Jambo, Tanzania! Family Safari

Jambo! You'll depart the US on Day 1 and arrive in Tanzania on Day 2. Here you will be met by Eugene Mrosso, your guide, and transferred to the Mt. Meru Game Lodge for your overnight. The lodge was established in 1959 by Dr. Andreas Von Nagy and was conceived to provide superior accommodation to discerning animal lovers visiting Tanzania. All rooms have a veranda with comfortable chairs where guests may sit during the late afternoons enjoying the peaceful surroundings, soaking up the unique atmosphere of the Lodge and watching the animal and birdlife. It is a wonderful place to start your Tanzanian safari adventure!

Breakfast at the hotel before departure to the West Kilimanjaro area. Sinya Camp, your home for 2 nights, is located near the border of Kenya near Amboseli Park. The area offers spectacular views of snow covered Mt. Kilimanjaro. This is one of the few places in Tanzania that you will be able to experience night drives and walking safaris – escorted by Maasai warriors. Sinya probably has the biggest bull elephant population in all of Africa. The elephants here have been studied for years by scientist Cynthia Moss. There will be opportunities for cross cultural interactions with the local Maasai people. Dinner and overnight at the Sinya Camp.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Sinya Camp

Enjoy game viewing activities in open vehicles, a visit to a Maasai Boma and walking safaris. Optional night game drive. Overnight at Sinya camp.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Sinya Camp

After breakfast, depart for Tarangire National Park. This is the classic Africa of lore with shimmering acacia stands, old baobab trees, and herds of elephant. On arrival, game drive toward the Tarangire Treetops Lodge (or similar), arriving in time for lunch. You will have an afternoon walking safari in Tarangire accompanied by a professional armed guide. Optional night game drive. Dinner and overnight at Tarangire Treetops.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Tarangire Tree Tops

You will have a full day of game-viewing, exploring Tarangire National Park in a 4WD safari vehicle. In the dry-season of July-October, Tarangire National Park surpasses the Serengeti in terms of animal concentration as big herds begin to congregate around the permanent water of Tarangire River. It is not uncommon to see herds of 50+ elephant, as well as every other mammal species, including the rare Kudu and Oryx. The park is also noted for its prolific bird life and the occasional sighting of cheetah and the rare African Hunting Dog. Return to the Lodge for brunch, relaxing at the camp during the hottest hours of the day, before setting out again in the afternoon. Dinner and Overnight at Tarangire Treetop Lodge, or similar.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Tarangire Tree Tops

Drive through the forested slopes of the Ngorongoro Highlands en route to the Serengeti. Stop at Olduvai Gorge to visit the site where Mary and Louis Leakey first discovered the remains of Zinjanthropus bosei, a distant ancestor of man believed to be 1.8 million years old, Australopithecus, the ‘Nutcracker Man’, a species that became extinct about 1 million years ago and fossilized footprints that date back 3.6 million years. From here, the predator-rich plains of the Serengeti unfurl before you as you game drive through the park toward the central plains, arriving just before dusk. The Serengeti is a vast plain of approximately 14,900 sq km, and is full of different features, predators, prey, and a number of species of birds. Your driver-guide will choose your route based on his extensive knowledge of the park and local conditions. Your trip might include a trail along the banks of the Grumeti River in search of basking lions, tracking cheetah through the Gol Kopjes or hunting leopard (with camera) along the Seronera River.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Ndutu Safari Lodge

Enjoy two full days of game viewing, with picnic lunches, in the most famous National Park in Africa. 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. You will probably agree that this is the most impressive and dramatic wildlife spectacle on earth. There is an optional balloon safari available, but this must be booked in advance.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Migration Camp

With well packed lunches, proceed to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Descend the 2000-ft walls of the crater, a World Heritage Site and home to nearly 25,000 animals, for a half day of game viewing, with a picnic lunch on the crater floor. Here you have a very real chance of spotting the big five: lion, elephant, endangered black rhino, buffalo and leopard, plus countless other African mammal species. You also visit a Maasai Village. Return to the lodge just before dusk.

Meals: Breakfast,Lunch

Lodging: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge

After breakfast, spend another half day in the crater. This caldera, formed by a collapsed volcano, hosts a unique cross-section of eco-systems, from Soda Lake to the savannah, and is home to almost every major species of African mammal. Your presence does not threaten the wildlife making for a close proximity game viewing. Return to the lodge for lunch. Later in the afternoon you will have an optional guided hike along the rim of the crater into the Melaga depression. End the approximately 2-3 hour hike with a stunning view over the Serengeti short grass plains.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge

Depart in the morning after breakfast for Arusha. Upon arrival in Arusha, you will be transferred to the Arusha Hotel for lunch. You may have time to walk around the city before being transferred to the Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home. Or, extend your stay with a visit to the beautiful Zanzibar Island.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch