Ngorongoro-Serengetti Manyara
(6 DAYS )
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The Serengeti
It was 1913 and great stretches of Africa were still unknown to the white man when Stewart Edward White, an American hunter, set out from Nairobi. Pushing south, he recorded: "We walked for miles over burnt out country... Then I saw the green trees of the river, walked two miles more and found myself in paradise." He had found Serengeti. In the years since White's excursion under "the high noble arc of the cloudless African sky," Serengeti has come to symbolize paradise to many of us. The Maasai, who had grazed their cattle on the vast grassy plains for millennia had always thought so. To them it was Siringitu - "the place where the land moves on forever." The Serengeti region encompasses the Serengeti National Park itself, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Maswa Game Reserve, the Loliondo, Grumeti and Ikorongo Controlled Areas and the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Over 90,000 tourists visit the Park each year. Two World Heritage Sites and two Biosphere Reserves have been established within the 30,000 km² region. It's unique ecosystem has inspired writers from Ernest Hemingway to Peter Mattheissen, filmakers like Hugo von Lawick and Alan Root as well as numerous photographers and scientists. The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the oldest on earth. The essential features of climate, vegetation and fauna have barely changed in the past million years. Early man himself made an appearance in Olduvai Gorge about two million years ago. Some patterns of life, death, adaptation and migration are as old as the hills themselves. It is the migration for which Serengeti is perhaps most famous. Over a million wildebeest and about 200,000 zebras flow south from the northern hills to the southern plains for the short rains every October and November, and then swirl west and north after the long rains in April, May and June. So strong is the ancient instinct to move that no drought, gorge or crocodile infested river can hold them back. The Wildebeest travel through a variety of parks, reserves and protected areas and through a variety of habitat. Join us to explore the different forms of vegetation and landscapes of the Serengeti ecosystem and meet some of their most fascinating inhabitants.
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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.
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- Day 1
Early morning departure from Nairobi to Tanzania, crossing the border at Namanga, where you will be met by out Tanzanian guide. Drive on to Arusha for lunch and continue to the Ngorongoro crater. Late afternoon arrival at the lodge/camp built on the rim of the crater. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge/camp.
- Day 2
Breakfast, and then descend to the crater floor for a full day game viewing. The 10 sq miles crater is host to rhino, elephant, lion, zebra, and wildebeest. Enjoy a picnic bunch before ascending the crater wall back to the lodge/camp for dinner and overnight stay.
- Day 3
After breakfast continue to the vast Serengeti National Park. Stopping at Olduvai Gorge. Lunch at the lodge/camp and afternoon game viewing where large herds of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle roam the plains. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge/camp.
- Day 4
Morning game drive, taking you to different parts of the Serengeti. Lunch at the lodge/camp and an afternoon game drive. Serengeti is famous for its annual migration when millions of wildebeest and zebra set off for the Maasai Mara in search of water and better grazing grounds. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge/camp.
- Day 5
Breakfast then depart for Lake Manyara National Park. Lunch in a hotel/camp. An afternoon game drive looking for the famous tree climbing lions. Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel/camp.
- Day 6
After breakfast drive to Arusha then proceed on to Nairobi to arrive in the evening.
