5 Day Tanzania Overland Safari
Day 1: Nairobi to Arusha (Tanzania) (L / D)
This morning we depart Nairobi and travel south, crossing the border into Tanzania at Namanga. Tonight we stay in a lovely campsite in Meserani on the outskirts of Arusha, before heading out on our Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater excursion tomorrow.
Day 2: Arusha to Karatu (B / L / D)
This morning we visit the Meserani Reptile Park and Masai Cultural Museum. A few minutes' walk from the campsite is a gallery selling the bright and iconic Tinga Tinga paintings. After enjoying lunch at our camp against the backdrop of Mount Meru we meet our Tanzanian guides and transfer into locally operated 4WD vehicles. These vehicles have been adapted for safari use and allow excellent viewing and photographic opportunities through the opening roof hatches.
Leaving our camp we travel via the Maasai town of Mto Wa Mbu (Mosquito River) that lies adjacent to the Lake Manyara National Park and then up the Rift Valley Escarpment to the higher lying village of Karatu. Karatu offers magnificent views over the surrounding hills and has many well established wheat farms that add to the picturesque panoramas. Tonight we spend the evening at a very pleasant campsite in Karatu.
Day 3: Karatu to Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park (B / L / D)
This morning we depart early for the Ngorongoro Conservation area and head into the wildlife rich Ngorongoro Crater. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken, unflooded caldera in the world. Comprising of open savannahs, acacia forests and both soda and fresh water lakes, the Ngorongoro Crater is truly a miniature 'Garden of Eden'. This World Heritage Site boasts some of the best game viewing in Africa - including the elusive Black Rhino.
After our game drive in the Crater, we head down the Crater rim and past the 'Cradle of Mankind' on our way to the Serengeti National Park. We cross the vast plains as we game drive through the southern and central areas in the park. Tonight we camp in the bushveld surrounded by the sounds of the African wilderness. Without any fences surrounding our campsite we are truly in the midst of nature!
Day 4: Serengeti National Park to Arusha (B / L / D)
In the morning, we head off for another game drive and explore the landscape in search of the resident game. With some luck, we may see some of Africa's 'Big 5'! Following our morning drive, we retrace our journey back across the plains and along the lush Crater rim to our truck at Arusha, where we spend the evening musing over our thrilling wildlife experience.
Day 5: Arusha to Nairobi (B)
This morning we have some time to spend in Arusha before joining our shuttle bus for the drive back into Kenya, and onto Nairobi, where our East African overland safari comes to an end on arrival in the city centre.
