Embark on an unforgettable adventure in Tanzania searching for the African “big five” and gaining insights into the culture of the indigenous Maasai. Discover the epic, wildlife-rich Ngorongoro Crater and the rippling golden plains of the Serengeti; tour a Maasai village; and explore the area around the Olduvai Gorge, which has been occupied by humans—and their earliest ancestors—for almost two million years.
Travel Style
National Geographic Journeys
Service Level
Upgraded
Physical Grading
2 - Light
What's Included
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Serengeti Wildlife Research Centre Lecture, Serengeti National Park
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Clean Cookstove Project Talk, Mto wa Mbu
Your G for Good Moment: Mto wa Mbu Community Visit and Lunch, Mto wa Mbu
Your G for Good Moment: Clean Cookstove Project Visit, Mto wa Mbu
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group. Arrival transfer. Wildlife safari drives in Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, and Serengeti National Park. Entrance to Olduvai Gorge Museum. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
What are the main highlights of this trip?
Visit the G Adventures-supported Clean Cookstoves Project, Embark on numerous wildlife safari drives, Enjoy the African sunset over scenic Lake Eyasi, Meet the researchers and scientists at the Serengeti Wildlife Centre
How large will the group be?
Max 6, Avg 5.
What meals are included in this trip?
6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
What are the modes of transportation on my trip?
7-seat 4x4 safari vehicle, walking.
Is there an extra cost for travelling solo?
We believe single travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and single travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Where will we stay during the trip?
Hotels – 2 nts, safari lodge – 1 nt, comfortable tented camp – 3 nts.
Itinerary
Arusha
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included. Our trips throughout Kenya and Tanzania have a maximum group size of six travellers in addition to an Expedition Leader and a driver who are both trained safari guides. That means everyone gets a window seat and twice the insight about the astounding wildlife all around you.
Arusha/Lake Manyara National Park
This morning, make your way to Mto wa Mbu, a vibrant settlement of Tanzania’s diverse tribal groups. Take a guided walk through the rural town, visiting the local market and meeting artisans in their workshops; then sit down for a traditional lunch with a local family. Continue to the Rift Valley escarpment and settle into our safari camp, located at the edge of Lake Manyara National Park. Set out on our first safari drive to discover East Africa’s legendary wildlife, searching for lions, elephants, hippos, giraffes, and more. This western wall of the Rift Valley escarpment is truly stunning. It provides a backdrop for your search of the park's bird life, tree-climbing lions, elephants, hippos, and baboons. The afternoon is spent viewing wildlife along the main road that winds through a lush, cool forest that’s dominated by large ficus trees covered in bromeliads and ferns.
Lake Manyara National Park/Serengeti National Park
Travel through the breathtaking Rift Valley en route to our safari camp in Serengeti National Park. Enjoy a stop along the way at the Olduvai Gorge Museum and Visitor’s Centre—located near the site where National Geographic archaeologists Louis and Mary Leakey discovered early hominid fossils and stone tools in 1960. From here, continue to the world-famous Serengeti National Park and head out on a late afternoon safari drive across the Serengeti Plain, keeping an eye out for grazing giraffes, lounging lions, and herds of antelope in the golden light.
Serengeti National Park
Immerse yourself in the splendor of the Serengeti, one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife reserves. Discover the park’s iconic creatures when you set out in a 4x4 on morning and afternoon safaris through the golden grasslands. With luck, spot all of Africa’s “big five”—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo. Later, visit the Serengeti Wildlife Research Centre, and enjoy a talk by one of the visiting researchers.
Serengeti National Park/Ngorongoro
Depart from the Serengeti early and travel across the vast savanna to the Ngorongoro Conservation area. Spanning more than 20 kilometres in diameter, the Ngorongoro Crater is the largest non-flooded caldera in the world and is inhabited by some 25,000 animals. Set out on a full-day safari drive into the Ngorongoro Crater and observe the biodiversity and resident wild animals in this incredibly important location to the conservation and protection of global wildlife. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the heart of the world’s largest caldera surrounded by Ngorongoro’s flora and fauna. Then, travel to our accommodations in Pembeni for dinner and a relaxing overnight stay in a pristine wilderness setting.
Ngorongoro/Arusha
Leave Ngorongoro behind this morning and travel from our lodge in Pembeni to a Maasai village. Here, we learn about the G Adventures–supported Clean Cookstoves Project, dedicated to providing clean-burning cookstoves to Maasai communities throughout Tanzania. Enjoy a presentation by a Maasai woman on the impact of the project, and take a guided tour of the village, visiting traditional homes or bomas and helping build a new stove. Continue to Arusha stopping en route for lunch. Spend the remainder of the day in the safari capital city of Tanzania, at your own leisure.
Arusha
Depart at any time.
Is travel insurance required for my trip?
Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your Expedition Leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy please bear in mind that all clients must have medical coverage and that we require a minimum coverage of USD 200,000 for repatriation and emergency rescue. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Terms, conditions and restrictions apply; pricing, availability, and other details subject to change and/ or apply to US or Canadian residents. Please confirm details and booking information with your travel advisor.
