Tanzania Wilderness – Unique Experience – ALL INCLUSIVE

DAY 1 | WELCOME TO TANZANIA Our journey begins at Kilimanjaro Airport, where we meet and from there drive to our lodge near Arusha. Here we will go on a relaxed hike through the rainforest later in the day. We will relax for the rest of the day in the lodge's spacious tropical garden, enjoy a snack on the terrace or refresh ourselves in the swimming pool with sun terrace and marvel at the view of the mighty Kilimanjaro. We have time to get to know each other and Hannu our guide will introduce us to our upcoming Tanzania trip. Our African journey has begun!

DAY 2 | START OF THE SAFARI TOUR Today, our safari tour begins. We will be travelling with Hannu in our own safari vehicle with pop-up safari roof throughout the day and head towards Tarangire National Park. Our first game drive starts right after the gate, and we will keep an eye out for the animals of the African wilderness. We will enjoy our lunch as a picnic on safari. In the late afternoon, we will reach our Maweninga Lodge and experience the magical African sunset over the vast plains. DAY 3 | SAFARI IN TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK Hannu gathers the latest wildlife information early in the morning before heading out on a game drive - because here in Tarangire National Park, apart from the rhino, the BIG FIVE are to be found. And, of course, the elephant herds can be found along riverbanks and in the mighty baobab forests for which the national park is famous. We will stop for lunch at the Tarangire Safari Lodge. The lodge offers a wonderful view of the bush and with a bit of luck we will see one of the many herds of animals that roam this area. Later in the day, we will return to Maweninga Lodge to relax for the late afternoon before an extraordinary night safari after dark.

DAY 4 | LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK After breakfast, we continue with Hannu towards Manyara National Park - famous for its hippos and pink flamingos at Lake Manyara, in addition to the classic safari. We will enjoy a picnic lunch under the shade of acacia trees in the middle of the national park. In the afternoon, we continue towards the Ngorongoro Crater. The route is very scenic and leads up the Great Rift escarpment and finally ends in Karatu at the foot of the crater.

DAY 5 | ELEPHANT CAVES & COFFEE PLANTATION In the morning, Hannu takes us to an insider tip: the Elephant Caves. They were created by elephants digging through dense rock with their tusks to absorb the vitamin-D rich soil. The path to the caves leads us through the forested slopes of the crater region and offers a good view of the valley and the coffee plantations. If possible, Hannu will also take us up the steeper path to the mighty waterfalls. How close we can get to the caves depends on whether the elephants are around. We return to the lodge for lunch before Hannu takes us on an exciting afternoon exploration of one of the region's exquisite coffee plantations.

DAY 6 | NGORONGORO & EMPAKAI CRATER Today we depart early in the morning for the Ngorongoro Crater. A fantastic game drive awaits for us in the crater with a picnic lunch in the 20 km wide caldera, which has its very own ecosystem due to its 600 m high natural wall. The safari and the crater itself are among the absolute highlights of any Tanzania trip. In the afternoon, we will continue our safari and now leave the tourist paths with Hannu, as the journey continues together to the Empakai Crater. Here we will not be expected in a lodge in the late afternoon, but in a mobile camping accommodation specially built for our group in so-called bivouacs. BIVOUACS CAMPS These Bivouacs Camps are set up in the heart of the bush, often far from permanent accommodation, and are a unique opportunity to enjoy a different experience closer to and in nature. - Our Bivouac Camps are run by the Masai. Igloo tents for 2 persons each (footprint: 2.75 m x 2.75 m), equipped with separate camp beds, mattress, sheets, blankets, duvet, pillow.... - Cosmetic basket with soap, handkerchiefs, insect repellent, flip-flops (for showering), torch ... - Separate shower tents for men/women (with hot water) and toilets (chemical). We normally provide 1 shower & 1 toilet for 4 tents. - Meals (dinner and breakfast) are served in a tent with tables, safari chairs and lighting with paraffin lamps - Meals are prepared on site by our cooks and their staff and cooked around the campfire. - The Masai are also here at night to keep watch. Enjoy the plateau hike, after which there is nothing more refreshing than standing under Williams Waterfall. We can swim (or paddle) to the waterfall and enjoy the invigorating cold.

DAY 7 | HIKE EMPAKAI Today we will join Hannu and the local Masai on a hike from Empakai Crater to Lake Natron. Along the way, an indescribable natural spectacle of vastness and wilderness awaits us, where we will also take our breaks (and enjoy our picnic lunch). In the afternoon we will reach the second bivouac camp in the middle of the vast landscape, as we will not reach Lake Natron until tomorrow. DAY 8 | LAKE NATRON We leave your bivouac camp in the morning to hike with Hannu and the Masai the last stretch to Lake Natron. Here the exclusive Lake Natron Camp awaitsus, a unique eco-camp in one of the most visually dramatic locations in the world. Home to local Masai, abundant wildlife and over 1 million flamingos, the camp is perfectly situated to take in the dramatic views of the Great Rift Valley. This includes the majestic Ol Doinyo Lengai, which is not only the only active carbonatite volcano in the world, but also the catalyst for everything that surrounds it. Here Hannu takes us on afternoon activities around Lake Natron. From the numerous crocodiles and hippos on the banks of the river to the large herds of elephant, antelope and the newly introduced black rhino, cheetah and lion, we will experience the animals of the African wilderness up close!

DAY 9 | FLIGHT TO THE SERENGETI / GRUMETI HILLS In the morning we continue in a safari vehicle for the grand safari finale of our trip. Hannu takes us to the famous SERENGETI. The road takes you on a full day safari game drive across the Serengeti with unforgettable animal sightings. Your destination is the Grumeti Wildlife Management Area (WMA), which borders the Serengeti National Park to the south and west and the Grumeti Game Reserve to the north. It is arguably one of the most scenic and diverse wildlife areas in Tanzania. The banks of the Grumeti River are only 2 kilometres from the lodge. Wildlife is abundant throughout the year, but especially when the Great Migration passes through the area (May to July and October to December). From the numerous crocodiles and hippos on the banks of the river to the large herds of elephant, antelope and the newly introduced black rhino, cheetah and lion, you will experience the animals of the African wilderness up close. DAY 10 | PURE SAFARI This morning we will experience a unique safari moment - on the bush walk accompanied by Hannu and the local rangers of the Wildlife Department we will experience the African bush from a completely different perspective. We will walk to the banks of the Grumeti River and have a hearty bush breakfast directly at the Grumeti River. We will then walk or drive back to the lodge. A light lunch is served at the camp before we set off on a silent afternoon game drive in Tanzania's first e-safari vehicles. After dinner, we head out again for a night game drive to encounter the nocturnal animals - another great experience and the perfect safari finale to our trip.

DAY 11 | FAREWELL TO SAFARI ADVENTURE It's time to say goodbye to the African bush. In the morning, we will go to the airstrip for a shuttle flight to Arusha. From here, Hannu will take us to Arumeru Lodge for a farewell lunch. Finally, it's off to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight back home or on to Zanzibar for an individual beach extension. (I'm thinking to extend my stay for a little beach workation in Zanzibar, but it would not be included in this trip as I want to keep it optional).