25 Day Victoria Falls, Botswana, Bwindi, and Tanzania Safari
Countries: Zimbabwe , Botswana , South Africa , Uganda , Tanzania
Destinations: Victoria Falls , Chobe National Park , Okavango Delta , Makgadikgadi Salt Pans , Johannesburg , Entebbe , Bwindi Impenetrable Forest , Arusha , Serengeti National Park , Ngorongoro Crater
Group Size: 2
Duration (days): 25
Number of Adults: 2
Number of Children: 0
An amazing journey through Southern and East Africa, visiting some of the iconic African wildife destinations
Itinerary Outline
| Day | Location | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victoria Falls | Shongwe Oasis |
| 2 | Victoria Falls | Shongwe Oasis |
| 3 | Chobe National Park | Chobe Game Lodge |
| 4 | Chobe National Park | Chobe Game Lodge |
| 5 | Okavango Delta | Camp Moremi |
| 6 | Okavango Delta | Camp Moremi |
| 7 | Okavango Delta | Camp Moremi |
| 8 | Okavango Delta | Camp Okavango |
| 9 | Okavango Delta | Camp Okavango |
| 10 | Makgadikgadi Salt Pans | Leroo La Tau |
| 11 | Makgadikgadi Salt Pans | Leroo La Tau |
| 12 | Makgadikgadi Salt Pans | Leroo La Tau |
| 13 | Johannesburg | City Lodge Hotel at O R Tambo International Airport |
| 14 | Entebbe | The Boma Hotel |
| 15 | Bwindi Impenetrable Forest | Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge |
| 16 | Bwindi Impenetrable Forest | Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge |
| 17 | Arusha | Airport Planet Lodge |
| 18 | Serengeti National Park | Ndutu Kati Kati Tented Camp |
| 19 | Serengeti National Park | Ndutu Kati Kati Tented Camp |
| 20 | Serengeti National Park | Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp |
| 21 | Serengeti National Park | Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp |
| 22 | Serengeti National Park | Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp |
| 23 | Ngorongoro Crater | Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp |
| 24 | Ngorongoro Crater | Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp |
| 25 | Day of Departure |
Day 1 : Victoria Falls
You will be met at Victoria Falls Airport and transferred to Victoria Falls town to spend 2 nights at Shongwe Oasis on a bed and breakfast basis.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe - Making its way back into the tourist market, Zimbabwe is able to offer some incredible wilderness and exciting wildlife, along with the wonder that is Victoria Falls.
Zimbabwe's political climate and issues have been well documented through the world's media, and it is no secret that tourist numbers to the country have dropped substantially.
However, everything which made Zimbabwe one of the most popular safari destinations is still available, with operators moving back into the world famous areas of Hwange, Mana Pools, the Lower Zambezi and Lake Kariba.
Victoria Falls thunders mightily on the Zambezi River, and the canoeing and rafting experiences are as exciting as ever.
The people of Zimbabwe have always been one of the major highlights, and it is particularly pleasing that tourists are filtering through the borders again, rewarding the patience of the fantastic guides and conservation workers who have remained dedicated to Zimbabwe's wildlife areas.
Victoria Falls
"Mosi Oa Tunya", or "The Smoke That Thunders", Victoria Falls are as magnificent on the 10th visit as they are on the 1st, and their thundering roar makes everything else seem strangely quiet once you leave them behind.
As the mighty Zambezi flows over a chasm of 1 mile wide, and 110 metres high, to violently crash on the rocks below, the resultant spray is sent tens of metres up into the air, before it lands back down in a continuous rainfall. The water then rushes through an opening of only 50 metres, as the Zambezi races further along, over churning rapids and through the deep Batoka Gorge.
While the Falls are the major drawcard, there is a thriving tourist industry developed around them, with adventure activities of all forms being available.
Tourism has been evident here ever since David Livingstone was the first European guided by the local tribes to this remarkable natural wonder.
Shongwe Oasis
Exclusivity, quality, and tranquility are at the heart of what Shongwe Oasis provides. The newly-opened sister lodge to the award-winning Shongwe Lookout, Oasis is an adults-only retreat complete with an on-site spa, jacuzzi, sit-in infinity pool, and a restaurant and bar area.
Situated only 2 kilometres from the majestic Victoria Falls, Oasis is exactly what the name suggests; a haven of relaxation in the heart of our beautiful town.
Victoria Falls’ first adults-only lodge offers 19 luxuriously furnished rooms set amongst stunning tropical gardens.
Head to our spa for a couple’s massage, bathing therapy, or on-site beauty care, sit back and sip your favourite cocktail in our infinity pool, or just enjoy a quiet moment in our jacuzzi before you head to dinner at our open-air restaurant.
Best of all do it knowing that you are contributing to our town and the region.
Shongwe Oasis is a proud member of Africa’s Eden, a not-for-profit collaborative company comprised of 400 members across Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Together, we work towards promoting our region, and supporting local charities, conservation organisations, and small, local businesses on the periphery of tourism.
Day 2 : Victoria Falls
This morning you will be taken on a guided walking tour of the spectacular waterfalls and you have the remainder of the day for your choice from the many cultural, wildlife, and adventure activities available, before being collected for your sunset cruise on the might Zambezi River.
See http://www.wildhorizons.co.za/see-and-do/victoria-falls/ for some more information on the activities available and their prices.
Victoria Falls Guided Walking Tour of Waterfalls (Zimbabwe)
It’s a truly awe-inspiring experience – the sight, the sound, the smell; the humbling feeling that here indeed is a masterpiece of nature. This tour is conducted in the morning and afternoon. You will be accompanied through the Rainforest by a qualified guide who will give a brief history of the Falls themselves as well as detailing the flora, fauna, bird & wildlife and other points of interest such as the “Big Tree” and the statue of David Livingstone. Guides are also happy to assist you with photographs whilst visiting this most spectacular of waterfalls. Raincoats are provided when needed.
Zambezi Explorer Sunset Cruise
At the end of the day, cruise upstream in the three decked Zambezi Explorer to celebrate the setting African sun, meandering through the islands, enjoying the abundant wildlife along the banks of the Zambezi River. Share in the end-of-day ritual which sees wild herds streaming to the riverbanks for their last drink. Flocks of birds skim the waterline as the sun sets. Enjoy our range of cocktails served with an accompaniment of delectable hors d’ oeuvres. Bring a camera and create your own golden memories. The cruise leaves from the Zambezi River Cruise Terminal and will take approximately 2 hours.
Day 3 : Chobe National Park
After breakfast you will be transferred across the Botswana border to Chobe Game Lodge to spend 2 nights on a fully inclusive basis. Set out this afternoon on a sundowner cruise on the Chobe River or a game drive exploring the Chobe area.
Botswana
Well known as one of the great safari destinations in Africa, Botswana offers some of the most beautiful, luxurious, and active safari experiences in Africa.
A Botswanan safari can never be long enough, and never experienced often enough. Although one of the flattest countries you will ever visit, Botswana is blessed with an incredible variety of landscapes and eco-systems.
It is the very flatness of Botswana which has created some of the world's most special wilderness areas, and exploring the Kalahari, Okavango Delta and Makgadikgadi Salt Pans rewards you with memories for a lifetime.
Easily accessible from Johannesburg, and simply combined with Victoria Falls, Botswana needs to be on your safari list if you are planning a visit to Southern Africa.
As soon as you land in Maun or Kasane, you will know that you have arrived in a country which operates like nothing you have experienced before.
With the warthogs running through the streets of Kasane, and the hippos grunting in the Chobe River, your welcome to Botswana is one which tells you straight away you are in Africa's wilds.
Chobe National Park
Accessed easily via a 1.5 hour flight from Johannesburg, or a 1 hour drive from Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park is the most visited park on a Boswana safari itinerary.
With an enormous elephant population, as well as magnificent birdlife and a huge array of herbivores and aquatic animals, it is often hard to believe that Chobe National Park is for real.
The game viewing starts from the moment you land at Kasane Airport, or drive across the border from Zambia or Zimbabwe, with warthogs foraging in the streets, buffalo being habitual visitors to the town, and hippos lazing around in the river.
Chobe Game Lodge
The only permanent game lodge situated on the banks of the Chobe River within the famous Chobe National Park, Chobe Game Lodge is Botswana’s premier venue for guests looking for a perfect base from which to explore the National Park and Chobe Riverfront. This five-star Lodge has full eco-grading by Botswana Tourism Board.
Day 4 : Chobe National Park
Today will be spent on your choice of morning and afternoon game drives in the national park or boat cruises along the Chobe River, allowing you a varied perspective on the wildlife.
Day 5 : Okavango Delta
After a morning activity you will be transferred to Kasane Airport and assisted on to a light aircraft flight flying on a circuit to the Okavango Delta. On arrival at the airstrip you will be met and driven to Camp Moremi, where you will spend the next 3 nights at on a fully inclusive basis. This afternoon will be spent on a game viewing activity.
Okavango Delta
The very word "Okavango" evokes a sense of adventure and exploration, and this is exactly what the Okavango Delta is about. Often called the Okavango Swamps, this intricate maze of waterways and sandy islands is an explorer's dream, and the destination should be on the wishlist of anyone looking for a unique travel experience.
The geology of the Delta is fascinating, with its creation being attributed to tectonic plate action from thousands of years ago causing the Kavango River to flow from Angola into the Kalahari Desert as opposed to the Atlantic Ocean.
So while the vegetation is lush, and the wildlife plentiful, the waterways are actually cutting through Kalahari Desert sand, and the entire delta is an enormous oasis.
Termites are credited with the creation of the many islands around which the water slowly flows, as their mounds, common features of the landscape, are responsible for the formation of sand and foliage around them.
There is a continuous scurry of life in the Delta, from the smallest of creatures to the largest of elephants, and every twist and turn of the channels brings some new form of life into view. The Okavango Delta is truly one of nature's greatest creations.
Camp Moremi
Camp Moremi has a well-deserved legacy in the Botswana tourism industry for being able to deliver the classic African safari experience. Completely rebuilt in 2018 as a modern luxury safari lodge, Camp Moremi is located within the world-renowned Moremi Game Reserve.
Camp Moremi boasts 12 expansive, modern styled thatched safari tents, including one family room, and accommodates a maximum of twenty-four guests. The family room which includes two separate bedrooms and bathrooms connects through interleading doors.
Day 6 - 7 : Okavango Delta
You have these 2 full days to enjoy the varied and pristine habitat of the Delta and view the remarkable wildlife with day and afternoon game drives, and boat excursions.
Day 8 : Okavango Delta
You have a short flight today from Camp Moremi to Camp Okavango, where you will spend 2 nights on a fully inclusive basis. Camp Okavango is a water-based camp and game-drive activities, using safari vehicles, are not possible. This afternoon you can begin to explore the area on land by foot or on water by mekoro or motor boats.
Camp Okavango
Botswana’s magnificent Okavango Delta situated within the heart of the newly declared World Heritage site, is the world’s largest inland delta, and is a maze of deep lagoons, large lakes and hidden, meandering channels. Camp Okavango, a unique and exclusive African safari camp is situated on the remote Nxaragha Island. This hidden treasure, in the heart of the permanent Okavango Delta, assures its guests of an unparalleled year-round water wilderness experience.
Day 9 : Okavango Delta
Today you continue to explore the waterways and floodplains by boat and mokoro, and the islands on guided walking safaris. You will also be taken on a thrilling scenic helicopter flight during your stay.
Day 10 : Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
After breakfast this morning you will return to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight to the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans National Park, where you will spend the next 3 nights at Leroo La Tau on a fully inclusive basis.
Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
Pronounced "Makgadikgadi," these salt pans in the centre of Botswana are the remnants of the largest lake in Africa, which dried up thousands of years ago. The shimmering white, deadly landscape adds to Botswana's adventurous reputation, with only the bravest of early explorers having the courage to try and cross the seemingly endless wasteland.
We are fortunate nowadays to explore these pans from the comfort of a 4x4, and the luxury of lodges with swimming pools and shaded tents. However, even with these amenities, the Makgadikgadi Pans evoke a sense of adventure in travellers. Including the salt pans in a Botswana safari adds to the remarkable variety of your holiday, and to the beauty of your photo album.
Leroo La Tau
Leroo La Tau is situated on the western bank of the Boteti River, which forms the boundary of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. The Boteti River provides a lifeline for the wildlife which inhabit the arid national park and is a critical link in the annual zebra migration. Leroo La Tau is the perfect base from which to explore this truly unique piece of Botswana paradise.
Day 11 - 12 : Makgadikgadi Salt Pans
You will have these two days to enjoy guided morning and afternoon game drives. Depending on the water levels of the Boteti River, boat activities can also be provided. Cultural excursions can be arranged to visit Khumaga Village, as can guided nature walks in the area surrounding the lodge. Also included is a full day game drive to Nxai Pan National Park.
Day 13 : Johannesburg
This morning you fly in a light aircraft to Maun Airport in time to board flight 4Z301 departing at 14h30 to Johannesburg. After landing at O R Tambo International Airport at 16h10 you make your way to City Lodge Hotel O R Tambo within the airport precinct to spend 1 night on a bed and breakfast basis.
South Africa
For a varied, diverse, exciting and fulfilling holiday, one would be hard pressed to find a country in Africa, or the world, which offers more. South Africa has it all, including wildlife, mountains, deserts, beaches, forests, numerous cultures, first world cities, untouched landscapes, casinos, amusement parks, exciting activities, excellent roads and infrastructure, off road 4 x 4 routes, fantastic food, good wine, great sports stadiums, incredible people and a triumphant history.
Johannesburg
Although usually only used for quick stopovers by most travellers, Joburg is an exciting and vibrant city, with some excellent hotels, fantastic shopping facilities, loads of historic signifcance, and a flourishing sporting culture.
With the launch of the Gautrain in 2010, the Sandton district is now only 10 minutes from the airport, and this places one in a position to easily access most of the city's highlights.
City Lodge Hotel at O R Tambo International Airport
Conveniently located at Africa’s busiest airport, the 365-room City Lodge Hotel at OR Tambo International Airport, allows both business and leisure travellers a convenient and comfortable place to rest at the end of a long flight.
The hotel is walking distance to and from the airport terminal buildings and is adjacent to the Gautrain Airport Station.
Business travellers will appreciate the simplicity of staying at the airport for short visits, while leisure travellers won’t have to worry about where to stay for that one night between flights to their final destination.
The expansive lobby lounge, displaying flight information boards; uncapped WiFi; three boardrooms and conference facilities for 46 guests and fitness room are just some of the services on offer.
The #Café restaurant and bar are complemented by a sparkling swimming pool with deck, ideal for a refreshing swim in the sunshine before or after the next stage of travel.
Access to a wide variety of retailers, restaurants and banking facilities within the airport building completes the package.
Day 14 : Entebbe
This morning you will walk back into the airport in time for your flight KQ761 to Nairobi, departing at 12h10, landing at 17h15 at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. You connect with flight KQ416 departing at 18h35 for Entebbe in Uganda. You will be met at Entebbe Airport after landing at 19h50 and transferred to The Boma Hotel Entebbe to spend 1 night on a bed and breakfast basis.
Uganda
Uganda - The "Pearl of Africa." Uganda offers a vastly different experience from the standard safari itinerary, with lush jungles, volcanic mountains, plenty of primates, and the Nile River all creating a fabulous adventure.
Uganda has earned the well-deserved reputation of being the friendliest country in Africa, and you will be delighted by the local hospitality. While having quite a turbulent history, the people of Uganda have remained warm and welcoming.
With wonderful birdlife, a vast array of plains game, and the most extensive species list of primates, a wildlife safari in Uganda offers something special.
As asked on Uganda's Tourism website, "where else but in this uniquely lush destination can one observe lions prowling the open plains in the morning and track chimpanzees through the rainforest undergrowth the same afternoon, then the next day navigate tropical channels teeming with hippos and crocodiles before setting off into the misty mountains to enjoy viewing the unique mountain gorillas?"
Entebbe
The Boma Hotel
The Boma Hotel is Entebbe’s original and most exclusive hotel, set in tropical gardens in a leafy suburb, a few minutes drive from Entebbe International Airport. Our rooms combine the modern comforts one expects today with the charm and character of the original 1940’s home. The Boma Hotel in Entebbe Uganda is an ideal stopover for all airline passengers, and we will arrange all your airport transfers. Our staff and management team ensure guests receive a personable service and enjoy hospitality standards which are in keeping with the tradition of this charming lakeshore town.
Day 15 : Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
You return to the Entebbe Airport for your scheduled light aircraft flight departing at 07h15 to western Uganda. Upon arrival at the Kisoro Airstrip at approximately 08h35 you will be met and transferred by private vehicle to a Kisoro Organic Coffee Farm for a Coffee Experience Tour. You then have a drive of approximately 2 hours to the Rushaga Area of Southern Bwindi where you spend 2 nights on a full board basis at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, which is only 40 Kms away from Kisoro Town. You will arrive at the lodge in time for lunch.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Located in the south-western corner of Uganda, in the Virunga Mountains along the border with the DRC, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a thick, lush, green jungle, housing heaps of wildlife and half of the world's remaining mountain gorilla population.
This pocket of huge primeval forest is one of the most biologically diverse areas on earth. It has
an eco-system that defines the very essence of the continent and has therefore been designated as a World Heritage Site.
Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Ichumbi derived from the local Rufumbira dialect means ' a cool, comfortable home '. The lodging facility that is just 10 minutes' walk to Rushaga gate of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, has a spectacular view of the park right from your room! It is designed to provide you with high end comfort and relaxation to be able to enjoy your Gorilla tracking experience, go birding watching and enjoy forest life surrounded by impressive landscape
Day 16 : Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
A highlight of your safari awaits you today: a meeting with the gentle giants of Bwindi!
Gorilla Trek in Bwindi
You will be transferred to the Rushaga National Park offices, where you will be divided into groups of 8 and allocated a gorilla family as well as a gorilla tracking guide. After a pre-tracking briefing by your guide, touching on the gorillas generally, your assigned gorilla family, as well as appropriate safety precautions, you drive to the trailhead for the start of a thrilling adventure. Porters are on hand to be hired to assist you up and down the steep slopes. Expect to walk a long distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorillas. But it will definitely be worthwhile as for one hour you observe them closely while they eat, play and rest.
Day 17 : Arusha
Early this morning you will be transferred to Kisoro airstrip for your light aircraft flight at 08h40 back to Entebbe Airport. Upon arrival at Entebbe at 11h00 you will be taken to The Boma Hotel for lunch (own account), before returning to the airport in time for flight KQ415 to Nairobi, departing at 16h20 and landing at 17h30. In Nairobi you connect with flight KQ6720 departing at 20h00. You will be met on landing at 21h00 at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to Airport planet Lodge in Arusha to spend 1 night on a bed and breakfast basis.
Tanzania
A land full of icons, with the names Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro and Zanzibar immediately evoking images of exotic locations and abundant wildlife. A Tanzanian safari is an experience for all of the senses, and caters for every kind of traveller.
Tanzania is a country which was seemingly designed with the word "safari" in mind. There are enough national parks and different safari activities to keep travellers coming back year on year, with the added benefit of easily combining beautiful tropical beaches with the wildlife rich plains.
A Tanzanian safari is a journey in the true sense of the word, with each itinerary feeling like an exploration out into the wilderness. Moving from park to park, either by road or air, the countryside offers something new at each stop.
The plains of the Serengeti have become synonomous with an African safari, and by visiting the right areas and camps, you will be able to see the legendary wildebeest migration as it moves across the grasslands in constant search of fresh grazing and water.
To the south of the country are the remote reserves of Selous and Ruaha, while in the west you can trek into the mountains to witness chimpanzees along the shores of the mystical Lake Tanganyika.
Arusha
Situated below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley, the city is the country’s safari capital located close to some of Africa's most famous landscapes and national parks, which are Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire, Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) as well as Mt Kilimanjaro - Africa’s highest mountain.
Airport Planet Lodge
Airport Planet Lodge is the ultimate gateway to all Tanzania adventures! African style chalets are scattered withing the beautiful tropical gardens with many species of birds. The Lodge is ideally located between Moshi and Arusha, a quick 12 minute transfer from the Kilimanjaro International Airport (code JRO aka KIA). On clear sky days, views of of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru are spectacular from the Lodge. Amenities include FREE transfers (JRO) a restaurant, Spa, swimming pool and bars with a teams that is skilled to provide excellent, timely service to busy travelers.
Guests heading on Safari, to trek Kilimanjaro or travelling on transit via Kilimanjaro International airport enjoy a relaxing stay and leave feeling at home with us!
Day 18 : Serengeti National Park
This morning you head to the Ngorongoro Conservation Authority Area (NCA), part of the southern Serengeti eco-system, where the wildebeest migration may be starting to arrive at this time of the year. You will spend 2 nights here on a full board basis at Ndutu Kati Kati Tented Camp.
Serengeti National Park
The word "Siringit" means "endless plains," and this is understandably from where the Serengeti National Park takes its name. The iconic, endless, golden plains of Africa are nowhere more evident than within this national park, as they stretch off into eternity, dotted throughout with thousands of animals.
Located in the north-west corner of Tanzania, alongside Lake Victoria, the Serengeti has earned its place as one of the world's most famous wildlife areas. While best known for the enormous herds of the wildebeest migration, there is far more to the Serengeti than this, and the national park can be enjoyed even when you are not in the vicinity of this spectacle.
The national park itself is roughly 14 500 square kilometres, but it forms part of the greater Serengeti eco-system, which comprises the neighbouring Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and the bordering Masai Mara, in Kenya, with the country boundary between Kenya and Tanzania seperating the two.
The Serengeti can be accessed on a road safari, usually in combination with the Ngorongoro Crater, or there are regular daily flights into the park from Arusha.
Ndutu Kati Kati Tented Camp
Allows you to immerse yourself in nature in this bushcamp.
Ndutu Kati Kati is a seasonal mobile camp strategically situated in south Serengeti from December to March. Ideal for exploring the extensive south of Serengeti and witness the migration.
The camp offers comfortable accommodation together with the unique opportunity to enjoy a real safari experience on a camp. In its comfortable tents one will feel completely immersed in the surroundings and one can enjoy the rich animal life and vegetation of the area. An original form of accommodation which resembles the old camps of the first explorers in Africa, with all the commodities of today.
Located at a one-hour drive along a panoramic route from Seronera (Central Serengeti) and 30 minutes from the Olduvai Gorge. The camp has been designed to cause a minimum impact on the environment. All the infrastructure is mobile and the philosophy of the company is not to leave anything behind after dismounting the camp.
Day 19 : Serengeti National Park
Today will be spent on game drives exploring the vast plains of the Southern Serengeti.
Day 20 : Serengeti National Park
This morning you set out on your drive to Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp in the Central Serengeti, game viewing on the way. You spend 3 nights here on a full board basis.
Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp
Immerse yourself in nature in this bushcamp.
Kati Kati is a mobile camp strategically situated in central Serengeti, ideal for exploring the extensive Serengeti plains. The camp offers comfortable accommodation together with the unique opportunity to enjoy a real safari experience on a camp. In its comfortable tents one will feel completely immersed in the surroundings and one can enjoy the rich animal life and vegetation of the area.
An original form of accommodation which resembles the old camps of the first explorers in Africa, with all the commodities of today.
Located a two hour drive along a panoramic route from the Olduvai Museum and the river Grumeti, two of the indispensable visits for all travellers to Tanzania.
The camp has been designed to cause a minimum impact on the environment. All of the infrastructure is mobile and the philosophy of the company is not to leave anything behind.
Day 21 - 22 : Serengeti National Park
For these two days you will search for the best vantage points to see the amazing numbers of animals on their migration and also to spot the abundant resident wildlife.
Day 23 : Ngorongoro Crater
You set out today towards Ngorongoro to the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater to spend 2 nights on a fully inclusive basis at Lemala Ngorongoro Camp.
Ngorongoro Crater
A unique and fascinating game viewing destination in Africa, the Ngorongoro Crater is a must-see on any Tanzania safari.
Being the world's largest intact caldera, and the result of a collapsed volcano thousands of years ago, the 260 square kilometres of crater floor hosts up to 25 000 animals at all times of year. This makes it one of the most dense wildlife areas in Africa, and allows for many memorable sightings.
Driving down the steep walls of the Crater early in the morning is an experience in itself, and you can always sense the excitement of heading deep into one of the world's natural wonders.
With lodges perched directly on the rim, hundreds of metres above the Crater floor, Ngorongoro accommodation provides you with some of the most incredible views, and the location will surely be a highlight of your holiday.
While being criticised at times for the number of vehicles on drives along the Crater floor, it is necessary to expect that tourist numbers here will be quite high, and be prepared to share this phenomenon with other travellers. Once your mind is not concerned with other vehicles, you can enjoy the Ngorongoro Crater for what it is; one of the world's truly remarkable wildlife areas.
Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp
Lemala Ngorongoro is intimately set in a delightful ancient acacia forest close to the rim of the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. As it is located next to the quiet Lemala crater access road on the eastern side, a key advantage of staying at Lemala Ngorongoro is the quick and easy drive down on to the crater floor in the morning; Lemala guests usually have an hour’s head start over others descending via the far busier Seneto crater access road on the western rim. And of course can stay later in the afternoon before returning to camp. As Africa’s game is most active in the early morning and late afternoon this means better wildlife experiences for Lemala guests.
Game drives from camp may start as early as 6.15am and guests can be down among Ngorongoro’s abundant wildlife on the floor within 10-15 minutes – crucial for photographers who demand the best light conditions. Escorted walks are also available into the forest and along the crater rim with an armed ranger and Maasai guide.
Day 24 : Ngorongoro Crater
A highlight awaits you this morning as you descend 600m through the early morning mists to the crater floor for a six-hour tour. An amazingly diverse and abundant wildlife populates the ancient caldera, and you will spend the morning touring this varied habitat, with a picnic lunch at a hippo pool. This afternoon you head back out of the crater to relax at the lodge with the spectacular views from the crater rim.
Day 25 - Day of Departure
You will be driven back to Arusha today, and dropped off at Kilimanjaro International Airport in time to connect with the onward flight on your travel schedule (flight from Kilimanjaro not included in quotation).