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Tanzania Wildlife Adventure
Itinerary

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Day 1    Fly to Arusha, TZ                                                          

Depart United States. Overnight flight.

 

Day 2     Arrival in Arusha

Arrive this evening at Kilimanjaro Airport in Arusha. You will be met at the airport and transferred to our lodge. For the participants who wish to relax before the program starts, we will be happy to make arrangements for arriving a day early at an additional cost.

Overnight: Lake Duluti Lodge

 

Day 3    Arusha National Park full day            

After breakfast, join the group for a welcome and program orientation before departing for a full-day excursion to Arusha National Park, complete with a picnic lunch. Dominated by the towering Mt. Meru at 14,980 feet, the park features a diverse landscape of forested mountain slopes, two ancient craters turned swamps, lush savannas, and the open plains of the "Little Serengeti." Despite its small size, the park boasts over 300 recorded bird species. At Momella Lake, we'll search for waterbirds such as flamingos, pelicans, herons, ducks, grebes, and waders. In the forested areas, we’ll keep an eye out for raptors like Crowned Eagles and African Goshawks, as well as vibrant forest birds like Narina and Bar-tailed Trogons. The park is also home to Colobus and Blue Monkeys, which we’ll hope to spot during our visit. We'll return to the lodge in the late afternoon.

Overnight: Lake Duluti Lodge (Meals: B,L,D)

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Day 4    Tarangire National Park

Begin the day with a morning bird walk around the lodge grounds before meeting our guides and setting off in safari vehicles toward Tarangire National Park. Along the way, enjoy a game drive and a picnic lunch within the park as we journey to our lodge. After settling in, continue exploring more of this captivating park. Tarangire is renowned for its scenic rolling hills and iconic ancient baobab trees. It’s famous for large elephant herds and is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including giraffes, buffalo, wildebeests, zebras, antelopes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and jackals. Its expansive grasslands, dotted with acacia and baobab trees, create ideal conditions for wildlife viewing. Bird enthusiasts will find plenty to admire, with over 260 bird species recorded, including Rufous-tailed Weavers, Stocking-thighed Ostriches, Yellow-collared Lovebirds, and Ashy Starlings.

Overnight: Tarangire Sopa Lodge (Meals: B,L,D)

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Day 5     Tarangire National Park

We dedicate a full day to exploring Tarangire National Park with morning and late afternoon game drives. The park’s diverse habitats make it a haven for bird enthusiasts, boasting the highest number of breeding species in a single habitat anywhere in the world. Birds of prey are plentiful, and spotting the endemic Ashy Starling becomes almost effortless. The park also teems with birdlife associated with its iconic trees, such as woodpeckers, barbets, sandgrouse, and a variety of songbirds. Each day on safari offers unique experiences, with opportunities for incredible wildlife encounters often at close range in this vibrant and picturesque landscape. In the evening, reflect on the day’s memorable moments while watching the silhouettes of graceful giraffes on the horizon.

Overnight: Tarangire Sopa Lodge (Meals: B,L,D)

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Day 6     Lake Manyara                            

Start the day with an early breakfast before checking out and heading to Lake Manyara National Park, renowned for its rich ecosystems and stunning landscapes. From its expansive soda lake to hippo-filled waters, the park is a haven for wildlife and natural beauty. Keep an eye out for elephants, baboons, and, with some luck, the rare tree-climbing lions. Lake Manyara is also a paradise for birdwatchers, offering sightings of flamingos, pelicans, herons, spoonbills, ibises, eagles, hornbills, kingfishers, barbets, woodpeckers, swallows, flycatchers, starlings, and sunbirds. We have a picnic lunch and continue our journey to Ngorongoro Crater.

Overnight: Lions Paw Lodge (Meals: B,L,D)

 

Day 7     Ngorongoro Crater           

After an early breakfast, descend to the Ngorongoro Crater floor for a full-day exploration with a bush lunch midday. This breathtaking natural amphitheater is home to Africa’s densest concentration of wildlife, including the iconic Big Five. Many of the animals are accustomed to human presence, allowing for exceptional close-up viewing and photography against the dramatic backdrop of the crater’s steep walls, often shrouded in misty clouds. The crater floor showcases a microcosm of Africa’s ecosystems, with forests, lakes, grasslands, swamps, and rivers. Herds of large animals inhabit the crater, including Blue Wildebeest and Common Zebra, alongside smaller populations of African Elephant, Buffalo, Black Rhino, Hippopotamus, Eland, and Thomson’s and Grant’s Gazelles. The crater is also renowned for its remarkable predator density, featuring lions, cheetahs, leopards, Spotted Hyenas, and both Golden and Black-backed Jackals. Birdlife is equally spectacular, with sightings of Africa’s iconic species. Look for flamingos covering Lake Magadi in a pink haze, Common Ostriches roaming the grasslands, majestic Kori Bustards (the heaviest flying birds), elegant Grey-crowned Cranes, and an array of raptors, including the striking Secretary Bird, Bateleur, and Martial Eagle. In the evening, ascend to our lodge perched on the scenic crater rim, and as dusk falls, we’ll attempt to spot the elusive Montane Nightjar.

Overnight: Lions Paw Lodge (Meals: B,L,D)

 

Day 8     Serengeti National Park

After an early breakfast, we check out and set off for the Serengeti, stopping en route at the well-known Olduvai Gorge. This site, shaped by millennia of geological activity, offers a remarkable record of fossilized plants and animals preserved in its layered rock formations. Among its most celebrated discoveries are the Australopithecine hominid remains unearthed by the Leakey family. While there, explore the informative museum, which showcases replicas of hominid fossils and extinct animals that once roamed the area. We continue our journey with a picnic lunch along the way. Upon entering the Serengeti, our adventure begins with a game drive across its vast, flat, and seemingly endless plains. We'll spend the next few nights immersed in the wilderness at our tented camp in the world-famous Serengeti National Park.

Overnight: Serengeti Land of Nature Camp (Meals: B,L,D)

 

Day 9     Serengeti National Park               

Today, we have morning and afternoon game drives through the Central Serengeti, a wildlife-rich area and a key stage for the Great Migration. The Serengeti’s vast landscapes and abundant wildlife provide a truly unmatched safari experience. Its diverse terrain features open grass plains, savannas dotted with acacia trees, and wooded grasslands. Kopjes about, scenic knolls of granite and gneiss outcroppings, great for birds of prey and dens for predators.

Overnight: Serengeti Land of Nature Camp (Meals: B,L,D)

 

Day 10   Serengeti National Park               

Today with continue game drives. The Serengeti offers one of Africa’s most iconic displays of plains game, with large herds of wildebeests, Thomson’s gazelles, zebras, and other herbivores. Birdwatching here is equally exceptional, with opportunities to spot numerous avian species in between thrilling mammal sightings. For an unforgettable experience, consider an early morning hot-air balloon ride (available at an additional cost). Timed to catch the sunrise, this adventure lets you drift gently over the wildlife-filled plains—a truly magical way to witness the Serengeti’s wonders.

Overnight: Serengeti Land of Nature (Meals: B,L,D)

 

Day 11   Arusha/Flight home

Begin the day with a final early morning game drive, soaking in the Serengeti’s beauty one last time. Afterwards, transfer to the local airstrip for a short flight to Arusha. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted and transferred to Arusha for a visit to local markets, then to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your journey home.

(Meals: B)

 

Day 12   Arrive home      

Welcome home!

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