Day 1 - Arrival in Arusha:
Prepare for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, when you buckle up and jet off to Tanzaina. Once you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport you will be welcomed by a guide who will transfer you to the picturesque Arusha Coffee Lodge. Your worries will float away as soon as you lay eyes on this Lodge, which lies on the gentle rolling foothills of Mount Meru. In fact, it is hidden amongst one of Tanzania’s largest coffee plantations. The theme of coffee is never far away at Arusha Coffee Lodge, as the images permeates in the interior designs of the bedrooms.
Day 2- Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park:(B,L,D)
Today you will have a chance to see Africa’s abundant wild beauty as you venture into the wildernness. But before that, you will have the morning at leisure to sleep off any jet lag. You will be given a safari briefing followed by lunch. But the real fun will start after your feast, when you take your seat in a safari vehicle and pass through the Masai Steppe, which is filled with many picturesque African villages as well as maize, coffee and banana plantations. You will travel to Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge, where you will stay on full board basis. Nestled on the rim of the Great Rift Valley with amazing views over Lake Manyara, the lodge is set in lush green gardens. Once you have checked-in , you can sit around the outside fireplace and watch the sun setting over the Great Rift Valley, while listening to the humming of the birds in the background. It is a wonderful way to relax before your delicious evening meal.
Day 3 - Lake Manyara National Park to Serengeti National Park :(B,L,D)
Today will be etched in your mind forever as the first time you venture into the animals kingdom.
After breakfast, you will embark on a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. Its vegetation is diverse, ranging from savannah to marsh to evergreen forest. This means it supports one of the highest biomass densities of large mammals in the world.
Keep your eyes peeled as you spot elephant families moving through the forest or Lake Manyara's famous population of tree-climbing lions. After an eventful morning, you will return to the lodge for lunch. After your feast, you will journey North West across the stunning hilly countryside of the highlands, which is filled with wheat and coffee plantations. You will then head into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. As you approach the Serengeti, you will spot wildlife. You will even experience a game drive before you arrive at Serengeti Sopa Lodge. Keep your camera ready as you are bound to see herds of buffalo, elephants and giraffes, impalas and gazelle. After an eventful day, you will check in at the lodge on a full board basis. Feel free to relax on the veranda, which boasts glass windows facing the vast Serengeti plains that extend as far as the eye can see. This makes it an ideal place to relax and watch game.
Day 4 - Serengeti National Park:(B,L,D)
Today, you will get another chance to see wild animals roam free as you experience a morning and an afternoon game drives inside the Serengeti National Park. Simply tell your safari guides the animals that you wish to see and they will try their best to make that happen. You will never forget your encounter in the Serengeti – from the view from Naabi Hill at the park's entrance, to the grasslands, which appear to stretch to the ends of the earth. Stay vigilant, as you may even see lions stalking the open plains with their manes catching the breeze. Or depending on the time of your visit, you can even catch wildebeest and zebras migrating in their millions. Whatever it is, you will adore your time at the greatest wildlife-watching destinations on earth. Today you will also have the option of booking a hot air balloon safari in Serengeti National Park. If you do opt for this, then you will set off before sunrise. You will be transferred by the balloon safari company’s vehicle to the balloon staging site. After a briefing from the pilot, the crew will inflate the envelope. Then as the sun rises, your balloon will take flight and travel high over the Serengeti National Park. This unique experience will give you a close look at wildlife. After about 50 minutes, you will land. Next you will be transferred to a private site where you will feast on a bush breakfast complete with bubbly to celebrate the successful flight in the tradition of balloonists over the centuries.
Day 5 - Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro Crater:(B,L,D)
Wake up to the sounds of the birds tweeting in the trees at the lodge, before you enjoy a delicious feast for breakfast. Once you have fuelled up for the day, you will set off for Ngorongoro, where you will enjoy a picnic lunch, while viewing game across the vast Serengeti plains. Culture vultures will be in for a treat, when you visit a Maasai village. You will have a chance to meet members of the tribe, and learn more about their customs. After this fascinating encounter, you will travel to Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, which is perched on the rim of the collapsed volcano, the Ngorongoro Crater. This is a world heritage site and is often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world. It has the most magnificent views over the crater floor, which is home to vast herds of buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, the rare and endangered black rhino, elephant, cheetah, leopard, lion and herds of gazelle. Its position on the Eastern rim allows the most spectacular and uninterrupted views of the sunset. You will arrive at the lodge in time for dinner, so simply sit back and enjoy your feast.
Day 6 - Ngorongoro Crater:(B,L,D)
A highlight awaits you this morning as you depart to explore what is commonly referred to as the World’s largest natural wildlife arena. After breakfast, you will descend with a picnic lunch through the early morning mists and 2,000 feet into the crater. Ngorongoro Crater is the World’s largest intact volcanic caldera. Due to its size and diversity, the crater floor has several distinct areas, ranging from forest, swamps, lakes and springs, to open grassland and some sandy dunes. You will always remember this truly unique wildlife experience. Next, you will return to the lodge in the late afternoon, where you will be free to spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 7 - Ngorongoro Crater to Tarangire National Park:(B,L,D)
Get ready to enjoy more beautiful views today, as you leave Ngorongoro Crater after breakfast, and head south east past Lake Manyara and Mto wa Mbu Village. Through the highlands and the Karatu district, you’ll view the scenic wheat plains and coffee plantations before journeying down the spectacular escarpment turning south on to the main Arusha – Dodoma road and into the park. Once you check in at Tarangire Sopa Lodge, you will enjoy a game drive en route.
The park is home to one of the greatest concentration of elephants in Africa, and other game including the elusive leopard. You are also bound to see some of the 400 bird species that have been identified within the park. With water constantly available through the Tarangire River, the greenery is lush and provides a wonderful contrast to the burnt ground. Once you have worked up an appetite, you will enjoy lunch on board your safari vehicle before experiencing an afternoon game viewing within the park. After spending a wonderful day in the wilderness, you will return to the Lodge to feat on a delicious dinner.
Day 8 - Tarangire National Park to Arusha:(B,L)
Relish in the last morning of your holiday, as you enjoy a leisurely breakfast. As you pack your bags, your mind will no doubt be buzzing with the adventures you’ve encountered. After check-out, you will head north east to Arusha. Be sure to soak up the beauty of the journey, as you pass through the Masai Steppe, which is filled with many picturesque African villages as well as maize, coffee and banana plantations. Once you arrive in Arusha, you will enjoy a delicious lunch before you are transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport to travel back home.
