Photo: Martha Greason Tanzania Safari - Wildlife Wonder Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 10685A Price: Deposit: $200 Capacity: 15 Leader: Martha Greason
The Trip Let’s track down the big-Five: lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, buffalo and much more! From Mt. Kilimanjaro to Ngorongoro Crater, you will continually be reaching for your cameras while observing the abundant breathtaking wildlife and scenery. We will observe the annual migration where approximately six million hooves will be pounding the open plains in search of fresh grazing.Tanzania provides all the essential elements of a classic African adventure. The largest country in East Africa and situated just south of the equator, Tanzania has a truly magnificent variety of landscapes and 12 national parks that are unsurpassed in beauty. Among its unspoiled savannah one can still find Maasai nomads and millions of wild animals. We will see the migration of wildebeests, Thomson’s gazelles and zebras, followed by their predators the lions, and crocodiles. We will see elephant, antelope, warthog, lion, cheetah, leopard and hyena. Tanzania is also a bird watcher’s paradise with too many species to list; however the beautiful lialac-breasted roller comes to mind. Our adventure will take us to the limitless expanse of the Serengeti Plain, to the misty beauty of Ngorongoro Crater and the scenic gems of Tarangiri and Arusha National Parks. We will also have opportunities to meet and interact with native people. Our safari is during one of the most exciting times in East Africa, the great migrations! We will be accompanied at all times by accomplished Tanzanian guides who will be able to teach us about the wildlife we’ll encounter. We’ll listen for the sounds of the bush as we enjoy our comfortable camps and ledges. In settings of incomparable beauty and grandeur, we will experience Africa at its finest.
Day 1: Jambo! You have just been formally greeted “hello” in Swahili. Upon evening arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, we will be met by our safari drivers. They’ll drive us 45 minutes to Arumeru River Lodge where we will have an appetizer/dinner and overnight. Day 2: We’ll take a morning game drive to Arusha National Park, the smallest of Tanzania’s parks, but also one of its most beautiful. It is bordered by Mt. Meru, 14,000 feet, on the west and Mt. Kilimanjaro, 19,400 feet, to the east. You will see many kinds of wildlife and hundreds of different species of migratory and resident birds. Overnight at Arumeru River Lodge.  Photo: Martha Greason Day 3: After breakfast, we’ll drive two hours to Tarangiri National Park, known for its baobab trees. These huge trees are called the “tree of life” as they provide shelter, food and water for animals and people. Some of the baobab have been carbon dated at 2,000 years old. Tarangiri is also famous for its elephants. While this is not the peak time for elephants in the park, there are still over 3,000 residents. In addition to numerous mammals, the park has over 300 species of birds, the highest number of breeding bird species of any habitat in Africa. Tarangiri has a large swamp that attracts birds and animals of all kinds. During the dry season, the famous giant rock pythons leave the swamp to avoid being stepped on by the herds. We’ll overnight at Tarangiri River Camp Lodge. Day 4: Tarangiri covers 1,005 square miles. We barely scratched the surface yesterday! Get ready for another exciting game drive. We will return to overnight at Tarangiri River Camp Lodge.  Photo: Martha Greason Day 5: After breakfast, we will depart for Manyara National Park where we will spend the evening. Manyara is located along the western edge of the Great Rift Valley. The entrance to the park is a rain forest fed by underground springs and is home to baboons, monitor lizards, leopards, pythons and a tremendous variety of birds. We hope to see the famous tree-climbing lions as this is one of the few places they are found. The heart of the park is a large soda lake where flamingos, waterfowl, and hippos abound. Day 6: We’ll devote this day to a combination of game drives and hiking in the Manyara area and then proceed directly to Ngorongoro Crater for dinner and overnight. Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater has been referred to as the Garden of Eden, and it will not disappoint you. Measuring over 100 square miles, the crater represents every micro-climate found in Tanzania. We will enjoy a full day’s game drive in the crater, leaving the lodge early in the morning to enjoy the early light and the higher activity level of the predators. The crater wildlife remains constant during the year, as most animals find no need to migrate elsewhere. The crater boasts a huge number of hyenas and the densest population of animals in any Tanzanian park. Black rhinos are usually seen, and the elephant population consists of very old and extremely large bulls. We will overnight again at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge. Day 8: We’ll depart after breakfast for Serengeti National Park. Along the way, we will stop at Oldupai Gorge, the famed archaeological sites of Mary and Louis Leakey. Standing at the top of the gorge envisioning early man evokes a feeling of returning home to the birthplace of humankind, quietly reminding us that we are all related. We will then continue to the Serengeti, enjoying our first sight of this “endless plain” as we arrive at our private classic mobile campsite (see accommodations).  Photo: Martha Greason Days 9 – 11: We’ll enjoy the first of many game drives in one of the most famous wildlife preserves in the world, The Serengeti National Park. The park’s name is derived from the Maasai word “siringet” which means “endless plains”. Within an area of 5,700 square miles, we’ll find a staggering animal population of about four million, including incredible herds of zebra, wildebeest, and other grazing animals. Each day will feature game drives with different animals and surprises. The skill and experience of our driver guides will be obvious as they find exciting animal viewing opportunities. After these excursions we will be met back at camp with cold beverages, appetizers, hot showers, a gourmet meal and a crackling campfire.  Photo: Martha Greason Days 12 – 13: We’ll enjoy our last Serengeti game drive as we travel eastward. Later, we will check in at Bouganvila Lodge, then walk to a nearby village and visit the Iraqw tribe. We will have an opportunity to see their way of life and learn why they settled in the Karatu area. The next day we will travel to Lake Eyasi to visit the Hadzapi and WaToga tribes of the region. The Hadzapi are Tanzania’s Bushmen, still speaking in clicks and numbering less than 600 individuals at this point. The WaToga are pastoralists, like the Maasai, living in the lake region.  Photo: Martha Greason Day 14: We will travel back to Arusha stopping for souvenirs and a hot lunch at the Cultural Heritage Center. Then it is back to the Arumeru River Lodge where we began our adventure. We will share day rooms where we can prepare for the trip home and have an appetizer/dinner before proceeding to the airport. Karibu sana! You have just been kindly thanked in Swahili. Getting There Participants will need to book a flight from the US to Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania. The flight will require a transfer in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, since KLM is the only airline that currently flies into Arusha. You can also fly into Nairobi, Kenya, and then transfer to a short flight to Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania. This will require a Kenyan visa and also a taxi transfer from the international airport in Nairobi to a local airport across town. Since there is only one airline that flies into Tanzania, it is advisable to commit to this trip as soon as possible so that you can then purchase your airline tickets. Since this trip occurs during high season, the limited less expensive seats will sell quickly. Airfares will increase as time progresses, and one takes the chance of not being able to get a seat at all.
A large canopy will be set up as the dining/food area. Food is fresh, well-prepared and tasty. Most of the dishes are western or European style with some African meals included. Most meals will be served at the table or will be buffet style. Basic vegetarian diets can be accommodated. Please check with the leader regarding other dietary requirements.
No special conditioning is required for this safari. We will ride in vehicles with a maximum of five to seven persons in each vehicle, each person having access to a window and roof hatch. There will be the inevitable inconveniences and difficulties associated with travel in a developing country. It is important to accept Tanzania on its own terms, with a sense of adventure and good humor. On rare occasions the itinerary may need to change somewhat due to unforeseen circumstances.
Conservation Twenty-five percent of Tanzania’s land (over 95,000 square miles) has been set aside for wildlife parks, reserves, and game areas. This is probably more than any other country on earth. However, Tanzania’s economic resources for rangers, roads, research and administration of these lands is meager, and illegal poaching and hunting still take their toll on wildlife. The integrity of national parks and wildlife reserves is also being threatened as the need for land and food increases.There are many projects going on in Tanzania today to help solve these problems. Ngorongoro Crater is part of the extensive Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which is a pioneering effort in multipurpose land, allowing for the protection of animals and the continuation of tribal lifestyles at the same time. Also, there are several animal research projects in the field, including the world’s longest-running research project, the Serengeti Lion Project, which began in the l960s. One of our conservation objectives will be to try to understand the challenges that Tanzania faces in continuing to support such a large national park system. Tourist dollars are a major source of revenue, so by coming to see these magnificent animals and their habitats, we are helping to ensure their future. That said, we will become aware of both the positive and negative consequences of tourism in a country like Tanzania.
This trip requires a $200 per-person deposit. An additional payment of $300 per person is due six months prior to trip departure. International trip prices are subject to change and are based on double-occupancy or group accommodations as described above. Single rooms may not be available or may cost more than the listed price. If you have any questions regarding double occupancy, please contact the trip leader. See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner. The Sierra Club accurately and fairly budgets and prices our trips. However, unforeseen costs such as devaluation of the dollar compared to other currencies and fuel surcharges assessed by our international providers may necessitate adjustment in trip price. We will make every effort to mitigate and absorb these fees. If a price increase is necessary, however, you will have 14 days after announcement to cancel without penalty.
 Marti Greason began leading Sierra trips 10 years ago on the east coast of Florida. She has led folks to different areas of the USA and abroad. She like to expose travelers to new landscapes and different cultures. Marti has traveled to Europe, the Orient and Holy Land. Her modes of travel range from backpacking to business travel. She lives in Tucson, AZ where she is a docent at Tohono Chul Park. You can enjoy the unique and diverse wonders of Tanzania including natural world heritage sites with Marti. Feel free to contact Marti if you have questions and are interested in this trip. Email: marti-ann@comcast.net General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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