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Tanzania Explorer
From the Rift Valley to the Ngorongoro Crater, and the fabled plains of the Serengeti, Tanzania is one of the most spectacular and varied countries in the world, and this is your chance to see it all.
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4 nights
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3 nights
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1 nights
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2 nights
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4 nights
14 Nights, 15 Days
From $ 14040 per person sharing
- Single supplements and child discounts may apply
- Price varies with seasonality and room options
- Indicative price is for low season
Itinerary
- 4 nights in Katavi National Park at Nomad Chada Katavi
- 3 nights in Ruaha National Park at Nomad Kigelia Camp
- 1 night in Lake Manyara at &Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
- 2 nights in Ngorongoro at &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
- 4 nights in the Serengeti at &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas Mobile Camps
SNAPSHOT
Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa, and encompasses an astonishing diversity of landscapes and wildlife within its borders. Features such as Kilimanjaro, and on it Africa’s highest point, and the Great Rift Valley, the African Great Lakes region, and the Great Migration around the Serengeti ecosystem are all a part of the Tanzanian landscape, and this safari touches on some of this epic variety.
Your first leg will be to the wildest wildernesses you can imagine. In the west, Katavi National Park offers access to the Central African Rift System, with beautiful woodlands and fertile floodplains on the valley floor. The highest concentration of crocodiles and hippos in the world makes for fierce territorial battles during the dry season (March - Oct). The retreating waters also lure in large herds, making for exciting predator interactions.
Next up is Ruaha, in central Tanzania. Here the woodlands of the west begin to transition to the savannah that Tanzania is renowned for, and Ruaha is filled with life. The largest elephant population in East Africa mixes with massive herds of buffalo, and prides of lion 20 to 30 strong hunt them, led by fierce black-maned males.
After the intensity of Ruaha, your next few destinations are focussed on scenic beauty. Lake Manyara has a beautiful hilly topography with ancient forests, and the alkaline waters of the lake draw huge counts of flamingo. The area is also known for its tree-climbing lions (a very unusual behaviour). After this, Ngorongoro crater provides an entirely unique topography. This UNESCO world heritage site lies inside the blown-open caldera of an ancient volcano, and the grasslands and soda lakes of the crater floor are teeming with wildlife, including predators and the highly endangered black rhino.
Just as you’re wondering if it could possible get any better, this safari moves to the Serengeti for its final leg. Here, on some of the most beautiful rolling plains in the world, you will witness a natural spectacle on an unimaginable scale, as millions of wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle follow ancient migratory patterns around the vast ecosystem to ensure a steady supply of fresh grass for their staggering numbers. Due to the attraction of the herds, they are constantly stalked by predators, and have to cross crocodile-infested rivers where the crocs have grown smart from years and years of practice on the forefathers of these very herds. The treat of a lifetime is to take a hot air balloon flight over this spectacle.
Tanzania has amazing variety to offer, and this safari will amaze you with that variety.
Overview
4 nights in Katavi National Park at Nomad Chada Katavi
Katavi National Park was created in 1974 and is Tanzania’s third-largest national park. Located along the rift escarpment in western Tanzania, it is extremely remote and is less frequently visited than other Tanzanian National Parks. It is approximately 4 450 square kilometres in size, and encompasses the Katuma River and the seasonal Lake Katavi and Lake Chada floodplains. Katavi offers incredible scenery including immense wetlands, waterfalls and original miombo woodlands. Together with the neighbouring Rukwa, Lukwati and Luafi Game Reserves, this ecosystem of 25 000 km2 is the heart of one of the biggest and richest wildlife areas in Tanzania. The climate in Katavi is hot and remains this way year-round. Temperatures throughout the day typically sit at around 32°C, dropping to about 20°C in the evening. Katavi has one continuous wet season running from November through to April. The dry season is from May through to October.
3 nights in Ruaha National Park at Nomad Kigelia Camp
Deemed by many to be a very well-kept secret, Ruaha boasts a phenomenal variety of game. The park is located in central Tanzania and, with the addition of the Usangu Game Reserve in 2008, the size of the reserve is now over 20 200 square kilometres, making it one of the largest national parks in Africa. On a greater scale, the park is part of the 45 000 square kilometre Rungwa-Kizigo-Muhesi ecosystem. Ruaha represents a transition zone between the miombo woodlands common in Zambia, and the more open savannah, typical of northern Tanzania and Kenya. Ruaha is home to the largest population of elephants in East Africa, with over 10 000 elephants roaming the park. During the dry season large herds of buffalo congregate in the park with herds of 500 being a fairly common sighting. Not far behind the buffalo are the prides of lion that prowl the vast plains - particular in the Mwagusi river area which is said to hold one of the highest densities of lions in Africa.
1 night in Lake Manyara at &Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
Lake Manyara National Park was established around a shallow lake in the Natron-Manyara-Balangida section of the East African Rift Valley in the Manyara Region in Tanzania. Lake Manyara takes pride of place in the park and its alkaline waters cover approximately 70% of the 330 square kilometres of the park. To the east of Lake Manyara lies the Kwakuchinja wildlife corridor. The corridor allows wildlife to migrate between dispersal areas and parks that include Tarangire National Park to the southeast, Lake Manyara to the west, and the rift valley, Ngorongoro highlands and the Serengeti National Park to the north. Within the Kwakuchinja corridor are several villages that include Ol Tukai Village and Esilalei along the lakeshore. While Lake Manyara lacks the raw drama and many of the specific animals that other northern destinations possess, its vegetation is diverse, ranging from savannah to marshes to evergreen forest, supporting one of the highest biomass densities of large mammals in the world.
2 nights in Ngorongoro at &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located in the Crater Highlands of Tanzania. Occupying approximately 8 300 square kilometres, it extends over parts of the Rift Valley of eastern Africa and contains a diversity of habitats and landscapes, including grassland plains, savannah woodlands, forests, mountains, a volcanic crater, lakes, rivers and swampland. Also located in the Crater are the major archaeological sites of Olduvai Gorge and Laetolil. The area is part of the Serengeti ecosystem and, to the northwest, adjoins the Serengeti National Park and is contiguous with the southern Serengeti Plains. The Serengeti is Tanzania’s largest and most highly-recognised national park, with the ecosystem extending beyond the park to include several conservation areas and reserves, including the Maasai Mara in Kenya. A recently proclaimed seventh world-wonder, the Serengeti is famed for its annual great migration, when millions of hooves pound the open plains as zebra and Thomson’s gazelle join the wildebeest in search of fresh grazing.
4 nights in the Serengeti at &Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas Mobile Camps
In the Maasai language, Serengeti means “endless plains”, and is an apt description of Tanzania’s largest and most highly recognised national park. This massive ecosystem actually extends beyond the park to include several conservation areas and reserves, including the Ngorongoro conservation area and the Maasai Mara in Kenya. A recently proclaimed seventh world-wonder, the Serengeti is famed for its annual great migration, when millions of hooves pound the open plains as zebra and Thomson’s gazelle join the wildebeest in search of fresh grazing. The herds are stalked by prides of lion, spotted hyena, striped hyena, golden jackal, side-striped jackal and black-backed jackal. The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the world’s most complex and least-disturbed ecosystems, and with the climate alternating between dusty summer droughts to green winters and lush springs, with open plains transformed into endless green carpets splashed with wildflowers, there is always something new waiting around the next corner.
The Serengeti Under Canvas Camp is used in this itinerary, but depending on the time of year (and where the migration is at that time), we may well substitute this camp for another if more appropriate.
Detail
Located in the heart of Tanzania’s Katavi National Park, Chada Katavi is a stylish tented camp situated off the beaten track in a landscape of seasonal rivers, open plains and woodlands. Guests have the opportunity to view vast herds of buffalo, elephants and an assortment of stealthy predators. The camp was set up by safari legend Roland Purcell back in 1996, and quickly established a reputation as a rather wild and wacky camp.
The camp lies hidden in the shade of acacia and tamarind trees on the edge of Chada plain. This amazingly remote wilderness camp offers guests breathtaking panoramic views, which can be enjoyed from the privacy of your own tent or from the beautifully appointed dining area. Chada Katavi offers 6 spacious walk-in tents which are raised on wooden platforms. The tents have wide-open fronts and shade-net windows to let in the breeze, and each tent has an en-suite bathroom with safari toilets and a bucket shower. In a clearing, guests will find a comfortable dining tent and library.
Dinner time at Chada Katavi is a simple yet elegant affair. Guests dine together at the long table, perfect for sharing stories and experiences from the day’s events. An evening drink around the campfire is the essence of safari, helping to round off a day filled with excitement out in the wild.
Katavi National Park
Most of Katavi National Park lies inside the Rukwa Rift Basin, which is part of the Central African Rift System. The landscape is defined by the rift valley floor and the bordering rift valley shoulders, with adjacent highlands, mountains and plateaus east and west of the valley. The western shoulder is known as the Llyamba Iya Mfipa Escarpment and the eastern shoulder as the Mlele Escarpment. The valley floor comprises flat to slightly rolling wooded terrain which is split by vast floodplains, seasonal lakes, rivers and shallow drainage lines.
Seasons define much of Katavi’s ecohydrology. While Lake Chada and Lake Katavi are grassland during the dry season, they transform into shallow lakes with the onset of heavy rains. Katavi is at its best in the dry season, when the plains fill with thousands of zebra, topi and impala. During this time, the Katuma and Kapapa rivers are the only water for miles around. As the game files down to drink, hundreds of hippo congregate in the tiniest waterholes and enormous crocodiles sit out the heat on the river bank, making for a fascinating sight.
Sable, hartebees, giraffe and Defassa waterbuck are commonly seen, as well as large populations of elephant, and some impressive herds of buffalo. Predators include some of the most luxuriously-maned lions on the continent, in addition to leopard, hunting dog and cheetah. Additionally, Katavi hosts large flocks of Open-billed and Saddle-billed Storks, African Spoonbills, Crested Cranes and Pink-backed Pelicans. Raptors are plentiful and the woodlands of the national park are home to species as diverse as African Golden Orioles, Paradise Flycatchers and Pennant-winged Nightjars.
Located in the Ruaha National Park in southern Tanzania, Kigelia Camp is set in a secluded grove of Kigelia or ‘Sausage Trees’ high on the banks of the Ifuguru sand river. Easy access is provided by a 14km game drive from the airstrip. The camp is seasonal, offering a tailor-made private experience from June to March, giving guests the opportunity to connect with the soul of Africa. Opened in 2008, Kigelia manages to combine the simplicity of a temporary tented camp with the style you would expect from a permanent camp. The area has an utterly unique ecosystem as it is situated where southern Africa meets eastern Africa, with an unusual overlap of animals and plants found nowhere else.
Kigelia Camp offers 6 luxurious walk-in tents, each with an en-suite bathroom, with flushing toilets and refreshing open-air showers. The tents are well furnished with locally-crafted pale wood furniture lending an understated yet rustic feel. Each room has its own private veranda allowing guests to enjoy the tranquillity of the bush in their own privacy.
Safari activities at Kigelia Camp focus on game drives. Guests have a choice of embarking on a full-day game drive and enjoying lunch in the middle of the bush, or a half-day drive returning to the camp for lunch and escaping the heat of the day before setting out again in the late afternoon. Closer to home, you could see some fascinating sights from the comfort of your own tent, with game frequently wandering through the camp and elephants often coming to feed on the vegetation and tap the dry riverbed for water.
Ruaha National Park
The name “Ruaha” derives from the Wahehe word “Ruvaha”, which means “River”, taking its name from the Great Ruaha River which borders the southern section of the park. From the high-altitude, cold, almost montane highlands in the west, to the low-altitude, hot valleys in the east, the variation in terrain across the reserve is huge. The south contains the Usangu Swamps which is the source of the Great Ruaha River, an enormous wetland which is home to thousands of hippos and provides a good sanctuary for Ruaha’s population of elephants. The northern parts of the park are extremely remote with only the adventure seeker travelling here. The seasonal Mzombe River forms the park’s northern boundary which winds its way between enormous prehistoric rocky outcrops via several different habitats before tumbling into the Great Ruaha River in the East.
The park intersects so many diverse habitats that many of its inhabitants are rare or extremely habitat-specific and not found in many other parks within Africa. Notable unusual sightings include the endangered wild dog, sable antelope, roan antelope, Lichtenstein's hartebeest and lesser kudu, and cheetah is also a possibility on the plains of the east. The park also has a high density of kudu, zebra, giraffe as well as predators such as black-backed jackal, spotted hyena and the elusive leopard. In addition to the magnificent mammals, Ruaha is a bird-lover’s paradise with over 550 species of land and water birds.
Neighbouring the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation area lies the Lake Manyara National Park, and it’s namesake lake was described by Hemingway as “the loveliest I had seen in Africa”. With its serene waters frequented by flamingos and other large migratory birds, this is a picturesque safari destination. It offers a diverse landscape and varied wildlife, including Manyara’s legendary ‘tree-climbing’ lions. Lake Manyara Tree Lodge is the only permanent lodge in Lake Manyara National Park. The lodge is renowned for its romantic tree house suites that are shaded by a mahogany forest.
The lodge is located in a forest of mahogany, wild mango and fig trees. The lake is a birder’s paradise thanks to the combination of wetlands, woodlands and hot springs that attract waterfowl and migrants. The area has over 400 recorded species. Lake Manyara Tree Lodge offers an exclusive wildlife experience, with 10 luxurious stilted tree-house suites, and a large open dining and lounge area. Large windows and private decks enhance the forest experience and allow guests to spy on wildlife from the comfort of their rooms. After game drives, guests can observe and enjoy the preparation of their dinner at the interactive kitchen, or relax next to the pool or in the spa.
Lake Manyara
Created to protect its magnificent elephant herds, Lake Manyara National Park is equally famous for the unusual behaviour of its tree-climbing lions and the flocks of pink flamingos that inhabit the lake's shores. Large numbers of buffalo, cheetah, leopard, Maasai giraffe and hippo also grace the shores of the lake. Manyara is a soda lake, which shrinks considerably during the dry season, exposing large areas of mud flats. However the park usually has plenty of water throughout the year due to the fresh water springs and streams that flow from the escarpment.
Lake Manyara National Park is a birdwatcher's paradise, with more than 400 species on record, particularly waterfowl and migrants. In October, migrant species arrive at Manyara from as far as the Arctic. Greater and Lesser Flamingo are often seen in large numbers on this soda lake, particularly thousands and thousands of Lesser Flamingo. Additionally, both White and Pink-backed Pelicans are often seen, as well as African Spoonbill, Hammerkop, African Fish Eagles, and various avocets, kingfishers, cormorants and jacanas.
The climate in Lake Manyara National Park is mild and temperate. Average temperatures are consistent throughout the year and it is very rarely hot enough to be uncomfortable, although it’s almost always cold in the early mornings and evenings. Manyara's dry season is from June to September, with another short dry season from January to February. The wet seasons consist of a period of 'long rains', which occur from March to May, and a period of 'short rains' occurring from October to November.
Inhabiting a remarkable spot right on the rim of the Crater, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is undeniably one of the most luxurious and architecturally spectacular safari lodges in Africa, with breathtaking views and excellent wildlife to complete the experience. Located in the south-east of the Serengeti in Northern Tanzania, the Crater is a place of rare natural wonders. From its phenomenal terrain to the lavish fauna and flora it supports, it is undeniably worthy of its status as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What better way then, to experience this brilliant gem of a wildlife location than from &Beyond’s flagship property. With luxurious rooms, food and service to complement the stunning views and complete serenity of the property, one might not want to leave... but the rich wildlife of the crater floor will soon draw even the most relaxed guests out for a thrilling game drive. Descending from the rim of the crater to the floor is a unique but time-consuming experience, so unlike most lodges, the format here is to offer one daily drive.
The lodge comprises three camps, where North and South have 12 suites each, and the intimate Tree Camp has 6. Each camp has separate dining and lounge areas, with breathtaking views, and each suite has a personal butler.
Ngorongoro National Park
The main feature of the Ngorongoro Conservation Authority is the Ngorongoro Crater. Situated within the plains of south-east Serengeti, this breathtaking natural wonder is approximately 20km across, 600 meters deep and has a surface area of about 300 square kilometres.
The Crater floor is mostly open grassland, home to lush green, rain-watered vegetation, as well as desert plants. The Crater bush is covered by open short-grass plains with fresh and brackish-water lakes, marshes, swamps, and two patches of Acacia woodland. The rolling plains to the west are grass-covered with occasional Umbrella Acacia and Commiphora Africana trees.
The Crater, once a gigantic volcano, is the largest intact caldera in the world. A number of highly-endangered black rhino are protected within its rim, elephants wander its forest, black-maned lions track its grasslands, and flamingos crowd its salty lakes. An estimated 25 000 large mammals are resident in this bowl, including a population of approximately 6 000 resident wildebeest, and 70 lions. Cheetah move in and out of the Crater, while leopard are most often encountered in the picturesque Lerai Forest.
The Crater is the starting point for the annual migration when wildebeest, zebra and gazelle gather here in their thousands before setting off on the first leg of their journey around the Greater Mara Ecosystem early in the year, only to end back here at the end of the journey at year end.
Serengeti Under Canvas is a luxurious semi-permanent tented camp that moves location in order to track the Great Migration throughout the year. Each location brings guests the best views of the large herds as they pass through the open plains of the Serengeti. Throughout the year, the camp moves between Ndutu, Grumeti, Seronera and Kogatende allowing guests the opportunity to be in a prime location for game viewing. Carefully positioned for close proximity to the large herds of the Great Migration, Serengeti Under Canvas camp provides the ultimate viewpoint for this amazing natural phenomenon.
Being mobile does not come at the cost of any luxury. The camp is always near an airstrip for convenient transfers, and the 9 tents are classic luxury safari tents with en-suite facilities, hot bucket showers, flush toilets and chandeliers hanging over the large beds. Each morning, a personal butler will awaken guests with hot tea or coffee to enjoy on their private deck.
Twice daily game drives allow for intimate encounters with the spectacular herds of the Great Migration, and the serene location of Serengeti Under Canvas makes the hours between game drives a veritable wilderness experience in themselves. The safari 4x4 vehicles are closed, with roll down canvas windows and pop-top roofs.
The Serengeti Under Canvas Camp is used in this itinerary, but depending on the time of year (and where the migration is at that time), we may well substitute this camp for another if more appropriate.
Serengeti National Park
During the annual migration, over a million wildebeest, two hundred thousand zebra and four hundred thousand gazelle move throughout the southern and eastern plains of the Serengeti in an indistinct clockwise direction following the fresh green grass germinated by the rains.
It can be difficult to foretell the exactly path and timing of the migration, but if the rains had been on time, the broad pattern is reasonably predictable: From December to April, at the end of the short rains, the great herds gather and commence their journey from the Ngorongoro Plains to southern Serengeti in Tanzania (January to March in the southern Serengeti is calving season). May to June see the restless herds journey north through the central Serengeti and the western corridor, between the Grumeti and Mbalageti Rivers, where they commence their mating season. In June or July, the herds split up. Some continue west, other head north, and hundreds of thousands move steadily north-west towards the long golden grass of the Maasai Mara. September sees the herds spread out across the northern Serengeti, where the Mara River provides the migration with its most momentous obstacle. It is here that the iconic images of the herds crossing the Mara River are taken. With the onset of the short rainy season in October and November, the herds begin their move back to the south in wait of the onset of the next migration cycle.
Apart from the migrations, some area of the Serengeti provide exceptional year-round game viewing: some of the largest buffalo herds and elephants are to be found in the unspoiled woodlands to the north, the Seronera valley in the centre of the park has plentiful grazing and abundant animals, Lake Ndutu attracts huge flocks of flamingos, and in the west the Grumeti River contains some of the largest Nile crocodiles you will ever see.
Logistics
This safari commences and ends in Arusha, Tanzania
- Private charter flight, Arusha Airport to Ikuu airstrip in Katavi National Park
- Road transfer, Ikuu airstrip to Chada Katavi Luxury Tented Camp
- 4 Nights accommodation at Chada Katavi Luxury Tented Camp
- Road transfer, Chada Katavi Luxury Tented Camp to Ikuu airstrip
- Private charter flight, Ikuu airstrip to Msembe airstrip in Ruaha National Park
- Road transfer, Msembe airstrip to Kigelia Ruaha Camp
- 3 Nights accommodation at Kigelia Ruaha Camp
- Road transfer, Kigelia Ruaha Camp to Msembe airstrip
- Private charter flight, Msembe airstrip to Arusha Airport in Tanzania
- Private charter flight, Arusha Airport to Manyara airstrip in Lake Manyara National Park
- Road transfer, Manyara airstrip to Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
- 1 Night’s accommodation at Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
- Day safari and transfer, Lake Manyara Tree Lodge to &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
- 2 Nights accommodation at &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
- Road transfer, &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge to Ngorongoro airstrip
- Private charter flight, Ngorogoro airstrip to Seronera airstrip in Serengeti National Park
- Road transfer, Seronera airstrip to Serengeti Under Canvas
- 4 Nights accommodation at Serengeti Under Canvas
- Road transfer, Serengeti Under Canvas to Seronera airstrip
- Private charter flight, Seronera airstrip to Arusha Airport in Tanzania
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4 nights
-
3 nights
-
1 nights
-
2 nights
-
4 nights
14 Nights, 15 Days
From $ 11325 per person sharing
- Single supplements and child discounts may apply
- Price varies with seasonality and room options
- Indicative price is for low season
Itinerary
- 4 nights in Katavi National Park at Foxes Katavi Wildlife Camp
- 3 nights in Ruaha National Park at Asilia Kwihala Camp
- 1 night in Lake Manyara at &Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
- 2 nights in Ngorongoro at Sanctuary Retreats Ngorongoro Crater Camp
- 4 nights in the Serengeti at Sanctuary Retreats Serengeti Migration Mobile Camp
SNAPSHOT
Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa, and encompasses an astonishing diversity of landscapes and wildlife within its borders. Features such as Kilimanjaro, and on it Africa’s highest point, and the Great Rift Valley, the African Great Lakes region, and the Great Migration around the Serengeti ecosystem are all a part of the Tanzanian landscape, and this safari touches on some of this epic variety.
Your first leg will be to the wildest wildernesses you can imagine. In the west, Katavi National Park offers access to the Central African Rift System, with beautiful woodlands and fertile floodplains on the valley floor. The highest concentration of crocodiles and hippos in the world makes for fierce territorial battles during the dry season (March - Oct). The retreating waters also lure in large herds, making for exciting predator interactions.
Next up is Ruaha, in central Tanzania. Here the woodlands of the west begin to transition to the savannah that Tanzania is renowned for, and Ruaha is filled with life. The largest elephant population in East Africa mixes with massive herds of buffalo, and prides of lion 20 to 30 strong hunt them, led by fierce black-maned males.
After the intensity of Ruaha, your next few destinations are focussed on scenic beauty. Lake Manyara has a beautiful hilly topography with ancient forests, and the alkaline waters of the lake draw huge counts of flamingo. The area is also known for its tree-climbing lions (a very unusual behaviour). After this, Ngorongoro crater provides an entirely unique topography. This UNESCO world heritage site lies inside the blown-open caldera of an ancient volcano, and the grasslands and soda lakes of the crater floor are teeming with wildlife, including predators and the highly endangered black rhino.
Just as you’re wondering if it could possible get any better, this safari moves to the Serengeti for its final leg. Here, on some of the most beautiful rolling plains in the world, you will witness a natural spectacle on an unimaginable scale, as millions of wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle follow ancient migratory patterns around the vast ecosystem to ensure a steady supply of fresh grass for their staggering numbers. Due to the attraction of the herds, they are constantly stalked by predators, and have to cross crocodile-infested rivers where the crocs have grown smart from years and years of practice on the forefathers of these very herds. The treat of a lifetime is to take a hot air balloon flight over this spectacle.
Tanzania has amazing variety to offer, and this safari will amaze you with that variety.
Overview
4 nights in Katavi National Park at Foxes Katavi Wildlife Camp
Katavi National Park was created in 1974 and is Tanzania’s third-largest national park. Located along the rift escarpment in western Tanzania, it is extremely remote and is less frequently visited than other Tanzanian National Parks. It is approximately 4 450 square kilometres in size, and encompasses the Katuma River and the seasonal Lake Katavi and Lake Chada floodplains. Katavi offers incredible scenery including immense wetlands, waterfalls and original miombo woodlands. Together with the neighbouring Rukwa, Lukwati and Luafi Game Reserves, this ecosystem of 25 000 km2 is the heart of one of the biggest and richest wildlife areas in Tanzania. The climate in Katavi is hot and remains this way year-round. Temperatures throughout the day typically sit at around 32°C, dropping to about 20°C in the evening. Katavi has one continuous wet season running from November through to April. The dry season is from May through to October.
3 nights in Ruaha National Park at Asilia Kwihala Camp
Deemed by many to be a very well-kept secret, Ruaha boasts a phenomenal variety of game. The park is located in central Tanzania and, with the addition of the Usangu Game Reserve in 2008, the size of the reserve is now over 20 200 square kilometres, making it one of the largest national parks in Africa. On a greater scale, the park is part of the 45 000 square kilometre Rungwa-Kizigo-Muhesi ecosystem. Ruaha represents a transition zone between the miombo woodlands common in Zambia, and the more open savannah, typical of northern Tanzania and Kenya. Ruaha is home to the largest population of elephants in East Africa, with over 10 000 elephants roaming the park. During the dry season large herds of buffalo congregate in the park with herds of 500 being a fairly common sighting. Not far behind the buffalo are the prides of lion that prowl the vast plains - particular in the Mwagusi river area which is said to hold one of the highest densities of lions in Africa.
1 night in Lake Manyara at &Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
Lake Manyara National Park was established around a shallow lake in the Natron-Manyara-Balangida section of the East African Rift Valley in the Manyara Region in Tanzania. Lake Manyara takes pride of place in the park and its alkaline waters cover approximately 70% of the 330 square kilometres of the park. To the east of Lake Manyara lies the Kwakuchinja wildlife corridor. The corridor allows wildlife to migrate between dispersal areas and parks that include Tarangire National Park to the southeast, Lake Manyara to the west, and the rift valley, Ngorongoro highlands and the Serengeti National Park to the north. Within the Kwakuchinja corridor are several villages that include Ol Tukai Village and Esilalei along the lakeshore. While Lake Manyara lacks the raw drama and many of the specific animals that other northern destinations possess, its vegetation is diverse, ranging from savannah to marshes to evergreen forest, supporting one of the highest biomass densities of large mammals in the world.
2 nights in Ngorongoro at Sanctuary Retreats Ngorongoro Crater Camp
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located in the Crater Highlands of Tanzania. Occupying approximately 8 300 square kilometres, it extends over parts of the Rift Valley of eastern Africa and contains a diversity of habitats and landscapes, including grassland plains, savannah woodlands, forests, mountains, a volcanic crater, lakes, rivers and swampland. Also located in the Crater are the major archaeological sites of Olduvai Gorge and Laetolil. The area is part of the Serengeti ecosystem and, to the northwest, adjoins the Serengeti National Park and is contiguous with the southern Serengeti Plains. The Serengeti is Tanzania’s largest and most highly-recognised national park, with the ecosystem extending beyond the park to include several conservation areas and reserves, including the Maasai Mara in Kenya. A recently proclaimed seventh world-wonder, the Serengeti is famed for its annual great migration, when millions of hooves pound the open plains as zebra and Thomson’s gazelle join the wildebeest in search of fresh grazing.
4 nights in the Serengeti at Sanctuary Retreats Serengeti Migration Mobile Camp
In the Maasai language, Serengeti means “endless plains”, and is an apt description of Tanzania’s largest and most highly recognised national park. This massive ecosystem actually extends beyond the park to include several conservation areas and reserves, including the Ngorongoro conservation area and the Maasai Mara in Kenya. A recently proclaimed seventh world-wonder, the Serengeti is famed for its annual great migration, when millions of hooves pound the open plains as zebra and Thomson’s gazelle join the wildebeest in search of fresh grazing. The herds are stalked by prides of lion, spotted hyena, striped hyena, golden jackal, side-striped jackal and black-backed jackal. The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the world’s most complex and least-disturbed ecosystems, and with the climate alternating between dusty summer droughts to green winters and lush springs, with open plains transformed into endless green carpets splashed with wildflowers, there is always something new waiting around the next corner.
The Serengeti Migration Camp is used in this itinerary, but depending on the time of year (and where the migration is at that time), we may well substitute this camp for another if more appropriate.
Detail
Katavi Wildlife Camp is very exclusive. It is located in the best game area at Ikuu on the banks of the Katuma River, opening out onto Katavi’s central and largest plain, Katisunga. Both Lake Katavi and Lake Chada are accessible from this camp. The camp is owned and run by the Fox family, the same family team that own and run Ruaha River Lodge and Rufiji River Camp. Katavi Wildlife Camp is seasonal and is open from June through to February.
Set on the edge of the Katisunga plain, the camp is nestled in the fringe of woodland that skirts this seasonal lake. Katavi Wildlife Camp blends seamlessly into its environment, affording one of the best views in the park. This camp is the ultimate off-the-beaten-track destination, and guests are surrounded by wildlife from the moment they arrive.
Katavi Wildlife Camp comprises 6 luxurious tents, each set on a low platform among the trees to ensure both camouflage and shade. Each tent has an en-suite bathroom with twin basins, shower and toilet. There is a large private veranda at the front of the tent which is shaded by thatch, with a couple of comfortable chairs and a hammock providing the perfect spot for a relaxing afternoon. The main areas are completely open-sided, with a high thatched roof and wooden floors.
Katavi National Park
Most of Katavi National Park lies inside the Rukwa Rift Basin, which is part of the Central African Rift System. The landscape is defined by the rift valley floor and the bordering rift valley shoulders, with adjacent highlands, mountains and plateaus east and west of the valley. The western shoulder is known as the Llyamba Iya Mfipa Escarpment and the eastern shoulder as the Mlele Escarpment. The valley floor comprises flat to slightly rolling wooded terrain which is split by vast floodplains, seasonal lakes, rivers and shallow drainage lines.
Seasons define much of Katavi’s ecohydrology. While Lake Chada and Lake Katavi are grassland during the dry season, they transform into shallow lakes with the onset of heavy rains. Katavi is at its best in the dry season, when the plains fill with thousands of zebra, topi and impala. During this time, the Katuma and Kapapa rivers are the only water for miles around. As the game files down to drink, hundreds of hippo congregate in the tiniest waterholes and enormous crocodiles sit out the heat on the river bank, making for a fascinating sight.
Sable, hartebees, giraffe and Defassa waterbuck are commonly seen, as well as large populations of elephant, and some impressive herds of buffalo. Predators include some of the most luxuriously-maned lions on the continent, in addition to leopard, hunting dog and cheetah. Additionally, Katavi hosts large flocks of Open-billed and Saddle-billed Storks, African Spoonbills, Crested Cranes and Pink-backed Pelicans. Raptors are plentiful and the woodlands of the national park are home to species as diverse as African Golden Orioles, Paradise Flycatchers and Pennant-winged Nightjars.
Kwihala Camp is a private, remote, mobile camp set up in 2006 and owned by Asilia. It is situated in a secluded area within the Ruaha National Park. Located far from other camps within Ruaha, Kwihala Camp offers guests the unique experience of seeing very little human activity, if any, so guests have the opportunity to be engrossed exclusively in the wild. With the camp alternating its location twice a year it guarantees an unspoiled setting, giving guests the chance to experience the amazing wildlife and tranquillity of the bush in the comfort of their luxury tents.
In further pursuit of the ultimate wildlife experience, Kwihala prides itself on its high standard of guiding, with guides renowned for their intimate knowledge of the particular wonders of Ruaha. With food and the service at camp also being of a high standard, guests will be delighted by the experience. Furthermore, camp is comprised of only 6 luxurious canvas tents, offering exclusivity and intimacy. Each tent has an en-suite bathroom and private veranda for relaxing downtime between game drives.
With Ruaha intersecting a variety of habitats, game drives and walking safaris with the knowledgeable guides offer the opportunity for great wild dog, sable antelope, roan antelope, Lichtenstein's hartebeest and lesser kudus. Along with this is a thrilling concentration of predators and big game, in a beautiful and untouched landscape, making a walking safari here a highlight of the African wilderness experience.
Ruaha National Park
The name “Ruaha” derives from the Wahehe word “Ruvaha”, which means “River”, taking its name from the Great Ruaha River which borders the southern section of the park. From the high-altitude, cold, almost montane highlands in the west, to the low-altitude, hot valleys in the east, the variation in terrain across the reserve is huge. The south contains the Usangu Swamps which is the source of the Great Ruaha River, an enormous wetland which is home to thousands of hippos and provides a good sanctuary for Ruaha’s population of elephants. The northern parts of the park are extremely remote with only the adventure seeker travelling here. The seasonal Mzombe River forms the park’s northern boundary which winds its way between enormous prehistoric rocky outcrops via several different habitats before tumbling into the Great Ruaha River in the East.
The park intersects so many diverse habitats that many of its inhabitants are rare or extremely habitat-specific and not found in many other parks within Africa. Notable unusual sightings include the endangered wild dog, sable antelope, roan antelope, Lichtenstein's hartebeest and lesser kudu, and cheetah is also a possibility on the plains of the east. The park also has a high density of kudu, zebra, giraffe as well as predators such as black-backed jackal, spotted hyena and the elusive leopard. In addition to the magnificent mammals, Ruaha is a bird-lover’s paradise with over 550 species of land and water birds.
Neighbouring the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation area lies the Lake Manyara National Park, and it’s namesake lake was described by Hemingway as “the loveliest I had seen in Africa”. With its serene waters frequented by flamingos and other large migratory birds, this is a picturesque safari destination. It offers a diverse landscape and varied wildlife, including Manyara’s legendary ‘tree-climbing’ lions. Lake Manyara Tree Lodge is the only permanent lodge in Lake Manyara National Park. The lodge is renowned for its romantic tree house suites that are shaded by a mahogany forest.
The lodge is located in a forest of mahogany, wild mango and fig trees. The lake is a birder’s paradise thanks to the combination of wetlands, woodlands and hot springs that attract waterfowl and migrants. The area has over 400 recorded species. Lake Manyara Tree Lodge offers an exclusive wildlife experience, with 10 luxurious stilted tree-house suites, and a large open dining and lounge area. Large windows and private decks enhance the forest experience and allow guests to spy on wildlife from the comfort of their rooms. After game drives, guests can observe and enjoy the preparation of their dinner at the interactive kitchen, or relax next to the pool or in the spa.
Lake Manyara
Created to protect its magnificent elephant herds, Lake Manyara National Park is equally famous for the unusual behaviour of its tree-climbing lions and the flocks of pink flamingos that inhabit the lake's shores. Large numbers of buffalo, cheetah, leopard, Maasai giraffe and hippo also grace the shores of the lake. Manyara is a soda lake, which shrinks considerably during the dry season, exposing large areas of mud flats. However the park usually has plenty of water throughout the year due to the fresh water springs and streams that flow from the escarpment.
Lake Manyara National Park is a birdwatcher's paradise, with more than 400 species on record, particularly waterfowl and migrants. In October, migrant species arrive at Manyara from as far as the Arctic. Greater and Lesser Flamingo are often seen in large numbers on this soda lake, particularly thousands and thousands of Lesser Flamingo. Additionally, both White and Pink-backed Pelicans are often seen, as well as African Spoonbill, Hammerkop, African Fish Eagles, and various avocets, kingfishers, cormorants and jacanas.
The climate in Lake Manyara National Park is mild and temperate. Average temperatures are consistent throughout the year and it is very rarely hot enough to be uncomfortable, although it’s almost always cold in the early mornings and evenings. Manyara's dry season is from June to September, with another short dry season from January to February. The wet seasons consist of a period of 'long rains', which occur from March to May, and a period of 'short rains' occurring from October to November.
Located on the Ngorongoro Crater rim in the Ngorongoro National Park, the Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp provides the best setting for a nature lover’s dream with its spectacular views of the unique landscape and a diversity of wildlife leading from the Crater rim to its floor. The Ngorongoro National Park indulges guests with invigorating game drives to the Crater floor, combining special scenery with diverse wildlife. With approximately 30 000 animals roaming around the park’s vast landscapes, it is a game viewing gem. The area in which the camp is situated is home to a large variety of wildlife including zebra, wildebeest, hippo, buffalo, elephant and an amazing population of predators including lion, hyena, jackal, cheetah and leopard.
10 luxury tented suites offer en-suite bathrooms with an indoor bucket shower and stunning views of the surrounds. The main common area includes a dining area, bar and lounge area as well as comfortable sofas carefully situated in prime locations around the camp.
Twice-daily game drives are led by highly-trained and knowledgeable guides in an open 4x4 game viewing vehicle. The guides will take you to the Crater floor to witness the massive variety of animals, including its impressive population of predators. Guests can also enjoy guided walking safaris and cultural interactions by visiting the nearby Maasai villages.
Ngorongoro National Park
The main feature of the Ngorongoro Conservation Authority is the Ngorongoro Crater. Situated within the plains of south-east Serengeti, this breathtaking natural wonder is approximately 20km across, 600 meters deep and has a surface area of about 300 square kilometres.
The Crater floor is mostly open grassland, home to lush green, rain-watered vegetation, as well as desert plants. The Crater bush is covered by open short-grass plains with fresh and brackish-water lakes, marshes, swamps, and two patches of Acacia woodland. The rolling plains to the west are grass-covered with occasional Umbrella Acacia and Commiphora Africana trees.
The Crater, once a gigantic volcano, is the largest intact caldera in the world. A number of highly-endangered black rhino are protected within its rim, elephants wander its forest, black-maned lions track its grasslands, and flamingos crowd its salty lakes. An estimated 25 000 large mammals are resident in this bowl, including a population of approximately 6 000 resident wildebeest, and 70 lions. Cheetah move in and out of the Crater, while leopard are most often encountered in the picturesque Lerai Forest.
The Crater is the starting point for the annual migration when wildebeest, zebra and gazelle gather here in their thousands before setting off on the first leg of their journey around the Greater Mara Ecosystem early in the year, only to end back here at the end of the journey at year end.
The Serengeti Migration Camp is hidden amongst an outcrop of kopjes in Northern Serengeti. The Serengeti is rich in game throughout the year but also provides the stage for the world’s largest animal migration. Shifting its location within the Serengeti three times a year in order to follow the movement of the Great Migration, the Serengeti Migration Camp offers guests year-round access to this incredible spectacle. The camp blends seamlessly into the environment and allows guests a wonderful opportunity to view the phenomenon of the Great Migration.
Made from stone, wood, and canvas, the camp’s 20 luxurious elevated tents blend into the natural surroundings. Each tent is richly furnished in wood and leather, with an en-suite bathroom that has a separate shower and double vanity and a 360-degree private veranda. The main tent has a split-level lounge, a swimming pool, and a restaurant and viewing platforms that offer breathtaking views of the vast open plains and river.
Morning and afternoon game drives are guided by knowledgeable and experienced guides. Guests have the amazing opportunity of seeing the spectacle of the migration as the viewing is focused on the migration and other species and predators within the area. Guests can request to head out on a game drive with a packed lunch for a full-day safari giving you the opportunity to explore deeper into the park.
The Serengeti Migration Camp is used in this itinerary, but depending on the time of year (and where the migration is at that time), we may well substitute this camp for another if more appropriate.
Serengeti National Park
During the annual migration, over a million wildebeest, two hundred thousand zebra and four hundred thousand gazelle move throughout the southern and eastern plains of the Serengeti in an indistinct clockwise direction following the fresh green grass germinated by the rains.
It can be difficult to foretell the exactly path and timing of the migration, but if the rains had been on time, the broad pattern is reasonably predictable: From December to April, at the end of the short rains, the great herds gather and commence their journey from the Ngorongoro Plains to southern Serengeti in Tanzania (January to March in the southern Serengeti is calving season). May to June see the restless herds journey north through the central Serengeti and the western corridor, between the Grumeti and Mbalageti Rivers, where they commence their mating season. In June or July, the herds split up. Some continue west, other head north, and hundreds of thousands move steadily north-west towards the long golden grass of the Maasai Mara. September sees the herds spread out across the northern Serengeti, where the Mara River provides the migration with its most momentous obstacle. It is here that the iconic images of the herds crossing the Mara River are taken. With the onset of the short rainy season in October and November, the herds begin their move back to the south in wait of the onset of the next migration cycle.
Apart from the migrations, some area of the Serengeti provide exceptional year-round game viewing: some of the largest buffalo herds and elephants are to be found in the unspoiled woodlands to the north, the Seronera valley in the centre of the park has plentiful grazing and abundant animals, Lake Ndutu attracts huge flocks of flamingos, and in the west the Grumeti River contains some of the largest Nile crocodiles you will ever see.
LOGISTICS
This safari commences and ends in Arusha, Tanzania
- Shared charter flight, Arusha Airport to Ikuu airstrip in Katavi National Park
- Road transfer, Ikuu airstrip to Katavi Wildlife Camp
- 4 Nights accommodation at Katavi Wildlife Camp
- Road transfer, Katavi Wildlife Camp to Ikuu airstrip
- Shared charter flight, Ikuu airstrip to Msembe airstrip in Ruaha National Park
- Road transfer, Msembe airstrip to Kwihala Camp
- 3 Nights accommodation at Kwihala Camp
- Road transfer, Kwihala Camp to Msembe airstrip
- Shared charter flight, Msembe airstrip to Arusha Airport in Tanzania
- Shared charter flight, Arusha Airport to Manyara airstrip in Lake Manyara National Park
- Road transfer, Manyara airstrip to Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
- 1 Night’s accommodation at Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
- Day safari and transfer, Lake Manyara Tree Lodge to Ngorongoro Crater Camp
- 2 Nights accommodation at Ngorongoro Crater Camp
- Road transfer, Ngorongoro Crater Camp to Manyara airstrip
- Shared charter flight, Manyara airstrip to Seronera airstrip in Serengeti National Park
- Road transfer, Seronera airstrip to Serengeti Migration Camp
- 4 Nights accommodation at Serengeti Migration Camp
- Road transfer, Serengeti Migration Camp to Seronera airstrip
- Shared charter flight, Seronera airstrip to Arusha Airport in Tanzania
Itinerary
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