beach Resort on day 16, to spend the next two days
lazing on the beach or snorkelling, dinners and overnights at Pongwe on
half board basis.
Day 18
Full day at Pongwe before transferring to the airport for the 18hr00 Zanair
flight to Dar Es Salaam to connect with your outgoing international flight.
End Of Services
INCLUDED: This is a private safari with all game viewing in 4WD land rover or Land cruiser with English speaking guide, all full board accommodation throughout, all park fees and conservation fees, unlimited kilometers on game drives, all walking safaris and night drives as stated.
NOT INCLUDED: soft and alcoholic drinks, all items of a personal nature, visas and international flights.
Quotes: $4,480 USD per person for a group of two clients, and $3,995 for a group of four clients.
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
