| Day | Destination | Description | | Day 1 | SALAAM/ARUSHA | You will be met here by your guide and transferred to your comfortable lodge just outside Arusha. The rondavels (circular bungalows) are situated amidst lovely gardens and well-manicured lawns. | | Day 2 | Mount Meru | Your adventure begins with a full day of wildlife viewing by vehicle and on foot in the grasslands and forests around Mt. Meru. The ancient volcanic landscape is home to giraffe, elephant, buffalo, gazelle, leopard, and more. Within the lush forests we may find the elegant black and white Colobus monkey. Return to the lodge for dinner,evening activities and overnight. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | | Day 3 | Great Rift Valley | We head north this morning, crossing the Maasai Steppe and descending gradually into the Great Rift Valley. We wend our way along the western wall of the escarpment until finally get our first glimpse of Lake Natron, a view made more extraordinary by the sprawling lunar landscape that surrounds it. Our camp will be nestled at the foot of the escarpment, just a short way from the lake, an ideal location for taking short hikes or walks. The next day, we will visit one of the many Maasai villages in the surrounding area. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | | Day 4 | Great Rift Valley | We head north this morning, crossing the Maasai Steppe and descending gradually into the Great Rift Valley. We wend our way along the western wall of the escarpment until finally get our first glimpse of Lake Natron, a view made more extraordinary by the sprawling lunar landscape that surrounds it. Our camp will be nestled at the foot of the escarpment, just a short way from the lake, an ideal location for taking short hikes or walks. The next day, we will visit one of the many Maasai villages in the surrounding area. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | | Day 5 | Wasso | This morning we head up the steep western wall of the Rift Valley by a series of switchbacks. After a 2,000-foot elevation gain, we finally reach the rim of the escarpment and are rewarded with a view of the sweeping Salai Plains to the South and Lake Natron directly below on the valley floor. Here we will set up camp just a few hours away from the Serengeti. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | | Day 6 | Serengeti | From Wasso, we will head directly into the Serengeti. This incredibly scenic route will take us over hills and grasslands, through acacia groves and around granite outcrops (kopjes), and as we move closer toward the park, the wildlife will become more and more abundant. We are sure to spot giraffe, elephant, zebra, wildebeest and maybe some of the elusive cats like leopard or cheetah. Continue toward camp, with plenty of game viewing along the way. Our beautiful camp is located amidst the rolling grasslands and sweeping plains. Here you will discover the Africa of your imagination - the massive Serengeti; 5,700 square miles of endless plains dotted by rock kopjes and umbrella acacias. We?ll see an astonishing variety of animals including leopard, wildebeest, lion, zebra, gazelle, cheetah, antelope, hyena, impala, giraffe, ostrich and warthog, along with many of the 500-odd species of birds. We spend three nights in our private adventure camp, bringing us closer to the wilderness while affording us creature comforts. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | | Day 9 | Ngorongoro | As we depart the Serengeti, we will travel through the maze of rock kopjes that distinguish the southern corner of the park. Keep your eyes open for lions as they spread out in the sun and gain an ideal vantage point on their prey from the tall granite outcrops. We travel east, noting the dramatic change in scenery as we leave the vast golden plains and head into the lush green foothills that form the Ngorongoro Highlands. The next day, we have a full day to explore the soda lakes, acacia forests and open plains of the crater floor. Animals here are non-migratory and have become accustomed to the sight of vehicles, so up-close viewing is not unusual. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | | Day 11 | Arusha | Descending from the crater rim, our next stop is a working coffee plantation and organic farm that abuts densely forested conservation land. The Farm is a welcoming retreat set amidst beautiful gardens and affording dramatic views of the rolling hills and lush farmlands that stretch as far as the eye can see. There are over 200 species of bird in this lovely setting, and you will enjoy their songs as you sit on the veranda for afternoon tea, or relax in a lounge chair by a sea of lavender, lilies and bougainvillea. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast | | Day 12 | Arusha | You leave our gracious hosts and head east for Arusha, traveling back over the Maasai Steppe and, eventually, through the bustling markets of Arusha. You?ll have the use of a dayroom to freshen up, repack or take a dip in the pool before being transferred to the airport for your onward flight. Meal(s) Included: Breakfast |
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