During this tour visit the famous national parks in the Northern Circuit and dive into the culture of the country - while exploring it in an active way
| Country | Tanzania |
| Accommodation | Higher middle class |
| Food | Full board |
| Minimum number of participants | 2 Pax |
Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport - Welcome to Tanzania
Today you land in East Africa - at the foot of the majestic mountain: Mount Kilimanjaro!
Perhaps you have already caught a glimpse of the highest mountain in Africa from the plane, if not, with a little luck you can still make out the summit on the drive from the airport to the Africa Amini Maasai Lodge.
Your personal driver will be waiting for you at the exit of the airport with a name tag and will give you a warm welcome on Tanzanian soil with a cheerful "Jambo" and "Karibu".
The drive to the lodge takes about 1.5 hours. Your way leads up to the area between Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro.
Here you check into your accommodation and can recover from the journey.
This area off the beaten tourist track combines the Maasai culture with the wilderness in a spectacular scenic setting. Here you will find an open steppe landscape with acacia forests in between and bushes that characterize the landscape. Many wild animals are also resident here, such as elephants.
Africa Amini
Spend a great day in the authentic Maasai Lodge and learn about the culture of the Maasai people, take bush walks, relax by the pool or hear the stories of the Maasai around the evening campfire.
The following activities are offered:
- Javelin competition with the Maasai
- Nature walk with the Maasai
- “Warm your heart” meditation room, sauna, pool
- Maasai stories about culture, land and life
- Sundowner with the Maasai
Arusha National Park with walking at the foot of Mount Meru and game drives through the park
In the morning you leave the accommodation together with the guide and continue to Arusha National Park at the foothills of Mount Meru.
A local ranger is already waiting for you here, who will also take you on a search for clues in the Arusha Naitonal Park. On a 1.5 hour easy hike, the "small five" are explained to you and the tracks on the way are read. Giraffes will cross your path, buffalo graze in the distance until you arrive at the waterfall in the park. After a short photo stop, your way back to your guide.
He is already waiting for you and explores the park with you in the safari car. The path meanders along the Momella lakes and through dense rainforest. Black and white Colobus monkeys sit in the trees and look cheekily down at the visitors. Proud giraffes stroll through the meadows and nibble on the acacia trees with devotion. Zebras and flamingos are also often seen park residents.
After the game drive, you will continue to your accommodation.
A variety of birds in a stunning setting and lions climbing the trees - Lake Manyara National Park
After Arusha National Park proceed to Lake Manyara National Park.
A special highlight for bird lovers. In the winter months, the migratory birds come from the north and populate the lake - huddling close together. In addition to the storks, there are also vultures, pelicans and of course the pink flamingos!
In addition to these many species of birds, you can also watch the hippos snorting in the lake and, with a bit of luck, lions that climb the trees to protect themselves from annoying flies and the heat on the ground. They just hang around here and have a good time in the shade.
If time permits, drive to the hot springs - which occur here due to the activities underground - and walk a little way into the lake via a jetty.
Today we packed a packed lunch for you - you can eat it at one of the picnic areas in the park and use the sanitary facilities on site before you go on the next observation tour.
On the further way dik diks, giraffes, zebras and buffaloes will cross your path.
In the afternoon we go on a walk in lofty heights - the only treetop path in Tanzania - the Treetop Walkway. A great view that is offered here. After you have stretched your feet, continue to Lake Eyasi.
Sometimes a strong wind whistles here :-)
The journey takes about 2 hours.
Lake Eyasi and Karatu
Today you have the opportunity to visit the Hadzabe and Datoga tribe.
You will go hunting with the Hadzabe early in the morning and learn a little more about their lifestyle. After the hunting tour you will visit the second Datoga tribe in their traditional mud huts. Then you can pay a visit to Lake Eyasi, which offers a great nature experience. Around the alkaline lake and the dry salt beds are springs framed by forests. With a lot of luck you will see some flamingos.
The rest of the time is free before heading to Karatu. This is the last village before entering the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti. If you have some time, explore the market and the small lively town or go on a discovery tour to elephant caves in the crater highland forest. Cultural trips to the Iraqi people can also be organized.
Ngorongoro Crater Tour - UNESCO World Heritage Site and a special highlight
One of THE highlights in Tanzania awaits you on this day! The Ngorongoro Crater!
Today you have to get up early, strengthen yourself with breakfast and get ready for an unforgettable day.
You start from the accommodation with the safari car and your guide and first drive to the Ngorongoro Gate. Take advantage of the opportunity to find out more about this unique landscape in the visitor center.
The Ngorongoro Crater was formed from a volcano that has collapsed - forming a so-called caldera. In the whole world there are only a few formations like this that can also be accessed by car. First you drive along the edge of the crater. Get a first glimpse of the interior of the crater and Lake Magadi.
Once you get to the road for the descent into the crater, it's 600 m down to the crater floor. The safari car winds its way very slowly along the crater wall until it reaches the ground and then as if by itself plunges into this landscape. If you get there early, you will see Maasai who cross the road with their herds of cattle and lead them to the watering holes on the edge of the crater and lick special salt stones. The Maasai are the only people who are allowed to settle in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and thus shape the landscape with its typical bomas (villages).
No settlement is allowed within the crater itself, so you can observe animals such as zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, warthogs and lions in their natural habitat. Due to the limitation of the slopes of the crater, you will find an incomparable biodiversity in a small space.
A special inhabitant of the crater is the rhinoceros, which with a little luck you will see in the plain.
For lunch you stop at the picnic area - a little tip: take your meal in the car and then stretch your legs - the giant birds in the trees are just waiting to steal the bread from your fingers.
After the break you explore the rest of the crater and then make the steep ascent with the safari car back up to the crater rim - this takes a while and is mostly "pole pole" - "slowly slowly".
The driveway is done and you return to your accommodation for your overnight stay.
What a day - with lots of great experiences!
From the crater highlands to the world-famous Serengeti
The next highlight of Tanzania is on your itinerary today.
The Serengeti National Park!
The name "Serengeti" alone evokes images of vast plains with individual acacia trees, lions roaming the savannah and breathtaking sunsets!
And this is exactly where today's tour will take you. You leave the crater highlands, drive one last time along the crater rim before descending into the plain of this unique national park.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area merges seamlessly with the Serengeti Park. If you want, you can stop at a Maasai Boma and get a glimpse into the life of this people.
Just before the entrance to the Serengeti is the "Olduvai Gorge" - the "Cradle of Human Kind"! In a small museum and some information boards you can find information about the discovery of the first person to walk upright (plaster casts of the footprints are on display in the museum).
Take a break at Naabi Hill Gate, which you will reach after a 4-hour drive. There is some seating here to enjoy the lunch box you brought with you.
Right next to it, a path leads to a rock that gives you an unobstructed view of the vastness of the Serengeti from above. The climb up there is definitely worth it - use the opportunity to stretch your legs and take a first look at the Serengeti adventure!
After refreshment, your guide will take the path to the center of the national park. On the way he will stop for the first animal observations. Be it giraffes standing in the wide plain, or a hyena that runs off laughing when you get closer, or vultures circling over a prey in the distance.
Let your gaze wander and not miss a single detail.
Further animal observations will follow on the way to the accommodation.
Here it is now time to check in and enjoy the voices of the wilderness around you and switch off!
Wide plains in the Serengeti National Park
On this day you have ample opportunity to explore the flora and fauna of the Serengeti.
Talk to your guide the evening before about how you would like to organize the day.
We have the following options for you:
1) Go on game drives very early and experience the awakening of the wilderness. Take advantage of the hot lunchtime at the property to rest before going on another game drive in the afternoon. The animals are particularly active in the morning and late afternoon.
2) You choose a full day game drive and don't miss anything. After breakfast, pack your lunch box and explore the Serengeti.
With a bit of luck you will come across a pride of lions on the hunt, a herd of wildebeest in search of water, followed by zebras and hyenas.
Be amazed at what this day has in store for you today - and don't forget your camera to capture the moment!
End the evening comfortably in the accommodation.
Goodbye Serengeti - it's back to Karatu
Today you will have one last morning game drive in Serengeti National Park and then return to Karatu.
First your way back to Naabi Hill Gate with final game drives say goodbye to the Serengeti.
It goes back up into the crater highlands. Past the Ngorongoro Crater and on to Karatu.
Let the wind blow around your nose and let the landscape strive by.
Mto wa Mbu - the mosquito village on the edge of Lake Manyara National Park
The name Mto wa Mbu translated from the Swahili means mosquito village - but these little flies are found there only conditionally during the day. We take you on a journey through a typical Tanzanian village today. Take a guided tour and take a look behind the scenes of local artisans and sample the local banana beer. Your guide will tell you some stories about the Tanzanian way of life and the local village culture. For lunch, we invite you to take a seat under banana leaves and taste typical Tanzanian dishes. After refreshment we continue uto your next accommodation.
Note:
As an alternative to the guided tour of the village, we also organize a guided bike tour along Lake Manyara, or a tuk tuk tour followed by lunch.
On to the elephant and baobab trees in Tarangire National Park
Your guide will pick you up from the hotel after breakfast around 8:30 a.m. It goes straight into the National Park via the nearest gate. First animals cross your path.
The park is known for its large herds of elephants, zebras and wildebeest, but also for the baobab trees that characterize the landscape. In between there are also a few lions and a variety of bird species. Especially on the Tarangire River - the park's main water source - you can watch the animals drink.
After the first impressions we take a break at the Tarangire Safari Lodge for lunch. A good mix of Tanzanian and continental food is offered here and the view from the terrace with a cup of coffee or tea is unforgettable. Often times the elephants pass under the hill and all you have to do is keep your eyes open and watch.
After your meal, continue your game drives with your guide. There is so much to discover and your guide will take you to beautiful spots in the park so that you can fully enjoy the tour - rest assured - the guide has eyes like an eagle and also spots small animals out of the corner of his eye!
The day is drawing to a close and you continue to your accommodation. Here you check into your room and review the impressions of the safari day.
Morning bush walk and game drives through Tarangire National Park
The morning starts today with a walk through the National Park with a ranger.
He takes you into the wilderness of Tarangire Park. Follow the animal tracks and listen to explanations from the ranger, who will guide you safely through the savannah.
On this tour you can discover even the smallest traces and legacies of the animal world and be amazed at what you discover.
After you have stretched your legs, continue on an exploration drive with your guide.
At lunchtime you will stop at one of the public picnic areas. Take care of your food, as the cheeky monkeys will not miss any opportunity to grab anything that is not stored safe.
Perhaps you are lucky and catch a glimpse of the elephants as well as a pride of lions, who like to hide in the undergrowth of the bushes.
After observing the animals, you go back to your accommodation.
Departure or onward journey
Your safari ends today. Your driver will either take you to Arusha for your onward flight to Zanzibar or to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight home.
The Planet Lodge is located about 5km outside Arusha's city center. The rooms are built as bungalows and offer pleasant comfort. The garden and the pool invite visitors to linger. It is about 1 hour to the Kilimanjaro Airport.
The Sangaiwe Tented Camp is only about ten minutes from the Tarangire Sangaiwe Gate. The tents are well equipped with all comforts. Each one has a patio and a shower and toilet inside the tent. The view over Lake Burunge is really beautiful especially in the evenings. The camp offers guided walks to Lake Burunge.
Lake Eyasi Safari Lodge is located on a gentle slope with a breathtaking view over the seasonal soda lake and all the way up to Ngorongoro Conservatio Area. The 14 spacious rooms are spread all over the large property, furnished in style and with love for detail. The decor combines elements of the surrounding landscape and modern comfort. Each room has a private patio with lake view. The region of Lake Eyasi, southwest of Ngorongoro, is home to the Hadza bushmen, the last survivors of a civilisation unaware of agriculture, stock breeding, ceramics or metals. They live from hunting with bow and arrow and picking wild fruit and berries. They are the last heirs to the homines sapientes, who made their first steps on Rift Valley about 200,000 years ago. Their lifestyle didn't change over thousands of years. They live in small groups of about 20 people, roaming the area. The Hadza on Lake Eyasi are heirs to the very first humans, the children of Olduvai George and Koobi Fora. This folk still lives in symbiosis with their environment and are an example for an anarchic society without rules, without chief and without dont's.
The Africa Amini Lodge is located between the mountains Kilimanjaro and Meru and near the village Ngabobo. The spacious property was handed over to the organisation Africa Amini Alama by indigenous people to use it for their ongoing development work. The lodge's profits are for the community's benefit and are used to support education, incomes and social, environmental and medical projects. The staff is predominantly from surrounding communities and is trained on site to meet the needs of international guests. There are different projects, like a tree planting project, bee keeping and chicken farming for Maasai women. Electricity is generated by solar energy. As a visitor you can immerse yourself in the Maasai culture and be a part of it. The Maasai consider the lodge as part of their village and welcome guests warmly. The area around the lodge became a little sanctuary because of the various projects. Even wild animals can move freely there. If you get lucky you might even see some of them for yourself there.
Die Marera Valley Lodge liegt zwischen Karatu Stadt und dem Dorf Rothia. Eingebettet in die grüne Landschaft des Ngorongoro Kraterhochlands, liegen die 18 Cottages mit eigenen Veranden in einem schönen Garten. Die hellen Zimmer mit privatem Badezimmer sind modern und einladend gestaltet. Die Verwendung von Naturmaterialien sorgt dabei für Wohlfühlathmosphäre. Der großzügige Pool lädt zum Verweilen und Entspannen ein und am Abend können die Gäste einen Drink von der Bar in der gemütlichen Lounge oder am Kamin genießen. Die Unterkunft bietet auch WiFi und einen gut bestückten Souvenir Shop.
Thorn Tree Tented Camp is located in the center of the Serengeti in the Seronera Valley, where you can see wildlife all year round. This area is famous for lions, leopards and large herds of elephants. From the camp your gaze wanders over the Banagi hill into the vast plains of the Serengeti. The power supply is ensured by solar systems.
The Serengeti is a relatively treeless savannah, stretching from the north of Tanzania, east of Lake Victoria, to southern Kenya and covering an area of 30,000 km². More than 1.6 million herbivores and thousands of carnivores live here. Common animals in this region are gnus, gazelles, zebras and buffaloes. A unique experience is the migration of large animal herds. The word “serengeti” originates in the Massai language and means “vast area/wide plain”.
Large and plain grasslands in the south are contrasted by slightly hilly, forested plains in the north. The central savannah is almost treeless, and in the southeast you can find the Ngorongoro preservation area, which is characterised by volcanism and classified as world natural heritage since 1979. The highest mountains are about 1850 m above sea level, lower parts of the savannah go down to 950 m. The Serengeti area includes the Serengeti National Park which covers 14,763 km² and belongs to the largest and surely the most famous national parks in the world. Since 1981, it is also part of the UNESCO world natural heritage. The documentary “Serengeti shall not die” by Bernhard Grzimek was awarded with an Oscar in 1960.
The Ngorongoro preservation area is situated between the Serengeti and Lake Manyara National Park. Within the preservation area, the Ngorongoro Crater is located, which is the largest caldera in the world. The crater is 600 m deep and 260 km² large, and represents the variety of east African landscape and wildlife in a secluded area.
The Lake Manyara National Park features a groundwater forest very rare to East Africa, transitioning into grass plains with acacia trees and open grasslands. At the banks of Lake Manyara, you can discover swamplands. The park is home to about 20 to 30 lions which enjoy resting on the trees, as well as some leopards and many monkeys of different species. Common animals of the park are giraffes, impalas, gnus, zebras, hippos and large buffalo herds.
The Arusha National Park is situated north of Arusha between Mount Meru and the Kilimanjaro. The park comprises Mount Meru (4562 m), an extinct volcano including Little Meru (3801 m) and Ash Cone, as well as the Momela Lakes, Ngurdoto Crater and Little Serengeti. The park was founded as Ngurdoto Crater National Park in 1960; Mount Meru became part of the park in 1967. The park covers an area of 137 km², featuring a landscape of forests, swamplands, grasslands, lake areas, alpine highlands and rocks. Famous for its colobus, you can also find many giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, elephants and hippos in the park.
The Tarangire National Park is one of 11 national parks in Tanzania. It is situated southwest of Arusha near Lake Manyara and is divided by Tarangire river, which is the only water source during dry season. Therefore the park is home to many animals. Its landscape is mostly made of savannah and stretches over 2600 km² at a height of about 900 m. The many baobab trees, elephants and various bird species have made the park famous.
Meals and accommodation as described in the program
All entry fees
4x4 safari car - no other guests in the car
English speaking guide
1.5 liters of water per day per person
Airport transfers
Flying Doctors Insurance *
* In the event of an accident or sudden illness, you will be picked up by the Flying Doctors at the nearest landing site and flown to a hospital in Nairobi. From then on, your international health insurance should cover payment for the treatment.
Any airport fees
Things of personal use
Tips: Recommendation per guide on safari: 15-20USD per day
Visa Tanzania (50USD per person or 100 US per person if US national)
Beverages
International travel health insurance
Travel cancellation insurance
National and international flights
