Rift Valley lodge safari in Tanzania
| country: | Tanzania |
| location: | Zanzibar, Serengeti National Park, Rift Valley |
| departures: | 2010: 13 Feb, 5 Jun, 10 Jul, 14 Aug, 25 Sep, 23 Oct, 18 Dec 2011: 12 Feb, 4 Jun, 9 Jul, 13 Aug, 24 Sep, 22 Oct, 17 Dec |
| price: | From £2399 - £2929 (10 days) including flights from the UK. From £1679 - £1789 excluding flights. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
read 1 travellers review
the amazing things you'll be doing
This is an amazing safari for those who don't want to rough it but who still want to experience nature and wildlife up close. Spot tree-climbing lions in Lake Manyara National Park, listen to the sounds of the bush at night in a comfortable mobile camp in the Serengeti, descend into Ngorongoro Crater in search of rhinos and track the elusive leopards of Tarangire - there are exciting wildlife encounters at every stop!
Serengeti National Park
Scour the vast grassy plains of the Serengeti, home to many wild cats, including lion, cheetah and leopard. Then watch magnificent sunsets over the African horizon.
Ngorongoro Crater
Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for unrivalled game viewing, as a huge number of wildlife species are concentrated in the confines of this extinct volcano.
Lake Manyara
Explore the lush greenery of Lake Manyara National Park as you look out for treeclimbing lions and herds of elephant.
2010 Park Fees are included in the price
All park fees are now part of the price.
Serengeti National Park
Scour the vast grassy plains of the Serengeti, home to many wild cats, including lion, cheetah and leopard. Then watch magnificent sunsets over the African horizon.
Ngorongoro Crater
Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for unrivalled game viewing, as a huge number of wildlife species are concentrated in the confines of this extinct volcano.
Lake Manyara
Explore the lush greenery of Lake Manyara National Park as you look out for treeclimbing lions and herds of elephant.
2010 Park Fees are included in the price
All park fees are now part of the price.
day-by-day itinerary
| Zanzibar Island Extension: | Optional Extension Day 1-8: Itinerary as above Day 9-10: Today you’ll be transferred to Arusha’s tiny airport for a flight to Stone Town, the capital and main port of the ‘Spice Island’. On arrival you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel. The ancient heart of the city exudes an air of mystery and intrigue - every twist and turn of its crumbling alleyways presents something of interest. Its alluring architecture ranges from the exotic House of Wonders (formerly the sultan’s palace) to the solid bulk of the Omani Fort, or the austerity of the Anglican Cathedral. With each prayer call a cacophony rises from the 50 or so mosques, and there are reminders of Zanzibar’s more sinister past as a slaving centre. There are also hints of a British presence; the National Museum houses artefacts from the British colonial period and Livingstone’s base for his last expedition has been preserved. There’s ample time to browse the crowded bazaars whose irresistible crafts, textiles and spices make wonderful souvenirs. Hotel - 2 nights (Bx2) Day 11-14: You have plenty of time to enjoy this tropical paradise. The white coral-sand shores of this beautiful coast are protected by an offshore coral reef. The reefs are peppered with colourful sponges, fan worms, sea slugs and a wealth of fish. Dolphins also frequent the coast. Try your hand at deep sea fishing, snorkelling or scuba diving. Several resorts organise diving trips to the reefs. For those who prefer to be land based, take a spice tour into the centre of the island and see your favourite spices growing. Other activities include biking, reef walking, sailing and kayaking or just relaxing. Hotel - 4 nights (Bx3,Dx3) Day 15: Today you’ll be transferred back to Stone Town where the trip ends for Land Only clients and those on group flights to the UK proceed on your return flight home via Nairobi. (B) Day 16: Arrive in London |
| Day 1: | Fly to Arusha Fly to Arusha via Nairobi. On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport you’ll be met and transferred to accommodation just outside Arusha. Standing at an altitude of 1390m, the town is surrounded by fertile land that yields coffee, wheat, sisal and maize to the people of the Waarusha and Wameru tribes. It is one of Tanzania’s most attractive and lively towns. Lodge – 1 night Karama Lodge - superbly situated on the edge of a protected forest, just 3km from the centre of Arusha offering rustic comfort in a natural setting. A-frame log cabins with en suite facilities are elevated on stilts on the hillside and each has a verandah with a spectacular view of Mount Meru and in the distance, Kilimanjaro. |
| Day 2: | Lake Manyara; game drive This morning you head off in purpose-built four wheel drive safari vehicles, accompanied by a Tanzanian driver/guide to cross the Great Rift Valley, one of the earth’s most dramatic natural features. Stretching from the Dead Sea in Jordan to Mozambique in the south, this huge depression is up to 100km wide in places and hosts an enormous diversity of animal and plant life. Today’s route leads through the ancestral lands of the Masai, probably the best known tribe in Africa, to the village of Mto wa Mbu. Here there may be an opportunity to browse in the bustling market before the final short drive to your tented lodge - to arrive in time for lunch (driving time 2 hours/130km). During your afternoon game drive in Lake Manyara National Park you may be lucky enough to see the park’s major attraction - the tree-climbing lions - though there’s obviously no guarantee of this! There are plenty of other things to see: elephant, hippo and plains game as well as a huge variety of bird life, both resident and migratory.Tented Lodge - 1 night (BLD)Kirurumu Tented Lodge - built sympathetically and unobtrusively using local materials in an idyllic location on the escarpment with views across Lake Manyara. Twenty roomy and secluded tents on individual wooden decks with a shady thatched roof and an open verandah offer simple comfort in an eco-friendly style. Tents have en suite bathrooms with hot water shower and flush toilets. N.B. outside Arusha most roads are unpaved and may be very bumpy. Dust may also make travelling uncomfortable (especially in the dry season). Although we use appropriate vehicles, some acceptance of the rigours of travel in this region is required. |
| Day 3-4: | Serengeti National Park; Olduvai Gorge & safari This morning you’ll continue past Ngorongoro Crater to Olduvai Gorge. This famous archaeological site is where some of the oldest humanoid skeletons have been discovered and you’ll have an opportunity to visit the small museum that exhibits many of the fossils and relics from the area. You continue your journey to the Serengeti. Established in 1951, the Serengeti is renowned for the annual migration that takes place across the savannah – thousand upon thousand of animals as far as the eye can see (driving time 3-4 hours/205km). The next two days are spent exploring the sweeping grassy plains, rocky outcrops (kopjes) and sparsely wooded river valleys of this incomparable park where lion, cheetah, leopard, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, gazelle and perhaps even wild dog can be seen. You’ll usually drive out in search of game in the early morning and return by mid or late afternoon.Tented camp- 2 nights (Bx2, Lx2, Dx2) Kongoni Mobile Camp - This semi-mobile camp offers a real "Out of Africa" style camping experience. The comfortable safari tents are furnished with beds and carpets, and each tent has an en-suite bathroom tent, offering you the thrill of taking a warm shower under the African sky. The mosquito netting protected dining tent means you can enjoy dinner with incomparable views of the Serengeti. The camp is moved around the Serengeti in the course of the season, following the migration patterns of the animals, so that you will stay in the area with the best wildlife concentration. |
| Day 5: | Ngorongoro Conservation Area After an early morning game drive, you’ll leave the Serengeti, and retrace your route back to the Ngorongoro Crater, a vast volcanic caldera that offers tremendous game-viewing opportunities. (driving time 4 hours/150km). Tonight you’ll sleep on the rim of the world’s largest crater - designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site - from where there’s a fabulous unimpeded view down into the crater. Lodge - 2 nights (BLD) Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge - stands on the eastern side of the rim with breathtaking views of the crater floor below. Due to its elevated position, it can be surprisingly cool so all rooms have central heating. Queen size beds, lounge with minibar (and complimentary mineral water), full en suite bathroom and private solarium with a view of either the crater or the setting sun completes the facilities. There’s a swimming pool with great views. |
| Day 6: | Ngorongoro Conservation Area; crater tour Today you embark on a an unforgettable safari into the crater. Ngorongoro is one of the most picturesque settings for observing wildlife. With around 30,000 resident animals, the game viewing is excellent all year round and the photographic opportunities are unrivalled! Encounters with animals are frequent in this Garden of Eden, and there is a wide variety to see. Lake Magadi, the soda lake on the floor of the crater, is home to thousands of flamingos. This is also one of the best places to see the endangered black rhino. (BLD) |
| Day 7: | Tarangire National Park Today you’ll move on to one of Tanzania's less visited places, Tarangire National Park. Established in 1970, it takes its name from the Tarangire River, a permanent watercourse that cuts a swathe through the middle of the park, allowing fantastic views along the valley (driving time 4 hours/160km). On approaching the park however, the most eye-catching aspect is the view of baobab trees rising from the plain. These trees are instantly recognisable by the leafless branches that protrude from their crown – almost as if they were the roots of a tree that was planted upside down. The scars on their trunks bear witness to the presence of large herds of elephant that Tarangire attracts. The largely forested areas and high grasses most of the year make game viewing harder than on the short grass plains of the Serengeti, but during the dry months (Jul-Sep) large numbers of animals congregate along the banks of the river. As well as elephant it’s possible to see wildebeest, buffalo, zebra, Thompson's gazelle, eland and hartebeest, as well as leopard - if you’re exceptionally lucky. Lodge - 1 night (BLD) Tarangire Sopa Lodge – is located on the eastern side of the Tarangire River opposite Tarangire Hill and has scenic views and good game viewing possibilities. Each of the rooms is fully equipped giving you a comfortable experience in the middle of the wilderness. |
| Day 8: | Arusha Today you cross the open plains back to Arusha (driving time 3-4 hours/160 km). There may be an opportunity en route to visit one of the worthwhile projects run by the Arusha Children’s Trust, subject to local constraints. Please make your guide aware if you are interested in doing this. In Arusha you can visit the bustling market and craft shops where you can find superb examples of makonde carving or colourful Masai blankets. Karama Lodge - 1 night (BD) |
| Day 9: | Fly to London The trip ends for Land Only clients. Clients on group flights to the UK transfer to the airport and fly on overnight flight to London. (B) |
| Day 10: | Arrive in London |
travellers' tales
Most memorable was animal spotting - lions, rhinos, giraffe, warthog, etc.... And of course the knowledgeable guide - Wilson! (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
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On this trip: We support the Arusha children’s trust ( see video here), a charity which runs projects in rural communities in the more remote areas of The Rift Valley, seeking to improve the lives of the tribal groups that live there, without imposing Western values on them. The projects aim to help children in a number of areas including education, health services and environmental awareness. If you would like to offer your much-needed help to the project, as well as monetary donations, the trust would be delighted to receive any picture books for young children, games, construction toys, puzzles or sports equipment that you are able to carry out with you. On this trip we hope to be able to show you one of their interesting projects such as the women’s project making low fuel consumption cookers. This will depend on local constraints - your guide will advise you.
Our Responsible Travel Code: Clients who travel with us will automatically receive a copy of our Responsible Travel leaflet. This contains details and advice on how you can make a positive difference when you travel. If you would like a copy in advance of travel please contact us. Charity Partnerships: We work in partnership with Plan International. Plan works with some of the world’s poorest communities where three out of four children die before the age of five. We also support Friends of Conservation – an international charity committed to working with local people to develop a balance between their needs and the wildlife with which they share the natural habitat and ecosystems. Carbon Balancing: Global warming is a real issue and is a direct result of your travel. We have teamed up with Climate Care to give you the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from your flight. You’ll be asked upon booking if you want to donate – with set amounts from £5. As a company we offset the carbon emissions from all staff travel in full. Our Foundation: We’ve highlighted a few of the ways in which we offer our support, financially or otherwise, and now you can, too. We have set up our own foundation, which will administer funds donated by you. A small donation of £1 per person will be taken when booking a holiday and that money will be put to good use by one of our carefully selected projects. If you don’t want to make the donation, just tell us when you book. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |