You cannot mention Tanzania without thoughts of wild animals--elephants, infamous cats, giraffe, zebra, rhino, and pink flamingos. Join Wilderness Inquiry and superb native guides to hike and explore some of the last remaining true wilderness in the world. You will travel by four wheel drive to places like Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Eyasi, Empakai Crater, and Oldoinyo Lengai.

Sample Itinerary

DAY 1: Pick up at Kilimanjaro International Airport, (KIA), have dinner and spend the night in Arusha.

DAY 2: Drive to Lake Manyara National park for your first exciting game drive. Manyara usually offers sightings of lion, giraffe, elephants and troops of olive baboon. Spend the night in the small village of Karatu at Kudu Lodge.

DAY 3: Drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area and descend into the eighth wonder of the world 'Ngorongoro Crater' for full day game viewing. You'll have an excellent opportunity to see all of the 'Big Five.' Spend the night at Rhino Lodge on the rim of Ngorongoro crater.

DAY 4: After sunrise, we'll visit a Maasai village. Here you will be introduced to the intricacies of Maasai life and have a chance to interact with the many young children from the different families in the village bomas. They will be excited to show you their homes and take digital pictures with you. Afterwards, we'll drive to the Ndutu plains in hopes of catching up with the great migration. The area is largely inhabited by large herds of ungulates during the wet season; it is an important migratory route for wildlife. We'll camp out at Ndutu that night in comfortable arrangements.

DAY 5: Explore the Ndutu plains and Lakes on your way to Nasera rock. We'll take day hikes in the plains around Lake Masek and Lake Ndutu and camp out again at night.

DAY 6: Drive to Olduvai Gorge to see the remnants of our ancestors who inhabited the area about 3 million years ago. There you can see excavated bones and footprints which have been fossilized in volcanic ash. In the afternoon we will proceed to Seronera in Serengeti National Park, world famous for its huge plains and big migration of animals. We will spend our night in a lodge at Seronera.

DAY 7: Spend all day on the Serengeti Plains; searching out big prides of lions, leopards, migrating herds, giant elephants, antelope, and more.
DAY 8: With sunrise, take early Chai (tea), and go for early morning game drive along the way to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Proceed with to Karatu, and camp at Doffa Campsite, en route to Lake Eyasi.

DAY 9: Drive to Lake Eyasi game controlled area. Stay at Lake Eyasi Bushmen camp where we'll visit the Hadzabe (Bushmen) and Tatoga’s blacksmith.

DAY 10: Spend a day with Hadzabe hunting and gathering, this nomadic tribe sleeps under the trees and eats through hunting and gathering, try to learn the names of plants and animals in their click language. Stay under the tents at the same bushmen camp.

DAY 11: Drive back through Karatu stopping to visit an Iraqw traditional boma. Carry on to Arusha town. Stop by roadside curio stores for some shopping then resume our journey to Meserani Snake Park near Arusha and finally to Arusha’s Pamoja Lodge for the rest of the day.

DAY 12: After breakfast, walk around Arusha town for some final shopping before flying back home.

Travel, Terrain, Etc...

TERRAIN/ROUTE CHOICES: Tanzania has an incredible variety of ecosystems, ranging from desert plain to fertile rainforest to snow capped mountains. Land outside major cities is largely undeveloped and thus, we'll travel on some bumpy roads and hike on some uneven terrain that will involve moderate elevation changes.

TYPE OF TRAVEL/DISTANCE: We will use vans and/or other four-wheel drive vehicles to travel from place to place. For the wildlife safari sections we'll open the roofs of these same vehicles for excellent viewing and photo opportunities.

WEATHER: Due to the higher elevations, it can get hot when the sun reaches its peak during midday but cools dramatically at night (45º - 90º F). "Rainy Seasons" are roughly mid-March through May and October to December, but rain is possible year-round.

LODGING/BATHROOM FACILITIES: This will be a mixed lodge-based and tent camping trip. Bathroom facilities at lodges are luxurious with hot showers and everything you are used to at home. While camping, bathroom facilities will range from permanent campground bathroom facilities to portable commodes that we set up in a privacy tent. We make every effort to ensure privacy and cleanliness.

GROUP SIZE: The group size ranges from 12 to 20 participants, plus one Wilderness Inquiry staff and several local guides. Each group consists of people of various ages, backgrounds and abilities.

EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING: If you are new to outdoor activities, you need not spend a lot of money on gear. Wilderness Inquiry will provide all necessary group and camping equipment. All you need to provide is personal gear, such as clothing , sleeping bag, and backpack. A detailed equipment list will be sent to you upon confirmation.

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: East Africa is a welcoming escape for travelers of all levels of experience. A moderate level of physical fitness is required to participate in the hiking and backpacking sections.

VISA REGULATIONS: Citizens from most countries are required to obtain a visa costing $50 USD. Visas can be obtained directly on entry. Make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months from the date of entry.

HEALTH: We feel East Africa is a safe place to travel but you must check with your doctor as early as possible, prior to leaving to ensure you are up to date on your immunazations. During the safaris there is the possibility of exposure to malaria carrying mosquitos and thus you will want to bring an anti-malarial medication.

Wilderness Inquiry is proud to serve Caribou Coffee on all our trips. Great food, great coffee, and great company are just some of the ingredients that make Wilderness Inquiry trips special.

[ Dates & Fees ]      

Ngorongoro is famous for its volcanic geology. It is made up of huge calderas, such as Ngorngoro Crater, Empakai Crater, and Olmoti Crater. The Ngorongoro crater is often dubbed the eighth wonder of the world because it has the largest unbroken crater/caldera in the world... 260 sq.km area--about 19km across. There are many animals inside and outside the caldera, including the last of Tanzania's remaing Black Rhino population, which are found on the crater floor.

The Ngorongoro Consevation Area is known as a multiple land use wilderness area where the consevation of nature is balanced with the interests of the human beings who live in and around. The Maasai people make up the largest numbers within the conservation area. They are pastorilists that coexist harmoniously with all the other life in the area.

While the Empakai Crater is a bit smaller than Ngorongoro, it is a very beautiful bowl of nature that supports about 3 million flamingos when other soda lakes dry out. The 18 by 6 km crater floor also supports abundant cape buffalo in its forested inner walls.

In the rift valley, very close to Empakai, is the active volcanic peak, Oldoinyo Lengai. This mountain is recognized by the Maasai as the mountain of god. Its 2800 meters make for a challenging, but fascinating climb. On the top, you are treated to close up views of its lunar-shaped crater and central vent that steams, bubbles, and oozes out magma!

 

For more information, visit these links:

TTB Official Website - Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Conservation Area Information

UNESCO World Heritage Site - Ngorongoro

Foundation for African Medicine and Education

[ Dates & Fees ]

2009 Dates	Fee
03/15/2009 - 03/26/2009	$3650	Register Now
07/06/2009 - 07/17/2009	$3650	Register Now
2010 Dates	Fee
03/14/2010 - 03/25/2010	$3650	Register Now
07/06/2010 - 07/17/2010	$3650	Register Now
Transportation This trip officially begins in Arusha, Tanzania. The nearest airport is Kilimanjaro International airport and WI will meet you there. There are daily flights from various European cities, South Africa, and sometimes New York. To make your travel arrangements for this trip we recommend that you consult with our travel agency, Travel One (800-245-1111). They are very familiar with our trips and can help you make the best flight connections at the best prices. Detailed meeting place instructions will be sent to you when you are confirmed for the trip.
Meeting Places:		Additional Round-trip Fee:
Arusha, Tanzania		$0 (No charge)