8 Days - Adventure Camping - Tanzania Flamingos, Volcanoes, Craters, Big 5 & Bushmen Safari
Lake Natron | Ol Doinyo Lengai Trek | Lake Manyara National Park | Hadzabe Bushmen Experience | Serengeti National Park | Ngorongoro Crater.
Trip Highlights
Location
- Lake Natron
- Lake Manyara National Park
- Serengeti National Park
- Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Ngorongoro Crater
- Lake Eyasi
- Arusha Town
Activities
- Game Drives
- Walking
- Trekking
- Hadzabe Bushmen visit
- Waterfall
- Flamingo Walk
- Hominid Footprints
- Maasai Boma Visit
DAY 1
Arusha & Meserani Snake Park
Welcome to Tanzania. Your SafariHQ drive guide will be waiting to meet you on arrival at the airport. After a short briefing You will then drive to Meserani Snake Park for your first evening in Arusha. Meserani Snake Park Campsite is a favourite adventure campsite in the outskirts of Arusha and is the perfect location for an evening drink and dinner.
O/N Meserani Snake Park
Accommodation: Meserani Snake Park Campsite | Meals: Selected Meals and Drinks
DAY 2
Lake Natron
After a wholesome breakfast, your day will start with a short briefing and safety from your SafariHQ guide. Once the formalities are completed, you will head towards Lake Natron, passing through Engaruka Maasai Village, made famous for its historical ruins.
On arrival at Lake Natron, put on your hiking shoes, take your camera and head down to the lakshore on foot with your Maasai Guide to photograph the many thousands of flamingoes and other birds that frequent Lake Natron.
O/N World View Camp
Optional
If you choose to trek Ol Doinyo Lengai, return to camp for an early dinner and rest as you will be rising at midnight to commence your trek up Ol Doinyo Lengai. Trekking occurs at this time to avoid the extreme heat of the midday sun so be sure to take plenty of water with you and a good hat.
Accommodation: Twiga Campsite | Meals: Selected Meals and Drinks
DAY 3
Lake Natron
Spend the morning with a Maasai guide learning about the Hominid Footprints which are a short walk from the campsite. Footprints of early hominids have been preserved in cooling volcanic lava not to mention many species of wildlife, some of which are now extinct. Return to camp for a late breakfast, heading off again for a short walk to the waterfalls for a refreshing swim. Return to camp for an early lunch. Drive along the Great Rift Valley wall to Lake Manyara where we will setup camp for the night.
O/N Twiga Campsite
Optional Ol Doinyo Lengai Trek Itinerary
Rise at midnight to a coffee, tea and a light snack before heading off in your safari vehicle to the foothills of Ol Doinyo Lengai where your trek to the summit will begin. The trek is quite demanding and as there is no shade on the mountain, you will need to bring a good hat and plenty of water. The terrain underfoot consists of rough scree, lava and volcanic ash, with steep gullies and furrows to negotiate. Once you reach the summit you can explore the two craters with caution, as one of them is still active. Enjoy the breathtaking views across Lake Natron and the Great Rift Valley. Descend down by mid morning to the foothills of Ol Doinyo Lengai where your safari vehicles awaits you. Transfer to Mto Wa Mbu Village for a chance to wander around some locals markets to purchase some curios before heading to camp.
O/N Twiga Campsite
Accommodation: Twiga Campsite | Meals: Selected Meals and Drinks
DAY 4
Lake Eyasi & Lake Manyara National Park
After an early breakfast you will drive to Lake Eyasi. This small area is inhabited by the Hadzabe, Datoga and Watindiga, who live in small groups hunting with bow and arrow and gathering roots, tubers and wild fruits much as their ancestors did during the Stone Age. We will spend the morning with the Hadzabe bushmen. Their language consists of unique clicking sounds and pops. A visit to their camp is like a step back in time that you will find fascinating and informative. They are warm and friendly and believe it or not – they do not believe in chiefs or leaders. Everyone is equal in their tribe. You have the option to join a hunting tour with this nomadic tribe.
Drive back to Mto Wa Mbu Village in time for lunch. In the afternoon we will enter Lake Manyara National Park for an afternoon of game viewing. Lake Manyara is situated on right of the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley and is famous for its tree climbing lions, elephants and many species of primates including vervet monkey, blue monkey and the largest baboon troop ever documented.
O/N Twiga Campsite
Accommodation: Twiga Campsite | Meals: Selected Meals and Drinks
DAY 5
Serengeti National park
After breakfast you will head towards Serengeti National Park, stopping along the way at a Maasai village before heading to Serengeti National Park for an afternoon of game viewing en-route to Seronera Campsite in the central Serengeti. The Serengeti is unequalled for its beauty and scientific value and has come to symbolise the classic African safari. Your accommodation at Seronera Campsite is one of the few in East Africa where you truly get to experience the sights and sounds of Africa as the campsite has no fences and animal frequently pass through the campsite at night.
O/N Seronera Campsite
Accommodation: Seronera Public Campsite | Meals: Selected Meals and Drinks
DAY 6
Serengeti National park
Rise at dawn to enjoy a early morning game drive in the Serengeti National Park. At sunrise you may encounter animals grazing in the beautiful light of sunrise and predators may still be busy hunting before retiring to rest for the day. Sunrise on the Serengeti is not to be missed and extraordinary photographic opportunities will abound at this magical time of day. You have the option to return to the campsite for a hot lunch or to opt for a packed lunch which can be enjoyed at one of the various picnic sites found in the Serengeti. After lunch you will continue on a game drive.
O/N stay Seronera Campsite
Accommodation: Seronera Public Campsite | Meals: Selected Meals and Drinks
DAY 7
Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro Crater.
Spend the early morning game viewing in the Serengeti, returning to camp mid morning to enjoy breakfast. After breakfast, enjoy a game drive en-route through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the Ngorongoro Crater Rim. You will have the option to visit Olduvai Gorge, the site of Louis and Mary Leakey’s famous discoveries of man’s ancient ancestors Zinjanthropus Bosei. We will strike the camp on the Ngorongoro Crater rim.
O/N Simba Campsite
Accommodation: Simba Campsite | Meals: Selected Meals and Drinks
DAY 8
Ngorongoro Crater.
At Sunrise, we descend 600 metres into the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive. A breathtaking natural wonder the crater is one of the most densely crowded African wildlife areas in the world and is home to an estimated 30,000 animals including some of Tanzania’s last remaining black rhino. Another big draw card to this picturesque conservation Area is the Ngorongoro Crater is one of the few places left in East Africa that you can see the BIG 5 all in one park. Ascend the crater in the early afternoon and depart for Arusha where the wildlife safari concludes.
Accommodation: N/A| Meals: Selected Meals and Drinks
INCLUDED:
- Meals
- Game drives
- vehicle fees
- Park and camping fees
- Guide & chef fees
- Hadzabe Bushmen
- Maasai Boma
- Olduvai Gorge
- AMREF Airlift
- Coffee & Tea
- Bottled Water
- Return Airport or hotel transfer
EXCLUDED:
- Guide & chef tips
- Alcoholic beverages
- Additional activities not listed in inclusions
- Personal items required
- Travel insurance
- Tanzania entry visa
PRICING:
- 1 Guest – $4630
- 2 Guests – $2920
- 3 Guests – $2375
- 4 Guests – $2035
- 5 Guests – $1830
- 6 Guests – $1695
- 7 Guests – $1595
- >7 Guests – contact SafariHQ for special group pricing