We love this adventure as it incorporates the best of African Environments; luxury camps, Maasai cultural interactions and the jewel in our crown, walking in the Serengeti. This really is our favorite thing to do!
Location
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Maasai villages, the Serengeti National Park and the wonderful wilderness zones within the Serengeti National Park.
Day 1 Arrival – Moivaro Coffee Lodge – Arusha
We propose clients arrive on the evening KLM flight into Kilimanjaro International Airport from Amsterdam, it’s a fairly smooth and painless way to get to Tanzania! We meet this KLM flight and transfer clients to Moivaro Coffee Lodge for a light supper and overnight. Alternatively, we can arrange to meet clients who arrive via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam, contact us for prices and details.
Day 2 Mysigio Luxury Camp – Ngorongoro
Drive from Arusha to the Ngorongoro Highlands. The Mysigio Camp is nestled amongst the acacia forests on the southern side of the highlands. An idyllic spot away from the hustle and bustle of the crater rim, a place where the Maasai still live very traditional lives. Ole Dorop, the local Maasai chief, is our guide as we explore his hilly realm. Perhaps stopping in at a ‘boma’ or village for a chat or hiking to some of the amazing viewpoints that look over the Serengeti Plains. Overnight at our luxury tented camp, Mysigio Camp.
Day 3 Mysigio Luxury Camp – Ngorongoro
A full day in Ngorongoro Crater exploring this unique caldera, the permanent home to many animals and a great spot for getting those close up wildlife shots.
Day 4 Mysigio Luxury Camp – Ngorongoro
A full day to hike with a Maasai guide and an armed ranger, perhaps taking in the peaks of Lemagrut or a lower level walk to the Eyasi viewpoint. You will stop along the way to visit villages and talk to Maasai herders. There are stunning views from the Highlands across the vast rolling plains of the Serengeti.
Day 5 Pembezoni Camp – Serengeti National Park
Descend from the Ngorongoro Highlands and drive out across the vast Serengeti plains, game driving as you go. Seasonally we move the camp to different locations, capitalizing on the movement of the game. This camp is the same luxury sized tents as Ngorongoro with a light and airy mess to accommodate the warmer temperatures as well as a library tent filled with books, games and a shaded outdoor area ideal for relaxing.
Day 6 Pembezoni Camp – Serengeti National Park
Another full day to roam the plains in search of the herds. The wildebeest migration sweeps through the plains in a huge arc before crossing into the Maasai Mara during the dry season. Much of the other game is far more sedentary and remains in the same area year round. Overnight in the luxury tented camp.
Day 7 Walking Camp – Serengeti Wilderness Area, Serengeti National Park
Leaving the security of the game viewing tracks we head off-road into the wilderness walking areas. These areas were not visited for nearly 50 years except by the occasional ranger patrol, and they offer a view of the Serengeti as it was, unmarred by game viewing tracks and lodges. Once in camp we can go for an afternoon orientation walk remembering that here we are the intruders and we must learn to blend in if we are to get the full benefits of our visit. This section of the safari is totally exclusive, you will not see any other people whilst walking. Overnight in the Wilderness Camp
Day 8 Walking Camp – Serengeti Wilderness Area, Serengeti National Park
A full day of walking – we set off early in the cool of the morning, stopping for lunch in the heat of the day under a shady tree or a cool overhang. Walking in the Serengeti is not about covering huge distances, it is about moving slowly so as not to disturb the wildlife, peering around a rock kopjes to see a herd of impala grazing oblivious to our presence, sitting above a waterhole to watch as the game come down to drink. It’s about enjoying the smaller pleasures, finding out about the traditional medicinal properties of a tree, following the honey guide bird as it leads us to a hive and on occasion getting our hearts racing as we stalk the larger more dangerous game, buffalo and elephant or even perhaps lion. As we have walked the camp will have been taken down, moved ahead of us and re-erected in a new location This is truly a ‘safari’ – a journey – as we move though the wilderness.
Day 9 Walking Camp – Serengeti Wilderness Area, Serengeti National Park
Unlocking the secrets of this magical area, following the tracks to discover the spring that never dries even at the hottest time of year, the small glades with the flush of sweet grass and the cave that the porcupine drags the old bones into. Overnight in the Wilderness Camp again.
Day 10 Walking Camp – Serengeti Wilderness Area, Serengeti National Park
Our final day of walking, wandering amongst the towering rock kopjes that dot the area, finding the spot where the elephants dig for water in the river beds, or perhaps coming upon a lion kill. Back to your Wilderness Camp for a final night of relaxing around the camp fire under the vast, star studded African sky, listening to lions roar at each other across the plains as we settle down to sleep.
Day 11 Day rooms – KIA lodge
Drive back out of our wilderness area to the airstrip to catch the scheduled flight back to civilization in Arusha, lunch in town and a chance for some shopping before moving on to day rooms at KIA lodge. A day room and farewell dinner then off to the airport for the flight home.
Other Classic Tanzanian safari itineraries:
A little bit of what’s good for ya! 4 nights / 5 days
We think this has a little of the best of everything; some fantastic game viewing in both Ngorongoro Crater and the iconic Serengeti National Park as well as a chance to experience some of the unique cultures of Tanzania.
A week’s dream, 7 nights / 8 days
Taking in the highlights of Northern Tanzania’s safari attractions – but with our own particular style – we feel that this week off the beaten track with a mixture of game viewing, culture, and walking will give anyone and everyone a massive boost!
Have your cake and eat it too, 12 nights / 13 Days
If you have the time, this itinerary has the best of everything! Incredible wildlife, time with different cultures; both the Maasai in their vibrant red robes and herds of cattle and the Hadzabe one of the few remaining click speaking hunter gatherer tribes in Africa. Then on to the vast wilderness zones of the Serengeti for some incredible time on foot in the world’s most iconic park.
Arusha National Park and beyond, from mountains to savanna: 6 nights / 7 days
Taking in Arusha National Park – a real ‘trade secret’ – this wonderful little park featuring Mount Meru, has some great wildlife and even better walking. Then on to the stunning Ngorongoro Crater, a chance for some cultural interaction and the wild open plains of the Serengeti National Park.