Cultural Safari
For those who are interested in learning a bit about the local culture and customs on their safari we have included the following itinerary suggestion.
Details
For those who are interested in learning a bit about the local culture and customs on their safari we have included the following itinerary suggestion.
You’ll arrive in Arusha and be taken to your lodge for a delicious dinner and a good night’s sleep.
Your day starts with an early morning drive in Arusha National Park. You have the option to do a canoe ride where you can enjoy your picnic breakfast. You’ll return to your lodge for lunch after spending the morning in Arusha National Park. Around 3pm you’ll head out to visit the town of Arusha. Arusha was a German administration town during colonial times and you can still see the German influence in the architecture and markets. You’ll then be taken back to your lodge for dinner and relaxation.
After breakfast you’ll head to Tarangire National Park. The drive will take 2.5 hours on paved roads that cross through the savannah woodlands and the open areas where Masai take their cattle to graze. You’ll have just enough time to squeeze in a short game drive before arriving at your lodge for lunch. Your lodge is perched on the banks of the Tarangire River and is an excellent spot for viewing the myriad bird life along the banks. You’ll also be able to see elephants and buffalo drinking from the river. Around 4pm you’ll head out for an evening game drive and will return back to your lodge just after sunset.
Your day will start with an early morning game drive a long Tarangire river. You’ll be back in time for breakfast at the lodge and then you’ll head on to Lake Manyara National Park. You’ll arrive in Manyara around noon, where you can visit the local markets and visit the local fruit and vegetable farms. You’ll have the wonderful opportunity of eating with the local farmers and enjoying their produce. After lunch you’ll head out for an afternoon/early evening game drive before heading back to your lodge for the night.
You’ll leave your lodge early and bring a packed breakfast. Today you’ll cover most of the park, including a game drive in the underground water forests. Be on the lookout for monkeys, baboons, buffalo and giraffes while doing some bird watching. You’ll enjoy your breakfast near the lake while viewing boisterous hippos, birds, giraffes and warthogs. As the day grows warmer, you’ll head near the hot springs where you can see flocks of flamingos, buffalo, elephants, impalas and more giraffes. You’ll head back to the lodge for a hot lunch and some time to relax and organize photos. You’ll head back out around 3pm for a leisurely drive to Lake Eyasi. Dinner will be at Kismangeda luxury camp.
A very early start today so you can walk and hunt with the local Bushmen. You’ll be back to lodge around 10:30am, where you can enjoy a hearty brunch. After brunch you’ll do some walking near the camp. Manyara, Tarangire and Lake Eyasi have a large diversity of bird life. Manyara has over 400 species of birds and you can check out the species you’ve been seeing in the bird books HM Safaris provide in our vehicles. You can also listen to the bird calls and watch the cheeky Vervet monkeys in action. For those who love water and swimming, the camp has a lovely fresh water swimming pool that is very refreshing on hot days.
At 4pm you’ll visit the Datoga tribe and Mbulu onions farms before returning back to your camp.
After a leisurely breakfast you’ll head to Ngorongoro. The first stop on your journey will be the Mbulu cultural boma, where you will learn about the Mbulu tribe and how they use to deal with their enemy – the Masai people. After this you will drive up the Ngorongoro highlands and arrive at 1pm at the Serena Ngorongoro Lodge, located right on the rim of the crater. Here you’ll enjoy a delicious lunch and take a few hours to relax. At 5pm you’ll enjoy a festive Masai dance while sipping a sundowner at the rim of the crater.
A very early morning drive to the crater floor. The day will be spent exploring the crater floor and looking for the big five – rhino, lion, elephant – long tusked ones, buffalo and leopard. You’ll overnight at the Serena lodge.
After breakfast you’ll head to the Serengeti. You’ll spend 2-3 days here, where you will follow the wildebeest migration. The game viewing in the Serengeti is fantastic with ample viewing opportunities around every corner. The Serengeti is truly a magical place and you won’t want to leave.
Depending on your schedule, you can add a few days on to your safari and explore the enchanting island of Zanzibar. You can walk though the spice markets of Stone Town or relax on the beach. Alternatively, you can fly back to Arusha to catch your connecting flight back home.