Join Boundless Journeys for a 12-day small-group safari through Tanzania, exploring some of East Africa's most renowned national parks and conservation areas—home to extraordinary wildlife and some of the finest game viewing on the continent. Travel across sweeping savannahs and dramatic landscapes while guided by local experts who bring the region's ecosystems and wildlife to life.
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you'll meet your guides and transfer to your hotel for a light bite to eat and a good nights rest.
Learn about Tanzanian culture, and visit Jobreas Primary School, which Off Cape Experiences has helped support since it was started in 2009 (a portion of the proceeds from your trip will help pay for the school’s new dormitory; tuition for children from local Chaga, Wambulu and Maasai tribes school supplies; and/or teacher salaries). From the school we’ll take a guided walk through a coffee plantation and discover each step of the process — from growing and harvesting to drying and roasting the beans into the rich, aromatic coffee enjoyed every day.
After lunch, visit a cultural and heritage museum which features an extensive collection of artworks, including sculptures, paintings, textiles, and traditional crafts, reflecting the diverse cultural identities of Tanzania's ethnic groups. Enjoy your evening at the hotel with views of beautiful Mount Meru.
After breakfast, head west into the savanna to Tarangire National Park, upon arrival at the lodge, check in to your room, have a hot lunch and head into the wilds of this beautiful national park. Famous for its large elephant herds and ancient baobab trees. Tarangire is also home to more than 500 different species of birds as well as lions, cheetahs and many other interesting animals.
Today you'll explore deeper into the wilderness, follow the winding river bank of the Tarangire River, an essential year around water source for all animals big and small that call Tarangire home. In the evening, enjoy the delicious meals prepared by the chefs at the lodge and reflect on the amazing sightings of the day.
After breakfast, begin your ascent up The Great Rift Valley wall, along the way, make a stop in Mto Wa Mbu, where you’ll explore a bustling local market, sample fresh fruits such as pink bananas, and try traditional foods prepared at a restaurant. You will also watch local artisans make traditional wooden crafts, brew banana beer and carry on traditional farming practices. Then, get your eyes ready as you ascend the Great Rift Valley, making your way through the frontier town of Karatu and on to the breathtaking views of the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area.
Rise in the morning to a view from a storybook, looking out over the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Climb aboard your safari vehicles and descend 2,000 feet to the crater floor for a once in a lifetime game drive, surrounded by the densest population of big game in all of Africa. This will also be your best chance to catch a glimpse of the rare and endangered black rhinoceros!
Today is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Take a guided bush walk to stretch your legs, unwind with a massage at the spa, or simply relax on your balcony with a book as you soak in the breathtaking views—or combine a little of each!
Head deeper into the Tanzanian savanna, make your way into the endless plains of the mighty Serengeti. En route, visit Olduvai Gorge, one of the most important paleo anthropological sites in the world, known for its immense significance as the "Cradle of Mankind," where you will see evidence of early human ancestors, learn about human evolution, and explore a landscape rich with fossils and stone tools. You'll also visit a Maasai village where you'll learn more about their culture and way of life.
The wilderness and rhythm of the wildlife will dictate the course of your days as you traverse the gravel and two-track roads winding through the vast grass plains, woodland forests, kopjes (boulder fields) and wetlands to look for cheetahs, leopards, lions, cape buffalo and other incredible wildlife that inhabit the Serengeti plains.There will also be an optional sunrise hot air balloon ride available for an additional charge.
For your last morning in the mighty Serengeti National Park, you'll have a leisurely breakfast, pack your bags into the Land Cruisers and amble to Seronera airstrip, located in central Serengeti for a short (1hr) mid morning flight back to Arusha. Once in town (depending on flight departure times) either head straight to Kilimanjaro International Airport, or if there is time, make a few stops for some last minute souvenir shopping. Then it is “farewell and see you again” to your new family in Tanzania.
Boundless Journeys' trips are designed for active individuals who have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude. Our provider rates this trip as a 2, easy, on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the most strenuous). We combine deluxe camps and lodges as the base for our primary activity - game-viewing drives by 4WD vehicle. Depending on current conditions, there may be opportunities for optional guided bush walks, which can be enjoyed by anyone who is in reasonably good health.
Arusha, Tanzania
Most Convenient Airports:
Arrival and Departure Airports: Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha, Tanzania (airport code JRO)
Meeting Time and Place:
Upon arrival of your international flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha on Day 1 of the trip.
Departure Time and Place:Kilimanjaro International Airport in time to check in for your departing flight. To accommodate our return from the Ngorongoro Crater, please schedule your departing flight after 6 p.m. If this is an issue, alternative drop offs can be arranged at an additional fee.
Unforgettable full and half-day game drives are the primary activity of Boundless Journeys Tanzania 12 Day Safari and Cultural Experience. On most days, we will depart our lodge or camp early and spend the morning tracking various animals in our custom-built, 4WD safari vehicles. Each day is unique and unpredictable - which is why our guides say never put away your camera, even on the way to the airstrip!
Drives may last from a few morning hours to a full day. Sometimes we will take a picnic lunch, and other days we will return to the lodge or camp for lunch. As we come upon groups of animals, we allow plenty of time to simply observe and also take photographs. Our guides are experienced naturalists and will add greatly to your understanding of the wildlife. We keep a respectful distance - although the same cannot always be said about the animals; it is not unusual to come nose-to-car with baboons, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, and elephants.
The weather in East Africa and its national parks is generally pleasant though the equatorial sun is strong. It can rain at any time, but chances are higher during the months of April, May, June, November, and December. Early morning game drives can be chilly, and dressing in layers is a good strategy, so that you can shed or add layers as the day heats and cools.
You may obtain more detailed weather information on www.weatherbase.com.
East Africa
High: 82 Low: 62
High: 78 Low: 55
Our safaris coincide with important times in the annual migrations, as well as take advantage of other significant animal activities and weather patterns.
December-March: Calving SeasonThe migrating herds have typically left the Masai Mara and are in the short grass plains of the southern Serengeti by now. A safari at this time of year will allow exploration of the Mara with fewer others around and plenty of resident wildlife, and to see the babies that are born in the southern Serengeti at this time of year.
June-July: Migration moving NorthLarge herds are on their way north, migrating through the Western Corridor of the Serengeti and into the Masai Mara. If we are lucky, we may witness herds crossing the Grumeti or Mara Rivers, as well as plenty of resident wildlife.
August-October: Migration in the NorthThe large herds are generally in the north and have scattered around the Mara and northern Serengeti, crossing back and forth over the Mara River. A safari at this time is most likley to witness herds crossing one of the large northern rivers - truly a sight to behold.
Other times: We suggest avoiding November and April through the first half of May, as those months comprise the rainy seasons in Tanzania. Outside of those months, there are great reasons to visit at any time, and no matter when you choose to go, you will see more elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, buffaloes, hippos, ostriches, baboons, and lions than you can keep track of. If you are interested in organizing a private safari for your own group of family or friends on the dates that work for you, please contact our office at 800-941-8010 to discuss the options.
Meals on safari are always a delight, whether it is under the stars with local Maasai warriors to entertain or in a surprisingly sophisticated dining area overlooking sprawling grasslands or floodlit waterhole. Vegetarians and other dietary preferences can be accommodated with advance notice, though choices tend to be more limited.
All on-safari ground transportation is provided in safari vehicles with a maximum of 6 guests per vehicle. Charter flights are usually in 8 - 12-seater Cessna Grand Caravan.
With a Boundless Journeys guide, your experience is that of friend and local adventurer. We believe strongly in working with local guides, experts in the areas to which we travel, and they hold the keys to unlocking the hidden delights of your chosen destination. Although you will never know they are at work—the mark of a truly great leader—our guides make magical things happen and add a dimension to your trip that you could not experience on your own. Over the years we have forged bonds with some of the best guides in the world, and we typically work with a small team of guides in each region. You will be informed of the guide for your trip one month prior to your departure.
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