OFF THE BEATEN PATH

Day 1 – Arrive Arusha (via Nairobi or Mt. Kilimanjaro International) and transfer to Arumeru River Lodge Lodge for your first overnight. You’ll have a “meet and greet” safari briefing upon arrival or the following morning before starting your first game drive.

Day 2 – After breakfast we, depart for the private tented camp situated along the boundary of Tarangire National Park. The afternoon will be spent on a guided hike of the area, having the opportunity to visit with the “local” tribes and get a feeling for the beauty and culture of Tarangire. Hilltops in the area offer astounding views down into the river, which provides the only permanent water supply in Maasai land. The area supports a great diversity of wildlife, including giraffe, buffalo, lesser kudu, eland, oryx and zebra. Lion, leopard and cheetah are also present in the area. Up to 6.000 elephants inhabit Tarangire in the dry season. Lunch,, dinner and overnight at your private Naipenda Camp.

Day 3 – Today we enter Tarangire National Park and game drive the entire day. We’ll carry a picnic lunch from our camp to make the most of our day. Dinner and overnight at our private Naipenda Camp.

Day 4 – Today we depart for Lake Eyasi with picnic lunches. After breakfast we'll drive across the floor of the Great Rift Valley through Mto wa Mbu. After climbing the Rift Valley escarpment we will reach the village of Karatu where we'll take a rough road to Lake Eyasi. We will spend the remainder of the day exploring on foot this rugged landscape, which is still inhabited by a small group of Bushmen: The Hadzabe or Watindiga, who still live in bands, hunting with bows and arrows; gathering roots, tubers and wild fruits, just as they did thousands of years ago. We’ll overnight in the area at Kisima Ngeda Tented Lodge (weather permitting) or return to Karatu and overnight at Bougainvillea Lodge

Day 5 – After breakfast at our camp we'll proceed to the rim of Ngorongoro for a hike and tour of the area, returning to camp for lunch. The remainder of the day can be spent hiking or relaxing at the camp. Or upon request, we can visit a Maasai Village in the area. Dinner and overnight at our private Naipenda Camp.

Day 6 – Today we take the full day to visit Ngorongoro Crater. World Heritage Sight and often called the 8th Wonder of the World, Ngorongoro is a sunken caldera, 10 by 12 miles in diameter. Animals are found throughout the year due to the permanent availability of grass and water. Ngorongoro is one of the most spectacular game haunts in Africa, and contains an impressive variety of wildlife including black mane lion, the highly endangered black rhino; herds of wildebeest, zebra, elephant, and hippo, We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch within the crater, returning to our Naipenda Camp in time for a relaxing dinner.

Days 7 – 11 - After breakfast, we depart for The Serengeti, stopping along to way to visit Olduvai Gorge. This is where the Leakey’s discovered the remains of Homo Erectus, bringing crucial understanding to the study of the evolution of man. Serengeti is perhaps the most famous wildlife sanctuary in the world, and with good reason. During the migration, literally hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra can be seen making their way across this magical plain. In February-March they concentrate at the Ndutu and Salei plains, where the calving season takes place, attracting the attention of predators like lion, cheetah and hyena. Our first night will be in a lodge while the camp moves – the remaining nights will be in a private campsite – location based on time of year.

Day 12 – After an early farewell breakfast, we drive back to Arusha, enjoying a picnic lunch along the way. Arrangements can be made for flights to Arusha from the Serengeti as well as a day-use room for your flight preparations. You’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home or continuing arrangements.