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Why A Walk on the Wild Side?

See the very best of Northern Tanzania and GET OUT OF THE CAR too - get closer.

Description
A wonderful adventure, designed especially for those who love walking. A good amount of conventional game viewing in vehicles is also included, but the highlights of this safari are the intimate moments you’ll experience in Tanzania’s very remote backcountry on foot. Superb guides include local Maasai, introducing you to some of the real treasures of the wilderness.

• Kilimanjaro (non ascent)
• The rift valley
• Lake Manyara
• Ngorongoro
• Tarangire
• Serengeti

Full Itinerary

Day 1 ARUSHA

Whenever you arrive, you’ll be personally met and taken to a lovely resort on Mt. Meru, Africa’s 5th highest mountain. For those arriving early, optional activities can be arranged. Dinner and overnight at the resort.

Day 2 WEST KILIMANJARO

Three days are now spent in a very remote, private 60,000-acre wilderness on the western slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The morning drive from Arusha is past many small pretty peasant farms, market towns and small villages, before crossing a large open plane composed of wheat farms. There can be fabulous views of Mt Kibo, the Shira Plateau and even Mt Meru on clear days. Arrival in camp is met by fresh juice and a bush lunch. The late afternoon is spent meandering to the nearby Maasai village of Olmalog or simply relaxing in camp. A campfire using sustainable wood sources accompanies the dying light and sounds of the Maasai’s cattle heading back to their bomas. Overnight in an adventure camp.

Day 3 WEST KILIMANJARO

Soon after breakfast you head by foot out with your guide and scout while the crew packs the camp to move it onto the plains on the lower slopes. During the morning walk, game grows more prevalent and zebra often canter away after approaching curiously. Giraffe, eland, impala and Grant’s gazelle are also usually seen. Picnic lunches are taken under the shade of an acacia tree, and there is then usually time to relax as the hottest part of the day passes over. At the end of the afternoon walk, you arrive camp which has been set under a set of huge acacia trees with
sweeping views of the plains that head up to Kilimanjaro. As the sun sets you enjoy the scrumptious dinner prepared with locally fresh foods by Hoopoe’s expert bush cooks.

Day 4 WEST KILIMANJARO

An early morning walk to the top of Napopong hill affords great views of the sun rising and hopefully the Uhuru summit of Kilimanjaro as well. Then it’s breakfast back in camp before getting into the Landrovers for a wider search of the area. There is a diverse set of bird life as well as a number of different mammals in this magnificent area. With luck family groups of elephants or majestic old bulls will be spotted grazing or resting under the shade of a spreading acacia tortillis. Lunch is taken back at camp, and in the afternoon another game drive is possible. In the late afternoon you head out for a scenic sundowner before game driving back to camp with a spot light, seeking out the more elusive nocturnal creatures.

Day 5 TARANGIRE

On the final morning at West Kilimanjaro an early morning walk before breakfast is possible. Then drive back to Arusha town for lunch at a popular local restaurant, before continuing in the afternoon to Tamarind Tented Camp in Tarangire National Park. Depending upon your arrival time, there may be time for a short afternoon walk and a dusk game drive with a spot light before dinner in camp.

Day 6 TARANGIRE

The entire day is spent in the large Tarangire National Park with a picnic lunch. There’s an enormous amount of game here, including giraffe, buffalo, lesser kudu, eland, Oryx, zebra, lion, leopard, cheetah and elephant. Game viewing tracks meander along the great Tarangire River, one of East Africa’s famous “Sand Rivers”. The bird life here can be superb and the rolling hills are dotted with ancient Baobab trees and some dense woodlands, distinguishing Tarangire from most of the rest of the northern plains game parks. In the evening return to Tamarind for dinner and overnight.

Day 7 LAKE MANYARA

A relatively short and spectacular morning drive to the base of the Great Rift Valley where much of the day is spent in Lake Manyara National Park. This UNESCO biosphere is a relatively small park but with an amazing diversity of habitats. Ground water forest, open glades, plains, and acacia woodland create homes for a fantastic array of birds and mammals. Picnic beside the lakeshore. In the late afternoon head up the steep escarpment to Kirurumu Tented Lodge in time to enjoy sundowners on the deck that overlooks the lake and the rift providing a most spectacular panoramic view. Dinner and overnight at this award-winning eco-camp.

Day 8 NGORONGORO RIM WALK

Morning drive to the fabled Ngorongoro Crater with its truly breath-taking views. Continue round the rim, where a crew of guides, a ranger and Maasai and donkeys will be waiting. Begin a marvelous walk in this pristine Maasai land. The track takes you part way around the rim of the crater through open woodland and acacia forests. To your right are the remarkably spectacular views of the crater floor below, and to your left are the endless plains of the Serengeti. A very simple camp is set in a remote location where one of the important rivers off the highland volcanoes enters the crater.

Day 9 NGORONGORO

After an early breakfast camp is packed up and the morning trek continues along the crater rim traversing the Olmoti slopes. The trail leaves the rainforest and cuts through grassland and open woodlands inhabited by local Maasai. In the late afternoon we reach a vehicle track which winds out of Ngorongoro crater towards Empakai crater. Landrovers will be waiting with refreshments to take us back to our lodge.

Day 10 SERENGETI

We leave at dawn to enjoy further game viewing on the crater floor. This unique hundred-square mile wildlife paradise has a greater density of wildlife than practically any other protected wilderness in Africa. It’s the last place to see relatively easily free-ranging black rhino. There are numerous lions, and large families of buffalo. The plains gazelle seem innumerable. The crater provides a scenic wonderland distinguished by its central lake and many shore birds including at times large numbers of flamingo. By late morning we ascend the opposite side of the crater and head into the Serengeti plains. stopping en-route at Olduvai Gorge, the cradle of mankind. The Serengeti -- undoubtedly the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world -- is the fitting climax for our exciting safari. In the Serengeti your adventure camp will be placed seasonally to optimize game viewing.

Day 11 SERENGETI

The day is spent exploring the wide open spaces of the Serengeti, visiting different habitats and following the ebb and flow of life in its seasonal movements. In addition to the abundant game, there may be opportunities to visit sacred Maasai sites and cave paintings. The Serengeti satisfies the most demanding imaginations of what Africa is, with its endless grassland plains filled with wildlife. Your last night in camp will be a celebrated one, as you review the wonderful days you’ve spent learning about this magnificent land. Enjoying sundowners around the fire before dinner, you’ll undoubtedly be blessed by one of the Serengeti’s unrivaled sunsets, bringing to a spectacular end this remarkable journey.

Day 12 ARUSHA - DEPARTURE

Morning game drive to the nearest airstrip, where you take a quick flight back to Arusha. You’ll be met by new vehicles that will take you around time to shop and sightsee, and for another local lunch before continuing to the hotel adjacent Kilimanjaro airport. You’ll have a private room before the evening departures.

2007 Departure Dates

2008 Departure Dates

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