6 Days Mbugani Safari

After breakfast our Safari Guide will collect you with a Tanzanian smile from your lodgings for the drive to Lake Manyara National Park. Manyara, a relatively small but diverse park 120km west of Arusha, is so named for the shallow Salt Lake that occupies a good seventy percent of the parks lands. Flooding and drying seasonally, this soda lake is home to thousands of flamingo and over 500 other bird species. On our exploration of the park we see monkey, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, elephant and with some luck, lions lounging in the trees. The park is known for its diverse landscapes, not only open grassy plains but also primate filled woodlands and baobab dotted cliffs. After our full day in the park, we drive to our accommodation, where we will be afforded the opportunity to relax and enjoy a sumptuous meal with our comfortable quarters awaiting us.

After breakfast, we journey on heading up towards the fertile highlands where wheat, coffee, and corn, are grown by the Iraqw people. Passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, we will be afforded a view of the breath-taking Ngorongoro Crater before traveling onwards to the Serengeti National Park which we will reach by midday. The Serengeti National Park is the largest park in Tanzania covering an astounding 15,000 kms squared with diverse landscapes and habitats such as grassy plains, swamps, lakes, savannah and mountain. Here the great migration of wildebeest, zebra, and antelope takes place and, depending on the season, we may have the opportunity to witness thousands of animals on their search for food and water.

This entire day is set aside for game drives upon the Serengeti. The Serengeti, the habitat of an abundance of wildlife such as impala, buffalo, crocodile, and hippo, is more well-known for its great migrating herds of zebra, antelope, and wildebeest. The animals’ trek is determined by the rainfall and varies from year to year. In November and December the animals move from the northern region, dominated by woodlands and hills, to the grassy plains of the south. During the longer rainy season from April to June, they return to the north. Apart from the migrating herds, we may have the opportunity to see the resident predators, leopard, cheetah, and lion, fulfilling their role in the circle of life

After breakfast, you will drive from Serengeti National Park to the Ngorongoro Crater. When you first see Ngorongoro Crater, it looks like a forgotten world. Concealed by the steep volcanic walls is a pristine wilderness including sweeping savannah, pockets of acacia woodland, and glistening lakes and swamps. The Crater was created when a large volcano exploded and collapsed in on itself two to three million years ago.

The drive down the into the Crater is an adventure in itself and when you reach the Crater floor, you quickly find yourself amongst large numbers of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, and more than 500 bird species. The Crater provides you with the best chance of seeing the endangered black rhino, which can sometimes be spotted in the open grasslands.

After breakfast we make the short drive to Tarangire National Park. Tarangire, well known for its large elephant herds, consists of a diversity of landscapes, from seasonal swamps to savanna with the Tarangire River wending its way through the parklands.

From the open top of our safari truck we seek to encounter many animals including zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, elephant and giraffe. It is possible that we will have the experience of seeing simba stalking his prey or leopards watching whilst relaxing in the trees above. After lunch in the park, with our adventure at an end, we return to Arusha replete with our cache of images of the African wilds to take home with us and carry through our life’s mysterious journey.