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Kenya Most Romantic | Photographers Paradise - Kenya
Photographers Paradise - Tanzania | Tanzania Most Romantic | Wildest Most Remote Places

Tanzania is famous for being one of the best wildlife destinations in the world, yet it has much more to offer. Bounded on the east by the lovely shores of the Indian Ocean where sapphire seas and coral sands provide idyllic beaches, the western boundary is Lake Tanganyika, Africa's longest and deepest lake. The biggest and best feature highly in Tanzanian geography - Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, lies on its border with Kenya and there is little to touch the thrill of observing the snow-capped peak revealing itself from behind the often heavy cloud-cover. What is more, the Selous, Tanzania's untouched, and little visited, wilderness is the largest game reserve in Africa.

Tanzania has much more than wildlife but there are few places where nature is so unbounded. As Julius Nyerere, the first president of Tanzania said "These wild creatures amid the wild places they inhabit are.....a source of wonder and inspiration".

RATES 2008:
LOW SEASON :11598.00 per person twin share, and 1775.00 per person single supp
HIGH SEASON :14097.00 per person twin share, and 1989.00 per person single supp

(closed april 15-may 31 2008)

Please check for seasonality.

ITINERARY AT A GLANCE

ITINERARY DETAILS

Day 1 Arusha
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro airport you will be met by a Grumeti Expenditions representative who will meet and assist you before transfer to your hotel situated in the shadow of Mount Meru, the second highest mountain in Tanzania. It is an attractive town that is both a center for agriculture and the main safari base to the northern parks. All meals at your lodge with Overnight at Hatari Lodge LDBB.

Day 2 Arusha
Today spend full day in your hotel with activities at your lodge with day at leisure with all meals being served at your lodge with overnight at Hatari Lodge LDBB.

Day 3 Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Breakfast, check out and met by our 4x4 safari vehicles and driver guide and proceed on safari to the Ngorongoro Crater, the largest intact caldera in the world. Its enduring charm stems from its overwhelming beauty and the abundance of wildlife permanently resident on the crater floor. Arrive at your lodge located on the rim of the crater intime for lunch. After lunch spend the afternoon at leisure at your luxury lodge enjoying the view of the crater from your lodge balcony until time for dinner and Overnight at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge LDBB.

Day 4 Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Early breakfast at your lodge, then descend the crater for a half-day tour of the crater. You will enjoy the spectacular views of the largest intact caldera in the world which contains the most incredible variety and density of wildlife, including elephant, lion, rhino, leopard, wildebeest and buffalo. The soda lake inside the crater attracts flamingo and pelicans. Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. Overnight at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge LDBB.

Day 5 Lake Manyara National Park
Breakfast, checkout and drive from Ngorongoro Crater to Lake Manyara National Park, one of the Rift Valley's numerous alkaline lakes, which apart from its abundant bird life, is known for its tree-climbing lions. Arrive intime for lunch at your luxurious lodge located inside Manyara National Park, after lunch afternoon at leisure followed by late afternoon game drive at this park to return early before sunset intime for dinner and Overnight at Lake Manyara Tree Lodge LDBB.

Day 6 Lake Manyara National Park
Today spend full day in Lake Manyara National Park with morning and afternoon game drives with all meals being served at your lodge with all meals being served at your lodge with Overnight at Lake Manyara Tree Lodge LDBB.

Day 7 Serengeti National Park
Early breakfast, check out and transferred to Lake Manyara airstrip for your scheduled flight to Sasakwa departing at 0840hrs. On arrival at 1000hrs at Sasakwa you will be met by camp vehicles and transferred to your lodge for check-in followed by lunch. After lunch afternoon game activities at your lodge with Dinner and Overnight at Sasakwa Lodge LDBB.

Day 8 Serengeti National Park
Game activities + all meals with Overnight at Sasakwa Lodge LDBB.

Day 9 Serengeti National Park
Game activities + all meals with Overnight at Sasakwa Lodge LDBB.

Day 10 Serengeti National Park
Game activities + all meals with Overnight at Sasakwa Lodge LDBB.

Day 11 Departure
Breakfast at your lodge with morning activities before transfer to the local airstrip for your scheduled flight to Arusha departing at 1015hrs. On arrival at 1230hrs in Arusha airport you will be met by a Grumeti Expenditions representative and transferred to Kilimanjaro airport for your onward departure flight. A Grumeti Expenditions Representative will reconfirm your flight and assist you to check-in.

The Package Includes:

2Nights Hatari Lodge (Includes: Accommodation, 3 meals, tea & coffees, mineral water in the rooms & on the activities,
House wines during meals, concession fees & community fees)
2Nights Ngorongoro Crater Lodge (Includes: Accommodation, 3 meals, tea + coffee, all soft drinks, beers, local brand spirits & house wine, laundry & Emergency medical evacuation insurance)
2Nights Lake Manyara Tree Lodge (Includes: All soft drink,, beers, local brand spirits, laundry & house wine, teas & coffees, refreshments on safari & guided safaris, Accomodation, 3 meals daily & emergency medical evacuation insurance)
4Nights Sasakwa Lodge Package (Includes Accommodation, beverages including premium wines, spirits, liqueurs and champagne, game drives, airstrip transfers, laundry, walking, cycling and horse riding)
Arrival and departure airport transfers
All meals as specified in the Itinerary
All game drives as per itinerary
All park entrance fees as per itinerary
Transport in VA 4x4 Safari Vehicle & lodge shared 4x4 safari vehicles in Sasakwa
Services of a qualified English Speaking Driver Guide
1 Litre bottle of mineral water per person per day while on a road safari in a VINTAGE AFRICA vehicle

The Package Excludes:

All International Flights + Taxes
Visas
Travel & Personal accident insurance
Tips & personal expenses such as telephone calls...etc.
Excursions not detailed in above program

Included flights:

Scheduled flights Manyara - Sasakwa on day 07
Scheduled flights Sasakwa - Manyara on day 11

Added Value:

Vintage Africa Gift Pack
Complimenmtary 188 pages Vintage Africa Safari Guide covering the whole of East Africa
Complimentatry Vintage Africa Safari Pouch with a pen
Complimentary Vintage Africa Hat

Optional services:

 USD 25.00 Per person Flying Doctor Rescue & Evacuation Service (Subject to change and vendor terms & conditions).

NB: FLIGHT COST IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.

ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION

Hatari Lodge

Hatari Lodge is a superb Tanzania safari lodge, situated only one kilometre from the old Momella Lodge. Hatari Lodge offers informative and interesting game drives and guided walks in Arusha National Park, airport transfers, making it an ideal base for Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru climbers.

The main building of Hatari Lodge also has elevated terraces to the front of the building appointing Mount Meru in the morning for breakfast and another terrace appointing the meadow with the clearest and nearest view of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The latter terrace of this Tanzania safari lodge is used for lunch as well as sundowners from the bar that you access from inside or outside.

Hatari Lodge accommodates their guests in 3 houses, 2 of which are guest houses, are nestled into a spectacular landscape. Hatari Lodge offers Tanzania lodge accommodation in 10 comfortably furnished rooms, each with an open fireplace and a spacious en-suite bathroom. Each room has been furnished and decorated in authentic 60s and 70s style.

The farm building of this Tanzania lodge accommodation serves as a large central living and dining room. Here you will find comfortable relaxation and dining areas with a pizza oven, where guests will enjoy delicious home cooked meals. Sitting around the open fireplace, guests will be entertained with inside information about the land and its people, and the history of the property.

At this Tanzania lodge accommodation you will also find a long bar, which can be accessed from both inside or outside, as well as a small, but excellent, library. The breakfast terrace, bordered by sweet smelling Acacias, offers an impressive view of Mount Kilimanjaro. Directly below the terrace, lies the Momella clearing, which can also be reached via a boardwalk.

This Tanzania lodge accommodation has a viewing platform that offers the opportunity to watch animals from close by, and to enjoy classic sundowners, with Mount Kilimanjaro or Mount Meru in the background. Every day Buffalo and Waterbuck feed there, Warthogs dig around in the ground for food, or mow the lawn, and numerous Giraffes come to visit at the doors of the lodge.

Sometimes a complete herd of game visit which is an excellent opportunity for any photographer. Depending on the season, Elephants welcome guests, and at the full moon, with a little bit of luck, Leopards, Genets and Civets may be seen. In the trees around this Tanzania lodge accommodation, there are Bush babies almost 365 nights of the year. The 'Hippo Pool', a small lake inhabited permanently by Hippopotami, is very near, approximately a 15 minute walk.

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

Once the site of the British Governor's private hunting lodge, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge perches on the rim of the ancient volcanic crater, one of the wonders of the natural world. Designed to be all but invisible from the crater itself, the lodge is perfect post-modern architecture, referring to past styles yet adapting them to its own purpose.  Externally it is a wonderfully stylised Masai village sitting handsomely, yet unobtrusively, within the landscape. Within, a gloriously baroque decorative style forms an opulent and entirely delightful interior, featuring antiques, African art and English country house furnishings in perfect harmony.

There are three separate Camps - North, South and Tree Camp. The latter is smaller and more intimate in feel. All have their own drawing rooms, and dining rooms which, in the evenings, are transformed into sets from a fairytale. Wooden panelling shines softly and fabulous silver screens, constructed like scaled-up armour flank the log fire. Bright white napery and glittering crystal entice, copper chafing dishes on the console table glow pinkly by the light of many candles. Overhead, gilded roundels reflect the lustre of the chandeliers.

The suites are absolutely superb. Romantic, intimate, even secretive, they have vast bowls of red roses, shimmering silks, polished woods and views over the crater that will make you swoon. They are tended by a personal butler, who will bring you tea in bed, stoke your fire and even draw your bath, scattering the water with rose petals, ready for your return from safari and lavish picnic. You may even lie in your bath and gaze through the floor-to-ceiling window at the crater below, where some of the last black rhino are protected, black maned lions stalk the grasslands, and the greatest permanent concentration of game in Africa lies waiting for you. Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is supremely glamorous, wonderfully stylish and makes a dreamily luxurious break in your safari tour.

Lake Manyara Tree Lodge

Lake Manyara Tree Lodge is the newest lodge in the CC Africa portfolio and replaces Maji Moto in Lake Manyara National Park. This environmentally sensitive lodge nestles within an ancient Mahogany forest located 1km from the lake's shores. Incorporating traditional CC Africa values of exclusivity, high quality and contemporary African style, the lodge boasts just 10 spacious and elegantly furnished tree-houses which cradle in the boughs of the mahogany trees, offering guests intimacy and privacy in secluded woodland where wildlife wanders freely. Built from traditional materials sourced locally and decorated in natural hues, each tree house boasts wooden floors and walls, an enormous double bed surrounded by mosquito netting, contemporary furnishings celebrating local bird life, an outdoor shower and a private deck for outdoor relaxation.  Butler service is also included. Meals could be served either on the private deck of the Tree house or inside a Boma  (traditional African enclosure) where fine food is cooked in front of the guests using traditional ovens and methods. Delicious picnics and sundowners are also taken on the lakeshore where buffalo, giraffe, elephant and spectacular birdlife often congregate.This was once the haunt of big game hunters such as Hemingway. Now skilled guides in 4x4 vehicles set out to explore the scenic wilderness beyond. Famous for its tree-climbing lions which drape themselves over thorn trees to catch cool breezes, the reserve also boasts elephant, crocodile, hippo, impala, giraffe and monkey amongst others. Manyara is renowned for its birdlife; there are at least three hundred and forty species including the flamingos for which it is famous. Nature  walks are conducted by guides with excellent knowledge of the Manyara  eco-system. At Lake Manyara Tree Lodge you will find a jungle retreat par excellence.

Sasakwa Lodge

Sasakwa Hill Lodge rambles along a rocky promontory perched above the rolling plains. It is among the most deluxe accommodations ever built in East Africa. The entrancing view from on high is an ever-changing tapestry of grasslands, clouds and wildlife as they move across the landscape. The view within of long elegant hallways and inviting sitting rooms is faithful to the architecture and furnishings of the most colonial era homes. Were Karen Blixen, the author of Out of Africa, to arrive at Sasakwa today, she would recognize a spot imbued with the same aesthetic that she lavished on her beloved home in the Ngong Hills outside Nairobi.

Each air-conditioned guest cottage has been sited for complete privacy amongst landscaped gardens. All have a private heated plunge pool. Your bedroom, drawing toom and bath welcome you with luxury and quiet comfort. Both the main lodge and your suite have a selection of books - many of them leather-bound first editions-that will deepen and enrich your experience of African wildlife and culture. The wood-panelled library, card room, billiards room, bar and lounge make you feel that you have stopped in for a visit to one of the exclusive clubs of colonial times. For more modern diversions and communications, there is wireless internet and wide-screen video so that you can watch classic or current movies.

The menu features succulent range-fed beef, lamb, chicken and pork. Seafood is flown in daily, directly from fishing boats that ply the teeming waters of the Indian ocean. Many vegetables are fresh picked from our own gardens, and the wine cellar is stocked with the great vintages if Europe, America, Australia and South Africa.

When you are not viewing wildlife, you may play a few sets of tennis or lawn croquet or hone your skills in the archery pavilion, or just relax by the pool, taking in the thrilling view of the Serengeti. With a fully staffed and equipped spa you may enjoy a daily workout or luxuriate in a massage and aromatherapy session.

Horse fanciers may plan their stay around the most complete program in Africa. The Equestrian Centre is the finest in the African bush, home to sixteen superb animals: a mix of polo ponies, thoroughbreds and warm-blood sport horses. Guests have the choice of riding along a track positioned at the top of Sasakwa Hill, or for those more experienced riders, an unforgettable horse safari on the plain.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area
In the Great Rift Valley, that great schism in the earth's crust, lies the wonderful Ngorongoro Crater, one of the wonders of the natural world. It is an extinct volcano that collapsed in on itself around 25 million years ago thus forming a vast superbowl where the largest permanent concentration of African game is on display.

The central bowl, the caldera, has sides roughly 1,950 feet high and a flattish centre with a diameter of about ten miles. The views from the top of the crater wall are absolutely breathtaking. The crater walls are forested but four wheel drive vehicles will take you down into this primeval paradise of woodland, lake, river, swamp and plain that shelters around 20,000 animals. Many of these are the large grazing animals such as wildebeest, buffalo, gazelle and zebra who depend on the open grasslands in the crater. These attract the attendant predators, the black-maned lion, the leopard and hyena. The elephant found within the caldera tend to be the lone males who have left the herds in the forested crater rim.

When the water stocks are low elsewhere the animals within this micro-world turn to the swamps for fresh water and food. Elephants feed on the giant sedges and hippo wallow in the pools. The Fever Tree forests shelter monkeys, bushbuck and waterbuck and the few black rhino that have taken refuge here. A soda lake, fed by the Munge river attracts water birds, including flamingos and is a favourite place for predators to make their kill. Wildly beautiful as it is, it is not surprising that Ngorongoro Crater has been called a Garden of Eden.

The conservation area also encompasses several other volcanos, one of which, Oldonyo Lengai, is still live. You may struggle to the top, if you wish, to gaze into its open and sulphurous maw but many prefer to admire from afar. One of the most fascinating attractions in the area is the Olduvai Gorge, where an old river has carved away the rock to expose layer upon layer of volcanic soil. This is where Dr Louis and Mary Leakey found the remains of hominids "Nutcracker Man" and "Toolmaking Man". The "Cradle of Mankind" now has a visitor centre where you may hear a short lecture on the the work of the Leakeys and their successors and a small museum where you may see some of their finds, including a giant giraffe - it is hard to believe that they were once even taller!

Serengeti National Park
George Adamson, co-raiser of Elsa the lioness, and husband of "Born Free" author Joy Adamson, visited the Serengeti in the early sixties and describes the experience in "Pride and Joy", his autobiography. At this time he considered it probably the greatest of all game reserves in Africa and one man was mainly responsible - Bernhardt Grzimek, Director of Frankfurt Zoo. The Serengeti had suffered terribly from over-zealous hunting in the 1930's and from large-scale killing of game during the war. Grzimek applied himself to the tensions between Maasai need for grazing and the indigenous wildlife. He and his son carried out a massive survey, using planes to quantify the game, and identifying and logging the plantlife. He used his best-seller "Serengeti Shall Not Die" to raise funds and publicise the exercise. Thanks to the Grzimeks, and to John Owen who established a renowned scientific research establishment there, the Serengeti still has an amazing concentration of wildlife.

The 14,763 square kilometres of the Serengeti are probably most famous for being the southern end of the Great Migration. Every year over 1.5 million animals, mostly wildebeest but also zebra and Thompson's gazelle, follow their instincts and move through the western corridor on their 1000 kilometre journey to the fresh grazing of the Masai Mara. Predators pick off the weak, the laggardly and the young and crocodiles feast as the vast herd crosses the rivers but they continue their trek, as they have done since time immemorial. This is one of the earth's great sights - but it is by no means all the Serengeti has to offer.

The vast, flat central plains, made fertile by the ashes of the none volcanos of the Ngongoro highlands, are places of huge skies, of shimmering heat hazes, yet also of delicate wild flowers blooming after the rains. The savannah, sprinkled with Acacia Tortilis, has majestic termite mounds and rock formations called kopjes which make great vantage points for predators. The lion are abundant, the leopard are plentiful (yet still secretive) and black rhino and cheetah both breed here. There are more than 500 species of bird and, interestingly, 100 sub-species of dung beetle - a sign of a varied animal population! Ndutu, in the south, has small lakes where you may see hippo and water birds. Perhaps one of the best ways to see the Serengeti is a hot air balloon ride when, in the cool of the early morning, you may admire the grandeur, the vastness and the stunning landscape. page 100 of g. adamson - serengeti shall not die - Bernhardt Grzimek, Director of Frankfurt zoo.

Luggage:
PLEASE be reminded that the luggage allowance on our schedule flights is strictly 15KGS PER PERSON and that SOFT BAGS are highly recommended, if not essential.  In light aircraft the baggage area and weight allowance is limited. Hard Samsonite type suitcases do not fit into the cargo compartment easily, if at all. Due to limited space available for storage in safari vehicles, we strongly recommend use soft duffle bags rather than hard suitcases.

Contact Cindi at Africa Discovery to reserve your spot!

For more information
Contact:
Africa Discovery
@
1-800-886-7321 • phone: (415) 444-5100 • fax: (415) 444-5560
or
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