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Day 1:
On arrival in Arusha today, you will be met and transferred to the
Arumeru River Lodge for overnight on bed and breakfast basis.
Day 2:
After breakfast we depart Arusha and head towards 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 types 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 3:
Morning departure with picnic lunch for the Serengeti National Park. Game
viewing en route to our camp set up in the Seronera Valley area. Dinner
and overnight is within camp.
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.
Short grass plains
The short grass plains occur east of the Naabi Hill gate and extend
almost to Olduvai Gorge in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The area
is characterised by large sweeping plains with a short covering of grass
which completely withers during the dry season. On the northern fringes
of the plains are granite kopjes, large rocky outcrops which in themselves
form unique habitats. On the border of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro
Conservation Area is Lake Ndutu. The lakes here are surrounded by acacia
forests and it is here that all the accommodation and campsites are
to be found. It is also from here that it is possible to do some walking
with one of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area rangers on the lake shore.
It is on the Short Grass plains during mid December
through to mid January that the wildebeest herds congregate in large
numbers to give birth to nearly 400,000 calves in the first two weeks
of February. This is a defence mechanism, as giving birth to large numbers
in a very short period overwhelms the predators following the herds.
The herds stay in the area till mid to late May, depending on the rains,
before splitting up into smaller herds numbering in the tens of thousands
of wildebeest all heading west in long straggling columns up to 40 kilometres
in length.
This is without parallel and is definitely the best
game viewing to be had anywhere at anytime in the world! Not only are
the massive numbers of wildebeest beyond comprehension, but the prides
of lions and groups of cheetahs providing outstanding viewing opportunities.
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 4, 5 and 6:
These days we explore the Serengeti National Park, whether we spend
the entire day game viewing with picnic lunch or return to the camp
for a hot lunch is entirely optional. It is this flexibility, which
makes this safari one of the best for those who are serious game viewers!
Dinner and overnight is within our camp.
Western Corridor
The western corridor stretches from the Seronera Valley west almost
to the shores of Lake Victoria. The hills and ridges run east -west
with the Grumeti River on the northern edge. The Grumeti River drains
into Lake Victoria and is the main feature in this area. Much of the
low land consist of black " cotton" soil plains that make
travelling during the rainy season almost impossible. This area is best
at the start of the dry season which is when the main migration moves
through the area and heads north east into the Lobo Region of the park
and Kenya. Although there are resident populations of wildebeest throughout
the drier months, making the western corridor a popular area through
the months of late June to September. The Grumeti is famous for its
exceptionally large crocodiles which bask on the shores of the river
and seize prey with surprising speed. When the wildebeest cross the
Grumeti sometime in late June or early July, the waiting crocodiles
have a smorgas board of choice.
Day 7:
This morning we depart for the Ngorongoro Highlands to spend the rest
of the day 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; 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.
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Day 8:
Early this morning we descend into the crater to spend the morning game
viewing before departing for Lake Eyasi for dinner and overnight within
camp.
Day 9:
Today is spent exploring the Lake Eyasi area with our hosts the Hadzabe,
dinner and overnight is within camp.
Day 10:
After breakfast, we depart Lake Eyasi with a picnic lunch for the Tarangire
Conservation Area. This is a unique area where the local Masai have
set up the first village owned and operated game reserve in Tanzania:
all to protect the large herds of elephants that are to be found in
the Conservation Area and the surrounding National park. Dinner and
overnight at Boundary Hill Lodge. After dinner, we will be offering
a night drive in our especially equipped land rover. It is on the night
drives that we usually see serval cats, African wildcats, bat eared
foxes, and the occasional wandering lion or leopard! We will be returning
to Naitolia or Boundary Hill Lodge for overnight.
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 11:
We spend the day exploring the Tarangire Ecosystem on walking safaris,
game drives and night drives. We will have the opportunity to following
the elephants' paths that wind through the acacia and baobab bush
as well as marvel at their presence on the Lemiyon floodplains.
Because this is a Masai community initiative, we will also be able
to visit one of the local bomas where we can learn something of
their unique lifestyles. The area is also the best in Tanzania for
bird watching with over 450 species being recorded. Dinner and overnight
is at Naitolia or Boundary Hill Lodge.
Day 12:
Early this morning you will have another opportunity for a walking
safari before departing for Arusha for onward connections.
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 are: all transfers
in Arusha, all camping equipment on the camps including bedding,
all full board accommodation throughout, all park fees and conservation
fees, all village fees, 2 litres of bottled drinking water per person
per day, unlimited kilometres on game drives, all walking safaris
and night drives as stated. Includes a supply vehicle for camping
equipment.
Not included:
Visas and international flights, all items of a personal nature,
alcoholic drinks
Quote:
2008: September 19th, October 24th,
November 21st
$3,695 USD per person
2009: February 6th, March 13th, May 30th
$3,750 USD per person
June 23rd, September 18th, October 23rd
$3,950 USD per person
November 20th
$3,750 USD per person
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
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