Detailed Itinerary

Days 1-2  Your amazing journey begins as you depart your home country/city for the wonderful lands of Tanzania.  Depending on your travel preferences, you may spend the night at a layover destination such as London or Amsterdam (See Travel Information) or you may travel directly through to Kilimanjaro.  Once you arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport, you are greeted by a member of our team and taken to Itikoni, our wonderful private luxury camp in the Arusha National Park.  Everyone is treated to a welcome dinner giving us all a chance to get to know one another and discuss the adventures ahead.

Day 3  After some rest from your long travels, you are ready to explore Arusha National Park.  Today we have the opportunity to explore the park on foot and during a traditional game drive. 

Days 4-5  In the morning we depart Itikoni and make our way to Tarangire National Park.  Tarangire's small permanent river attracts a multitude of thirsty animals all day long.  Here you'll ease into the rhythm of the bush.  You will wake early to the chorus of the birds, spend the day exploring and observing wildlife and thrill to thrill to the roars of lions in the night.  We overnight at Tarangire Safari Lodge.

Day 6  After a wonderful breakfast we depart Tarangire and make our way to Lake Manyara National Park.  Situated at the foot of a spectacular escarpment in the Rift Valley.  The lakeshore teems with colorful water birds of every variety and here you’ll find one of the most fantastic hippo pools in Africa as well as the park’s famous tree-climbing lions.  After a wonderful picnic lunch we continue to Mysigio, our private luxury camp in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Highlands.   Great views of Lake Eyasi in the Great Rift Valley and the southern plains of the Serengeti National Park.

Day 7  Today is a day clients unanimously agree is truly unforgettable.  We leave our private camp and make our way down into the Ngorongoro Crater for a full day of game viewing.   Ngorongoro caldera is the world's largest unbroken crater.  Approximately 12 miles in diameter, the crater is home to one of the greatest concentrations of wildlife in all of Africa.  Due to it's steep walls, wildlife has lived here somewhat isolated for many years.  Here you will get a chance to view quite a variety of wildlife up close.  Prides of lions, baboons, cheetahs, elephants, ostrich, wildebeests, zebras, Gazelle, jackals, dikdiks, hippos, elephants, waterbuck, reedbuck, bushbuck, vervet monkeys, leopards, hyena and the rare, endangered black rhino are amongst the many animals that may be viewed here.  After our picnic lunch and a full day of game viewing, we return to our camp in the Ngorongoro highlands.  Time permitting, we'll return to camp in time to visit with our Maasai friends and clan leader Ole Dorop.

Day 8  Unlike the national parks, the conservation area is also still home to Maasai people who maintain their traditional pastoral lifestyle in harmony with wildlife.  Cool temperatures, opportunities to become acquainted with the Maasai, and fantastic hiking make this area ideal for exploring.  There is time today for a hike in the Ngorongoro Highlands all the way to the top of Lamakarut mountain the highest point in the highlands for those who want a stunning view of the Serengeti / Ngorongoro ecosystem.   Enjoy an Ol Pul (meat eating) festival with our new Maasai friends, visit their home and celebrate the friendship with shared song, dance and food.

Day 9  In Maasai language, Serengeti means "wide open space".  Today we descend from our camp in the Ngorongoro highlands onto the vast plains of the Serengeti, viewing game along the way.   We stop at Olduvai Museum for a short talk about the archaeological digs and a tour through the museum.  It was here that some of the earliest signs of mankind in the world were found.  Hominid footprints were preserved in volcanic rock 3.6 million years ago.  Tonight, depending upon the season, we will overnight at either the Ndutu or Serena Serengeti Lodge. 

Days 10-12  We depart our lodge and arrive at the starting point of our walking safari.  We'll go for a short orientation walk to learn about walking in the bush before continuing our journey.  The excitement builds as we begin our walking safari in the amazing lands of the Serengeti.  Our hearts beat a little more quickly as we take our first steps in these remote lands.  Many of the places we hike have not been visited by man for more than half a century!  Accompanied by our Maasai junior elder and an armed park ranger, we move slowly with our guide who interprets what you see and hear.  We gaze with unobstructed views at these amazing lands and without the noise of vehicle engines to disturb the wildlife.  Each day we stop for lunch under a shady tree or cool overhang. We overnight in our well equipped walking camp which has been setup by our staff and is waiting for us each day.  This is an African safari the way it was meant to be. 

Day 13  We meet up once again with our vehicles and enjoy a day of traditional game viewing to complete our exploration of the Serengeti and reach areas more distant than walking allows.  Tonight we overnight at our private Serengeti Mobile Luxury camp.

Days 14-15  Today is an early morning for those that have chosen to experience the magic of the Serengeti at dawn while drifting silently over it in a hot air balloon.  Participants will have the chance to dance quietly over the tops of thorn trees while looking down upon heards of wildlife as the sun rises over the Serengeti.  A truly breathtaking and heartfelt experience.  Upon touchdown we enjoy a champaign toast and breakfast before continuing our journey back to Arusha.  Once we arrive in Arusha we checked into our day rooms at the Dik Dik Hotel to allow everyone to freshen up before our farewell dinner.  After we say our farewells, everyone is returned to the Kilimanjaro International Airport for their overnight flights home arriving the next day.