Day   1    Tarangire National Park

JAMBO – KARIBU!! You will be warmly met upon arrival at the airport with our traditional, unique & special welcome (champagne, hot/cold towels and presentation of authentic safari hat and souvenirs). This morning we depart on a pleasant drive to Tarangire National Park retains a real air of undiscovered Africa, particularly in the south of the park. Arrive in time for lunch at your preferred choice of accommodation and some leisure time, later in the afternoon head out for game viewing drive in search of elephants, the park is most renounced for it highest population of elephants than anywhere in Tanzania, its sparse vegetation, strewn with baobab and acacia trees, makes it a beautiful and special location. Thereafter return for dinner and overnight.

Day   1    Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After breakfast depart to the Ngorongoro Conservation area. Proceed towards the rim of the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater stopping occasionally to admire the breath-taking vista unfolding before you. Arrive for check in, thereafter lunch. This afternoon just relax and enjoy the panoramic views of the crater, the largest unbroken caldera in the world. It has been described as one of the great natural wonders of the world. Eight million years ago, the Ngorongoro Crater was an active volcano but its cone collapsed, forming the crater that is 610 meters deep, 20 kilometres in diameter, and covers an area of 311 sq. km. Spectacular as it is, the crater accounts for just a tenth of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The crater is home to many species of wild game and birds. With the exception of impala and topi (due to fierce competition with the wildebeest) and the giraffe (because there is not much to eat at tree level), almost every species of African plains mammal lives in the crater, including the endangered black rhino, and the densest population of predators in Africa. A strange thing is that the crater elephants are mainly bulls! The birdlife, which includes the flamingo, is mainly seasonal, and is also affected by the ratio of soda to fresh water in Lake Magadi on the crater floor. Dinner and overnight at your preferred choice of accommodation.

NOTE: Warm jacket/cardigan is highly recommended.

Day   2    Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After breakfast descend some 600 metres into the crater, which is home to an abundance of wildlife and a photogenic paradise, for a full day of game-viewing drive with picnic lunch at a private scenic site. Ngorongoro Crater, the largest intact caldera in the world teams with an abundance of wildlife permanently resident on the crater floor. Prides of lions, herds of cape buffalo, impala, Thompson gazelles, rhino, giraffes, golden & black-backed jackal, zebra, cheetah, leopard and the spotted hyena. Unmatched for its natural variety & breath-taking beauty, there are few places on earth where such a tremendous diversity of landscapes exist inside a region this size. Apart from its wildlife riches, the crater is also of great archaeological importance, with the remains of some of mankind’s earliest ancestors discovered in the area, also a home to hundreds of bird species, refreshing in the small lakes in the crater floor. Return for dinner and overnight at your preferred choice of accommodation.

Day   3    Serengeti National Park

Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast then depart for the Serengeti National Park via Oldupai Gorge where hominid footprints believed to be 3.6million years old were found. We will enjoy an on-site talk on the interpretation of the gorge by the resident guide. Arrive at your lodge for lunch . Enjoy an afternoon game viewing drive. Covering an area of 14,763 square kilometres, the world famous Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s oldest park, and one of the world’s last great wildlife refuges. It stretches as far as Lake Victoria to the West. Its name comes from the Maasai word Siringet, meaning ‘endless plains’. The park’s vegetation ranges from the short and long grass plains in the south, to the acacia savannah in the centre and wooded grasslands concentrated around the tributaries of the Grumenti and the Mara rivers in the park. The western corridor is a region of wooded highland and extensive plains reaching the edge of Lake Victoria. In the early morning and evening light, the Serengeti landscape is stunningly beautiful. The Serengeti ecosystem supports the greatest remaining concentration of plains game in Africa, including more than three million large mammals. It is the sanctuary of an estimated four million different animals and birds. Wildlife that roam the vast park include lions (the adult males of Serengeti have characteristic black manes), cheetahs, hunting dogs, savannah elephant, Cape buffalo, topis, warthogs, hunting dogs and spotted hyena among others. Enjoy dinner and overnight at your preferred choice of accommodation.

Day   4    Serengeti National Park

Enjoy a full day in the Serengeti with game-viewing drives. Hundreds of predators roam the vast savannah plains. We have a high density of cheetahs in the south. Serengeti is also home to hundreds of bird species; among them the out-sized ostrich and bizarre secretary bird, the black eagles that soar effortlessly above the Lobo Hills. All meals and overnight at your proffered choice of accommodation.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Dawn Balloon Safari over the Serengeti Plains ending with a champagne breakfast.

Day   5    Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast departs on a pleasant drive to Lake Manyara National Park which apart from its abundant bird life, is known for its tree-climbing lions. Arrive in time for lunch and some leisure time, before later in the afternoon head out for an afternoon game viewing drive in this small but attractive park squeezed between the stunning Manyara soda lake and the steep rim of the rift valley. Look out for the baboons, giraffes. Thereafter return for dinner and overnight.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: A cultural walk in the village of ‘Mto wa Mbu’.

Day   6    Arusha

Amka! Wake up early with coffee/tea and head off on your last trail of the African savannah – hopefully, you’ll see some big game. Return at the Camp or Lodge for breakfast. All good experiences must come to an end and sadly you must say Kwaheri to your wonderful Camp Manager and his teams as you depart for Arusha. Drop off at your hotel or Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight.

Asante Sana and Safari Njema!

QUOTE INCLUDES

1. Arrival transfer from/ to the Kilimanjaro International Airport
2. Met in our unique style with wet towels and ‘bubbly’
3. Complimentary Authentic Branded Safari Hat and safari essentials pack
4. Use of Twiga Tours 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser on safari
5. Unlimited supply of bottled, drinking water in the vehicle while on safari
6. Unlimited mileage on game viewing drives.
7. Services of a Professional ENGLISH Speaking guide-driver
8. Accommodation and meals as specified in the itinerary – FB while on Safari
9. All game drives as specified in the itinerary
10. Park Entry Tickets to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (incl. ONE FULL DAY crater tour in the Ngorongoro Crater), the FAMOUS Serengeti National Park and Lake Manyara National Park.
11. A FULL day game-viewing drive in the Ngorongoro Crater including a PRIVATE scenic picnic lunch; the Ngorongoro Crater is home to an abundance of wildlife and a photogenic paradise.
12. Visit to the Oldupai Gorge where hominid footprints believed to be 3.6million years old were found.
13. Unlimited bottled water supplied in your safari vehicle during your game drives, transfers etc

THE TWIGA ADVANTAGE

• Personal involvement of the Manji Family!
• Peace of mind with Twiga’s strategically placed offices in Nairobi, Mombasa and Arusha offering 24hour support.
• Twiga’s customized 4x4wheel drive safari vehicles with guaranteed window seats.
• Choice of travel by 4X4 safari minivan or safari land cruiser/land rover
• Professional Safari Directors and Guide-Drivers hand-picked and trained by Minaz Manji.
• Classic itineraries personally experienced and designed by the Manji Family!
• Authentic Twiga welcome on arrival in East Africa with Bubbly, wet towels and presentation of authentic safari hats!

QUOTE EXCLUDES

1. International or Domestic Flights, Visa Fees and all Personal Expenses such as Drinks, Laundry, Telephone, tips to hotel staff, gratuities to Driver/Guide etc
2. Travel Insurance – we strongly recommend that comprehensive travel insurance be purchased for the duration of your journey to protect against any missed or delayed flights, illnesses etc that may cause cancellation of your travel plans.
3. Any expense not expressly specified above.

Double: price per person sharing a double room. Single: single supplement. Triple: price per person sharing a triple room. Quad.: price per person sharing a quadruple room. Infant: per infant under 2 years, child: per child under 12 years, young: per young under 16 years, sharing: sharing with two paying adults.

Vehicles Used on Safari

Specially designed 4x4wd Safari Land cruiser

Custom designed safari land cruiser with pop up roof for maximum game viewing. All vehicles equipped with long range two way HF radios linked to our main offices, cool boxes and fridges, reference guide books & UNLIMITED bottled water.

Accommodation Information

 Lake Manyara Serena Lodge

Manyara Serena Lodge is located at the edge of the Mto Wa Mbu escarpment and overlooks the Great Rift Valley and the Manyara soda lake. Each of the 67 spacious rooms has an en suite bathroom with shower facilities and a private veranda with spectacular views of Lake Manyara. Inspired by the abundant birdlife, the design of Manyara Serena Lodge is complimented by soft, geometric patterns and striking murals depicting bird migration patterns.

The lodge’s main area includes a dining room with indoor and outdoor seating, a bar, lounge, curio shop and a small meeting room. An outdoor swimming pool is available for you to relax in after a day on safari. Climb into a Land Cruisers and descend into the Lake Manyara reserve at three scheduled times daily. Then take a guided bird walk and enjoy nature’s solitude. Each evening after dinner, you may choose to have coffee or drinks around the campfire where there is local entertainment to amuse you.

Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge

Spread out along the uppermost, eastern rim of the Ngorongoro World Heritage Site, the lodge offers breathtaking views of the crater floor far below. A day’s safari through this unique conservation area provides you with spectacular and memorable game viewing experiences.

The lodge is located on Lemala Hill on the uppermost, eastern rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, a World Heritage Site, in the volcanic highlands of northern Tanzania. The crater forms part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area which covers 8,300sq kms (3,200 sq. miles).

Opened in 1992, the lodge can accommodate 190 guests in 92 suites, each enjoying wall-to-wall carpeting, central heating, a private lounge with a mini bar, a bedroom with two queen size beds and ample room for a third, an en-suite bathroom with shaver sockets and a hair dryer, and a private solarium which offers stunning views either down into the crater floor below or of the setting sun over the western horizon.

Communications: The lodge has direct-dial satellite telephone facilities as well as satellite television and wildlife-video-film options. A number of lodge electrical generating systems provide 240volts, 50 cycles 24 hours a day. Our water supply comes from nearby springs but guests are advised not to drink from the taps. Instead, complimentary bottled mineral water is provided in the mini bars while further stocks are available for sale in the main bar. Kids of all ages are welcome to the lodge, special meals at convenient times and baby sitters are provided on request. Guest shops stock a wide selection of curios, gift items, clothing, film, sweets, postcards, personal requisites and toiletries. A swimming pool is situated on the very edge of the crater itself and the water is bracing, even invigorating to say the least, at any time of year. However, for those who would prefer the warmth of a shower or bath in their suite, the pool is a perfect area to unwind and relax while enjoying the views of the crater floor below or of the sunsets in the evenings.

Serengeti Sopa Lodge

Looking out over the seemingly endless Serengeti plains, this hillside lodge is a tranquil oasis set in over 14,000 sq kms (5,000 sq miles) of National Park. The Serengeti plains are host to a dramatic annual migration of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and numerous other species of animals indigenous to the area

Opened in 1992, the lodge can accommodate 170 guests in 79 suites, each enjoying wall-to-wall carpeting, a private lounge with a mini bar, a bedroom with two queen size beds and ample room for a third, an en-suite bathroom with shaver sockets and a hair dryer, and a private verandah which offers stunning views over the plains.

The lodge has direct-dial satellite telephone facilities as well as satellite television and wildlife-video-film options. A number of lodge electrical generating systems provide 240volts, 50 cycles 24 hours a day. Our water supply comes from nearby springs but guests are advised not to drink from the taps. Instead, complimentary bottled mineral water is provided in the mini bars while further stocks are available for sale in the main bar. We welcome kids of all ages and can provide both special meals at convenient times and baby sitters on request. Our guest shop stocks a wide selection of curios, gift items, clothing, film, sweets, postcards, personal requisites and toiletries, while the other offers gemstones, jewellery and other more unusual items. The double size pool offers a refreshing interlude between game drives as well as wonderful views over the rolling plains of the Serengeti. Also, we can supply diesel and can carry out most minor repairs

Ngorongoro Serena Lodge

Often described as the ‘Eighth’ wonder of the World, the Ngorongoro crater is so spectacular that it touches all the senses. A volcanic crater of over 259 square kilometres with surrounding walls rising 609 metres above it, the crater is a natural sanctuary for over 25,000 animals, including the black rhino. It is also a conservation area inhabited by the Masai tribe.

The Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge is built onto the rim of this amazing natural phenomenon, a stunning plant and local creeper covered stone lodge where guests co-exist in perfect harmony with the surrounding natural environment and wildlife

Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, close to some of the earliest dwellings of man in Olduvai Gorge, has taken their cave paintings as inspiration. It is built of stones and boulders and is literally hidden in the vegetation of the crater’s rim, disappearing completely from view from the crater’s floor.

The interiors are filled with exquisite wooden furniture and African artefacts, and stunning frescoes adorn the walls of many rooms and public areas. All bedrooms have private terraces with uninterrupted views across the grasslands, forests, lakes and rivers that make up the crater floor.

The hotel has 75 rooms. Activities include game drives through the crater where you will see a microcosm of Africa in one day, bush walks, picnic lunches, excursions to the nearby Oldupai Gorge, the ‘birthplace of mankind’ and a variety of cultural events.

Serengeti Serena Lodge

Located on a hill with awesome views across the sweeping plains you’ll find Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge. Home to the great migration, the Serengeti offers you an abundance of wildlife to enjoy from all the “Big Five” to gazelle and other ungulates. The unspoiled wilderness of the Serengeti allows you to witness big game feeding in full view from the lodge as you enjoy luxury service.

The lodge design is simple but stunning. Inspired by a traditional African village, separate “rondavel huts” house the 66 luxury guest rooms and all have their own private shower and toilet. Each room has a balcony and their own view of the vast Serengeti plains. From the overall impression to the smallest detail, the lodge is rich in local atmosphere created by indigenous African handicrafts and art. A delightful water feature runs through the main public areas, creating a natural source of waterborne plants and provides a home to many indigenous species of reptiles, amphibians and birds.

Tarangire Sopa Lodge

Tarangire Sopa Lodge lies hidden among the kopjes, ancient baobab and grasses of the Tarangire National Park – home to the greatest concentration of elephants in Africa. Many can be seen around the lodge, allowing visitors a close encounter. Built on different levels, the main public area building offers an extremely cool respite from the outdoor heat as soon as you step into the reception.

With a perfumed towel and a chilled welcome drink in hand, you suddenly become aware of the sheer size of the lobby with its glistening marble floors, colourful hand-woven carpets, and an incredibly high roof. From here a short flight of steps takes you up a level and into the lounge and bar with floor to ceiling windows, an outdoor terrace where you can enjoy an evening sundowner and, later perhaps, a game of pool in the area behind the bar.

75 spacious rooms, all with a private lounge on entering with a mini bar. Each room has 2 queen size beds with a mosquito net around them. 4 of these rooms are suitable for the physically challenged. 4 interconnecting rooms suitable for families

Location and Park information

population and a wide range of other large mammals.

The stunning views of the flamingo-filled lake and the Rift Valley escarpment rising up behind it make Lake Manyara a particularly rewarding safari destination for artists and photographers. Bird-watchers will also find this park especially worthwhile with nearly 400 species present. Among them are bee-eaters, kingfishers, storks, hornbills, over 50 raptor species as well as huge flocks of pelicans and flamingos whose pink colours light up the waters of the lake.

Tarangire National Park

Lying south of the Serengeti, Tarangire is the least visited of the northern circuit national parks. Covering 2,600 km², the park is characterized by thick grasses and giant baobab trees, which imbue it with a particularly wild feel. Tarangire is most spectacular during the dry season months of July to October, when enormous herds of elephant, buffalo, zebra, as well as rhino, greater kudu, leopard, lion, rhino, Oryx, impala and giraffe, are all attracted from miles around to the permanent waters of the Tarangire River.

Together with Lake Manyara, Tarangire offers the best bird watching on the northern circuit. There are about 470 resident species, with migrant species bringing this count to over 500 in the September-to-April period. Typical species are the distinctive red and yellow barbet, yellow-collared lovebirds, and a variety of babblers and larks. Interesting raptors include the pale chanting goshawk, African fish eagle, and the shikra. The Tarangire river system also supports a good number of water birds.

If you have only a day or two in Tarangire during your safari then the northern part of the park offers the best game viewing. For those with more time, the southern areas of the park are well worth exploring. Here a variety of swamp, lake and savannah habitats support large herds of buffalo, as well as cheetah, gerenuk and reedbuck.

 Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Popularly known as the eighth wonder of the world, the Ngorongoro crater is a spectacular micro-ecosystem that boasts almost all of East Africa’s famous wildlife species. The Ngorongoro crater is 16 kilometres in diameter and with walls 610 metre high, it is the largest intact crater in the world. More remarkable still, its confines are home to over 25,000 large mammals.

Hemmed in by the forested walls, the crater floor has a combination of soda lakes, acacia forests, lush marshes, and dry savannah. These diverse habitats support the full cast of East Africa’s brilliant animal and bird life; lions, elephants, hippos, buffalo, leopard, ostriches, flamingos, eagles, vultures… to name but a few. The teeming bird population includes more than 100 species not found in the Serengeti.

The Ngorongoro is a conservation area that is owned by the Masai – and in this part of Tanzania the Masai, in their striking traditional dress, are as much a part of the scene as the huge population of wild animals.

Serengeti National Park

A vast expanse of flat savannah grasses stretching from horizon to horizon, broken only by an occasional gnarled acacia and rocky kopje, the Serengeti has some of the highest wildlife concentrations in the whole of Africa. Year round it is one of the best safari holiday destinations to see the “big five”; elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo, whilst the central Seronera area of the Serengeti has one of the continent’s densest populations of the elusive leopard.

The short grass on the Serengeti plains makes it easier to see many of the smaller animals that are always present in the African bush but seldom observed. Fascinating creatures such as aardwolf, porcupines, badgers, jackals, mongooses, meerkats and pangolins can all be sighted.

Adding to the resident wildlife is the annual migration of the wildebeest. Their journey starts in December in the southern Serengeti and finally leaves the northern Serengeti in early August, heading into Kenya. Vast numbers of zebra, giraffe, buffalo, eland and gazelle species also get caught up in the wildebeest throng. Keeping them company is a travelling band of predators and scavengers taking full advantage of the extra food on offer.

Lake Manyara National Park

Stretched along the base of the rift valley escarpment, Lake Manyara national park covers an area of 390 km². The lake is a ground water reservoir, which is partially fed by small rivers and hot springs. The park is well known for its tree-climbing lions, which spend hours in the branches of giant acacia trees up to ten metres above the ground. It also has a big elephant