Stretching for 50km along the base of the rusty-gold 600-metre high Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara is a scenic gem, with a setting extolled by Ernest Hemingway as “the loveliest I had seen in Africa”. The compact game-viewing circuit through Manyara offers a virtual microcosm of the Tanzanian safari experience.
Day after day of cloudless skies. The fierce sun sucks the moisture from the landscape, baking the earth a dusty red, the withered grass as brittle as straw. The Tarangire River has shriveled to a shadow of its wet season self. But it is choked with wildlife. Thirsty nomads have wandered hundreds of parched kilometers knowing that here, always, there is water.
Herds of up to 300 elephants scratch the dry river bed for underground streams, while migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest and eland crowd the shrinking lagoons. It's the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem - a smorgasbord for predators – and the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as the stately fringe-eared oryx and peculiar long-necked gerenuk a regularly observed. During the rainy season, the seasonal visitors scatter over a 20,000 sq km (12,500 sq miles) range until they exhaust the green plains and the river calls once more.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arusha – Tarangire. Pick up in the morning from your overnight hotel and drive to Tarangire national park for game drive till lunch time (Lunch is picnic in the park). After lunch more game drive in the park. Tarangire is famous for big herds of elephants and huge baobab trees. The park also is much wilder than Manyara and Ngorongoro and supports a good variety of flora and fauna. Dinner and overnight; Tarangire wild palm campsite.
Day 2: Tarangire National Park – M/BU Cultural Tour. Early breakfast, game drive in the park till 12:00am when you’ll stop for lunch. After lunch depart for Mto wa Mbu Village for cultural tour. Dinner and overnight; Kiboko campsite.
Day 3: M/MBU – Ngorongoro. Very early breakfast, drive to Ngorongoro crater. Descend into the crater for game drive to discover the secrets of the hidden "Garden of Eden". Game drive in the crater viewing the rare black rhinos and lots of lions and other animals. The crater also has a shallow soda lake which supports thousands of pink flamingos. A magical site for the thirsty eye! In the evening ascend to the rime and drive to Lake Manyara. Dinner and overnight; at Kiboko campsite.
Day 4: Lake Manyara – Arusha. 7:00am drive to Lake Manyara for game drive. The park lies of the floor of the Great Rift Valley. It has 5 distinct vegetation zones which supports a good variety of flora and fauna. The park is famous for tree climbing lions (Picnic lunch). More game drive in the park later on drive back to Arusha – visit souvenir on the way. Dinner and overnight Hotel of your choice – not included in the price.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
US$ 195 – 2-3 pax maximum.
Price Includes:
- All Park entry fees, Camping fees, crater fees
- 3 meals per day
- Driver/Guide
- Cook fees and allowances
- Transport including fuel for the entire safari
- Bottled mineral drinking water
Price Excludes:
- Drinks (soft or alcoholic)
- Hotels before and after safari in Arusha
- Tips to Driver/guide and Cook (highly recommended)
- Personal travel insurance
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Tanzania
Leisure Pursuit
Photography and Videography
National Parks
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