Enjoy a classic northern Tanzania itinerary with a difference: this 9-day tour combines game drives with walking, biking and canoeing in Tanzania’s best game-viewing destinations to deliver a comprehensive safari experience. Game drives are one of the best ways to see big game – and with Arusha National Park, Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti all lined up you will certainly see plenty of animals on your vacation. Yet leaving the 4×4 at camp and exploring by bike, on foot and by canoe allows you to discover the small and fascinating details of the savannah, with your expert guide pointing out birds, insects, reptiles and medicinal plants. It is the best of both worlds: in the vehicle you can of further but miss much of the detail; on your own steam you do not go quite as far but the reward is getting to know Africa from the ground up.
Accommodation after your opening two nights at a lodge in Arusha is in very comfortable tented camps. Your tent at every stop is large enough to stand up in and has a double bed with crisp cotton linen and a large en suite bathroom with a hot-water shower. These camps have been chosen for their low environmental impact but high reward: they are set in game-rich areas and allow easy access to some of the best wildlife viewing in Africa such as the Big 5 of the Ngorongoro Crater, the seasonal Serengeti Wildebeest Migration and the famous tree-climbing lions and huge flocks of flamingos of Lake Manyara.
This is an overland tour, driving between destinations with your driver-guide and allowing you time to sit back and watch the glorious African Rift Valley scenery unfold. There is an opportunity to interact with local Tanzanian cultures – you could take a bike trip to a local village at Ngorongoro – and th
This tour begins with your arrival at Arusha’s Kilimanjaro International Airport when you are met by a tour representative and driven to Rivertrees Country Inn. Lying an hour out of town on the foothills of Mount Meru and with distant views of Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak in Africa, Rivertrees is the ideal place to rest and relax after your journey. There is a swimming pool and sun deck as well as complimentary Wi-Fi to catch up with news from home. The lodge has several interesting trails along the banks of the Usa River if you would like to stretch your legs and look for local wildlife like birds and perhaps a monkey or two. Wayo Manyara Green Camp information Primarily a walking safari camp Canoe safaris on Lake Manyara Marang Forest walks and hikes up the Rift Valley escarpment Guided shore walks, tracking the events of the previous night Night game drives to spot nocturnal wildlife Beautiful tents with retractable roofs for stargazing Bed & Breakfast
An early morning start gets you to nearby Arusha National Park for a day of adventure. It is one of Tanzania’s smallest conservation areas but surprisingly diverse: Arusha’s wetlands are home to hippo, its forests hide monkeys and gaudy birds while its grasslands are grazed by elephant, buffalo and antelope and patrolled by leopards and spotted hyenas. You mix your game drives with walking and canoe trips to gain an exclusive insight into the Arusha environment. After a day of discovery, you head back to Rivertrees Country Inn for a well-deserved dinner and another restful night between crisp cotton bedsheets.
After breakfast at Rivertrees you drive to Lake Manyara, one of the Rift Valley’s most famous lakes and home to impressive concentrations of birds and large mammals. There is time for an afternoon drive in Lake Manyara National Park before checking in at Manyara Green Camp, a charismatic tented camp set up in the south of the park at the base of a waterfall. Your tented suite is large enough to hold a double bed and luggage racks, and each has its own private bathroom attached. The next day is spent in the national park, beginning with a morning walk along the lakeshore to be followed by a game drive which turns into a spot-lit night drive, your chance to see Africa’s nocturnal creatures on the prowl. You return to candlelight and a delicious dinner at Manyara Green Camp. Rivertrees Country Inn information Well-appointed and spacious rooms Nestled in a tranquil forest setting in the foothills of Mount Meru Superb views of Kilimanjaro, the world's tallest free-standing mountain Conveniently located near Arusha and Kilimanjaro Airports Situated alongside Arusha National Park Phenomenal birdlife around the estate Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Begin with an early morning chimpanzee tracking experience in Kibale Forest, home to approximately 5,000 wild chimpanzees. Spend one hour observing these fascinating primates in their natural habitat. After lunch, explore the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary on a guided 2-3 hour walk through grasslands and communities, spotting multiple primate species and the spectacular great blue turaco.
An early start gets you into the Ngorongoro Crater before everyone else and you can begin your morning game viewing. The Crater is home to Africa’s Big 5 – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard – and it is not unusual to see most, if not all of them, in the course of a single drive. After a picnic lunch you begin the journey to the central Serengeti and Banagi Green Camp, your home for the next three nights. A stunning location near the Grumeti River assures gold-standard game viewing throughout the year. The region is at its most dramatic during the mid-year months when the Wildebeest Migration thunders in. You have two days of morning and afternoon drives to look forward to, returning each evening to a comfortable tented suite with solar-powered lighting and 3-course dinners served under the stars.
After breakfast at Banagi Green Camp you are transferred to local Seronera Airstrip for the 2-hour flight to Arusha Airport for your onward travel arrangements and the end of this tour.