Best Of The Northern And Mafia Island Experience

Best Of The Northern And Mafia Island Experience

This tour offers an opportunity to explore the northern parks of Tanzania with a professional Birder and Safari Guide and have that feeling of relaxation in Mafia Island and choices to swim with whale sharks.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival

Stop At: Kilimanjaro Region, Kilimanjaro Region
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) then transferred to the lodge for overnight stay.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Meru House Lekisilai

Day 2: Arusha National Park

Stop At: Arusha National Park, Arusha National Park, Arusha Region
Located just outside Arusha town, Arusha National Park is Tanzania's most accessible national park and the perfect place for a day trip as the first stop on a longer itinerary. At just 552 square kilometers, it's a small park with a lot to see. With diverse wildlife that includes herbivores such as elephants, hippos, buffalo, zebra, and even the occasional wildebeest, Arusha National Park is also a perfect place to get out and stretch your legs - with both walking safaris and canoe safaris available within the park.
There are a number of interesting species to be found here including Bar-tailed Trogon, Taveta Weaver, Hartlaub´s Turaco, Scaly and Hildebrandt´s Spurfowl, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Spot-flanked Barbet, Montane White-eye, Abyssinian Crimsonwing, Rüppel´s Robin-Chat to name a few.

Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Meru House Lekisilai

Day 3: Arusha - Tarangire

Stop At: Tarangire National Park, Tarangire National Park, Arusha Region
Early Breakfast and then drive to Tarangire National Park. Tarangire is well known park for its abundant baobab trees, with a lot of migratory movement within the greater Tarangire ecosystem. The acacia savanna and marshes alongside the Tarangire river in this park supports three endemics.
Tarangire Endemics:
Ashy Starling, Yellow-collared Lovebird, Rufous-tailed Weaver.
Specialities:
Magpie Shrike, Northern Pied-Babbler, Pangani Longclaw.

Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Tarangire Safari Lodge

Day 4: Full Day Birding & Game Drive at Tarangire

Stop At: Tarangire National Park, Tarangire National Park, Arusha Region
Waking up to the music of birds around and after breakfast we will have another full day Birding at Tarangire National Park. We do a safari in the park and continue to look for some of the following birds: Yellow-collared Lovebird, Blue-capped Cordonbleu, Ashy Starling, Hildebrandt´s Starling, Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Purple Grenadier, Crimson-rumped Waxbill, African Grey Woodpecker, White-bellied Bustard, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Red-bellied Parrot and many more. We will have picnic lunch at the park and after afternoon game drive return back to the Lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Others:
Ostrich, Saddle-billed Stork, White-headed Vulture, African Hawk-Eagle, Martial Eagle, Pygmy Falcon, Crested Francolin, Double-banded Courser, Senegal Lapwing, Black-faced Sandgrouse, Meyer’s and Orange-bellied Parrots, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Spotted Morning-Thrush, Mosque Swallow, Yellow-breasted Apalis. etc.

Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Tarangire Safari Lodge

Day 5: Tarangire - Lake Manyara

Stop At: Lake Manyara National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Arusha Region
On this day you will have a full day game drive in Lake Manyara National Park with picnic lunch. The small Lake Manyara National Park which is situated alongside the northern and western shores of a soda lake, is famous for its tree-climbing lions, whilst birds present include Greater and Lesser* Flamingos, Black Heron, Ayre’s Hawk-Eagle, Water and Spotted Thick-knees, Three-banded Courser, Chestnut-banded Plover and Red-winged Starling
This park is known for its breathtaking panoramic views, waterfalls and babbling brooks with clear water and hot springs. It is located between the rocks of the Great Rift Valley and Lake Manyara. Of the approximately 390 km2 that make up the park, two-thirds of that is water. The rest of the park is a large strip of land between the lake and the rocks.

Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Plantation Lodge

Day 6: Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Stop At: Ngorongoro Crater, Ngorongoro Conservation Area Tanzania
This huge volcanic crater, which is 16km wide and 600m deep is one of earth’s most amazing natural wonder and, understandably, an extremely popular destination for tourists from around the world. Some species such as the endemic Rufous-tailed Weaver occur in the acacia savanna at the bottom of the crater, whilst others, such as Brown-headed Apalis, are present in the montane forest around its rim.

Ngorongoro Endemics
Rufous-tailed Weaver.

Specialities
Black-winged Lapwing, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Schalow’s Turaco, Kenrick’s Starling, Broad-ringed White-eye, Hunter’s Cisticola, Brown-headed Apalis, Jackson’s Widowbird*, Eastern Double-collared, Tacazze and Golden-winged Sunbirds.

Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Plantation Lodge

Day 7: En-route to Ndutu Area

Stop At: Ndutu Lake, Ngorongoro Conservation Area Tanzania
This day is dedicated to Olduvai Gorge and leaky museum. Olduvai Gorge is one of the most important archaeological site on earth. The geological strata exposed in the gorge reveal a remarkable record of animal and human evolution from about 2 million until 15,000 years ago. Among the significant finds from Olduvai are the range of stone tool types, the thousands of animal fossils- both extinct and extant species- and fossil bones of hominids (pre- Homo sapiens) and early Homo sapiens. The hominid fossils show the evolution of humankind over a 2-million-year time span and provide a sense of our recent emergence in the world as modern humans.
At Laetoli, west of Ngorongoro Crater, hominid footprints are preserved in volcanic rock 3.6 million years old and represent some of the earliest signs of mankind in the world. Three separate tracks of a small-brained upright walking early hominid. Imprints of these are displayed in the Oldupai museum. More advanced descendants of Laetoli's hominids were found further north, buried in the layers of the 100 meters deep Oldupai Gorge. Excavations, mainly by the archaeologist Louis and Mary Leakey, yielded four different kinds of hominid, showing a gradual increases in brain size and in the complexity of their stone tools. Thus, Oldupai and Laetoli makes the Ngorongoro Conservation Area an important place in the world for the study of human origins and human evolution.


Duration: 7 hours

Stop At: Olduvai Gorge Museum, Olduvai, Ngorongoro Conservation Area Tanzania
This day is dedicated to Olduvai Gorge and leaky museum. Olduvai Gorge is one of the most important archaeological site on earth. The geological strata exposed in the gorge reveal a remarkable record of animal and human evolution from about 2 million until 15,000 years ago. Among the significant finds from Olduvai are the range of stone tool types, the thousands of animal fossils- both extinct and extant species- and fossil bones of hominids (pre- Homo sapiens) and early Homo sapiens. The hominid fossils show the evolution of humankind over a 2-million-year time span and provide a sense of our recent emergence in the world as modern humans.
At Laetoli, west of Ngorongoro Crater, hominid footprints are preserved in volcanic rock 3.6 million years old and represent some of the earliest signs of mankind in the world. Three separate tracks of a small-brained upright walking early hominid. Imprints of these are displayed in the Oldupai museum. More advanced descendants of Laetoli's hominids were found further north, buried in the layers of the 100 meters deep Oldupai Gorge. Excavations, mainly by the archaeologist Louis and Mary Leakey, yielded four different kinds of hominid, showing a gradual increases in brain size and in the complexity of their stone tools. Thus, Oldupai and Laetoli makes the Ngorongoro Conservation Area an important place in the world for the study of human origins and human evolution.

Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Ndutu Safari Lodge

Day 8: Ndutu Area

Stop At: Ndutu Lake, Ngorongoro Conservation Area Tanzania
Consisting mainly of sweeping grasslands, the Ndutu area is in the northern part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area joining Serengeti National Park. As such, it forms part of the annual migratory route of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebra, antelope and their predators who come to graze and calve between November and March, depending on the rains. The forests around Lake Ndutu and small kopjes are also home to prolific resident wildlife. We will have two days exploring Ndutu areas and enjoying the best Ndutu has to offer for us. Overnight at Ndutu Safari Lodge.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Ndutu Safari Lodge

Day 9: Full Day Birding at Ndutu

Stop At: Ndutu Lake, Ngorongoro Conservation Area Tanzania
Another full day at Ndutu Area
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Ndutu Safari Lodge

Day 10: Drive to Serengeti National Park

Stop At: Serengeti National Park, Serengeti National Park
Waking up to the sound of African bush, have breakfast and then we drive towards the plains of the Serengeti. Birding on the way to Serengeti National Park. Picnic lunches will be provided, Overnight at Serengeti KatiKati Camp.
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Serengeti KatiKati Camp

Day 11: Full Day at Serengeti

Stop At: Serengeti National Park, Serengeti National Park
We will have two days of birding at the famous Serengeti National Park. Over a million large mammals together with their predators usually move into this huge park to breed. Even the most fanatical birder will find it hard to ignore this incredible phenomenon, despite the presence of three Tanzanian endemics and a handful of localized species, including Usambiro Barbet, Red-throated Tit* and Athi Short-toed Lark
Serengeti Endemics
Grey-breasted Spurfowl, Fischer’s Lovebird*, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Karamoja Apalis.
Specialities
Black-winged Lapwing, Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Usambiro Barbet, Magpie Shrike, Hildebrandt’s Starling, Silverbird, Red-throated Tit*, Athi Short-toed and Short-tailed Larks.

Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Serengeti KatiKati Camp

Day 12: Serengeti National Park

Stop At: Serengeti National Park, Serengeti National Park
Another full day of birding and game drive at Serengeti National Park
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Serengeti KatiKati Camp

Day 13: Seronera Airstrip - Mafia Island

Stop At: Mafia Island, Mafia Island, Pwani Region
After Breakfast in the bush, depart to Seronera Airstrip for a flight to Mafia.
Upon Arrival, you will be transferred to Mafia Island lodge (Transfer Costs included in the price)

Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Mafia Island Lodge

Day 14: Exploring the Island

Stop At: Mafia Island, Mafia Island, Pwani Region
In Mafia between the months of October and March one can indulge in a truly magical experience: swimming with Whale Sharks. Whale sharks are not whales and are not your typical shark, they're the largest fish in the sea measuring up to 20m.
Little is known about these gentle giants by scientists which is what adds to the overwhelming feeling you have when you see them. The whale shark is a filter feeder and therefore has no teeth, they are completely harmless. The majority of the time they're very shy although on occasion can be inquisitive making your encounter that much more spectacular. The tour starts with a pick up early in the morning by car or Bajaj which takes you over to the Western side of the Island. Breakfast will be served and an informative briefing will be given to you and the chance to ask as many questions as needed. You will then be invited on board their dhow and head out to start spotting sharks! Tea and coffee as well as some small snacks are served on board in between whale shark sightings. Clients usually return around 11:30 however this really depends on how long it takes to spot the whale sharks and how long you want to be out swimming with them!
Price of this activity is to be paid directly on arrival as snorkeling with whale sharks depends on the weather.

Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Mafia Island Lodge

Day 15: Another Day at Mafia Island

Stop At: Mafia Island, Mafia Island, Pwani Region
Choose among the activities to be done at Mafia Island
Duration: 7 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Mafia Island Lodge

Day 16: Farewell

Stop At: Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Dar Es Salaam Region
This marks the last day of the amazing experience. You will be transferred to the Airport (Price included) to Dar es Salaam and connect with International Flight back home.
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.