Tanzania – African Safari #2 Tour

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14: OVERNIGHT FLIGHT TO TANZANIA
We begin our travels with an overnight flight from the U.S.A. to Tanzania.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15: ARUSHA
Welcome to Africa!  Upon arrival at the airport, we will be transferred to our lodge for late check-in and overnight.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16: ARUSHA
Today we will visit St. Marks Orphanage, started 39 years ago by Scottish and English Missionaries. This is a home for Maasai Children that gives them a chance to get a good education and a secure future. We will have a chance to interact with the children, learn about the education system in Tanzania and help with serving the children their prepared lunch. The Director of this Orphanage is also our tour and safari guide, Dr. Robert Marks Moshi. Relax late afternoon and evening at our lodge. (B, L, D)

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17: TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
This morning, we will visit the Cultural Heritage Center for browsing and shopping for the unique stone called Tanzanite and art and crafts from all over Africa. While here, you can also visit the Cultural Museum and the Dr. Jane Goodall Museum, then have lunch. This afternoon we are heading off in our four-wheel safari vehicle to Tarangire National Park for our afternoon game drive en route to the lodge. The Tarangire River, a permanent watercourse that cuts a swathe through the middle of the Park, allowing fantastic views along the valley.  The most eye-catching aspect is the view of baobab trees rising from the plain. These recognizable trees are leafless branches that protrude from their crown – almost as if they were the roots of a tree that was planted upside down.  (B, L, D)

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18: TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
On this day after breakfast, you will be enjoying a full-day game drive at Tarangire National Park searching for animals. Tarangire attracts a large number of animals that congregate along the banks of the river.  It’s possible to see Wildebeest, Buffalo, Zebra, Thompson's Gazelle, Eland and Hartebeest, as well as Leopard - if we’re lucky. (B, L, D)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19: LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
After an early breakfast, with picnic lunch boxes we will drive you to Lake Manyara National Park.  This National Park is one of Tanzania’s most dramatically located wildlife areas, consisting of a massive but shallow soda lake (covering two-thirds of the park), located at the foot of the Great Rift Valley’s western escarpment. The park’s varied habitat attracts a wide variety of animals, including one of Africa’s largest concentrations of elephants, Lake Manyara’s unique tree-climbing lions, as well as large flocks of flamingos attracted by the algae in the lake. (B, L, D)

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20: MTO WA MBU VILLAGE
After breakfast we drive to Esilalei to visit the Maasi people. We will learn about their culture and witness how they make their beads and other crafts. Then onto the Mto wa Mbu Area. Here we will visit the local communities that are empowering women to make a better life for their children and themselves. These women have three major projects: one for bicycles that tourists rent and take them around the village at a fee; second is the banana, rice and other fruits farms; and third is a community lunch project where they host tourists for a sumptuous local lunch. They also own the tuk-tuk rides that we will partake in to enjoy the wholesome experience of the Mto wa Mbu village. (B, L, D)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21: NGORONGORO CRATER
After early breakfast, we’ll stop for a view from the Crater’s edge and then descend into the Crater for an unforgettable game drive on the Crater floor. Ngorongoro is one of the most picturesque settings for observing wildlife. With around 30,000 resident animals, the game viewing is excellent all year round and the photographic opportunities are unrivaled! Lake Magadi, the soda lake on the floor of the Crater, is home to thousands of Flamingos. This is also one of the best places to see the endangered Black Rhino. After lunch, we will be visiting Maasai boma, enjoying learning about their lifestyle. Later we will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.  (B, L, D)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast, with picnic lunch box we head towards the Serengeti National Park, via the beautiful high lying farmland of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Leaving the highlands behind, we descend into the heart of wild Africa – the Serengeti National Park – with its endless plains, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. The Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife. (B, L, D)

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
Today we will enjoy a full day game drive in the Serengeti. Exploring the sweeping grassy plains, rocky outcrops (Kopjes) and sparsely wooded river valleys of this incomparable park where Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Wildebeest, Zebra, Giraffe, Gazelle and perhaps even Wild Dogs can be seen. There will be an optional early morning balloon ride and breakfast excursion to enjoy the vast Serengeti from the air—a remarkable experience! (B, L, D)

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24: RETURN TO ARUSHA–DEPART FOR HOME
After breakfast we fly to Arusha for a day room and lunch at our hotel. Later, we’ll be transfer to the airport for our overnight homebound flight, arriving home on Tuesday, November 25. (B, L)