Tanzania Lodge Safari

8 days - from $4150

Tanzania boasts some of the most impressive national parks in Africa, containing some of the best range of wildlife on the entire continent. On this short lodge-based safari we visit Lake Manyara National Park, one of many such soda lakes in east Africa's Great Rift Valley, for our first game drive from our base at an incredible lodge overlooking the lake. From Lake Manyara we travel through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and into the bordering Serengeti National Park. This is the quintessential Africa; where wide open plains stretch as far as the eye can see, supporting vast numbers of plains animals, including over two million wildebeest. Driving around the Serengeti Plains ranks as one of the major highlights in all of Africa. Leaving the Serengeti we pause at Olduvai Gorge, an archeological site made famous by Dr Leakey in the 1950's, before reaching the world-renowned Ngorongoro Crater. Just 20 kilometres wide the crater floor teems with vast quantities of animals, including elephant, lion, cheetah and black rhino. The park is truly a mini 'Garden of Eden' which we will explore from our lodge, which is spectacularly perched on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. From Ngorongoro we travel to our final national park, Tarangire National Park, which has a wildlife concentration second only to the Ngorongoro Crater. This safari is conducted in a 4WD vehicle with a specialist local guide to give you the best possible insight into these famous parks of northern Tanzania.

Highlights

• Lake Manyara National Park
• Serengeti National Park
• Olduvai Gorge
• Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Ngorongoro Crater
• Tarangire National Park

Itinerary:

Day 1 Arrive Nairobi and transfer to hotel.2 Private transfer from Nairobi to Arusha. Drive to lodge overlooking Lake Manyara.3-4 Morning game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. Drive to Serengeti National Park. Morning and afternoon game drives.5-6 Morning game drive in Serengeti National Park. Visit Olduvai Gorge en route to lodge overlooking Ngorongoro Crater. Game drive in Ngorongoro Crater.7 Drive to Tarangire National Park. Afternoon game drive.8 Morning game drive in Tarangire National Park. Drive to Arusha. Private transfer to Nairobi where trip ends on arrival.
Included: An experienced English-speaking local leader, arrival transfer, transport, accommodation, meals, game activities and entrance fees.
Not Included: International flights, airport departure taxes, visas, meals unless specified in the itinerary, insurance, laundry, any optional tours or activities during free time, tips and items of a personal nature.
Meals: 7 breakfasts,7 lunches,6 dinners
National Parks: This trip includes 1 day in Lake Manyara National Park, 2 days in the Serengeti National Park, 1 day in Ngorongoro Crater and 1 day in Tarangire National Park.
Valid From: 12 Jan 07
Notes: Whilst we hold confirmed bookings at all lodges in Tanzania, these lodges have been known to oversell their rooms periodically. When this occurs the lodge relocate clients to other lodges, often without warning and at short notice. This has happened to all travel companies at various times. The relocation is usually an upgrade in accommodation standard and does not affect our game-viewing itinerary or actual time spent in the national parks. If this occurs our local operators in Tanzania will make you aware of any changes at the tour briefing. The roads between Nairobi and Arusha are very rough and dusty on both the sides of the border (Tanzania and Kenya) due to the construction work of new roads. The journey between Nairobi and Arusha at the moment takes approximately 7hrs - 8hrs, including boarder clearing, washroom stops and possible traffic jams. At this stage we have not been advised how long the upgrade of this road will take.
Starts/Ends: Nairobi to Nairobi
Trip Reference: PFTL