VIP Safari Escorted by Tour Director
From U.S.
Tour Overview
From the depths of Ngorongoro Crater to the Serengeti plains; off-the-beaten-path Tarangire to exotic Zanzibar; our small group encounters the breadth of tranquil Tanzania’s riches; abundant wildlife, exquisite landscapes, and diverse cultures. It’s Africa as it was – and still is.
Wildlife Safari
Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti and Zanzibar
Your Tour Highlights
- Tanzania’s unparalleled game viewing.
- Guaranteed window seats in safari vehicles.
- Tarangire’s elephants and baobabs
- Ngorongoro Crater and Conservation Area
- Olduvai George, site of world’s oldest prehistoric remains
- Tanzania’s unparalleled game viewing.
- Guaranteed window seats in safari vehicles.
- Tarangire’s elephants and baobabs
- Ngorongoro Crater and Conservation Area
- Olduvai George, site of world’s oldest prehistoric remains
- Vast game-filled plains of the Central and Western Serengeti
- Exotic Zanzibar
- Stays in top-rated game lodges
- Deluxe Zanzibar beach resort
- Vast game-filled plains of the Central and Western Serengeti
- Exotic Zanzibar
- Stays in top-rated game lodges
- Deluxe Zanzibar beach resort
Day |
Itinerary |
Hotel |
Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Depart U.S. for Arusha |
|
|
|
2-3 |
Arusha |
The African Tulip |
Sup. First Class |
|
4-5 |
Tarangire |
Tarangire Sopa Lodge |
Sup. First Class |
|
6-7 |
Ngorongoro Crater |
Ngorongoro Serena Lodge |
Sup. First Class |
|
8-9 |
Cental Serengeti |
Serengeti Serena Lodge |
Sup. First Class |
|
10-11 |
Western Serengeti |
Mbalageti Serengeti |
Deluxe |
|
12-13 |
Zanzibar |
Breezes Beach Club Zanzibar |
Deluxe |
|
12-13 |
Zanzibar/Depart for US |
Breezes Beach Club Zanzibar |
Deluxe |
|
15 |
Arrive U.S. |
|
|
Itinerary Highlights
Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.
FULL ITINERARY
Upon arrival we transfer directly to our Hotel.
At this morning’s briefing we learn about the journey ahead then set out on an afternoon game drive in Arusha National Park, where we may spot waterbuck, zebra, giraffe – and in the distance, possibly, snow-capped Mt. Kilimanjaro. Inside the park we’ll see Mt. Meru, Africa’s fifth highest peak at almost 15,000 feet. Tonight: a welcome dinner. B,L,D
We depart today for the two-hour drive to Tarangire, Tanzania’s 1,100-square –mile park known especially for its high concentration of elephants and for the many baobab trees dotting the savannah. We enjoy a game drive en route to our lodge, located within the park. After lunch and some time at leisure, late afternoon we enjoy another game drive in the park, where we may see zebra, wildebeest, Cape buffalo, giraffe, lion, leopard, cheetah, and of course, elephants. B,L,D
In store today: Morning and afternoon game drives in this gem of a park slightly off the beaten path. Along with the abundant game, we’re sure to see some of Tarangire’s 550 species of birds, as well as the many termite mounds scattered amid the grass – and swampland here. B,L,D
This morning we depart for Ngorongoro, wildlife haven and homeland of the semi-nomadic Maasai people. We arrive in time for lunch at our safari lodge uniquely set on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, blending in so much with the landscape as to be invisible from the cater floor. This afternoon is at leisure; the views of the crater from our lodge, spectacular. B,L,D
This morning we descend to the floor of magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO site and at 100 square miles the world’s largest intact and perfectly formed volcanic caldera. The unique biosphere here has remained unchanged for eons; towering walls encircle the crater’s floor which represents Africa in microcosm: grassland, swamps, lakes, forest, and some 25,000 mammals, including elephant, black rhinoceros, lion, hippo, and zebra. B,L,D
En route today to the fabled Serengeti, we visit 31-mile Olduvai George. It was here in 1959 that anthropologist Mary Leakey discovered the 1.8 million-year-old skull of Australopithecus boisei and revolutionized the study of human evolution. Part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area [which itself is part of the Serengeti region], Olduvai is considered the “cradle of humanity” and ranks as one of the world’s most important prehistoric sites. Then we visit a Maasai village before we continue on to Serengeti National Park, home to such plains dwellers as lion, cheetah, zebra, and wildebeest. The Serengeti, the Maasai’s “endless plain,”is considered Africa’s finest park, and we begin to see why on this afternoon’s game drive. B,L,D
In Tanzania’s northeast corner sits the vast Serengeti, 5,700 square miles [equal in size to Connecticut], one of the world’s last great wildlife refuges, and the Tanzanian portion of Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve. Twice a year [Jan-Feb and Jun-Oct], some 1.3 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra, and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelle migrate to new grazing lands, sparking one of nature’s most spectacular sights and the world’s largest migration. But the Serengeti’s plains teem with animal life year-round, and this is the best place to see lion and cheetah up close, perhaps on today’s game drives. B,L,D
As we drive across the rolling Serengeti plain to the park’s famed Western Corridor, we’ll likely spot game along the way. We arrive at our well-appointed lodge in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive. B,L,D
We enjoy game viewing this morning en route to Lake Victoria-210 miles long, 150 miles in breadth, and with 2,000 miles of coastline – Africa’s largest lake and the world’s second largest freshwater lake after Lake Superior. We take in the immensity of this storied waterway, enjoy lunch together, and visit a local fishing village, where we meet some of the residents and learn about their way of life. then we return to our safari camp in time for dinner there tonight. B,L,D
We fly this morning to tropical Zanzibar, Tanzania’s semiautonomous Indian Ocean archipelago with a colorful history. Upon arrival mid-afternoon, we set out to discover Stone Town, Zanzibar’s capital and East Africa’s only ancient town still functioning. A heady mix of Moorish, Middle Eastern, Indian, and African influences [though predominantly Muslim today], Stone Town boasts a labyrinth of narrow alleys lined with shops, homes, hidden courtyards, and extravagantly carved wooden doors, as we see on our tour. From here we travel to our beach resort on Zanzibar’s eastern coast. B,L,D
A morning tour of a spice plantation reveals why Zanzibar is known as the “Spice Island” – its bounty of cloves, nutmeg, ginger, chilies, black pepper, vanilla, coriander, and cinnamon have found their way around the world for centuries. We return to our hotel in time for lunch on our own and an afternoon at leisure. Then we celebrate our Tanzania adventure at tonight’s farewell dinner. B,D
After a day at leisure at our resort hotel, we fly to Germany-influenced Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city. We have an early dinner at a restaurant, then depart for the airport and our overnight flight to the U.S. B,D
We arrive in the U.S today and connect with our flight home.
- 12 nights’ accommodations in Deluxe and Superior First Class hotels and lodges
- 34 meals: 12 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 12 dinners
- Extensive game viewing and sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees
- Mineral water while on safari
- Private safari vehicle transportation throughout your trip with guaranteed window seating
- Luggage handling for one bag per person
- Gratuities for local driver/guides, dining room servers, and airport and hotel porter
- Beverages and alcoholic drinks
- Items of personal nature
- International Flights ( From / To Home )
- Telephone bills
- Medical insurance
- Tips
Book This Tour
- 12 nights’ accommodations in Deluxe and Superior First Class hotels and lodges
- 34 meals: 12 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 12 dinners
- Extensive game viewing and sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees
- Mineral water while on safari
- Services of Master Safari Adventures Tour Director
- Private safari vehicle transportation throughout your trip with guaranteed window seating
- Luggage handling for one bag per person
- Gratuities for local driver/guides, dining room servers, and airport and hotel porter
- $100 frequent traveler credit towards your next Master Safari Adventures tour [$200 after 3
tours; $300 after 10 tours
- Beverages and alcoholic drinks
- Items of personal nature
- International Flights ( From / To Home )
- Telephone bills
- Medical insurance
- Tips
Book This Tour
When To Go On Safari
January to February: Summer – dry and warm; cooler, at Ngorongoro because of elevation. Migration picks up, with plenty of game throughout central/southern Serengeti
March: Rains become possible, bringing plains in search of fresh grass and food. Significant movement of antelope and other game to the plains for calving season, predators follow
June to October: Dry season; can be cold on the rim of Ngorongoro. Wildebeest and plains game begin migrating in search of water. By late July, wildebeest migration is in full swing, with opportunities for excellent game viewing and predator kills
November to December: Season of the “short” rains [brief daily thunderstorms]; comfortable at Ngorongoro; warm in the Serengeti, with plentiful game
Most Gratuities Included
Experienced travelers know that tipping is an experienced element of worldwide travel; but at times it can become a nuisance or inconvenience. For that reason we’ve eliminated the worry by including in your tour price all gratuities for local guides and drivers, hotel and airport porters, and dining room servers. Gratuities for your Master Safari Adventures Tour Director are not included and should be extended on a voluntary basis, in recognition of truly excellent service. We recommend 25$ per person per day for your Tour Director.
Master Safari Adventures Delivers High Quality & Outstanding Value
We offer a diverse array of tours throughout mainland Tanzania, ranging in northern and southern national parks, Mountain Climbing [Mt Kilimanjaro & Meru], Tanzania’s Swahili Coast, Mafia, and of course, Zanzibar and Pemba which shares beautiful beaches, hundreds of miles of palm-fringed sands overlooking the Indian Ocean. Huge lakes – Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa – are bountiful with fish.
The mountains are massive and mysterious. The cities relaxed and friendly. And travel is easy, with many flights to and from neighboring countries and around Tanzania all with unique attractions available only to you our guests, and an experienced Master Safari Adventures Tour Director is on hand to manage the details, often to provide an insider’s view, and always, to share enthusiasm for the people and places you encounter.
