Tanzania Safari Adventure
See the "Big Five" on this Serengeti and Ngorongoro Safari
Tanzania is known for its wild animals – elephants, big cats, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, and so many more. Join Wilderness Inquiry guide Donatus Gadiye to experience some of the last remaining true wilderness in the world. As head of elephant research for Ngorogoro Conservation Center, Donatus is a fount of knowledge about local wildlife and conservation issues. By the end of your trip, you’ll know many of the elephants by name.
Travel by four-wheel drive to places like Tarangire National Park, Lake Eyasi, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Empakai Crater, and Serengeti National Park. Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, the eighth wonder of the world. Visit Olduvai Gorge to see the bones and footprints of our ancestors who inhabited the area two million years ago. Experience a day of traditional hunting and gathering with the Hadzabe Bushmen, a nomadic tribe. You will enjoy trying to learn the names of plants and animals in their click language. Meet extraordinary people and see ‘the Big Five’ on this exciting African adventure.
Sample Itinerary
DAY 1: Your guide will meet you at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), and bring you to your hotel in Arusha for a night of rest.
DAY 2: After breakfast, drive to Tarangire National Park. View the incredible landscapes, animals, especially elephants, as well as spectacular birds, and giant baobab trees. Tarangire is a true wilderness containing the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem.
DAYS 3 & 4: Travel to Karatu, the home village of our guide, Donatus. In Karatu, visit Kilimatembo school where you’ll have a chance to learn about Tanzania's education system and interact with the students. Karatu also provides the opportunity to visit a traditional Iraqw home and learn about the tribe's unique culture from one of their elders. Your group may also hike to a waterfall in the Ngorongoro Northern Highland Forest Reserve. Along the way, experience cave-like structures created by elephants digging up the earth to ingest the mineral-rich soil. Stay at Eileen’s Trees Inn.
DAYS 5 & 6: Visit Tatoga Blacksmiths and a Tatoga village in the afternoon on the way to Lake Eyasi on the floor of the Great Rift Valley. Visit the Hadzabe (Bushmen). This nomadic tribe still lives through hunting and gathering and resides without permanent shelter. Take time to learn about their culture and hunting practices, then return to camp for brunch. In the afternoon, take an easy walk to the shores of Lake Eyasi. Stay at Lake Eyasi Safari Lodge.
DAYS 7 & 8: Drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area and descend into the eighth wonder of the world, Ngorongoro Crater, for a full day of game viewing. This unique 'fish bowl' of nature is home to four resident prides of lions and your best chance of seeing rare black rhino in the wild. On the second day in Ngorongoro you may choose to hike down into Empakai Crater or hike along the North Rim of Ngorongoro Crater. Stay at Rhino Lodge on the rim of Ngorongoro crater.
DAYS 9 & 10: Travel down the flank of Ngororgoro Crater, pass through the scenic Maasai village of Endulen and proceed to Serengeti National Park, world famous for its endless plains and abundant wildlife. Spend two days on the Serengeti Plains, searching out big prides of lions, leopards, migrating wildebeest herds, giant elephants, and antelope. Stay at lodges or safari camps in the park.
DAY 11: Take in an early morning game drive and then leave the Seregenti for the return to Karatu via Oldavai Gorge, where Mary and Louis Leakey discovered Australopithecus boisei and early hominin footprints that have been fossilized in volcanic ash. If excavation is in progress, we’ll visit the Zinj site, followed by Shifting Sands. Our final night is at Eileen's Trees Inn in Karatu.
DAY 12: Relax at Eileen's Trees Inn in the morning, have lunch, and then drive back to Arusha for your flight home. On the way back, the group will stop at a local market including Shanga, an Arusha based non-profit that employs people with disabilities to create unique, high-quality, handicrafts.
What To Expect
TERRAIN/ROUTE: Tanzania has an incredible variety of ecosystems, ranging from desert plain to fertile rain forest 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: East Africa is a welcoming escape for travelers of all levels of experience. We will use four-wheel drive vehicles to travel from place to place. For the wildlife safari sections, we'll open the roofs of these vehicles for excellent viewing and photo opportunities. A moderate level of physical fitness is required to participate in the hiking sections.
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 to May and October-December, but rain is possible year-round.
ACCOMMODATIONS: This will be a lodge-based and safari tent trip. Typically there are 2-4 people per room, matched by gender or requests to room together. In most rooms, solo travelers have single beds and couples share beds. Bathroom facilities at lodges are well-appointed with hot showers and common accommodations. While at safari camps, bathroom facilities will range from permanent campground bathroom facilities to private facilities attached to each tent. We make every effort to ensure privacy and cleanliness.
SINGLE TRAVELERS: If you are traveling alone, you will feel at home with a welcoming group. If you would like to have your own room throughout the trip you may purchase a single supplement for an additional fee. Please email or call us if you would like this option.
MEALS: Kick back and relax while all your Tanzanian meals are prepared for you. We’ll enjoy a variety of fresh, healthy options that include poultry, beef, fish, vegetables, and fruit. We pride ourselves on offering good tasting breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks. While we’ll enjoy sharing happy hours together, the purchase of alcoholic beverages is not included in the trip fees.
YOUR GROUP: The group size ranges from 5 to 12 participants, plus several local guides. Each group consists of people of various ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING: You will need to provide your personal gear as outlined in the packing list.
A note about the itinerary: Our trips are real adventures in the outdoors. While we'll make every effort to follow the itinerary listed here, elements may change due to weather or reasons beyond our control.Frequently Asked Questions:
What is your cancellation/refund policy?
Your 10% deposit is non-refundable. If you choose to cancel your trip:
For trips in the continental United States:
• 6 weeks prior to start date — we will refund fees paid minus deposit.
• Less than 6 weeks — we will refund 50% of the total trip fee, or 100% of fees paid can be transferred to a future trip.
• Less than 1 week— no refunds will be issued.
For trips outside the continental United States:
• 12 weeks prior to start date— we will refund fees paid minus deposit.
• Less than 12 weeks — we will refund 50% of the total trip fee, or 100% of fees paid can be transferred to a future trip.
• Less than 2 weeks — no refunds will be issued.
In the rare event that WI cancels a trip, or we are unable to serve you, all fees are immediately refunded, including the deposit. Unfortunately, we cannot be responsible for personal expenses such as airline tickets. To protect your investment in your travel plans we recommend purchasing travel insurance. Information on travel insurance is included in your trip confirmation packet. If after registering you wish to switch trips, you may do so subject to availability. Fees may apply.
Under certain circumstances, such as death of a family member, change in health status, loss of employment, etc., we may make exceptions to our refund policies. Please let us know immediately if your plans change!
Do I need international travel insurance if my health insurance doesn’t cover me on an international trip?
If your health insurance doesn't cover you while abroad, it is a good idea to consider a basic travel-specific insurance. WI does not offer insurance, but many companies do. Check out:
TripMate: Your partner in travel
or
Can I pay more to have my own room on a lodge-based trip?
Yes, most times a single supplement is available on a lodge-based trip. Exact cost and availability depends on the trip.
Which immunizations do you recommend when traveling to an international destination?
Prior to departure, we recommend that you check with your doctor as early as possible to ensure you are up to date on your standard immunizations. Your doctor is in the best position to recommend specific vaccinations to specific destinations.
What is the main difference between the Kenya and Tanzania trips?
These trips are similar in that they both take place in East Africa. In Tanzania you'll get to experience more of a human anthropology aspect and visit one of the last remaining true nomadic tribes in the world, the Hadzabe Bushmen. You'll also visit the world-renowned Serengeti National Park and world heritage site, Ngorongoro Crater, home to the largest unbroken caldera in the world. The Tanzania trip also involves more walking.
In Kenya, we visit many comparable places, including Samburu National Reserve and Masai Mara. Spectacular opportunities abound for wildlife viewing and we also spend time with three different local tribes: the Maasai, Samburu, and Kikuyu.
We suggest reading about some of the following places and deciding based on what piques your interest:
Kenya: Masai Mara, Samburu, Nakuru National Park, Lake Naivasha, Mt. Kenya
Tanzania: Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, Lake Manyara, Lake Eyasi, Oldupai Gorge
What shots do you recommend if one goes to Africa?
We recommend that you check with your doctor as early as possible prior to leaving to ensure you are up to date on your standard immunizations. Your doctor may also recommend immunizations against things like typhoid and yellow fever but we leave that up to you to decide. During the safaris there is the possibility of exposure to malaria carrying mosquitoes and thus you will also need to bring an anti-malarial medication.
Is bottled water available on trips to Kenya and Tanzania?
Bottled water is recommended on our trips to Kenya and Tanzania, and is available everywhere we stay throughout the trip.
Are your safari trips accessible for a person who uses a manual wheelchair?
Yes, and we have had participants who use manual wheelchairs join us on safari in Kenya and Tanzania. For some parts of the trip, including hiking in Tanzania, you may want to use a wheelchair with the assistance of another person using our Rickshaw device.
Can you accommodate a CPAP breathing machine on trips to Tanzania?
Yes! All lodges on our Tanzania safari have access to electricity. You will be able to use your CPAP machine throughout the night in each location.
Do I need to bring relatively new bills for currency in Tanzania?
Yes, we recommend that U.S. bills be 2006 or newer. Torn bills may not be accepted as currency in Tanzania. Most people just bring $200 U.S. and then use an ATM.
What’s the difference between going in the winter versus summer?
Mating usually takes place in wet season when animal are healthy and active, February-May. In this time, many animal species will be calving too. For example, in February all adult females wildebeest will drop their babies and had a synchronized rut season in May and early June. small roads may be not possible when it rains and the game drive limited to major roads only.
Dry season, July-October, only animals that mate a year around will occasionally be seen mating. However, all roads are passable and game drives extended to outer areas from the main roads. Best time to see the migration moving especially crossings of river Mara towards Kenya's Masai Mara. Many animals are concentrated at river banks and water holes and higher probability to see predators hunting.
Therefore both seasons have got their own separate attractions and odds. Let me know in which behavior they are mostly interested to so that I could determine the best time though this may be affected by many factors such as rainfall and temperature.
| 2019 Dates | Fee | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Dates | Fee | Registration |
Single Room Supplement
You can elect to guarantee a single room for the duration of the trip for $795 during the registration process.
Standard Meeting Places and Times
Start: Kilimanjaro International Airport at 8:00 PM (local time)
End: Kilimanjaro International Airport at 7:00 PM (local time)
Transportation
This trip begins at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where Wilderness Inquiry will meet you around 8 PM, or whenever your flight arrives. You will be driven around in a WI van/jeep throughout the trip and then returned to the Kilimanjaro International Airport in the early evening on the last day. At the Kilimanjaro International Airport, there are daily flights from various European cities, South Africa, and sometimes New York. The most popular flights arrive in the evening. We plan to meet outside baggage claim and leave once everyone has made it through. This is usually around 8 PM but rest assured we won't leave without you even if you have a later arrival. Custom pickups outside this meeting time can also be arranged for a small fee. To make your travel arrangements for this trip we recommend that you consult with our travel agency, Travel One, at (800) 247-1311. 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.
