11 Days Best of Tanzania Safari Holiday

 Arusha is the safari capital of the country and a bustling ‘tourism-driven’ city. You will be met by your driver-guide in Arusha or at the airport and together you will begin the transfer to Africa Safari Lake Manyara. Without stops, the drive will take approximately 2 hours. On arrival, you will have time to refresh and explore the expansive surroundings of your accommodation. Then you'll finish the day with dinner under the stars and a good night’s sleep in one of our comfy canvas accommodations.

 After a good night's sleep, today is the ‘day of the elephants’. Tarangire is an hour's drive from the lodge and it presents quite a different landscape from Lake Manyara. The hilly savannah together with the Tarangire River makes this the favourite park for large herds of elephants. During the dry season (June – October), the Tarangire River is the only source of water available, making it a popular spot not just for the elephants but a variety of small hoofed animals and an abundance of birdlife. Lions, warthogs, giraffes, zebras and monkeys all roam the park, waiting for the ‘perfect picture' opportunity! The night is spent at Africa Safari Lake Manyara.

After breakfast, your driver-guide will take you to the entry gates of Lake Manyara National Park. From the entrance of the park, the road winds through a groundwater forest area where baboons can be seen lounging in the trees and hanging out by the roadside. The mahogany and acacia trees are inhabited by the famous tree-climbing lions, if you’re lucky, you might spot them lazing on a tree branch. As you make your way out of the dense bushland into the open grassy banks of the lake, you will be able to see wildebeest, giraffe, zebra, and large buffalo in abundance, grazing away. The lake itself is home to a large number of birds thriving at the water’s edge. More than 400 species have been identified and one of the highlights is the thousands of strolling flamingos. Between all this beauty, you will have a lunch break at midday and at the end of the afternoon, you drive back to Africa Safari Lake Manyara for dinner and a night of peaceful sleep with sweet dreams.

 This day brings you a road trip through northern Tanzania with the destination being Lake Natron. You'll depart from Africa Safari Lake Manyara after breakfast. The drive can take up to 4 hours and it’s the perfect way to see different sides of Tanzania’s ever-changing landscapes. As you pass the Rift Valley and drive further towards Lake Natron, you will notice the lush green vegetation slowly exchanging for dry, arid and dusty landscapes. The occasional Maasai villages passed en route become dots in the distant scenery. The further north you reach, the more the remains of old volcanoes rise around you. Among them is Ol Doinyo Lengai, meaning ‘Mountain of God’ in the Maasai dialect. This volcano is one of the few that are still active. When you eventually reach Lake Natron, you might perhaps catch its smoke disappearing in the sky. The night is spent in a comfortable bed at Africa Safari Lake Natron.

 Waking up at the foot of Ol Doinyo Lengai is a magical feeling. Today you will visit the Engare Sero Footprint Site, situated on the south of Lake Natron, 11km away from Africa Safari Lake Natron. It has been reported to host one of the best-preserved sets of fossilized hominid footprints in the world. However, until now there has been no detailed characterization and age determination of the footprint-bearing strata (the Footprint Tuff). The over 400 foodprints are between 5,000 to 19,000 years old and came to scientists’ attention in 2008. They cover a cordoned-off area slightly larger than a tennis court. To complete your day of exploring Lake Natron, venture out on a moderate two-hour hike along the western edge of Lake Natron leading to a series of narrow gorges and waterfalls, where you can swim in slot canyons and walk behind the falling water.

 This morning, put on your walking shoes as a Maasai tribesman guides you on a walk around the shores of Lake Natron in search of the lesser flamingo. Lake Natron is the most important and regular breeding site for lesser flamingos in East Africa and during the breeding season, Lake Natron hosts up to 2.5 million flamingos. The majority of egg-laying and hatching takes place from September to April although the peak occurs between October and (early) December. The long-legged waterfowl may flourish here, but to most, other living creatures including small birds. These conditions make survival extremely challenging; however, the lake flats do provide a variety of habitats for birds that flourish in the alkali oasis. Around midday, you will depart on a road trip west for an overnight stop in Africa Safari Maasai Boma, where you will have an insight into traditional Maasai life.

 After a good breakfast at Africa Safari Maasai Boma, you will depart on your adventure towards Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma. This game drive leads you through Serengeti. Your driver-guide will take you exploring, following the movement of resident wildlife, while heading towards your accommodation in Ikoma. There will be a stop for a nice picnic lunch along the way. In the afternoon, you will reach the border of the park and just 2km further, you will find the staff of Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma welcoming you. This is your place to relax and have a beautiful ‘canvas home’ for a good night of sleep is awaiting you.

 Nothing beats waking up from a restful sleep to the sounds of the Serengeti. Once you have enjoyed your breakfast, the acacia-studded savannah welcomes you to start exploring its wildlife. Another day filled with safari adventuring on the African soil and by the end of this day, you'll probably understand the meaning of the name ‘Serengeti’ to be ‘endless plains.

 New day, new possibilities and endless new animals to be spotted across Tanzania’s oldest and most popular national park. Serengeti is always filled with adventure and new discoveries; no two days are the same in this massive park. Today you will cross these famous plains and pass through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Here you are invited to visit a very special Maasai Boma—a ‘village’ of the Maasai tribe in the middle of nowhere (optional activity). The Nomadic Maasai are the only humans permitted to reside inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and a visit is like stepping back in time. With your heart and camera filled with spectacular images, make your way onwards to Africa Safari Lake Manyara for dinner and your overnight stay.

 Be sure to wake up early today, so there is no delay in your descent into the famous Ngorongoro Crater. As soon as you arrive in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will be amazed by the beauty around you. Even more so when you arrive at the edge of the crater and take in the amazing view over one of the natural wonders of this world. The crater of this inactive volcano is approximately 3 million years old, 20sq km in size and the largest unbroken volcanic caldera in the world. Due to its natural borders, the wildlife in the crater is amazing. The crater is home to the Big Five and offers a good chance to spot the rare black rhino. Throw hyena, zebra, buffalo and elephants into the mix, and you have the perfect canvas for a pretty awesome safari experience. At the end of the afternoon, you'll head back to the lodge, Africa Safari Lake Manyara, for a well-deserved night's sleep.

 All good things end! Enjoy your last meal at Africa Safari Lake Manyara prior to checking out, ready for your journey to Arusha. After meeting your driver-guide at the reception, you will head off on an easy two-hour drive back to where it all started; heart and camera filled with memories of your African safari adventure.