DAY 1 - Tuesday February 25th
Departure
Board our Delta/KLM flight DL046 departing JFK at 4:40 in the
afternoon and after a brief layover in Amsterdam (4 hours) we'll
arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania early Wednesday
evening.
DAY 2 - Wednesday February 26th
Arusha, Tanzania
Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) at 8:40 in the
evening where you will be met and assisted through immigration
and customs. Your guides will drive you to Arusha town for
overnight stay at the highly rated Arusha Serena Hotel set in the
heart of a traditional coffee estate.
Overnight: Arusha Serena Hotel
DAY 3 - Thursday, February 27th
Arusha - Tarangire National Park
After breakfast and morning briefing, drive 90 miles southwest,
with a couple rest stops including lunch, to Tarangire National
Park which is the quintessence of Old Africa. This unique park
has a magical, prehistoric atmosphere, and is perhaps Tanzania’s
best-kept secret. It is the epitome of the safari experience, with its
sweeping savannah lands, lush swamps and clusters of ancient
baobab trees, covering 1,030 square miles.
Home to an excellent, dense population of wildlife – over 95
mammal species and 500 bird species, concentrated around the
permanent waters of the Tarangire River during the heat of the
day. It is arguably the best park in Africa for elephants, with a
population of over 3,000. The park is also home to herds of
buffalo, wildebeest, giraffe, impala and zebra; hippo, pythons and
hyena; and predators such as cheetah, lion and leopard. All
meals included and overnight at the lodge, which is located within
the park for maximum game drive time.
Overnight: Tarangire Sopa Lodge
DAY 4 - Friday, February 28th
Tarangire National Park
Morning and afternoon game drives exploring the park with its
vast Baobab Trees, swamps, reptiles and herds of elephants.
Picnic lunches while on game drives in the park. Enjoy afternoon
game drives at Tarangire National Park before heading back to
our lodge for dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Tarangire Sopa Lodge
DAY 5 - Saturday, March 1st
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
After a leisurely breakfast we'll head over to the Ngorongoro
Crater National Conservation Area, while going for a final game
drive on our way out of the park. After an authentic local lunch in
the village outside Karatu, drive to the African Galleria Center for
a shopping experience you won't soon forget. They have everything! If you’re looking for something to remember your trip
by, this is the place. Then it's on to our fabulous lodge perched on
the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater overlooking the vast plains of
the caldera below.
Overnight: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge
DAY 6 - Sunday, March 2nd
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
After breakfast, drive down into the Ngorongoro Conservation
Area for a full day crater day tour. A world heritage site, the crater
is one of the largest volcanic craters in the world, with unique
biosphere harboring grasslands, swamps, forests, and a wide
variety of birdlife, all enclosed within its towering walls.
You are guaranteed to see a large concentration of game,
including herds of zebras and wildebeests, buffalo, hippos, and
the black rhino. Catered lunch inside the crater.
Late afternoon drive back to the lodge for afternoon rest,
relaxation and some fun before dinner. Dinner and overnight at
the lodge.
Overnight: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge
DAY 7 - Monday, March 3rd
Serengeti National Park (Ndutu Area)
After Breakfast, we'll head down to the plains with a packed
lunch. Visit Oldupai Gorge Museum, which is one of the most
important pre-historical sites in the world, and has been
instrumental in understanding the early existence of humans. This
is where the Leaky's discovered Lucy, the missing link, in the
1960's. It's a truly fascinating place.
After lunch, we'll head to our Lodge in Serengeti National Park
with game drives en-route. With 14,500 sq. kms, the Serengeti
Plain is undoubtedly the most famous wildlife sanctuary in the
world, unequalled for its natural beauty and the greatest
concentration of plains game anywhere.
Serengeti is renowned for its black-maned lion and other
predators including wild dog (very rare to see them!), spotted
hyena, jackal, cheetah and leopard. The wealth of birdlife is of a
special interest including colourful rollers, bee-eaters, kingfishers
and sunbirds and a large number of birds of prey.
Arrive at our beautiful lodge shaded by majestic acacia trees,
where we'll stay in private cottages for dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Ndutu Safari Lodge
DAYS 8 & 9 - March 4th and 5th
Serengeti National Park (Ndutu Area)
Enjoy two days witnessing the great migration while in Ndutu
Area, with Lake Ndutu being the prime viewing spot in the Ndutu
region where enormous herds congregate between December
and April to graze and calve. Our lodge is minutes from the lake
and animals are frequently seen on the grounds.
The Calving season is particularly dramatic, a million wildebeest
give birth to 8000 babies every day, and as these newborns take
their first steps, they’re targeted by lions, leopard, hyenas.
All meals and overnight at our lodge.
Overnight: Ndutu Safari Lodge
DAY 10 - Thursday, March 6th
Arusha
After breakfast, we'll fly back to Arusha airport and grab some
lunch. Afterwards, we spend a day relaxing in the 5-Star
accommodations at the Gran Melia. Built within a coffee
plantation overlooking Mount Meru, relax by the pool or enjoy
drinks from their rooftop bar.
Overnight: Arusha Gran Melia Hotel
DAY 11 - Friday, March 7th
Land at JFK and head back home!
After a brief layover in Amsterdam, we arrive at JFK at 1:40 PM
on Delta Flight DL047.