13 Day Predator & Mara River Crossing

We can wake early for a sunrise game drive in the Serengeti at Dawn if you wish. This should be discussed with your safari guide the previous night. After breakfast enjoy a full day game drive in this area. Resident wildlife numbers are exceptionally high in this Mara River area, with prides of lion up to 30 strong, however from July to October the area turns into a wildlife paradise. The key feature is the Mara River and it is not uncommon to see the herds cross the Mara River north on one day and then back south a few days later. Please take note – to actually finding a crossing is very difficult and is sometimes a matter of luck. A herd can be seen next to river and only decide to cross or not cross until a couple of days later. Dinner and Overnight at Serengeti Savannah Mara River Camp All meals are included. Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.

Accommodation: Serengeti Savannah Camp - Mara River

Today you will leave after leisurely breakfast and drive to the Central Serengeti National Park known as Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti’s species. We enjoy a game drive en-route to the camp. We arrive in time for lunch and enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Serengeti national park. Dinner and overnight at Serengeti KatiKati Camp All meals are included. Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.

Accommodation: Serengeti Katikati Camp

Full day game drives in the Serengeti, home to the greatest concentration of large mammals on earth. Non-migratory species include large prides of lions, solitary leopards, cheetah and graceful impala. The landscape is characterised by vast stretches of open plains, punctuated by kopjes, rock formations that have survived from the Pre-Cambrian period, and open woodlands. After a sumptuous dinner, relax by the campfire, under a canopy of stars. Overnight at the Serengeti Kati Kati Camp All meals are included. Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.

Accommodation: Serengeti Katikati Camp

After breakfast drive and descend over 600 meters into the crater to view wildlife. Supported by a year round water supply and fodder, the Ngorongoro Crater supports a vast variety of animals, which include herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants. Another big draw card to this picturesque conserved area, is it’s dense population of predators, which include lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and the ever-elusive leopard, which sometimes requires a trained eye to spot. In the late afternoon, head back to the rim and drive to Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge for dinner and overnight. All meals are included. Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge

In the early morning, we can often watch banks of cloud lift off the Crater as the sun penetrates an already magical setting. We descend more than 2,000 feet on steep tracks cut into the crater wall to reach the open plains of the Crater floor taking picnic breakfast and lunch with us so that we can spend the maximum time viewing animals. The Ngorongoro Crater is undoubtedly the best place in Tanzania to view black rhino as well as large prides of lion that include magnificent black-manned males. It is also home to huge herds of wildebeest and zebra and many other plains game, such as Thomson's gazelle. An alkaline lake in the floor of the Crater provides a habitat for colorful flamingo and a variety of other water birds. Massive bull elephants feed in the swamps, some adorned with enormous tusks. In the mid-afternoon we ascend to the lodge, relax on our veranda and marvel at the view. We can soak in a hot bath, or walk around the lodge grounds.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge

After breakfast at the lodge, you will be driving to Tarangire National Park, the third largest national park in Tanzania. There will be many opportunities for game viewing as we drive through the park. We have the option of taking picnic lunch or arrive at the lodge for lunch settling in and then afternoon at leisure or game drive. Tarangire contains a range of ecosystems from grassland and woodlands in the north, to scrub and wetlands further south. The Tarangire river cuts through the park and empties into Lake Burunge in the west. Tarangire boasts one of the largest and most conspicuous elephant populations in East Africa. There are large family groups with many calves being born each year as the population continues to recover from the devastating effects of poaching in the eighties. You will see herds of elephants and experience close contact with the matriarchs, the babies, teenagers, and bulls.

Accommodation: Tarangire Safari Lodge

After breakfast drive back to Arusha arrive in time for lunch, optional shopping afterward then drive to Kia Lodge where the day use room will be provided before transferred to the Airport for your home bound flight.