Itinerary (subject to minor changes)

July 3 Time TBA - Arrive Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO), meet & transfer to Arusha for overnight at Serena Mountain Village on Bed & Breakfast. Mountain Village is situated by Lake Duluti, 12 km outside of Arusha.

July 4 After breakfast, full day at leisure. Overnight at Serena Mountain Village on Bed & Breakfast. I have built in this "quiet" day because most of us will be traveling long hours/time zones to get here and a recovery day might be a good idea. I'm sure you can arrange activities if you'd like; there's a lot to do here.

July 5 After breakfast, 08h30 Pre Safari Briefing. Then depart Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park. Full day game viewing with picnic lunches. Dinner & overnight at Lake Manyara Serena Lodge. Lake Manyara National Park is at the base of the dramatic Great Rift. This famous fault system extends from the Red Sea through Kenya and Tanzania to the Orange River in South Africa. Olive baboons frequently cross the park boundary to steal bananas from the trees along the road, where they can quickly run back into the park with the wonderful bananas that peopel grow in this area. Rice is also grown here at the base of the Great Rift escarpment. In Lake Manyara National Park, we'll be immersed in unique habitats including the alkaline lake, the amazing "ground water forest,", the meandering river, the beautiful savannas on the lake edge, and the Rift escarpment dotted with baobab trees. The source of water for this region is the Ngorogoro Forest Reserve above the escarpment, where frequent precipitation percolates through the porous volcanic soil. Water hits the granitic basement rock at the bottom of the escarpment, where it flows out of springs, providing enough moisture for large figs and tamarind trees in the ground water forest.

July 6 After breakfast, drive to Ndutu for a late Lunch. Afternoon/evening game viewing followed by dinner & overnight at Ndutu Safari Lodge. I have requested extra time at this special place because we are allowed to drive off-road. The cat population around Ndutu is on of the beset in all the Serengeti, with serval, African wildcat, and even the possibility of caracal, as well as cheetah, leopard and lion. We will see many wildlife species, including fascinating birds, in this very rich wildlife area. A family of common or small-spotted genets usually visits the lodge dining room late in the evening. Many Fischer's lovebirds come in the morning to drink. Steinbuck, grey-breasted spurfowl and chestnut-banded sand plover are specialties of the Ndutu area. All species of animals exhibit fascinating behavor as they go about their daily survival strategies in the habitats that sustain them.

July 7 Breakfast & full day game viewing in Ndutu. Lunch, dinner & overnight at Ndutu Safari Lodge. Sometimes wildlife alk onto the plains right in front of our camp between the lodge and the lake, so there is never a dull moment here.

July 8 Another full day game viewing in Ndutu. Lunch, dinner & overnight at Ndutu Safari Lodge.

July 9 After breakfast, drive to Serengeti National Park for a Late Lunch. Afternoon/evening game viewing in the park. Dinner & overnight at Serengeti Sopa Lodge. The Serengeti is in the heart of some of the best game viewing in Africa. The sil here is alkaline with hardpan below, highly rich in calcium. Frequent light rains and close grazing stimulate these grasses, so they provide tremendous nutrients to sustain the huge numbers of wildebeest. The Serengeti ecosystem represents the world's greatest remaining aggregation of large land animals, including 1.5 million wildebeest plus a million other ungulates. Throughout the vast plain, look for the granite boulder outcroppings known as Kopjes (pronounced "copies"). These amazing rockpiles harbor many species of predators. We'll be staying in a magnificent location at the top of a wooded hill near the Moru Kopjes.

July 10 Breakfast & full day game viewing in Serengeti. Lunch, dinner & overnight at Serengeti Sopa Lodge.

July 11 Breakfast & full day game viewing in Serengeti. Lunch, dinner & overnight at Serengeti Sopa Lodge.

July 12 Another full day game viewing in the park. Lunch, dinner & overnight at Serengeti Sopa Lodge.

July 13 After breakfast, drive through an extensive agricultural area belonging to the Mbulu people to Ngorongoro Crater, elevation approximately 8,000 feet, with Picnic Lunches. Game viewing & An Olduvai Gorge Visit enroute to Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge for dinner & overnight. From the crater rim we can look inside the crater, viewing a miraculous ecosystem 2,000 feet below. The crater encompasses 110 square miles, a perfect caldera 10 to 11 miles across. Black rhinos are still regularly seen in the crater, especially near the acacia woodlands on the plains. Containing both fresh and alkaline lakes within its wall, the crater is abundant with both water and land birds. Lion prides, hyena clans, and jackal families carry on their interactions uninhibited by vehicles while wildebeest are calving on the calving grounds. Male lions of Ngorogoro, famous for their black manes, might be found here as well.

July 14 After breakfast, descend into the Crater for a 6hrs Crater Tour with Picnic Lunches. Return to the rim for dinner & overnight at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge.

July 15 After breakfast, drive to Tarangire National Park. Full day game viewing with Picnic Lunches. Dinner & overnight at Tarangire Sopa Lodge. Tarangire is a beautiful baobab (ancient African tree) paradise. The Tarangire Sopa is located in the best wildlife area of Tarangire and the staff is very friendly and accommodating. We'll encounter African elephants, especially in the afternoon, coming from the hills to drink and bathe in the river. This is also excellent habitat for leopards and other carnivores. The setting is fantastic for late afternoon photography with many mammals and birds. This is the only place where we will see the endemic (found only in this area) Ashy Starling and Yellow-collared Lovebirds.

July 16 After breakfast, drive back to Arusha for Lunch at The Arusha Hotel. Afternoon transfer/flight to NBO (TBA).

The Tour price includes full board accommodation (Except for your one- or two-pre night stay at Mt. Village which is on a bed and breakfast basis) ground transportation, the services of an English Speaking Driver Guide, Vehicle Entry Fees, and Park Fees. It does not include airfare, drinks, tips, laundry, departure tax or any other extras of a personal nature.

Nairobi is a jumping off city for numerous other tours and we're pondering some options here. One destination might be the ancient island port of Lamu, accessible via Mombasa and a wonderful old fashioned train from Nairobi to Mombasa. More info to come!