Serengeti and Zanzibar Explorer October 10-21, 2008

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EXPEDITION SUMMARY

Yale Active Travel’s “Serengeti and Zanzibar Explorer” offers a unique combination of the best of Tanzania’s safari excursions and several days of relaxation on the white sand beaches of the exotic spice island of Zanzibar.  Visit some of the richest and most unspoiled wildlife areas in the world, including Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, the Olduvai Gorge and the largest unbroken caldera in the world at the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater.   In these renowned parks you will see the raw exuberance of Tanzania’s wildlife amid an incredible diversity of landscapes.

Begin the safari portion of the tour in Lake Manyara National Park.   Lake Manyara National Park is famous for its tree-climbing lion, as well as for its elephant, hippo, giraffe and smaller animals. 

From here continue on to Serengeti National Park, visiting a local Maasai Village en route.  The Serengeti is one of the world’s last great wildlife refuges.  Various types of vegetation, including grassy plains, acacia-dotted savannahs, wooded hills and mountains are the backdrop for an extraordinary concentration of animals. The Seronera Valley in the Serengeti is famous for its abundance of lion and leopard.

The next stop will be at the famous Olduvai Gorge where Dr. Louis Leakey discovered the remains of Homo Habilis or "Handy Man."  Homo Habilis is regarded as one of mankind's first steps on the ladder of human evolution.  

After you visit the Serengeti, travel on to the last safari location, Ngorongoro Crater, often called the “eighth wonder of the world.”  This massive caldera is located right in the heart of the “Land of the Maasai” in the Great Rift Valley.  More than 5,000 feet (1,600 meters) below the rim, the bottom of the crater (165 square miles, 265 square kilometers) is dotted with watering-holes.  The crater floor shelters almost 30,000 animals in an area naturally enclosed by the slopes of the volcano.   See elephant, rhino, buffalo, cheetah, lion, hyena, hippo, wildebeest and many more of Africa’s most spectacular game animals!

Finish up the tour with several days on the spice island of Zanzibar, famous as the fabled commercial center of East Africa and the last hold-out of the slave trade.  Today, Zanzibar combines ancient Islamic ruins and noble Arabic houses with miles of white, sandy, palm-fringed beaches and coves.  The lush island landscapes open to reveal clear blue waters, idyllic off-shore islands, excellent snorkeling and diving reefs and fantastic deep-sea fishing and other water sport venues.  Other opportunities for enjoyment await you in the delicious fresh fish and foodstuffs of this spice island paradise.  You will have the option of visiting spice plantations where cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, cardamom and other spices are produced.  Save a bit of time for haggling for carvings in the Central Market!

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EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

A safari is an adventurous experience – but not particularly physically demanding.  No experience is required for this trip, but, in order to fully enjoy the expedition’s activities, trip participants should be reasonably fit, in good health and properly equipped.

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SAFARI EXPERIENCE

A typical safari day will include morning and afternoon game drives, traveling in special 4WD vehicles.   Each game drive usually lasts 3-4 hours before returning to the safari lodge.  Full-day game drives are also offered with box lunches for all those who would like to venture farther afield.  There is also extensive wildlife viewing while traveling between one park and another, and these drives usually take 4-6 hours.  The vehicles will often split up in the parks to track game separately. 

The safari vehicles are spacious and comfortable. Each vehicle is equipped with radio communication to ensure contact with the safari base and other safari vehicles at all times. The passenger and driver compartments are connected to facilitate communication between the guide and guests.  Roof hatches enable excellent wildlife viewing and photography and the safari guides are equipped with reference books listing all the local flora and fauna.  All vehicles used on the adventure safaris have 9 seats, however the group will only fill each vehicle with 7 passengers guaranteeing that everyone has a window seat for the best wildlife viewing.  The 4WD vehicles can go virtually everywhere, an important feature when you are tracking game, and they add a taste of adventure to your African safari.

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WILDLIFE VIEWING ETIQUETTE

A typical safari day will include morning and afternoon game drives, traveling in special 4WD vehicles.   Each game drive usually lasts 3-4 hours before returning to the safari lodge.  Full-day game drives are also offered with box lunches for all those who would like to venture farther afield.  There is also extensive wildlife viewing while traveling between one park and another, and these drives usually take 4-6 hours.  The vehicles will often split up in the parks to track game separately. 

The safari vehicles are spacious and comfortable. Each vehicle is equipped with radio communication to ensure contact with the safari base and other safari vehicles at all times. The passenger and driver compartments are connected to facilitate communication between the guide and guests.  Roof hatches enable excellent wildlife viewing and photography and the safari guides are equipped with reference books listing all the local flora and fauna.  All vehicles used on the adventure safaris have 9 seats, however the group will only fill each vehicle with 7 passengers guaranteeing that everyone has a window seat for the best wildlife viewing.  The 4WD vehicles can go virtually everywhere, an important feature when you are tracking game, and they add a taste of adventure to your African safari.

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TEMPERATURE / WEATHER

Tanzania, located just below the equator, is truly a land without winter. From December to March, the daytime temperatures range from 70° to 90° F (21-32° C), and the nighttime temperatures range from 60° to 75° F (15-24° C).  It can be quite chilly riding in the safari vehicles early in the mornings, so you should definitely bring a warm jacket or sweater on this trip.  The temperature usually warms up by about 10:00am, so you should dress in layers to adapt to temperature changes.  Tanzania's weather is notoriously unpredictable, but visitors can generally count on two rainy seasons each year. The "long rains" typically happen in April and May and the "short rains" typically occur in November to early December. Accordingly, the dry months of June through October and December through March are usually the best months for wildlife safaris.

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TRIP DETAILS

Dates:
October 10-21, 2007

Cost:
double rooms — $5,425 per person
single rooms — $7,425 per person
There is a $225 per person discount for payments by check.

Includes:

Does Not Include:

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DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

October 10: Fly to Africa
Depart the USA for your flight to Tanzania. Arrive late in the evening the next day.

October 11: Arrive in Africa, Transfer to Arusha
After arriving into either Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi or Kilimanjaro Airport, you will travel on to Arusha. Arusha is approximately 4-5 hours from Nairobi, and approximately 1 hour from Kilimanjaro Airport. Spend the night at Serena Mountain Village near Arusha.

October 12: Lake Manyara Safari
After breakfast and a short orientation briefing, depart for Lake Manyara National Park and check-in to Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge. After a relaxing lunch at the lodge, enjoy the afternoon wildlife viewing in Lake Manyara National Park, famous for its tree-climbing lion, elephant, hippo, giraffe, and smaller animals. Tonight you will enjoy a festive welcome reception before dinner and spend the evening at Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge. (B, L, D)

October 13: Maasai Village and Serengeti Safari
After breakfast you will depart for the Serengeti. Drive to the Ngorongoro hills where en route you will visit a Maasai village. After lunch continue on to the Serengeti with wildlife viewing along the way. Take a late afternoon game drive in the Serengeti. This evening enjoy a talk by the Frankfurt Zoological Society, which is involved in several research projects within the Serengeti. Have dinner and spend the night in the park at Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge. (B, L, D)

October 14: Serengeti Safari and Optional Balloon Safari
In the morning, embark on a game drive or optional hot-air balloon safari (see details below) to view the plains game from above, followed by an “Out of Africa” champagne breakfast under the shade of an acacia tree in the midst of the vast Serengeti. Take an early morning game drive if you opt not to do the optional hot-air balloon safari.

After a relaxing lunch at the safari lodge, enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Serengeti, marveling at the bountiful wildlife that is resident there. This evening, you will enjoy a talk by a local researcher from the Serengeti Lion Project, a program tracking all of the prides in the Serengeti. Spend another night at Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge. (B, L, D)

Optional Serengeti Balloon Safari ($500)
An optional hot-air balloon safari can be booked in advance. These unique and exciting adventures require a very early morning start and a one-hour drive to the balloon's take-off point. After adventures aloft and the thrill of viewing the plains game from above, a champagne breakfast is served under the shade of an acacia tree in the midst of the Serengeti.

At 5am, transfer by safari vehicle to the balloon safari launch site near Maasai Kopjes. You will meet your pilot, receive a briefing, and watch the inflation of the balloon. Take off at dawn, rising as the sun rises and float in whichever direction the winds of the morning take you. The pilot can precisely control the altitude of the balloon: sometimes flying at treetop height, sometimes lower, offering a unique perspective and great photographic opportunities of the wildlife below. At other times he will ascend to 1,000 feet or more to see the enormity and wonderful panorama of the Serengeti. From time to time the pilot must put more heat into the balloon with the powerful whisper burners. In between these burns, there is silence apart from the natural sounds below. The flight time is about one hour depending on conditions. Upon landing, you will celebrate in the traditional manner with champagne (well, an excellent sparkling wine), before sitting down to a full English breakfast prepared and served in the bush in "Out of Africa" style with bone china, linen table cloths, King's silver, etc. After breakfast, you will receive your Serengeti Balloon certificate and drive back to the lodge with wildlife viewing en route. Finish the tour at approximately 9:30am.

Please note that you MUST book this balloon safari in advance when you register for your trip. There are only 2 balloons which fly each day in the Serengeti and these tours book up months in advance.

 


October 15: Serengeti Safari and Olduvai Gorge, Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater
After an early morning game drive and breakfast at Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, depart for the Ngorongoro Crater located in the heart of the “Land of the Maasai.” Enjoy a picnic lunch en route at the Olduvai Gorge where Louis and Mary Leakey discovered the remains of Homo habilis or “Handy Man,” regarded as one of humankind’s first steps on the ladder of human evolution.

Your visit to the Olduvai Gorge will feature a talk by Fidelis T. Masao, Ph.D. Dr. Masao is Co-Director of research at Olduvai Gorge. He has done extensive research on rock paintings, and is Chairman of the East African Rock Art Research Association. Dr. Masao has taught at the University of Dar es Salaam, was the first director of the Tanzania National Museums, and is currently teaching at the Open University of Tanzania. He is also coordinator of a Cultural Resource Management consultancy service and has made several guest appearances on Tanzanian television.

Continue on to Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge perched atop the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater where you will spend the night. (B, L, D)

October 16: Ngorongoro Crater Safari and Ngorongoro Crater Rim Hike
Descend into the crater floor early in the morning for a safari drive in the Ngorongoro Crater. Two thousand feet below the rim, the bottom of the crater is dotted with watering holes sheltering almost 30,000 animals in an area naturally enclosed by the slopes of the volcano. At any time, you may see elephant, rhino, buffalo, cheetah, lion, hyena, hippo, wildebeest, and many more of Africa’s most spectacular game animals. Return to the lodge for a late lunch. In the afternoon you have the opportunity to enjoy a short (1 hour) botanical walk around the lodge grounds or embark on a more rigorous hike (2 hours) to the crater rim. Tonight you will enjoy a talk with a local Maasai elder. Have dinner and spend the evening at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge. (B, L, D)

October 17: Fly to Zanzibar – Stone Town
Depart for Arusha after an early breakfast. You will have the chance to stop at the Tanzanian Cultural Heritage Center on the way to shop for souvenirs, jewelry and art. After lunch in Arusha, you will transfer to your connecting flight to Zanzibar in the early afternoon. Zanzibar is a magical spice island in the Indian Ocean where ancient Islamic ruins, noble Arabic houses, and white, sandy, palm-fringed beaches and coves coexist. Upon arriving in Zanzibar, transfer by motor coach to Stone Town on the island of Zanzibar. Enjoy dinner and spend the evening at the Zanzibar Serena Inn. (B, L, D)

October 18: Zanzibar – Stone Town, Transfer to the Beach
Take a walking tour of Stone Town in the morning to explore the heritage and history of this famous town, now designated a World Heritage site. The walking tour will include visits to the city market, the old Anglican Church located on the site of the old Slave Market, and the National Museum of Zanzibar. You may also visit the Old British Consulate, the Old Fort dating back to 1700, House of Wonders and Livingstone House. Leisurely walks through the winding alleys and narrow streets will lead you to small exotic bazaars and local curio shops.

After lunch by the water at the Zanzibar Serena Inn, you will transfer by motor coach to Ocean Paradise Resort on one of the island’s most beautiful beaches. Have dinner and spend the evening at Ocean Paradise Resort. (B, L, D)

 


October 19: Zanzibar - Beach
Enjoy a free day on the beach today. Optional spice tours, Jozani Forest tours, snorkeling and scuba-diving excursions can be pre-arranged or arranged at the resort while on Zanzibar. It is best to pre-book these activities to ensure availability. Have lunch on your own at the beach. Enjoy one last dinner by the beach and spend the night at Ocean Paradise Resort. (B, D)

OPTIONAL ZANZIBAR TOURS

Spice Plantations Sultan’s Tour ($75): A visit to the spice plantations will dazzle your senses with fresh spices. On the way, visitors can stop at the old Sultan’s Rest House to view the Persian baths built in 1850 by Seyyid Said bin Sultan (the first Sultan of Zanzibar) for his wife Princess Shehzard. This is a unique opportunity to visit the local farms and talk to farmers who will show you the traditional spices and fruits of Zanzibar. Spices like cloves, cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg, and turmeric root, grown on plantations, will be covered on this tour. Tropical fruits such as jack fruit, custard apple, rambutan and carambola can also be seen and tasted. Plants like the henna bush, lipstick tree and lemon grass can be seen as well. This excursion departs the hotel at 8:00am and will return around 2:00pm.

Jozani Forest Tour ($75): The Jozani Forest is the only remaining natural forest on Unguja Island and is a heaven for nature lovers! With a rich variety of bird species, Jozani also offers the unique opportunity of seeing the very rare Red Colobus Monkey which is indigenous to the island of Zanzibar. This excursion departs the hotel at 8:00am and will return around 2:00pm.

Snorkeling ($60): The east coast of Zanzibar is a wonderful place to snorkel. Spend 3 hours on a local dhow snorkeling among the coral reefs with teeming fishlife. This excursion departs the hotel at 8:00am and will return around 2:00pm.

Scuba Diving ($120): A paradise for divers, the east coast of Zanzibar is without doubt the place to dive if you are looking for something new. Zanzibar is one of the world’s newest and most popular diving destinations. This excursion departs the hotel at 8:00am and will return around 2:00pm. This excursion is for certified divers only.

October 20: Zanzibar – Beach, Depart for Home
In the late afternoon the group will drive back to the Zanzibar Airport for a local flight (15-minute flight) to Dar es Salaam. Connect to your international flight home. You will arrive back home on the afternoon of the next day. (B)

October 21: Return Home
This afternoon you will arrive in the USA.

 

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