he African day dawns, and your adventure begins in earnest. After breakfast, depart for Tarangire National Park in your four-wheel drive vehicles. Tarangire retains a real air of undiscovered Africa, and it contains the greatest concentration of wildlife outside of the Serengeti, full of elephant herds, mammals, and predators — all in search of the water that can be found in the Tarangire River. There are a fantastic number of colorful birds that swoop and strut along the rough paths throughout the year. Because the park extends through two game-controlled areas, wildlife moves freely throughout. On arrival, look for wildlife as you drive toward the Tarangire Safari Lodge, beautifully situated on a bluff overlooking the Tarangire River, arriving in time for lunch.

This afternoon, with your cameras loaded and binoculars at the ready, you will head out for another game drive. The drivers will have learned about the morning’s best spotting, and this will determine which direction you head. Because you never know where the animals may be or what they will be doing, there is always the possibility of encountering fantastic wildlife in the late afternoon light. Return to the Tarangire Safari Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Lodging: Tarangire Safari Lodge (or similar)

You will have a full day of game-viewing and exploring Tarangire National Park. The park is spectacular in the dry season (July to October) when many of the migratory species come back to the permanent waters of Tarangire River. Huge herds of wildebeest, zebras, elephants, eland, and oryx gather to stay in Tarangire until the onset of the rains when they migrate again to good grazing areas. The calving season falls in the early months of the year, through January, February, and March, taking advantage of the abundant fresh grass during the rainy season, so you are quite likely to see this year’s youngsters in the herds.

The park is also noted for its prolific bird life, the occasional sighting of cheetah, and the rare African Wild Dog. Return to the Lodge for brunch, relaxing at the camp during the hottest hours of the day, before setting out again for a late afternoon game drive. Alternately, you may choose to relax at the lodge and enjoy its facilities. Dinner and overnight at Tarangire Safari Lodge (or similar)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Lodging: Tarangire Safari Lodge (or similar)

Today, drive from Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park, taking in and stopping for game and photo options along the way. As it is known as an introduction to Tanzania, Lake Manyara is small, but wonderfully-scenic safari park, often overlooked by touring groups. It’s superb for bird watching and also a good area for finding elephants, as well as spotting the elusive Lake Manyara tree- climbing lion.

In addition to the lions, the park is also home to the largest concentration of baboons anywhere in the world. Close to the park gates in the north, woodlands are fed by freshwater flowing through the porous volcanic rock, but further south, around Msasa River, the volcanic rock gives way to ancient, crystalline rock, creating impressive waterfalls down the dramatic western escarpment of the Rift Valley. The park is ideal for a few hours of exploring, a picnic lunch along the way, and wildlife viewing before heading to this evening’s camp.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Lodging: Kisima Ngeda Tented Camp (or similar)

Leave the Serengeti and drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, You will also visit a Maasai Village and learn about their unique culture. Head to the lodge just before dusk. Dinner and overnight at Rhino Lodge located near the crater rim.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Lodging: Ngorongoro Farm House (or similar)

After breakfast, spend a half-day in the crater a World Heritage Site and home to nearly 25,000 animals. Here you have a very good chance of spotting the so-called Big Five (lion, elephant, endangered black rhino, cape buffalo, and leopard), plus countless other African mammal species. This caldera, formed by a collapsed volcano, hosts a unique

cross-section of ecosystems, from Soda Lake to the savannah, and is home to almost every major species of African mammal. Impressively, our presence will not alarm the wildlife, allowing for close proximity game viewing and great close-up photo options. Return to the lodge for late lunch. Later in the afternoon, go on an optional guided hike along the rim of the crater into the Melaga depression. End the roughly two- to three-hour hike with a stunning view over the Serengeti short grass plains. Return to the Rhino Lodge for your last night in Africa.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Lodging: Ngorongoro Farm House (or similar)

Today your driving back to Arusha then West Kilimanjaro. You will have lunch in Arusha before driving to Ndarakwai for your afternoon game walk. Your guide will go at your pace and he can call a vehicle in at any time for the return trip to camp or clients can walk back to the camp. Evening game drives are a specialty of Ndarakwai and one night game drive is included in your visit. Commonly seen on night game drives are: Genet cat, lesser galago, small eared galago, spring hare, bush duiker, dik dik, white-tailed mongoose, bush buck, impala, waterbuck etc.

The night game drive is considered a must as this activity is not allowed at most National Parks and, whether or not you see a lot of game, the experience out in the bush at night is fantastic. Should you choose, you will also have the chance to visit a (Masaai Boma or going on a Colobus Monkey walk – both are on optional).

All meals and overnight at Ndarakwai Camp (BLD)