Day 1: Arusha
We'll await you in Arusha (for those who arrive by shuttle or bus) or Moshi (for those who arrive by plane) and continue straight to Karatu where we'll spend the night. On the way we stop briefly at the Lake Manyara National Park viewpoint.
Overnight: Karatu guesthouse - HB (lunch and dinner)
Day 2: Ngorongoro Crater
After an early rising and breakfast we drive of to Karatu to stock up for the next three days in the bush. We'll continue to the gate of Ngorongoro Conservation Area and get down to the craterfloor for a whole day of game spotting. The garden of Eden hosts a surreal variety and quantity of animals and is considered as one of the best places in the world to spot the endangered black rhino in the wild. Buffaloes, elephants, lions, hyena's and many species of antelopes are common and can be sighted at close range. The more elusive leopard is also present but rather difficult to spot. The two picnic sites, inhabited by steeling monkeys and acrobatic black kites, provide a real spectacle. Take care of your belongings! Around 5 p.m. we'll climb the steep crater rim again and head for a fresh shower. We'll spend the night in the guestrooms of the Endulen Mission, a spectacularly located hospital served by the flying doctors and used for the treatment of the local Masai. Ready for a cool but quiet night.
Overnight: Endulen Mission (Simba campsite if Endulen Mission is fully booked) - FB
Day 3: Serengeti National Park
We wake up early again and depart for an exciting day in Serengeti National Park. If the condition of the road allows, we 'll take an idyllic and seldom used shortcut to Lake Ndutu that will offer you the real Out of Africa-feeling: the rising sun, endless plains and no one else around. From Ndutu we continue to Naabi Hill, the gate of Serengeti National Park. From there on we'll follow the routes that give us the best chances of tracking the big cats. These vary from season to season. We'll picnic on route. In the late afternoon, just before dusk, we'll stick to the river where the leopards will slowly wake up after a long day of sleeping. Of all national parks in Africa the Seronera region in Serengeti is the best option to spot a leopard. The night will be spent in a small tent at one of the Seronera campsites. Whooping hyena's, roaring lions and screaming prey will accompany us at night: few hours of sleep but excitement guaranteed! Those who prefer a comfortable and quiet night can overnight in a nearby lodge at own expense.
Overnight: Seronera campsite or Lodge (at own expense) - FB
Day 4: Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro Conservation Area
We'll leave at sunrise for another day of gamedriving. The early hours are the best for spotting leopard or lions 'at work'. We'll follow the river and the Kopjes to Naabi Hill where we enter Ngorongoro Conservation Area again. We 'll continue our game drive on the Ndutu plains and make a stop at the mysterious Shifting Sand and Olduvai Gorge for a short visit to the famous archaeological museum. If the group decides to skip Shifting Sand and Olduvai, the alternative is another game-drive around Lake Ndutu. Since it's a private safari, the group can decide about the day's program. On or way back to the park exit we'll visit a Masai boma if there's still some time left.
Overnight: Karatu guesthouse - FB
Day 5: Lake Manyara National Park
Another early wake for a whole day of game driving in Lake Manyara National Park. Lake Manyara is maybe the most beautiful and certainly the most tropical park of the Northern circuit. Vegetation is lush as there's always plenty of water sipping down from the surrounding mountains. Here we'll have a good chance to have a really close encounter with elephants and giraffes as well as spotting many colourful birds and a variety of raptors. Blue monkeys, giant monitor lizards, bushbucks and klipspringers are often spotted as well. Lions, hyena's and leopards are present but generally well covered in the bushes. We'll have our picnic at the beautiful 'Endallah picnicsite' and also visit the beautiful hot water springs ('maji moto'), made famous by Ernest Hemingway who had a tented camp nearby. We stay in mto wa Mbu for the night.
Overnight: Mto wa Mbu guesthouse - FB
Day 6: Tarangire National Park
After breakfast we'll drive straight to the gate of Tarangire National Park. Tarangire National Park has a very large concentration of elephants but is also famous for it's tree-hanging pythons and leopards. We hope we'll be lucky enough to see them during our full day game drive. Furthermore the park is known for its many baobabs and rolling hills. And on the right time all action is concentrated around the Tarangire River. While having lunch you might spot twenty elephants or more drinking from the river or just taking a shower. Dinner is used around the campfire before we prepare for another entertaining night, full of horrific sounds and uninvited visitors… Again, those who prefer a quiet night in bed can spend the night in a lodge at own expense. Hakuna matata!
Overnight: Tarangire campsite or Lodge (at own expense) - FB
Day 7: Tarangire National Park
We wake up very early and break up our camp before leaving on another game drive. Also here the cats are at their best at night and in the early morning. After breakfast we'll leave the thousands of giraffes, elephants and dikdiks for what they are and leave the park again. We'll drive straight to Arusha where we'll have our last lunch and drop you off at your place of destination.
Overnight: / - Breakfast and lunch