Best of the North all year round
A classic Tanzania wildlife safari, taking in the Northern Safari circuit with style and comfort. Machweo Retreat to ease yourself into the safari scene, taking in the sites from an elevated position over Arusha the safari capital of Tanzania. A well paced wildlife safari with short driving distances between the National Parks and the opportunity to add in a few adventure activities, allowing you to be out of the game viewing vehicles to take in another perspective of viewing wildlife with guided walking safaris. Accommodation throughout this wildlife safari all unique in their location and designed with a good blend of safari camps and lodges to enjoy after a day out on game drives. The National Parks selected will give the intrepid safari enthusiast a great insight to some exciting wildlife found in Tanzania. Arusha National Park a perfect starting point to visit the shallow alkaline lakes of Momella, where the Lesser East African flamingo mass, break the day up with walking safaris or an easy paced canoeing safari, all in the shadows of Mt. Meru’s impressive peak. Tarangire National parks famous for its great biodiversity, giant baobab trees with big herds of elephant that mass during the dry season. Isoitok Camp Manyara being located in the Maasai community of Esilalei allowing you to take in the daily lifestyle and gain a deeper understanding of the traditional practices and beliefs of the Maasai tribes whilst enjoying jaw dropping views of The Great Rift Valley. If luck is on your side you may see the famous tree climbing lions of Lake Manyara National Park during your game drives and the next stop to Serengeti National Park for a few days’ exploration and leisure. Choose for a hot air balloon flight over the endless plains of the Serengeti and the finale being the Ngorongoro Crater, home to some of the last black rhinos.
Itinerary
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Below, we go through the adventure day-by-day, giving you a better feel of the adventure.
Day 1: Arrival JRO and transfer to Arusha
Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport where you will be collected and transfer to Machweo Retreat located just outside Arusha town.
O/n Machweo Retreat (D)
Day 2: Arusha National Park
After breakfast drive the short distance to Arusha National Park where you head out on an easy walking safari with an armed ranger. Walk through open plains and the lower slopes of Mt. Meru over to waterfalls. Get a different perspective of viewing wildlife from the ground level. There are also good chances of seeing black and white Colobus monkey.
Optional: afternoon canoeing safari of Little Momela lake – gives you a great opportunity to approach wildlife as they drink and wallow in the shallows
Continue with afternoon game drives before heading back to Machweo Retreat.
O/n Machweo Retreat (B, L, D)
Day 3: Arusha - Tarangire National Park
Depart from Arusha in the morning and begin the drive through a changing landscape to Tarangire National Park for game drives of the ‘Elephant Playground’. Game drives en route to Tarangire Safari Lodge for hot lunch and relaxation – head out again late afternoon for sunset game drives and return to the lodge in time for sundowner drinks.
O/n Tarangire Safari Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 4: Tarangire - Esilalei Maasai Community
Dawn game drives of Tarangire National Park - then leave the park with a game drive en-route and head the short distance to the Maasai community of Esilalei. Meet with your local Maasai guide who will introduce you to his village.
Get a better understanding of the natural medicines still used on a daily basis with a Maasai medicine walk of the surrounding area. Then continue down to a Boma (mud dwelling) for an introduction into the Maasai way of life, beliefs and rituals.
Freshen up and enjoy a real cultural experience around the fire place with traditional song and dance.
O/n Isoitok Camp Manyara (B, L, D)
Day 5: Manyara National Park
After breakfast depart towards Lake Manyara National Park for game drives of this very diverse park. If you are lucky you may see the famous tree climbing lions. Picnic lunch in the bush followed by game drives until mid-afternoon – then slowly make your way out of the park and return to the camp.
O/n Isoitok Camp Manyara (B, L, D)
Day 6: Serengeti National Park
Morning wake-up call with bird chorus. After breakfast you head via the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the endless plains of Serengeti. Game drive en-route to central Serengeti – explore the many different areas of the park, your driver guide will advice on the best places to visit.
O/n Kiota Camp (B, L, D)
Day 7: Serengeti National Park
Optional: Early morning head out for a Balloon flight. View the Serengeti plains from a hot air balloon followed by champagne breakfast on the landing site.
A full day of game drives in Serengeti National Park. Head over to the Rock Kopjes where you have good chances of seeing some of the cat families. Cheetah and lion use this giant rock out crops as observation posts.
O/n Kiota Camp (B, L, D)
Day 8: Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Karatu
Morning game drives of the Serengeti – then slowly start the journey via the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to Karatu where you check in at the Acacia Farm Lodge and enjoy dinner and overnight.
O/n Acacia Farm Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 9: Ngorongoro Crater
Early morning transfer to Ngorongoro and descend into the crater for game drives. There are 25,000 large mammals residing in the park. The elephants are mainly bulls, females stay out of the park due to it boasting the largest predator population in Africa.
Black Rhino also make their home on the grassy plains, their numbers make up for almost half of what can still be found in East Africa; about 20 in total.
O/n Acacia Farm Lodge (B, L, D)
Day 10: Arusha Coffee Tour
After a leisurely breakfast at the lodge, slowly begin the drive towards Arusha and continue to the Kimemo Coffee Plantations where you head out on a guided coffee tour followed by a hot lunch. Then transfer to Machweo Retreat for afternoon relaxation.
O/n Machweo Retreat (B, L, D)
Day 11: Departure
At your own leisure you will transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight back home. (B)
Note: O/N = Overnight, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
| Amount of persons: | Price p.p. (usd): |
| 2 people sharing | 4840.- |
| 4 people sharing | 4165.- |
| 6 people sharing | 4010.- |
| Note: prices are based on two adults and indicative. Single supplement is $ 1135 | |
- Included:
- Park fee, Conservation fees and Community Development Fees
- Accommodation as stipulated
- Meals as stipulated |B Breakfast, L Lunch, D Dinner
- Complimentary mineral water x1.5 liters per person in the safari vehicle
- 4x4 game viewing vehicles plus driver guide (window seat guaranteed)
- Unlimited game drives
- Emergency Evacuation Cover
- All transfers and activities as mentioned above
- Excluded:
- Tips suggested: Driver guide $8-$10 per person sharing the vehicle per day
- Drinks apart from 1,5 liter mineral water during the safari
- Visa and airport departure tax
- Items of personal nature and not mentioned in the above itinerary
Professional, precise and personal. . . B2B
Every safari outfitter will offer to plan your perfect "trip of a lifetime" to Tanzania and the numbers are overwhelming. From my first point of contact, Ingrid (one of the company directors) at Bush 2 Beach provided a very informative, concise response that also felt very personal. Throughout our four month planning stage, Ingrid was ever present to provide answers to our questions, suggest ideas, amend our plans and provide attachments for us to view. From the moment we landed to the day we departed Ingrid put us in the capable hands of one of her six guides (John). I couldn't have been happier with my experience with Bush 2 Beach. I highly recommend using their services. They are a local, smaller operation with experienced, professional guides who are well aware of their responsibilities. Ingrid provided a wonderful "old school" quality that doesn't seem to exist anymore. They listen to their clients needs yet can still provide and intimate, personal experience that most of the larger outfitters cannot compete with.
jetsetterpal (Tripadvisor)
Through our Community Development foundation, the African Roots Foundation, Bush2Beach Safaris actively supports rural communities in Tanzania's Bush and Beach.