| Day 1
ARUSHA
Whenever you arrive, you'll be personally
met and transferred to the family-owned and managed Rivertrees
Lodge built on the banks of a river and shaded under a canopy
of beautiful trees. in a thick African forest along a beautiful
river. For those arriving early, optional activities can be
arranged.
Days 2 & 3
WEST KILIMANJARO
Drive through a patchwork of farmland skirting
the flanks of Mount Kilimanjaro before reaching into the beautiful
highlands of the western edge of Mt. Kilimanjaro, onto a private
Maasai conservancy reserve where Hoopoe undertakes its award-winning
elephant conservation efforts. Spend two nights in a Hoopoe
Luxury Tented Camp, the only guests on 60,000 acres. Game
view in vehicles and track elephants on foot. Learn about
the local Maasai and experience some of the most awesome scenery
in Africa.
Day 4
WEST KILIMANJARO/LAKE MANYARA
Spend the morning visiting sacred Maasai
cave paintings with an optional visit to a Maasai boma and
chance to buy Maasai beads and artifacts. Then, take a quick
charter flight to the edge of the Great Rift Valley, Lake
Manyara. Transfer to Kirurumu, an award winning tented lodge
designed and built by Hoopoe and perched on the very edge
of the escarpment with phenomenal views of Africa. Time permitting,
join a Maasai for an ethno-botanical walk to the edge of the
Rift..
Day 5
LAKE MANYARA & THE GREAT RIFT
Dawn game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, perhaps the
most beautiful on the circuit. Famous for its elephants and
lions-in-trees, the park boasts 20 times as many species of
trees as in all of North America and outstanding bird life.
During the morning game drive you'll understand why this is
where Out of Africa was filmed. In the afternoon explore an
important elephant corridor and rich native forest in the
Maasai community of Silela, with whom Peter has been working
closely on a variety of conservation efforts. Meals and overnight
at Kirurumu.
Days 6 & 7
NGORONGORO CRATER
Two remarkable days in one of the most phenomenal places
in Africa, the 2000-foot deep, 100 sq. mile large Ngorongoro
Crater. The Ngorongoro volcano at its nadir was probably about
15,000 feet high and would have resembled present day Mount
Meru. Once the world's highest structure, an enormous volcano
-- possibly 25 miles wide at its base -- collapsed inwards
about 2-3 million years ago at a time when large fractures
appeared creating the Eastern Rift wall. Today, the crater
is home to over 20,000 large mammals. Its rich grassland caldera
is an animal paradise. See some of the world's largest elephant,
large groups of black-maned lion, big herds of plains animals
like zebra and wildebeest. The crater is the last place in
Africa where free-ranging black rhino are usually seen by
all visitors. One afternoon Peter will introduce you to a
local Maasai chief who will escort you on a breath-taking
walk through the area's outstanding hills. The two days and
nights will be spent at Tanzania's most lavish safari camp,
Crater Lodge. Enjoy your own fireplace, stoked by your personal
butler who also keeps the sherry glasses full and fresh Stilton
at hand.
Days 8, 9 & 10
SERENGETI PLAINS
Leave the crater on a spectacular drive that takes you first
to famous Olduvai Gorge, then overland into the great Serengeti,
the Grande Dame of African wilderness. For three days and
nights you'll explore the southern plains and western hills,
where normally at this time of the year around 2 million wildebeest,
zebra and a vast assortment of other plains animals, congregate
to feast on the nutrient grasses growing with the developing
rains. There is no other as impressive or dramatic wildlife
spectacle on earth. During these three nights you'll be pampered
in a Hoopoe Luxury Camp set near the migration but hours and
days away from the main tourist lodges. At times, the entire
veld will be yours alone. Peter will also take you to sacred
Maasai areas, where he will convey the drama and mystery of
Maasai history and culture.
Days 11 & 12
NORTHERN SERENGETI
The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area represent
more than 7,000 sq. miles of some of the finest pristine wilderness
left on earth. Travel from the southern plains to the far
northern reaches of the park near the Kenyan border. Here
among spectacular kopjes live noble Maasai very much as they
have for centuries. Peter will take you onto a private reserve
where Hoopoe has undertaken an award-winning conservation
project that aims to protect important animal corridors and
grazing areas from overuse and modern development. Here you'll
be able to take some stunning walks among the wild animals,
while learning more about the proud Maasai and the important
role they are playing in preserving the African wilderness.
The beauty and solemnity of this area is undescribable and
the perfect way to end a grand safari.
DAY 13
SERENGETI/ARUSHA/Depart
A quick morning flight returns you to Arusha
by noon. You'll be met and enjoy lunch at a popular local
restaurant, with time for sightseeing and shopping before
returning to Rivertrees Lodge. Private rooms are available
for everyone until the evening departures.
Departures
Any time based on a minimum
of 4 people
Click
here to learn more about your guide.
Ask
about this itinerary Now
Please Read our
TERMS & CONDITIONS page before booking. |
