ITINERARY
Day 1: Arusha/ Game drive in Ngorongoro crater
In the morning you will depart Arusha and drive to Ngorongoro (190 Km) and upon arrival descend into the crater for an in-depth exploration of this distinctive eco-system. Enjoy abundant wildlife viewing set against the impressive backdrop of the Ngorongoro Crater, the heart of the conservation area. These drives provide one of the best opportunities in Africa to view the rare black rhino, which tend to spend their time on the crater floor. Ngorongoro Crater is one of the worldโs greatest natural spectacles; its magical setting and abundant wildlife never fail to enthral visitors. For lunch, enjoy a picnic next to one of the hippo pools on the crater floor. Afterwards continue with the game drive throughout the various ecosystems of the crater, including woodland filled with zebra and baboon, Plains that support scavenging hyena and a lake that is tinted pink with greater and lesser flamingos. Other game that you can see includes leopard, cheetah, hyena, other members of the antelope family, and small mammals.
Later in the afternoon you will ascend and overnight your accommodation perched on the craters rim. Overnight stay in Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge or similar class.
Meal plan: L & D
Day 2: Walking/Hiking Empakai crater
From your lodge you will drive north-west along the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, and through the village of Nainokanoka and the Embulbul Depression enjoying good views of Mt. Loolmalasin on the right. At 3,648 metres, Mount Loolmalasin is the third highest mountain in Tanzania. The drive is through open grassland dotted with Maasai villages. You will see a mixture of lots of cattle, and a few wild animals like zebra and other harmless animals. After about an hour and a half you arrive at the eastern rim of the Empakai Crater. This is a little-visited area due to the fact that the only means of accessing the crater floor is on foot. Its walls are steep and thickly-forested.ย
The walk down, which runs along a good path, takes about 30 minutes involving a drop of about 300 meters and goes through patches of forest. Look out for the two huge strangler fig trees as you approach the crater floor.ย
Most of the floor is occupied by a soda lake, 85 meters deep. Depending on the season, there are numbers of flamingos, which congregate to feed along the edge of the lake. The lake is also a home to black-winged stilts, little grebes, and cape teal. You may not see many animals, but the tracks of leopard, hyena, baboon and buffalo betray their presence.ย
The more energetic visitor will enjoy a walk along the edge of the lake around the entire floor of the crater. This takes 2-3 hours and is a chance to soak up the quiet beauty of this magical place. Then follows the hardest part โ the climb back up to the rim. A picnic lunch can be eaten either in the crater or on the rim from where you can have a beautiful view northward the Ol Doinyo Lengai, a still-active volcano of great religious importance to the Maasai. This excursion can be done in half a day if you donโt walk around the lake. If you do, then it will take about 7 hours.
Later drive back to your lodge for overnight rest
Meal plan: B, L & D
Day 3: Lake Manyara game drive
After breakfast you depart for Lake Manyara national park nestling at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. A beautiful park, Lake Manyara contains a diverse range of habitats and topographical features ranging from the rift wall, ground water forest, acacia woodlands and open grasslands to the shores of Lake Manyara and the lake itself. Have afternoon game viewing in the park searching for the diverse flora and fauna of the park. There are some 350 different bird species in the park. The park provides sanctuary to a variety of animals such as the gazelle, impala, buffalo, wildebeest, hyena, baboon, giraffe, hippo and the famous tree-climbing lions that are unique to the Lake. The park is generally recognized for its incredible beauty. Overnight African Sunrise lodge and campsite or similar class of lodge
Meal plan: B, L & D
Day 4: Biking/Nature tour of Mto wa Mbu - Arusha
You arrive in Mto wa Mbu area (close to Lake Manyara) where you will meet your bike ready. With a guide you will start to cycle around the mountainous rugged village overlooking Lake Manyara; the topography is spectacular. At some point you may encounter some wild animals like antelopes. There are a lot of bird species and a camera should not be forgotten. Picnic lunch packet will be served. If you wish you can also go for African delicacies near Mto wa Mbu. For meat lovers, this is the best time to try swahili barbecue (Nyama Choma). Later in the afternoon you will drive back to Arusha where we end our safari.
Meal plan: B, L & D
PRICE:
Price Includes:
- ย
Price Excludes:
- ย