11 Days Tanzania Wildlife Cultural Safari

Arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport. After clearing customs, look for your driver. They will be waiting for you, holding a sign with your name. Your driver will transport you to Moshi.

This morning drive to Arusha National Park for game viewing. The park is dominated by Mount Meru, Africa’s fifth highest mountain, 4,565m. There is a good range of animal species represented; you can expect to see hippos, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, waterbucks, and bushbucks, although more interesting sightings such as reedbucks, leopards, and hyenas are much more occasional. They are also quite alkaline and therefore provide a year-round breeding area for flamingoes.

This morning After breakfast we will collect you from Highview Hotel and drive along a scenic route to Tarangire National Parks, The beauty of the park will offer you an awesome game viewing you have never seen and during the dry season, it draws hundreds of animals to the park, making for a wildlife and bird viewing spectacular. The landscape is varied, with grassy savannah plains, swamps, hills, and spectacular baobabs. Also during the dry season Elephants abound, Families of the ancient trunks of Baobao trees strip acacia bark from the thorn trees, The Breathtaking view of the Masai steppe and mountain in the south makes a stopover at Tarangire a memorable experience, and your herds and a group of animals like Elephant, followed by Zebras, Buffalo, and oryxes who venture from Masai to the Tarangire in search of water, There are also few Lions prowling around looking for unexpecting preys around the jungle, There are more breeding species of birds found in Tarangire national park than anywhere else on the planet, Also Tarangire is traversed by the Tarangire River which never dries up being the only source of water during the dry season, late afternoon drive back for Overnight

Enjoy the day in the Karatu area, nestled between the Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara. Karatu is a colorful bustling town and a fun place to visit to buy souvenirs. After breakfast enjoy a hike to the Ngorongoro Forest. On this two-hour hike through the forested slopes of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will discover a magnificent waterfall and incredible “elephant caves” created by elephants digging up the earth to ingest the vitamin-rich soil. You may see buffalo, bushbuck, waterbuck, and baboons, also attracted by the soil. During the afternoon visit the Iraqw cultural center. The area surrounding Karatu town is Iraqw homeland and you can witness their locally developed intensive cultivation techniques. Traditionally in conflict with the Maasai, Iraqw homesteads included underground tunnels – aasimo -- in which to hide. You’ll can see these elaborate structures during a visit. During this excursion you can learn more about the Iraqw culture by interacting at the local markets and learn how they run their daily lives.

Drive to Lake Eyasi, a mildly alkaline lake about 55km long. If seeing hundreds of species of birds excites you, Lake Eyasi is a perfect destination for you to see flamingos, pelicans, spoonbills, weavers, spurfowls, storks, barbets, egrets, and more. The visit includes meeting the Hadzabe people and spending the day observing their ways. The Hadzabe is an indigenous tribe known as the hunter-gatherer Bushmen. Visit their homesteads and learn more about their lifestyle. Hunting in groups with bows and arrows, this tribe is able to survive with what the environment provides. The Hadzabe bushmen treat diseases with their own medicines. The Hadzabe speak a very unique click language. Apart from this cultural activity, the area offers superb hiking, bird watching and beautifull scenery.

Head out after breakfast for the drive to Serengeti National Park. “Serengeti” is derived from the Maasai language, meaning “endless plain.” En route to the Serengeti, you can visit a Masaai Village, a perfect place to explore the Maasai culture and even participate in some tribal activities. Or visit Olduvai Gorge, known as the Cradle of Humanity; the Museum is a testament to the long journey that humanity has made from its humble roots in East Africa to its current state as the dominant species on earth. Enjoy a game drive en route to your camp.

Relax for a full day in the Serengeti – unequaled for its beauty and home to the Great Wildebeest Migration. The huge herds of plains game, such as wildebeest, zebra, and antelope, dominate the park, while the attendant predators, such as lion and cheetah, are to be found amongst the many kopjes scattered across the plain. Its landscape varies from open grass plains in the south, savanna with scattered acacia trees in the center, hilly, wooded grassland in the north, to extensive woodland and black clay plains to the west.

Relax for a full day in the Serengeti – unequaled for its beauty and home to the Great Wildebeest Migration. The huge herds of plains game, such as wildebeest, zebra, and antelope, dominate the park, while the attendant predators, such as lion and cheetah, are to be found amongst the many kopjes scattered across the plain. Its landscape varies from open grass plains in the south, savanna with scattered acacia trees in the center, hilly, wooded grassland in the north, to extensive woodland and black clay plains to the west.

Enjoy a morning game drive en route to Ngorongoro Crater. Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for game driving and exploration. The crater is 600m deep, 16km across, and 265 sq km in area. Enjoy the spectacular scenery and game viewing in what has been described as the world’s eighth wonder. Many of Tanzania’s last remaining black rhinos can be seen grazing on the open grassland of the crater floor, surrounded by some of the 20,000 large animals that occupy the crater, including lion, cheetah, eland, zebra, and gazelle. Flamingos, among other bird species, can often be seen feeding at Makat Soda Lake. Afternoon drive to your lodge for your overnight stay.

The MtowaMbu cultural tour offers a unique and authentic experience as you explore the vibrant village located at the entryway to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. During your visit, you will encounter a remarkable mix of cultures and witness the daily life of the local tribes. Expect to stroll through the bustling MtowaMbu market, a melting pot of various ethnicities, where you can browse an array of handcrafted Maasai beadwork, colorful fabrics, and local artwork. As you venture further into the village, you will have the opportunity to interact with the welcoming locals from different tribes like the Chagga, Iraq, and Sukuma. Engage in traditional activities cultural village walk, rice and banana farm, local craftsman, banana beer brewing, and learn about their unique farming techniques, which have been passed down through generations. If you will, you can try the local meals/food and have a local lunch at a place that is trusted by the guide and fell the delicacy of the locals’ meals. One of the highlights of the tour is meeting the Maasai people, renowned for their distinctive attire and age-old customs. You'll witness their captivating traditional dances and perhaps get a chance to visit a traditional Maasaiboma (homestead) to understand their nomadic way of life and ancient herding practices. Throughout the tour, your knowledgeable guide will provide fascinating insights into the cultural significance of various practices and rituals. You can also do cycling if you have bicycles with you. Then later in the day transfer back to Hotel.

Enjoy a morning of leisure before your transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for your flight home.