short Safari holidays visiting ngorongoro lake manyara 4 days

			Ngorongoro-Lake Manyara (4 DAYS )
	Tour Code SF25
	HOME ABOUT THE LOCATIONS EXCURSIONS AROUND NAIROBI SHORT SAFARIS 1-3 days INTERMEDIATE SAFARIS 1-7 days LONG SAFARIS 12-14 days EXTENDED SAFARIS 14 & 22 days SAFARIS FROM THE COAST BIRD WATCHING MOUNTAINEERING AIR TRIPS LAMU ISLAND Eco-Tourism SEE OUR NEW EXTRAS SECTION (gorilla trips to Uganda, day trips in and around Mombasa, flying visits to Zanzibar, Safaris to southern Tanzania around Selous) CONTACT US BROCHURE Also available on CD-Rom by request (telephone now) USEFUL INFORMATION Previous Page Booking your flights both internal and external PRICE LIST
			The Ngorogoro Conservation Area of 6,475 sq Km (2,500 sq Miles) was established in 1959. The Crater is one of the most spectacular game haunts in Africa: it is also one of the biggest craters, or more correctly calderas, in the world. Over 14.5 Km (9 Miles) wide and 610-760 Km (2,000-2,500 Ft) Deep and covering 264 sq Km (102 sq Miles). The approach road at 2,286 m (7,500 Ft) skirts the rim of the crater floor thousands of feet below. Entry into the crater is by way of the Lerai Descent, an extremely steep and winding road down the slopes of the crater wall- negotiable only by 4 wheel drive vehicle. The bottom is open grassy plain with alternating fresh and brackish water lakes, swamps and two patches of dense acacia woodland called the Lerai and Laindi Forests. Game animals and birds are abundant inside the crater. All of the so-called 'Big Five' may be seen. Elephants, Lion, Black Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus and Buffalo. Other species encountered are Cheetah, Eland, Grant's and Thompsons Gazelles, Common Zebra, Wildebeest, a superabundance of Hyaena, Hunting Dog and if you are lucky Leopard. Among the notable Birds are Lammergeyer, Veraux's Eagle and Egyptian Vulture which make their home in the highest cliffs of the crater wall: the beautiful Rosy-breasted Longclaw, which appears on the plains after rains; and flocks of lesser and Greater Flamingos which are spasmodic visitors to the crater lakes. In the highland forest on the crater rim two sunbirds are especially noticeable, the long tailed Golden-winged Sunbird and the smaller Eastern Double-collared Sunbird. At dusk the Abyssinian Nightjar is often seen or heard. Accommodation is available at the crater lodges on the crater rim near the Lerai entrance road. (Back to top) Lake Manyara National Park covers an area of only 318 sq Km (123 sq Miles), but its terrain is so diverse that its mammal and bird lists are most impressive. The Park includes the Northern and most of the Western parts of the Lake and its shores with a Westward expansion to the top of the Rift Valley wall where the Lake Manyara Hotel is situated. Large areas of groundwater forest with giant Fig and Mahogany trees alternate with acacia woodland and more open places, all well watered. A network of roads and tracks gives the visitor maximum game and bird viewing opportunities. The tree climbing Lions of Manyara are famous for this form of behaviour. It is probably due to a combination of the need to avoid dense undergrowth and a search for cool shade. Probably lions have found that in an arboreal resting place the torment of biting flies is less. Numbers of Elephants are resident in the park, Buffalo are common and herds of 300-400 have been recorded, Black Rhinocerous are very uncommon. Leopards occur in most places and it is not unusual to come across them in the early morning or late evening: like the Lions, they may be seen resting in the trees. Manyara is noted for it's wealth of birdlife. At all times the Lake is visited by many thousands of Lesser Flamingos, together with a sprinkling of the larger species. Maccoa Ducks and white backed Ducks are resident and the beautiful Pygmy Goose is sometimes observed. The Chestnut-Banded Sand-Plover is found on the mudflats and sandy areas. In addition there over 30 species of prey bird including the Palm-nut Vulture and Ayre's and Crowned Hawk Eagles. (Back to top)	PRICE LIST

				Day 1: Morning departure from Nairobi to Tanzania, crossing the border at Namanga. Proceed to Arusha for lunch before continuing to the Ngorongoro crater. You will arrive in the late afternoon at the lodge built on the rim of the crater. Dinner and overnight at the Ngorongoro Wildlife lodge/camp. Day 2: Breakfast at the lodge/camp, then descend to the crater floor by a special 4 wheel drive vehicle for a full day of game viewing. The magnificent Black-maned Lion, Elephant, Buffalo and Rhino exist here in the greatest concentration in the whole of Africa. A picnic lunch follows in the crater. Dinner and overnight at the lodge/camp. Day 3 After breakfast depart for Lake Manyara. Lunch at the hotel/camp overlooking the Great Rift Valley and the lake itself. Afternoon game drive at Lake Manyara National Park, famous for it's climbing Lions. Dinner and overnight at the hotel/camp. Day 4 Breakfast and another short game drive. After which you return to Nairobi by shuttle to arrive in the early evening (Back to top)