Classic Safari

Classic Safari Itinerary:

• Day 1

  Your trip begins today in Arusha, Tanzania. Please schedule your flight for an evening arrival into Kilimanjaro International Airport. We provide one group transfer from the airport to Arusha where our lovely lodge set in spacious gardens awaits. Check into your room and enjoy a well-earned rest. No meals included.

• Day 2

  This morning you meet your guides and fellow travelers for a brief orientation of the upcoming safari. Following breakfast at the lodge we head south to Tarangire Park. This less-visited park is a great introduction to Africa. It is off-the-beaten-path and famous for its legendary elephant herds and unusual palm and baobab groves. Our tented lodge sits high on a ridge facing east overlooking a vast plain cut by the Tarangire River and typically teeming with wildlife. Following an afternoon game run, take a dip in the pool, sip a glass of wine and sit back on the veranda to enjoy your first African gloaming. All meals included.

• Day 3

  Today we are off for a full day of wildlife viewing in the Park. In the dry season Tarangire is second only to Ngorongoro Crater in concentrations of wildlife. There is no doubt we will see elephants and many other large mammals such as wildebeests, buffalo, and oryx, but also keep your eyes open for the famed tree-climbing lions. Picnic lunch en-route today. Return to our lodge for dinner. All meals included.

• Day 4

  This morning we head west to the Lake Manyara area, arriving in time for lunch at our lodging for this evening. Our comfortable tented camp is set high on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, enjoying panoramic views eastward over Lake Manyara, the Rift floor and Mt. Losimingori. We visit Lake Manyara Park in the late afternoon to view and photograph the wildlife in their more active period before dusk. This is a small, verdant park located at the base of the Great Rift. It's a bit tropical, and it supports a huge birdlife population as well as larger animals such as giraffe, zebra and buffalo. Look for the Kori bustard, the heaviest flying bird. The birdlife at our lodge is amazing as well with over 350 species spotted and recorded. Enjoy! All meals included.

• Day 5

  Start the day with a chance to stretch your legs. Depending on the group's interest, enjoy a hike or cycle through the surrounding countryside. There may be time to visit the extensive crafts market in the local village of Mto Wa Mbu. Following lunch at the lodge we drive to the outskirts of the Ngorongoro Crater. Our home for the next two nights is an intimate lodge neatly tucked away on a coffee farm with lush gardens and views of the surrounding verdant hills. Relax and take in the ambiance! All meals included.

• Day 6

  The Maasai refer to Ngorongoro Crater as the "footprint of God." Your first glimpse into the crater from its rim is breathtaking – a wildlife sanctuary over three hundred square miles in size spread out some two thousand feet below you. We spend the day exploring the diversity and richness of this gorgeous park. Over 20,000 mammals call this crater their permanent home, including prides of lions, cheetah, giraffe, elephant, hippos and the rare black rhino. At the heart of the crater's 10-mile wide grassland plain lies a soda lake that attracts vast numbers of flamingo and other water birds. The Maasai have watered their cattle in the crater seemingly forever. This is truly a magical setting teeming with wildlife and with a human history as rich as the crater is beautiful. Return to the lodge in the late afternoon to relax or visit a local Maasai village. All meals included.

• Day 7

  Perhaps the most famous of the Tanzanian parks is the Serengeti, our destination for the next two evenings. The Maasai called this region the "Siringitu" meaning "the place where the land moves on forever." This is most certainly a reference to the constant movement of the huge numbers of animals that live in the vast savannahs of the Serengeti. This is one of the largest and last remaining wildlife sanctuaries in the world. The extensive grasslands are dotted with "kopjes" or rocky outcroppings that, like islands in the plains, form their own wildlife communities. Have your cameras and binoculars ready, but take time to soak up the smells, sounds and sights with all your senses unencumbered. Overnight at a deluxe, intimate tented camp. All meals included.

• Day 8

  We have a full day to enjoy the splendor of the Serengeti. Depending upon the season and your luck, you might have the opportunity to witness the largest migration of mammals on earth. Regardless, you most certainly will see hundreds of animals including zebra, wildebeest, hartebeest, topi, hyena, eland, warthogs, giraffe and various predators. Return once again to our camp, cool off in the pool, sip a glass of wine and take in the 360° view from your private veranda. Sleep well one final night under the dark African skies, listening to the myriad sounds that define the ancient wildness of this spectacular place. All meals included.

• Day 9

  After breakfast we transfer to an airstrip for our flight to Arusha, arriving in time for lunch at our safari's original lodge. The afternoon is free to enjoy on your own with a day room available for your use. Following dinner we provide one group transfer to the Kilimanjaro airport for flights home. All meals included.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.

All accommodations and meals as noted on the daily itinerary; internal airfare between Serengeti and Arusha; park fees; bi-lingual guides; private safari vehicles with guaranteed window seat; airport transfers when arriving and departing with group.

Round-trip international airfare; meals on Day 1; departure tax; travel insurance; excess baggage charges; alcoholic beverages; items of a personal nature; optional gratuities to your guides and drivers.

Please check with us before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip has the necessary minimum number of participants required to operate.

If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted on the trip itinerary.  If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate if one is available.  If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee, which is half of the full single supplement.  Please be advised that there are a limited number of single accommodations available.

Our departure dates coincide with the dry seasons of East Africa. Temperatures are typically in the 70s - 80s during the day, cooling off to the 50s - 60s in the evening. Departures from December through February can expect daytime temperatures to be about 10 degrees higher on average. The Ngorongoro Crater is over 7,000' high, so you can count on cool mornings and evenings regardless of the season.

This safari trip is rated Relaxed [1]. Safaris are not physically demanding but they are in remote locations over rough terrain. This trip is perfect for active people in good health and with the spirit of adventure.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable on safari is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation. This gear list is provided to help you in choosing your equipment and clothing for this trip. Try to bring only what is necessary.

Weather

Our departure dates coincide with the dry seasons of East Africa. Temperatures are typically in the 70s - 80s during the day, cooling off to the 50s - 60s in the evening. Departures from December through February can expect daytime temperatures to be about 10 degrees higher on average. The Ngorongoro Crater is over 7,000' high, so you can count on cool mornings and evenings regardless of the season.

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider

• Please remember to always pack essential items such as your passport, money, eyewear, a change of clothing and medications in your carry-on baggage in case your luggage is delayed.
• The checked luggage allowance on the internal flight from the Serengeti to Arusha is 33 pounds. Please pack accordingly. Overweight luggage incurs an additional fee charged per kilogram. Travelers flying home on Day 9 can store extra luggage in Arusha while on safari.
• Casual attire is acceptable for Africa. Neutral, light colored clothing is best for the safari, to blend into the landscape and not alarm the wildlife. Khaki is always a good color while on safari.
• Be prepared to hand wash your clothes (quick-drying materials are best). Laundry service is available at some lodges for an additional cost.
• Stuff sacks are great for sorting your gear. Plastic bags are also helpful to separate clean and dirty clothing.
• If you normally wear contacts, bring a pair of glasses in case of irritation from dust in your eyes.
• Many of the roads in Africa are deeply rutted and dusty. It is a good idea to pack camera equipment and binoculars in plastic bags to protect them from the dust. This is in addition to their normal cases. Also bring lens cleaning materials.