The Discovery Journey to
Tanzania
Tanzania shares the endless plains of the Serengeti and Maasai culture that existed long before man-made boundaries. Journey into the dawn of time as you pass the stark red-robed Maasai boy herding his cattle and descend 2,000 feet by Land Rover beneath the cloud cover into Ngorongoro Crater, Africa’s ‘Garden of Eden.’ The amazing wildlife viewing you see crossing the varied terrain is only enhanced by a visit to Olduvai Gorge, where Mary Leakey discovered one of the earliest fossils of man. Home to man and beast since the beginning of time, the magic of the Serengeti continues to thrill, including the annual migration of wildebeest and zebra moving in time to the rhythms of Mother Nature
Days 1/2/3 - New York/London/Nairobi/Arusha
Board your overnight flight to London. Relax at your HEATHROW HILTON dayroom before boarding your overnight flight to Arusha via Nairobi. Upon arrival your professional naturalist will escort you to your lodge on the shores of Lake Duluti. SERENA MOUNTAIN VILLAGE. (Meals Aloft)
Days 4/5 - Lake Manyara National Park
Drive to Mto Wa Mbu; a modern Tanzanian village comprised of residents from different tribal areas. After a traditional lunch, explore the area with your village guide for a true sense of rural life. Continue on to Lake Manyara National Park, an ornithological paradise inhabited by over 350 bird species. Elusive tree-climbing lion lay in wait on branches while eagle, vulture, stork, swift and swallow glide along the spectacular cliffs overlooking the pink shimmering lake with thousands of flamingos. Stretch your legs near the hippo pool. Examine the amazing ‘upside-down’ baobab tree, and giant fig and mahogany trees home to blue vervet monkey, baboon, bushbuck and elephant. On the edge of the Rift Valley escarpment overlooking Lake Manyara is your luxurious lodge. LAKE MANYARA SERENA SAFARI LODGE. (B,L,D Daily)
Days 6/7 - Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Watch as Maasai protect their cattle herds on your drive to the Ngorongoro Crater – an extinct volcano and World Heritage Site. Your lodge is poised on the crater’s rim with dramatic views of its natural wonders. Next morning, descend almost 2,000 feet through misty clouds to the crater’s floor for a treasure trove of wildlife and scenery. Swaggering prides of black-mane lion roam the grasslands, home to large herds of wildebeest, buffalo, hartebeest, eland and zebra, with hyena close behind. Protected around the clock, this is the best area to see the rare black rhino. Colorful flamingo inhabit the shores of the soda lakes, and Hildebrandt’s Francolin lurks in the forest while Verreaux’s Eagle soars high above. Bull elephant with massive tusks charge the plains while their female counterparts, and the solitary leopard, meander through the forests. NGORONGORO SERENA SAFARI LODGE. (B,L,D Daily)
Days 8/9 - Olduvai Gorge/Serengeti National Park
Discover Olduvai Gorge, the ‘Cradle of Mankind’ where Louis and Mary Leaky uncovered the early origins of modern man. Tour the museum to learn about their archeological methods and remarkable finds. Resume your drive, stopping at a Maasai village before crossing into the Serengeti – the crown jewel of Tanzania’s protected areas and host to the annual centuries-old migration of over one million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra. Watch as cheetah, leopard and hyena keep a keen eye on the herds. Explore the open plains for giraffe, topi, buffalo, and Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle. Elephant herds find shade in palm thickets and sausage trees of the Seronera Valley. Look for lion stalking its prey along rivers and hippo pools inhabited with scores of water birds. Prehistoric rock outcroppings host hyrax and dwarf mongoose. Soar through the skies on a balloon safari for exhilarating views (at additional cost). Also a World Biosphere Reserve, visit the Serengeti Wildlife Research Centre to learn more about the Park’s diverse ecosystems. The architecture of your simple, but stunning lodge is inspired by a traditional African village. SERENGETI SERENA SAFARI LODGE. (B,L,D Daily)
Days 10/11 - Serengeti National Park/Grumeti River
Continue your exploration of the Serengeti in the Grumeti River area of the Western Corridor, famous for huge crocodile and hippo pools. This is the Africa of Hemingway’s books and travels. Look for lion sunbathing atop prehistoric rock outcroppings framed by the bluest of skies, or a solitary leopard watching your every move from a tree branch. Feel like one of the first explorers as you settle into your camp – an elegant Victorian-era tented outpost set upon a hill with spectacular views. Here, slowly savor every minute of Africa’s splendor from vibrant sunrises to seemingly endless starlit night skies. KIRAWIRA CAMP. (B,L,D Daily)
Days 12/13 - Arusha/London/New York
Transfer to the airstrip for your flight back to Arusha. Shop or relax in your dayroom at SERENA MOUNTAIN VILLAGE. After dinner, transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B,L,D; Meals Aloft)
Optional Extension to Zanzibar
Spend four days on the exotic spice island of Zanzibar beginning in Stonetown – a place of winding alleys, bustling bazaars and unique wooden doors. Stay at the Zanzibar Serena Inn on the Indian Ocean – a haven of tranquility and old-world opulence. Dazzle your senses at a spice plantation and watch rare, red colobus monkeys frolic overhead in Jozani Forest. Travel to the southeast coast (Kizimkazi) for a refreshing stay at Unguja Resort with spacious villas set amidst old mango and baobab trees. By boat, search for dolphins, enjoy a tour aboard a traditional wooden dhow and swim or snorkel in the turquoise waters.
Your Journey Includes:
- Roundtrip air transportation between New York and Arusha. Extension returns from Dar es Salaam.
- Superior accommodations throughout.
- All meals on safari; breakfast and dinner daily plus lunch during tours on extension.
- All wildlife viewing by private 4x4 vehicles, driven by a naturalist guide. A window seat is guaranteed.
- Visit to a Maasai village and Serengeti Wildlife Research Centre.
- Traditional lunch at Mto Wa Mbu Village.
- Complimentary bottled water in vehicles and at meals.
- Professional naturalist will accompany the group with 10 travelers.
- All applicable hotel/lodge taxes and gratuities for baggage handling.
- All park entry fees.
- Complimentary backpack, baggage tags and passport wallet.
2008 Dates |
Price Main Trip |
Single Supplement Price/Main |
Price Extension |
Single Supplement Price/Ext |
Mar 8 - 19 |
$5,195 |
$795 |
$1,995 |
$595 |
May 17-28 |
$4,495 |
$695 |
$1,995 |
$595 |
Jun
|
$5,895 |
$995 |
$1,995 |
$595 |
Jun
|
$5,895 |
$995 |
$1,995 |
$595 |
Jul |
$5,995 |
$995 |
$1,995 |
$595 |
Oct |
$5,895 |
$995 |
$1,995 |
$595 |
Nov |
$5,195 |
$695 |
$1,995 |
$595 |
*Prices do not reflect applicable taxes.