DAY 1: DRIVE FROM ARUSHA TO NDUTU PLAINS
Get ready for a long drive from your hotel in Arusha, your safari guide will be ready at your hotel lounge at 8:30am and drive for a round 5hours to Ndutu plain (This is part of Ngorongoro Conservation bordering the Serengeti Nationa Park. Driving past Great Rif Valley Escarpment offering panoramic sunrise view of Lake Manyara Park nestled with green forest and flowering pink flamingoes can be seen hovering on the sky, Crossing through the mist-shrouded rainforests of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a stop on the crater view point and glimpse cape buffalo, baboons, or even elephants and leopards in the dense undergrowth, you can break up the journey with an optional activities stop at Olduvai Gorge Museum known as the Cradle of Mankind, the Museum commemorates some of the oldest evidence of human habitation ever found of the earliest fossil in the world of human habitation. Maasai boma visit, visit/tour one of the famous authentic Maasai bomas to witness and participate in traditional Maasai dance, and even do a little souvenir shopping at the local market. Both of the above activities attract an additional cost. You will notice the landscape changing from hilly forests to plain and green grasslands as you get to the plains of Ndutu Area for a full afternoon game drive, Ndutu forms a part of the route for the annual migration of more than 2 million wildebeests and thousands of zebras, antelope and gazelle. The right season Wildebeest calving is between December and April. This season attracts hordes of predators prying on vulnerable young wildebeest. Crested with Ndutu lake and Lake Masek, these waterholes offer plenty of wildlife game during the dry season. The Ndutu is also the home ground for 6 species of big cats – leopard, lion, cheetah, caracal, serval and wildcat. The action-packed game drive will continue till sunset Dinner and overnight at the lodge or Tents.
DAY 2: FULL DAY GAME DRIVE NDUTU PLAINS.
Definitely you will be excited to continue from where you left the previous day wildebeest migration, after your early morning breakfast, Hit the bush at sunrise to get another chance to view the beautiful wildlife spectacle. (Have a choice to either have a relaxed breakfast and depart for full day game drives around with packed lunch till evening. Or you can just have a cup of coffee at 6:00 AM and off for early morning sunrise game drive till 10am and return to accommodation for breakfast and relax for a bit and depart on an afternoon game drive with packed lunch). Today’s game drive will be following the migration depending on its location up to sunset. Dinner and overnight at the lodge or tent.
DAY 3: NDUTU PLAIN TO CENTRAL SERENGETI PARK
Now the long-awaited excitement today will be extremely high. Have your full breakfast and pack your bags in the safari vehicle and depart for en-route game drive from the Ndutu plain on your way to the most celebrated wildlife park in the world – The Serengeti, in the midst of the never-ending plain grasslands. Serengeti, means endless plains in the local African language and watching the grassland stretch out as far as the eye can see and eventually merging with the sky at the horizon is an absolutely breathtaking view. The Serengeti Park is the home of the glorious “Big 5” (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard). The Serengeti ecosystem supports the greatest remaining concentration of plains game in Africa. The “Kopjes” which are massive boulders of granite standing in a sea of grass provides ample shelter to a large variety of flora and fauna The eventful day comes to an end with a heavy dinner and a good night’s rest at the lodge or campsite.
Day 4: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK –OVERNIGHT NGORONGORO
Being your last day in this beautiful natural wild park of Serengeti, your guide will be ready for a very early pre-breakfast sunrise game drive, (Alternatively, you may wish to bled this morning sunrise on the sky with a historic HOT AIR BALLOON safari and ground landing champagne cheers awaiting well setup hot bush breakfast, it cost only extra of $650 each. Speak with your guide about how you can add this unforgettable experience to your safari as it comes as an option). just as the sunrise sparkle its bright lights in the wilderness giving you the first rays to watch cats predating as vultures swimming up in the air and other predators and grazers gathering for the morning green vegetation, The amazing wildebeest migration is an exceptional attraction (depending with the season) the game drive goes up to around 10am to exhaust this great sunrise view. You will get back to the lodge or camp for late breakfast then load your bags in the safari jeep to set off again for another EN-ROUTE game drive back through the Serengeti via a different route, offering plenty of opportunities to spot the animals that eluded yesterday now on your way to the RIM of Ngorongoro Crater for overnight at the campsite or lodge.
DAY 5: NGORONGORO CRATER TOUR – BACK TO ARUSHA
After early morning breakfast on the rim of Ngorongoro then board your safari jeep and hit the road for descend down Ngorongoro Crater. Then descend is 610mitters deep down to the Caldera floor of Ngorongoro Crater; considered by some to be the Eighth Wonder of the World. When you get your first glimpse of this vast, verdant caldera from the panoramic viewpoint, you’ll soon understand why it has earned such a lofty reputation. Home to over 120 species of mammal including the fabled Big Five, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of the most sought-after safari destinations in the world. It’s a particularly good place to see the endangered black rhinoceros enjoying a lonely meal out on the grass plains, as well as a place to see large numbers of hippopotamus enjoying the cool water not forgetting the pride of lions.
From the comfort of your open-pop up safari vehicle, you’ll be able to observe and photograph some of Africa’s most recognizable faces. The crater is home to a large number of predators including lions, leopards, cheetahs, jackals, and hyenas, as well as a large population of wildebeest, zebras, antelope, cape buffalo, and more. It is truly one of Africa’s premier safari destinations.
After the thrills and excitement of the day, you will have a picnic lunch in the park. Late afternoon ascends up the wall of crater and drive back to Arusha. END OF TRIP
