Classic Serengeti Migration Safari

February 2016

Our Classic Tented Safari during the annual Wildebeest Migration is always a new adventure and keeps getting better and better as we tweak our itinerary from experience.

1 Night ~ Arusha
3 Nights ~ Tarangire
2 Nights ~ Ngorongoro Crater
3 Nights ~ Southern Serengeti
3 Nights ~ Central Serengeti
1 Night ~ Arusha

1 Night ~ Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge, Arusha

Our first night in Tanzania is at Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge, a lovely Colonial Era Lodge on the slopes of Mount Meru between Kilimanjaro International Airport and Arusha Town. After a long flight we are rewarded with a delightful light dinner and a full night's sleep.

Ngare Sero's Horses Graze on the Lawn

  The Gardens at Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge

  

In The Garden

3 Nights ~ Oliver's Camp, Tarangire

We are up and out the next morning and on our way via Land Rovers to Tarangire National Park, where we'll spend 3 Nights at Oliver's Camp.  We have the privilege of being with Paul Oliver, who established Oliver's Camp some 20 years ago.  Oliver's is an intimate luxury camp, situated in a remote part of Tarangire - far from the northern areas that are more traveled by "tourists". Our guides know Tarangire intimately.  Here we can walk, take a night drive and explore by Land Rover.   

And, throughout the entire trip, the Birding is Spectacular!

Surrounded By Elephants!

A Lazy Leopard

Tawny Eagle

Male Impala

2 Nights ~ Ngorongoro Crater

Our two nights at the Ngorongoro Crater are spent in a private luxury tented camp in a prime location on the Crater Rim, perfectly situated for an early morning descent down into the Crater. The 10X10 mile floor of this collapsed volcano is its own ecosystem, teeming with resident wildlife, affording extremely close-up views. The animals are spectacular, the scenery is breathtaking 

Our First View of the Ngorongoro Crater

On The "Floor" of the Crater

A Close-up Look at a Bull Elephant From Our Land Rover

3 Nights ~ Southern Serengeti

Ubuntu Tented Camp is our first home of two locations in the Serengeti Ecosystem. Both are designed to allow us proximity to the Great Migration of 1.8 million wildebeests and 250,000 zebra. Ubuntu Camp is a comfortable unpretentious tented camp set apart from others by its remote private location - making us feel as if we have the plains all to ourselves. Seasonally located here for the migration and designed for a wild and authentic bush camp adventure that few experience.

Wildebeests and Their Babies As Far As The Eye Can See

3 Nights ~ Central Serengeti

Namiri Tented Camp is our next Serengeti location in the central short grass plains.  This location not only affords us the opportunity to see the migration - it also offers something very special.  Until just recently the area was used exclusively for cheetah research and for the last 20 years has been closed to tourists. Called "The Place where the Big Cats Roam" the newly opened area has only one camp and we have the privilege of staying there. Namiri is a small newly designed tented camp that has been kept in harmony with nature.
Cheetah, lion, leopard, wild cats, servals, and caracal all reside here.
Plus the chance to witness the migration.
What an opportunity!

Serval Cat

My Best (and only) African Wild Cat photo

1 Night plus Day Room, Arusha

After a scenic drive back to Arusha, we'll spend 1 night at the lovely Arusha Coffee Lodge. The next day we shop, have lunch in town, and relax in our day rooms before our flight out in the evening.

The Fine Print:

Estimated cost for this safari, all inclusive in Tanzania, is $11,950, depending on availability of camps and lodges, availability of guides, number of travelers and their wants, etc. We can't commit to a definitive cost yet because this is a custom itinerary. We do our best to bring you the ultimate safari at the lowest cost possible. 

Included:

All food, drinks (including most alcohol), water, laundry service in camps; all National Park Fees, walking, camping and vehicle permits. Fees and permits are a huge part of the cost of a safari.

Not Included:

International flights (usually about $1600), transport in USA, food and drinks in airports; passport, visa and meds; alcoholic beverages in Arusha lodges; tips for guides and camp staff; optional trip insurance.

Email: safaritanz@gmail.com or Call Bev or Mike at 860-963-0480 for more details

Wild Remote Africa 

August/September/October

By Land Rover and small plane, we are offering an intense animal experience:
"The Remote Africa Of Old"

Although we prefer September/October for this trip to avoid the summer crowds and take more advantage of the dry season, we can do this trip in August.

1 Night ~ Arusha
4 Nights ~ Tarangire
3 Nights ~ Katavi
4 Nights ~ Mahale
1 Night ~ Arusha

1 Night ~ Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge, Arusha

Our first night in Tanzania is the Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge, a lovely Colonial Era Lodge on the slopes of Mount Meru in Arusha. After a long flight we are rewarded with a delightful light dinner and a full nights' sleep.

  The Gardens at Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge

4 Nights ~ Oliver's Camp, Tarangire

We are up and out the next morning and on our way via Land Rovers to Tarangire National Park, where we'll spend 4 Nights at Oliver's Camp.  We have the privilege of being with Paul Oliver, who established Oliver's Camp some 20 years ago.  Oliver's is an intimate luxury camp, situated in a remote part of Tarangire - far from the northern areas that are more traveled by "tourists". Our guides know Tarangire intimately.  Here we can walk, take a night drive and explore by Land Rover.  The dry season forces the wildlife to water and along with them their predators. Huge herds of elephant and buffalo. Lions roaring all night. And, throughout the entire trip, the Birding is Spectacular!

   Silale Swamp, Tarangire National Park

  Walking with Elephants and Buffalo, Tarangire River

Marshall Eagle

3 Nights ~ Chada Tented Camp, Katavi

From Oliver's we will no longer need the Land Rovers as we fly from Tarangire to the remote Katavi National Park in Western Tanzania, where we explore in open vehicles.  One of our favorites, Katavi is still wild, with few visitors.  We will spend 3 Nights at Chada Tented Camp - an old world African experience. Again, we are here for large herds of elephant, buffalo, hippo, and big lion prides. 

Chada is a small, stylish, traditional camp. This is a true, authentic experience in the heart of the wild African Bush.

  

"Tons" of Hippos (not us)

  Bull Elephant, Katavi National Park

4 Nights ~ Greystoke Camp, Mahale

From Katavi we have a short flight and a two hour dhow ride on the lake to a land that can only be described as magical - 4 Nights at Greystoke Camp in Mahale Mountains National Park on the shores of Lake Tanganyika - for 3 days of chimpanzee tracking, fishing, and boating. The dry season brings the chimps lower on the mountains, nearer to the lake.

Greystoke is a one of a kind camp. From your open-air banda walk directly onto the pristine beach of Lake Tanganyika. Words cannot truly describe the entire Mahale experience and all its beauty. 

A View of Greystoke from the Dhow

Dining ~ Library ~ One of the Bars

A Subordinate Male Paying Homage to the Alpha Male, Alofu

  Retired Alpha Male, Kalunde, said to be Mike's Age, 60-something

1 Night plus Day Room, Arusha

Flying back to Arusha, we'll spend 1 night at a lovely Lodge. The next day we shop, have lunch in town, and enjoy our day rooms before our flight out in the evening.

The Fine Print:

Estimated cost for this safari, all inclusive in Tanzania, is $14-15,000, depending on availability of camps and lodges, availability of guides, number of travelers and their wants, etc. We can't commit to a fixed cost yet because this is a custom itinerary. We do our best to bring you the ultimate safari at the lowest cost possible. 

 Included:

All food, drinks (including most alcohol), water, laundry service in camps; all National Park Fees, walking, camping and vehicle permits; flights in Tanzania. Park fees, permits and internal flights are a huge part of the cost of this trip.

Not Included:

International flights (usually about $1600, $2600 in August), transport in USA, food and drinks in airports; passport, visa and meds; alcoholic beverages in Arusha lodges; tips for guides and camp staff; optional trip insurance.

Email: safaritanz@gmail.com or Call Bev or Mike at 860-963-0480 for more details

Serengeti~Mahale May-June 2014 Days 15-17 June 9-11, 2014

Serengeti~Mahale May-June 2014  Days 15-17 June 9-11, 2014

Back to Reality ~ Not Quite Yet ~ Arusha


One more morning look across the lake to the Democratic Republic of Congo. It appears so peaceful and quiet, masking its serious humanitarian, wildlife and conservation issues.

Big Bird, ever so helpful, tries to unzip bags.

We spend two weeks chasing moths and butterflies, and then this one stows away, and takes the flight back to Tabora with us.

Our small plane lands at Arusha Airport, 

leaving a 5 minute drive to the Arusha Coffee Lodge.

We all think we are ready for a traditional, long, hot, steamy shower, but are disappointed. 

Bush showers are way better.

Shopping is always fun, with places like Shanga,

and Cultural Heritage,

and the Maasai Market

"Jambo, over here, look, look!"

The Blue Heron is our traditional lunch spot on the last day - a place to meet and greet locals.

On the plane about 9PM, overnight to Amsterdam, 

and a look at the caged animals in their zoo.

We start putting our "back-to-reality" faces on.

Thank you, once again, KLM. You continue to outperform Delta by miles.

Thanks, Paul, Jo and Jombi
Tim and Maureen ~ Ben and Holly
Dan and Betsy ~ Mike and Bev