Extended Cultural Safari

Feature Highlights: Arusha National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Eyasi, Hadzabe tribe, Dagota tribe, Ngorongoro, Maasai village, Lake Manyara National Park

11 Days 10 Nights

Day 1: Arusha National Park

After breakfast we drive to Arusha National park for some game viewing and some relaxed game walking. This beautiful park is located only 32 km (20 mi) northeast of Arusha. It covers an area of 137 sq km’s (58 sq mi) and is known as “Serengeti ndogo” meaning “little Serengeti”. The peaks of Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Meru surround the park and can be seen on a clear day. The black and white colobus monkey is the park’s mascot and can been seen swan-diving from branch to branch. The park also contains blue monkeys, olive baboons, elephants, hippo, leopard, hyena, zebra and antelope. The park is famous for its 400 species of migrant and resident birds. Stay overnight at Tulia Hotel.

Day 2: Tarangire National Park

After breakfast we drive to Tarangire National Park for some very rewarding game drives. Tarangire National Park has some of the highest population density of elephants anywhere in Tanzania, and its sparse vegetation, strewn with baobab and acacia trees, makes it a beautiful and special location. Before the rains, droves of gazelle, wildebeest, zebra, and giraffes migrate to Tarangire National Park’s scrub plains where the last grazing land still remains. Stay overnight at Tarangire Safari Lodge.

Day 3: Tarangire National Park

We start our day with an early morning game drive around Tarangire National Park. Breathtaking views of the Maasai Steppe and the mountains to the south make a stop at Tarangire a memorable experience. We can relax by the pool in the afternoon and enjoy the peaceful surroundings and lovely views of the Tarangire River where animals come to drink. You have the option to end the afternoon with a sunset game drive, the warm glow of the evening light will delight all photographers. Stay overnight at Tarangire Safari Lodge.

Day 4: Tarangire- Lake Eyasi (Hadzabe Tribe)

After a last morning game drive in Tarangire we set out for Lake Eyasi. Tourists hardly know this still nearly unexplored and wild landscape. Lake Eyasi is a mildly alkaline lake stretching for about 50 km to the southwest. To the northeast, as far as your eyes can see, the horizon is dominated by the impressive Crater Highlands, and to the north the plains of the Serengeti. Lake Eyasi is inhabited by small groups of Bushmen, the Hadzabe Tribe, who live in groups hunting with bow and arrows and gathering roots, tubers and wild fruits much as humankind lived in the Stone Age. In the afternoon a guide will take us to visit a small Hadzabe tribe and get an in depth look at how they continue to survive and how they adapt to their harsh environment. Stay overnight At Kisimangeda Tented Camp.

Day 5: Lake Eyasi (Bushman Tribes)

Have another day of learning and understanding the fascinating world and culture of the Hadzabe as well as the Dagota Tribes. The Dagota are nomadic cattle herders who also live around the lake. You will discover how they organize their groups, gather their food, look for water and take care of their cattle. This is a day that promises to be unique and very rewarding. Stay overnight At Kisimangeda Tented Camp.

Day 6: Serengeti

We leave Lake Eyasi for a drive to the Serengeti where breathtaking landscapes, endless plains and abundant wildlife await you. The Serengeti is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world. The Southern part of the Serengeti is the ideal location for marveling at the annual migration of large herds of animals at this time of the year. Often spotted in the Serengeti are elephants, hippos, lions, zebras, wildebeests, cheetahs, leopards and more. Stay overnight at Ndutu Lodge.

Day 7: Serengeti

We continue to explore the vast plains of the Serengeti and we look for prides of lions and large herds of wildebeests pounding the plains, while hungry predators such as lions, leopards and cheetahs try to prey upon the youngest and weakest members of the herds. Stay overnight at Serengeti Serena Lodge.

Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater – Olduvai – Maasai Village

Today we leave the Serengeti and drive to Ngorongoro Crater passing some very scenic landscapes. En route to the Ngorongoro crater we stop by Olduvai Gorge, a world-renowned archeological site that has been called the “Cradle of Mankind”. Today’s highlight is a visit to a Maasai village for a look at a fascinating culture. You will be given a tour of a small settlement of bomas (name of Maasai houses) arranged in circular pattern, you will learn how these once great warriors and cattle herders have adapted to some aspects of the modern world and how they fit in today’s Tanzania. You will be treated to a traditional dance and will get a chance to purchase some handmade bead jewelry. Stay overnight at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge.

Day 9: Ngorongoro Crater

Today is a full day of exploring the Crater floor for a very rewarding day of wildlife viewing. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken volcanic caldera in the world covering approximately 260 sq km’s with walls rising 600 meters from the crater floor. Before the Ngorongoro Volcano exploded and collapsed 2 million years ago, it was one of the world’s tallest mountains. Now, it is home to more than 30,000 large mammals – mainly gazelle, buffalo, eland, hartebeest and warthog – and has the highest predator density in the world. Stay overnight at Ngorongoro Farm Lodge.

Day 10: Lake Manyara

After breakfast we drive to Lake Manyara National Park and enjoy a game drive in this picturesque park that is the perfect place to end your safari. Manyara is a shallow, alkaline lake that is part of the Rift Valley wall; the lake is at the base of this dramatic western escarpment giving it a beautiful and serene setting. In addition to this peaceful setting, Lake Manyara’s main attractions are its rich bird life, tree climbing lions and its hippos which you can see at a closer range than any other places. We take our lunch at Lake Manyara Kirurumu Lodge and drive to Mto Wa Mbu for a cultural walk. Stay overnight at Kirurumu Tented Lodge.

Day 11: Lake Manyara – Arusha

After breakfast we will have a scenic drive back to Arusha. At this time you will have a chance to shop for souvenirs. Then transfer back to the Kilimanjaro airport.