TANZANIA: A GRAND FAMILY SAFARI ITINERARY:
1. Arrive Arusha, Tanzania
Tour departs: Kilimanjaro International Airport. A transfer
from the airport to Arumeru River Lodge is included upon your
arrival. The perfect introduction to the spectacular beauty of
Tanzania, your African lodge is located on the grounds of an old
coffee farm and is convenient to Arusha and Kilimanjaro national
parks.
2. Hike up Kilimanjaro or Explore Arusha National Park
Mount Kilimanjaro is not only one of the world’s highest
mountains, it is also one of its highest volcanos! Generations
of modern-day explorers have dreamed of climbing the storied
slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro – and while we won’t be climbing all
the way to the top, you can join us for an exciting walk up
Kilimanjaro’s Merengu trail, followed by a visit to the home of
a Chagga tribe member. Or, if you just can’t wait another minute
to experience a game drive, then climb aboard our open-top
safari vehicle as we look for giraffes, baboons, flamingoes,
buffalo and more in Arusha National Park. Everyone meets back at
the lodge tonight for a welcome dinner. Meals BLD
3. Discover the Place Where Life Began
Head for your inviting tented camp in Tarangire National
Park today, a place where you will see both the Maasai people
and the second largest concentration of big game in the world.
According to Maasai legend, Tarangire is the place where life
began. It’s also the place where Hollywood filmed lots of
African movies! You’ll understand why when we take you on a game
drive in the African savannah to see elephants cooling off in a
watering hole and big cats lounging in the shade under baobab
trees. You’ll meet members of the local Maasai tribe this
evening, who invite you to join them in a tribal dance and have
dinner in a traditional boma. Meals BLD
4. Beadwork, Elephant Dung Paper & Game Drives
If you’ve ever seen photographs of the Maasai people, then
their colorful beadwork may have caught your eye! Their jewelry
is not just for looks; it’s also an important part of their
cultural identity – the detail and colors used in the beads
typically follow the rules of the tribe. Learn what it takes to
make these works of art with a member of a local tribe and try
your hand at elephant dung paper-making, sure to be a highlight
of your visit. Afternoon and nighttime game drives add to the
day’s excitement and give you even more opportunities to see who
else lives out here in the African bush. Meals BLD
5. Life in a Maasai Boma and on a Ngorongoro farm
Having to share your room with your brother or sister takes
on new meaning when you go inside a Maasai boma today. These
traditional African homes provide shelter and protection for
entire families who often sleep together on wooden beds
reinforced with piles of cowhides, sharing their circular homes
with their livestock to keep them safe from big game and
predators. You’ll get to see what a local school looks like
before hopping aboard our open-top safari vehicles for a game
drive in Lake Manyara National Park. A paradise for bird lovers,
this area teems with pink flamingoes and great birds of prey.
Like the nomadic tribes of Tanzania, we’ll be moving on to a
different home tonight when we spend the next two nights on a
500-acre coffee farm near Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Meals
BLD
6. Discover the Secrets of coffee farming
Coffee farming probably isn’t the first thing that comes to
mind when you think of life in Africa, but it is an important
part of the economy in this region. You’ll see how coffee is
picked and processed today, quite a time-consuming job for a
“cup of joe.” The rest of the day is free for you to explore the
grounds of the plantation and take a refreshing dip in the
outdoor swimming pool. Meals BLD
7. Ngorongoro, Africa’s “Garden of Eden”
Images of the “Garden of Eden” come alive today on a game
drive and picnic in ancient Ngorongoro Crater.
Two-million-year-old Ngorongoro Crater is home to almost every
animal species in Africa, except the giraffe who can’t quite
negotiate the steep slope down. It is one of the best places to
spot the “Big Five” – buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard and the
rare black rhinoceros. While the crater has been cradling
Africa’s wildlife for thousands of years, the earliest known
humans are thought to have lived in nearby Olduvai Gorge. See
where Louis and Mary Leakey found the fossilized remains of one
of the first humans to walk upright, and then make tracks for
Tauck’s exclusive tented camp. Learn a few words of Swahili
around the campfire tonight and impress your friends when you
return home! Meals BLD
8. Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride at Dawn
Rise early for a hot air balloon ride at dawn over the
amazing Serengeti as the animals wake up to a new day. This is a
great way to enjoy panoramic views of the grasslands, watching
the circle of life take place before your eyes, undetected by
the wildlife below. Spy zebras, hyenas, leopards, elephants, and
jackals on an afternoon game drive with a local guide who knows
the best places to find the animals who make their homes here.
Dine under the stars and share stories around the campfire,
before it’s time to douse your softly glowing lanterns and go to
sleep to the nighttime sounds of the African bush. Meals BLD
9. Africa Untamed in the Western Serengeti
Pack up camp and journey across the wilderness to the
western Serengeti. You will be staying in a tented chalet at a
riverfront lodge for the next two nights with wildlife sightings
right outside your door. Morning and afternoon game drives will
showcase Africa untamed, offering you and your family a
front-row seat for viewing and a good chance to see wildebeest,
prides of lions, fleet-footed cheetahs and herds of giraffes and
zebras. Everyone will enjoy the “watering holes” here at the
lodge, from the hilltop swimming pool made out of local rock to
the comfortable lounge overlooking the Serengeti. Meals BLD
10. A Magical Ending to your Safari Experience
Spend your last day on safari enjoying the breathtaking
landscapes and abundant wildlife of the Serengeti plains.
Sunsets are an amazing part of your African safari experience –
to make your last night even more magical, we invite you to
enjoy a traditional “sundowner” and dinner as you watch the sun
drop below the horizon. Meals BLD
11. Journey Home
Tour ends: Kilimanjaro International Airport. Fly to Arusha,
where a day room has been reserved for you at Arumeru River
Lodge. A transfer is included from Arumeru Lodge to Kilimanjaro
International Airport this evening. Meals BLD
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