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Northern Trails Of Tanzania
Day 1
Arusha - Tarangire
Tarangire National Park lies 120 km south of Arusha, along
The Great North Road highway, and is very popular for day
trips from the town. Tarangire offers a wide variety of
wildlife in its area of 2,600 sq km. As in all ecosystems,
the vegetation and the types of animals you find are closely
correlated. The principal features of the park are the flood
plains and the grassland, mainly comprising of various types
of acacia trees, and a few scattered baobabs, tamarind and
the sausage trees. The Tarangire River, after which the park
is named, provides the only permanent water for wildlife in
the area. When the Maasai Steppes dry up with the end of the
long rains in June, migratory animals return to the
Tarangire River, making Tarangire National Park second only
to Ngorongoro in the concentration of wildlife. This period
stretches between June and November and it is the best
season for game viewing in Tarangire. The most common
animals found in the park include zebras, wildebeest, lions,
leopards, waterbucks, giraffe, elephants, gazelles, impala,
gerenuk, lesser kudu and the beautiful fringe-eared oryx.
You may be lucky to spot the tree-climbing python for which
the park is famous, or the greater kudu and the roan
antelope which are rare species in Northern Tanzania. Over
300 species of birds have been recorded in the Park
Day 2
Tarangire - Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara
National Park consists of more than 400 species of birds
including the flamingos depending on their migration as well
as other large water birds such as pelicans and storks. The
entrance to the park is through an expanse of an abundant
forest where you will view the baboons and monkeys in large
numbers. With very good spotting you will also see the
elegant bush bucks hidden in the forests. As you drive
ahead, you will come to the Acacia woodland where the
legendary tree climbing lions are spotted, there are also
the elephants, mongoose and the dik-dik. Further ahead you
will come across the grassy floodplain where the large
buffalo, giraffe, zebra and wildebeests herds wander. Across
the grassy plain is the magnificent alkaline lake, the home
to the thousands migratory flamingos.
Day 3
Lake Manyara - Serengeti
Enjoy early
morning game drive in the Lake Manyara National Park. Return
to your lodge for breakfast. After breakfast you will check
out and you will be driven to central Serengeti in the
Serengeti National Park via the Ngorongoro Conservation
Area. You will check in at Serengeti Sopa Lodge. Lunch will
be served at the lodge. After lunch, you will be taken for
an afternoon game drive in the Serengeti National Park.
Dinner and overnight
at Serengeti Sopa Lodge
Day 4
Serengeti
Enjoy full
day of game drives in the Serengeti National Park.
Meals and overnight
at Serengeti Sopa Lodge
Serengeti National Park is the largest National Park in Tanzania. The
park is located some 320 km to the northwest of Arusha,
lying in a high plateau between the Ngorongoro highlands and
the Kenya/Tanzania border, and extending almost to Lake
Victoria to the west. Aptly named ‘’endless plains’’ by the
Maasai people, you immediately experience this vastness as
you enter the southeastern plains of the park from
Ngorongoro. Declared a protected area in 1921 and gazetted
as a National park in 1951, Serengeti is the oldest National
Park in Tanzania and undoubtedly one of the most famous
wildlife sanctuaries in the world. The principal features of
the Serengeti are the short and long grass plains in the
south and east, the acacia Savannah in the central areas,
the hilly and densely wooded areas in the north and the
extensive woodland in the west. Serengeti provides sanctuary
to the highest concentration of plains animals in the world.
Survey estimates indicate an animal population of about 4
million. The “Big 5”, lions, buffalos, leopards, elephants
and the rhinos, are rarely to be missed in this park.
Serengeti also boasts to hold the largest population of
lions in Africa. The park also supports many further
species, including cheetah,
Thomson's and grant's gazelle, topi, eland, waterbuck, hyena, baboon, impala, African
wild dog and giraffe. The park also boasts about 500 bird species,
including ostrich, secretary
bird, Kori bustard, crowned
crane and marabou
stork
Day 5 Serengeti – Ngorongoro
After an
early morning game drive, you will be served your breakfast
at the lodge. After your breakfast you will check out and
proceed in your vehicle to Ngorongoro via the Olduvai Gorge.
The Olduvai Gorge, popularly referred to as ‘’The Cradle of
Humankind’’, is the site where in 1959 Dr Louis Leakey
discovered the skull of Zinjanthropus or “Nutcracker
Man” believed to have lived 1.75 million years ago. You will
check in at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge and after checking in you
will be served your lunch. Afternoon you will enjoy a guided
walk around the crater rim
Dinner and overnight at the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
Day 6 Ngorongoro
In the
morning, you will descend into the crater for half day
crater tour. Return to the lodge for late lunch.
Dinner and overnight
at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
Ngorongoro Crater floor, a sheer drop of 610 metres below the crater rim,
has an area of 265 sq km, with a diameter of 19 km. The
sight of the Ngorongoro Crater is simply stunning.
“There is nothing
with which to compare. It is one of the wonders of the
world…” once wrote Professor Bernard Grzimek. The
crater floor is covered with plains animals, including
wildebeest, zebra, gazelles, elands, rhino, and a large
predator population of lions, hyena and jackal which can all
be viewed at close quarters. Cheetah and leopard can also be
seen here. The rain season is between November and May. The
altitude at the crater rim is about 2286 metres above sea
level, and temperatures can get quite chilly in the evening
Day 7 Ngorongoro - Arusha
After
breakfast you will check out and proceed in your vehicle to
Arusha for lunch
End of services
TARANGIRE SOPA
Hidden among
the Kopjes, lies Tarangire Sopa Lodge, surrounded by ancient
baobab trees. The greenery is lush providing a wonderful
contrast to the burnt ground
Number of
Rooms – 75, all rooms have 2 queen size beds
It has a
swimming pool.
KIRURUMU TENTED LODGE
Kirurumu Tented Lodge is set high on the edge of the Great
Rift Valley, enjoying a marvelous, uplifting and panoramic
view eastward over Lake Manyara, the Rift floor and Mt.
Losimingori.
Activities offered at extra costs
SERENGETI SOPA LODGE
Nestled in
the acacia woodland, on the edge of the escarpment,
overlooking the plains of the Serengeti National Park. The
lodge is set in the Nyarboro Hills.
Number of
Rooms – 65 rooms + 5 VIP Suites
Rooms have
private balcony and the lodge has a swimming pool
NGORONGORO SOPA LODGE
Edged
on the rim of a collapsed volcano. It is positioned on the
Eastern Rim which allows the most spectacular and
un-interrupted views of the sunset. The view over the crater
floor is also magnificent from this lodge
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