Day 1 – Arrive Arusha (via Nairobi or Mt. Kilimanjaro International) and transfer to Moivaro Coffee Plantation Lodge for your first overnight. You’ll have a “meet and greet” safari briefing upon arrival or the following morning before starting your first game drive.

Hilltops in the area offer astounding views down into the river, which provides the only permanent water supply in Maasai land. The area supports a great diversity of wildlife, including giraffe, buffalo, lesser kudu, eland, oryx and zebra. Lion, leopard and cheetah are also present in the area. Up to 6.000 elephants inhabit Tarangire in the dry season. Lunch,, dinner and overnight at your private Naipenda Camp.

We’ll carry a picnic lunch from our camp to make the most of our day. Dinner and overnight at our private Naipenda Camp.

Day 4 – Today we depart for Lake Eyasi with picnic lunches. After breakfast we'll drive across the floor of the Great Rift Valley through Mto wa Mbu. After climbing the Rift Valley escarpment we will reach the village of Karatu where we'll take a rough road to Lake Eyasi.

We will spend the remainder of the day exploring on foot this rugged landscape, which is still inhabited by a small group of Bushmen: The Hadzabe or Watindiga, who still live in bands, hunting with bows and arrows; gathering roots, tubers and wild fruits, just as they did thousands of years ago. We’ll overnight in the area (weather permitting) or in the Ngorongoro area. Dinner and overnight in our private Naipenda Camp.

Or upon request, we can visit a Maasai Village in the area.. Dinner and overnight at our private Naipenda Camp.

Day 6 – Today we take the full day to visit Ngorongoro Crater. World Heritage Sight and often called the 8^th Wonder of the World, Ngorongoro is a sunken caldera , 10 by 12 miles in diameter.

Animals are found throughout the year due to the permanent availability of grass and water. Ngorongoro is one of the most spectacular game haunts in Africa, and contains an impressive variety of wildlife including black mane lion, the highly endangered black rhino; herds of wildebeest, zebra, elephant, and hippo, We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch within the crater, returning to our Naipenda Camp in time for a relaxing dinner.

During the migration, literally hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra can be seen making their way across this magical plain. In February-March they concentrate at the Ndutu and Salei plains, where the calving season takes place, attracting the attention of predators like lion, cheetah and hyena.

Day 12 – After an early farewell breakfast, we drive back to Arusha, enjoying a picnic lunch along the way. Arrangements can be made for flights to Arusha from the Serengeti as well as a day-use room for your flight preparations. You’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home or continuing arrangements. 

Five passenger Toyota Land Cruisers with pop-up shaded cover for excellent game viewing and photography. Guaranteed window seat for all passengers. All vehicles are fitted with: mobile radios, carry mammal, bird and plant guidebooks, sand bags for stability of photography, cooler for water and soft drinks, first-aid kits, and two spare tires. An auxiliary vehicle will transport all camping gear and camp personnel. A satellite telephone will accompany each group.

Our small camps ensure the minimum impact on the environment. We settle in the very best locations depending on animal movement. The tents sleep two persons, (12'X19'X8'), and contain two cots, fresh linen, blankets, towels, washbasin, mirror, toilet and shower. There is also a cooking and dining tent. Each camp is hosted by a camp manager, a chef, waiters and attendants.

Spectacular game viewing can be found in Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. Cultural visits to the Hadza and Datoga tribes in Lake Eyasi, Mto wa Mbu village and Olduvai Gorge. Guests will also have the opportunity to walk with Maasai in Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Highlands and with the Waikoma in Serengeti.

We recommend you read Peter Matthiessen's "The Tree Where Man Was Born" before departing for Africa. It will give you great insight into the Hadza and other tribes of Africa.

Our guides are some of the best trained in the business - personable and well-spoken, they are resourceful in many ways. They love to share their experiences and culture. No mileage limits are imposed on our guides, so they have the freedom to follow game and distant tribal activities. They have a never-ending desire to observe animals and birds, being the first out and the last to return when game driving.

THE MEALS:

Delicious three-course meals, prepared in the open and served in a spacious dining tent. They include a selection of salads (washed in boiled water), soups, meats, fish, vegetables, pastas, rice, fresh fruits and cakes. Menus are available for those with special needs if we are alerted 30 days in advance.