21 Days Cultural walking safari adventure
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Day 1: ARRIVAL
We will take you to the Kiboko Lodge situated outside of Arusha Town at the sole of majestic Mount Meru.
Our safari manager will come to meet you and to provide you with a safari briefing. |
Day 2: Villages & Coffee at Mt Meru
Full day excursion to Nkoaranga Village a local fair-trade coffee growers' cooperative. It is made up of a group of small-farm coffee growers working together to build a sustainable, naturally grown, fair trade coffee business. Visit the Coffee plantations and see the different steps of coffee growing. Learn about how coffee beans are collected, processed, roasted, grinded and carefully packed. All proceeds from coffee sales return to the local farmers for reinvestment in the project, and to build their growing organic farming project - with the first organic bean harvest scheduled within the next two years. You will also visit the local school or orphanage and go for a walk in the village to have some insights in allday like of local farmers. Lunch is taken in the village before you return to your hotel
Overnight at Kiboko Lodge.
All meals included
Day 3: Arusha National Park
After breakfast drive to Arusha National Park passing by herds of zebra, buffalo, and giraffe on the savannah. Enjoy a picnic lunch at Momella Lake famous for huge flocks of colourful flamingos and its views at majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro. game drive around the different habitats in this truly beautiful Park There are black and white colobus monkeys (unique to this Park in northern Tanzania), Sykes’s and vervet monkeys, shy forest duikers, leopards, and substantial herds of antelope. Guided by an armed ranger you will hike at the slopes of Mt Meru first across the buffalo meadow and then in dense forest up to some hidden waterfalls. Overnight at a campsite at Arusha National Park in Arusha.
All meals included
Day 4: Tarangire
After breakfast you start your way towards Tarangire, Tanzania's third largest national park and sanctuary for an unusually large elephant population. Majestic baobab trees are an interesting feature of the park, dwarfing the animals that feed beneath them. Animals concentrate along the Tarangire River, which provides the only permanent water supply in the area. There is a great diversity of wildlife including lion, leopard, cheetah and up to six thousand elephant.
After game driving you go on a Ranger or Masai Guided Walk at the parks bounderies
Overnight at a campsite or at Tarangire.
All meals included
Day 5: Ngorongoro
After breakfast you proceed to Ngorongoro Conservation Area anddescend into the crater for a wonderful game drive (with a picnic lunch) inside the Ngorongoro Crater often described as one of the wonders of the world.It is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera and a a natural sanctuary for some of Africa’s densest animal populations. It is one of the few places where the rare black rhino can be observed in their natural setting. As very few animals migrate in and out of the crater with its 2000 ft. high walls, you can expect to see lions, elephants, zebras, hippos, flamingos, jackals, rhinos, antelopes, many birds and other species. With a bit of luck the ‘Big Five’ can be spotted during one game drive only. Overnight at a campsite at Ngorongoro.
All meals included
Days 6: Ngorongoro Crater-Olmoti
After breakfast you start your five day excursion to the Northern Highlands. You will be guided throughout by a local Guide and an armed ranger (until Naiyobi, where the armed ranger will leave you). First you drive to Lemala Gate where you start your walk to Olmoti. You reach your camp around noon. After pitching your tent and enjoying lunch you explore Olmoti Crater. This shallow grassy crater is the source of the Munge river, which pours through a gorge in the rim in a spectacular waterfall on its way to Ngorongoro crater. Walk up the Crater Rim and descent to the Crater Floor.
Overnight at Olmoti Campsite.
All meals included
Day 7: Olmoti-Bulati
From Olmoti you descend the outer hills of the Great Rift Valley and walk across the open plains of the Embulbul Depression where antelopes, wilderbeests and zebras are often seen. Late afternoon you reach Bulati a typical Maasai Village where you overnight at Bulati Campsite.
All meals included
Day 8: Bulati-Empakaai
After leaving Bulati Campsite you walk through Bulati Village and up the Bulati Ranges to reach Empakai Crater at around midday. You follow the crater rim, viewing Kerimasi Mountain and Oldonyo Lengai in a distance.
In the afternoon you reach your campsite, perched high above Empakai Crater. The surrounding thicket is home to buffalos and hyenas. After pitiching your tent and taking a cup of tea you can descend the forested crater slopes to reach the crater floor, the majority of which is covered by a salt lake. Lots of water birds and flamingos can be seen as they migrate between the crater lakes of Ngorongoro and Lake Natron. It is also a joy to walk around the lake shore. Overnight at one of the campsites at the Crater Rim at an altitude of some 3200 m).
All meals included.
Day 9: Empakaai-Naiyobi
From Empakaai your trail leads you around Empakaai Crater Rim with constant great views towards the Crater Bottom and Lake. The surrounding forest is inhabited by buffalos and porcupines. Around midday you reach Naiyobi village, a picturesque Maasai Village at the edge of the Ngoronoro Conservation Area where you will bid farewell farewell to your armed ranger. Together with your Maasai Guide you will proceed to the Acacia Forest behind Naiyobi Village for overnight at Acacia Campsite.
All meals included
Day 10: Naiyobi-Lake Natron
The last part of your trek is a longer hike downward towards the edge of the Rift Valley Escarpment. You hike along volcanic landscapes formed by the latest eruption of Oldonyo Lengai in 2008 until you reach Pembe ya Swala, a distinctive landmark which leads you on a steep descent down to the plains surrounding Lake Natron. During your last trek you enjoy splended views of the Lengai volcano (Oldony Lengai for the Maasai) and Mount Kerimasi until you finally reach Lake Natron for overnight at Ngare Sero Campsite (or sim)
All meals included
Day 11: Lake Natron
Today you explore the highlights around Lake Natron famous for a vast numbers of flamingos and other water birds due to a high concentrate of in sodium carbonate, algae, and zooplankton. A guide takes you there and shows you the nesting places of the flamingos. You can also trek to the Ngare Sero River which flows in the Lake Natron. In contrast to the surrounding dry landscape, here you can find a small paradise. After a strenuous walk up the stream you reach the source of the river, in cascading waterfalls the river gushes out of the mountain. It is an excellent and welcoming bath in the pools under the waterfalls for a nice cool-down from the hot sun. There may be baboons or other wildlife in the gorge. Overnight at Ngare Sero Campsite at Lake Natron.
All meals included
Day 12: Longido
After breakfast we depart with the car to Longido on a partly bumpy and dusty road. En route you see many Masai villages, termite mounds, gazelle, giraffe, zebra, baboons, bee boxes, and birds such as vultures, ostrich, starlings, Cory Bustards, and kites. The transfer takes you some 4 hours. At Longido you visit a project initiated by the SNV, a eco tourism development organisation of the Netherlands. You spend the rest of the day walking around the extensive plains of Longido Mountain with lush forestation and get some insight into traditional African culture of the people living here. Overnight at the campsite at Longido.
All meals included
Day 13: Longido - Arusha
After breakfast you either do another walk or head back to Arusha with some souvenir shopping en route if you like. Enjoy a delicious meal at a nice restaurant in Arusha. Spend a leisurely afternoon in your nice lodge. Overnight at Ilboru Safari Lodge.
All meals included
Day 14: Arusha-Zanzibar
After breakfast we transfer you to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight to Zanzibar. Transfer to The Zanzibari Hotel or Ngalawa Beach Village or Matemwe Beach Village.
Breakfast and dinner included
Day 15-18: Beach Extension
Relax and enjoy the beaches of Zanzibar.
Breakfast and dinner included
Day 19: Spice Tour
After breakfast transfer to Stonetown. On the way we will do the famous Spice Tour. We have developed a special Spice Tour with in depth information not only about spices, but also organically grown herbs and a detailed description about their traditional uses in medicine cosmetics and cooking. After the tour we invite for an opulent lunch at our guides' home, where you can taste the spices and fruits. In the afternoon you have some time at leisure.
Overnight Zanzibar Coffeehouse or Dhow Palace Hotel.
Breakfast and lunch included
Day 20: Stonetown
In the morning we will show you Stone Town on our Historical Stone Town Tour. This tour takes you through fabled Stone Town, where history appears to stand still. With visits to the House of Wonders, the Palace Museum (People's Palace) and the Arab Fort amongst others, it is a fascinating look at the essence of Zanzibar. You will see Zanzibar's bustling market, winding alleyways, ornately carved and studded doors, two cathedrals and countless mosques! Rest of the day at leisure and time for own discoveries. 2nd overnight Zanzibar Coffeehouse or Dhow Palace Hotel
Breakfast included
Day 21: Departure
Transfer to Zanzibar Airport for departure.
NB –if you depart from another airport than Zanzibar we’ll arrange flight connections to your departure airport (to Dar Es Salaam also ferry boats possible)