Family Safaris - The Junior Ranger Safari

This morning you’ll depart Arusha for Lake Eyasi and Kisima Ngeda. Heading south from Arusha towards Tarangire, you pass through the Masai Steppe filled with many picturesque African villages as well as maize, coffee and banana plantations. At the town of Makuyuni you turn north west passing the village Mto wa Mbu before heading through the escarpments of the Rift Valley towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. En route, you’ll view the scenic wheat plains and coffee plantations of the highlands.

Eyasi is a wilderness area travelled by few tourists and the journey should take around 5 hours depending on the road conditions and scenic spots en route. It’s a scenic journey and the final destination is home to some of Tanzania’s last remaining Bushman, probably the most traditional and ‘primitive’ tribe in Tanzania. En route, you’ll be able to stop and perhaps stretch your legs as this is not a national park. After a late lunch and time to relax, there will be a gentle scenic walk around the lake’s shoreline to view its abundant bird-life. Overnight at Kisima Ngeda Tented Camp on a full board basis.

Kisima Ngeda offers all the romance and comforts of a traditional luxury tented camp. The tents are set in a stunning position on the shore of a soda lake, at the base of the Rift Valley escarpment. Views across the lake, especially those from the huge granite boulder behind the camp at sunset, are superb. It offers an exclusive destination plus awesome scenery and a chance to visit the Hadzabe, one of the last click-speaking hunter gatherer tribes. There is also some great walking to be done here, with possible sightings of striped hyena, bushbuck, reedbuck, hippos, dik dik, African hares, various smaller wild cats and mongoose, plus spectacular birds. If you have never experienced a tented camp then forget what you know and picture something closer to a small luxurious bungalow. The floor is solid underfoot, the en-suite bathroom has hot and cold running water, and is built from stone. It is a tent because the bedroom has a high canvas roof and sides that roll up to let in cool evening air and give views of the surrounding scenery. But there is a real bed, wooden furniture, electric lights and plenty of space. With young enthusiastic hosts, the standards of service are high and food excellent.

Day 2 Lake Eyasi

Today will be spent exploring Lake Eyasi, walking with the Hadzape hunter-gatherers and the Mangati people and gaining a fascinating insight into these two fascinating tribes. This evening will be spent around a camp fire looking at a sky full of stars. Overnight at Kisima Ngeda Tented Camp on a full board basis.

Day 3 Lake Eyasi – Ngorongoro

This morning you’ll continue exploring this scenic area and then depart for the highlands and Ngorongoro Crater after lunch. En route, you will travel via the stunning Olmoti Crater and if feeling energetic, go for a walk to the rim. Reaching your lodge on the edge of the Crater late afternoon, you’ll be able to spend the last part of the day on the balcony overlooking the stunning wilderness area within the Crater.

Overnight at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge on a full board basis.

Day 4 Ngorongoro

A highlight awaits you this morning as you depart by 4x4 to explore what is commonly referred to as the World’s largest wildlife zoo. After breakfast, you’ll descend through the early morning mists and 2,000 feet into the crater for a full day of game viewing with a picnic lunch.

Ngorongoro Crater is the World’s largest intact volcanic caldera and is also one of the World’s seven natural wonders. Due to its size and diversity, the crater floor is comprised of several distinct habitats, ranging from forest, swamps, lakes and springs, to open grassland and some sandy dunes. It’s an awesome wildlife experience. Late afternoon you leave the Crater and drive back to the lodge for the evening. Overnight at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge on a full board basis.

Day 5 Ngorongoro – Serengeti

After breakfast you depart for the Serengeti by travelling around the Crater rim, stopping off at Olduvai Gorge en route. The Gorge acquired its name from the Sansevieria bush that grows profusely in the area, named Olduvai by the Maasai. The Gorge is about 50km long and in some places around 90m deep and is found between the Crater and the Serengeti. It was first discovered by a German entomologist named Professor Kattwinkel, who instigated an expedition just before the First World War. Later, the exploration was continued by Dr Louis Leakey and his wife, who in 1959 found humanoid remains of Zinjanthropus, later renamed Australapithicus Boisei, an early form of man. You will have time to walk through the simple small museum at the gorge, where you can view copy displays of some of the finds as well as pictures of what life was like for the gorge’s earliest inhabitants. From here, continue into the vast Serengeti arriving at your camp in time for lunch. After lunch and time to settle down, your guide will run through all of the fundamental ‘do’s and don’ts’ one has to consider when staying at a tented camp, before you depart on an afternoon game drive. When you return to camp as the sun sets, the fire will be lit and you’ll be able to enjoy a nice warm shower before settling down to a relaxing evening taking in the night sounds of the bush. Overnight at Ranger Safaris private mobile tented camp on a full board basis.

To Ranger Safaris, mobile camping is a way of life. We strongly believe that everyone should experience this at least once in their life, for the excitement and tranquillity of sleeping in a large walk-in tent, miles from anywhere. There is nothing to compare to the joys of listening to an uninterrupted cacophony of beetles, crickets and birds or of watching hyena, elephant or wildebeest from the privacy of one’s tent. It’s all about appreciating nature, its romance and excitement. The camp includes a full complement of staff, from ground crew who build and dismantle the camp, to waiters and chefs, who ensure it is run efficiently, that meals are delicious and drinks always cold. After every safari, guests ask us how, in the middle of the bush, such tasty meals are prepared… well, that’s the chef’s secret! The team is an essential part of the experience. The camp is always set up in a spectacular location before guests arrive. Be it on the edge of a vlei, forest or river, it will be off the beaten track, ensuring total privacy at all times. The tents are heavy-duty canvas with ample space to walk through and relax. Once you’re inside, the tents are bug-proof, waterproof and extremely safe from all wildlife. One great feature of these tents is that all window and door covers can be rolled up to reveal large gauze openings that enhance the views. The beds are solid and extremely comfortable, with a mattress, sheets, blankets and pillows. To the rear of each tent, is an en-suite bathroom, which includes a hot-water shower and a comfortable ‘bush’ toilet. To the front is a large covered verandah area with table and chairs.

Day 6 and 7 Serengeti

Morning, afternoon, or full day trips with a picnic lunch. Overnight at Ranger Safaris private mobile tented camp on a full board basis.

Day 8 Serengeti - Arusha

This morning after a game drive and breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the airstrip to connect with the flight back to Arusha. Here you’ll be met and transferred for your onward arrangements.

2008 Rates