ESCORTED SMALL GROUP TOUR
Trip Length: 12 days
Trip Dates:
June 14–25, 2012
8 nights in Deluxe lodges & camps + 1 dayroom in Arusha | 29 meals
Rates: $7295 | $9295 single
Intra-Tour Airfare Approx. $300 (2 flights)
International Airfare is additional
HERE ARE A FEW OF THE SPECATCULAR EXPERIENCES YOU WILL HAVE....
- Exciting game drives are the centerpiece of any African safari. You will have daily game drives with expert guidance. The thrill of the hunt is part of the experience, but you will be amazed at the number of species you will tick off your list.
- Travel with experts – our local Tanzanian operators are the best the best in the business. We will be happy to discuss our local partners and their experience with you if you are booking the trip.
- Stay in deluxe tented camps and lodges where the essence of Africa is part of your experience.
- Visit a Maasai village to learn the customs and traditions of this nomadic people in person.
- Make your stay more meaningful by visiting a local school.
- Visits to the villages of the Mbu Cultural Tourism Programme
- Night game drives
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Tanzania is a land of rolling plains, dramatic mountain ranges, great lakes and pristine white sandy beaches. Tanzania’s close proximity to the equator provides an idyllic climate making it a year round destination for a once in a lifetime safari. In June 2012, that is exactly what we have planned for a lucky group of Coda Travelers. Join our 9 day deluxe safari to Tanzania’s northern parks of Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and the famous Serengeti. June to September, the cooler dry season, is the optimum time to visit Tanzania when the grasses and scrubs have receded and animals tend to congregate around diminishing water sources making already excellent game viewing easier and more comfortable.
The parks are easily accessible in our comfortable 4x4 safari land cruiser and provide a variety of game viewing and bird watching. Within easy striking distance of Arusha, Tarangire National Park is not only one of Tanzania's most beautiful reserves, with baobab-studded yellow plains giving way to lush green swamps, but also large herds of game migrate to the perennial waters of the Tarangire River. The next stop is Lake Manyara, a shallow soda lake at the base of Gregory Rift. With the densest concentration of elephants in Tanzania, close-up encounters with Lake Manyara's resident pachyderms are guaranteed, as are stunning vistas. More jaw-dropping landscapes await us as we enter the Ngorongoro Crater. This is the traditional heartland of the Maasai, and traversing the region we will encounter that iconic African image: the lone warrior swathed in red, spear and stick held aloft herding cattle across the vast and empty plains. Also nearby is Olduvai Gorge, where Mary Leakey unearthed footsteps made by the earliest proto-humans around 3.6 million years ago. Finally, it is the Serengeti that will leave us truly breathless. Umbrella-topped acacias shade vast herds of migratory animals in a sea of yellow grass, while predators lie in wait preparing the hunt.
Our choice of lodges and camps are from the best in East Africa. We have selected a combination of luxury tented camp, complete with en suite bathrooms and showers and deluxe private lodges with individual character and charm. All meals are included while on safari and the African menu is plentiful and delicious.
Our safari will bring you lifetime memories of spotting the Big Five, among many animals and birds of Africa, but also the fonder moments lingering over sundowner cocktails with new friends or recounting tales of the day’s sightings around the evening bonfire. An African safari is a bonding experience.
Depart the USA on any regularly scheduled flight to Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) in Arusha, Tanzania.
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro you will be met by Coda Tours representatives and transferred to your lodge set on a coffee plantation in Arusha. A visa is required for entry into Tanzania and yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if you are arriving from a country where yellow fever is endemic. (See Trip Facts on the Rates page.)
Hotel Arusha Coffee Lodge
Room Standard
Meals None
Today meet your private driver/guide in the lobby of your lodge for a short briefing before transferring to Swala Camp located within Tarangire National Park. En route visit the Gijadebung School to learn about a rural African school. This afternoon enjoy a game drive in Tarangire National Park. Tarangire is noted for its Elephant population and spectacular baobabs of every shape, creating a beautiful setting for your safari.
Sanctuary Swala Camp
Luxury Tented Accommodations
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tarangire National Park derives its name from the Tarangire River that rises in the highlands of central Tanzania and winds its way through the game sanctuary. Tarangire offers unparalleled game viewing. Families of the pachyderms play around the ancient trunks of baobab trees and strip acacia bark from the thorn trees for their afternoon meal. Breathtaking views of the Masaai Steppe and the mountains to the south make a stop at Tarangire a memorable experience.
DAY 4 – Fri, Jun 17 – TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
Spend another day in Tarangire National Park, viewing some of Tanzania’s largest populations of elephant and enjoying the diverse scenery. Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives.
Sanctuary Swala Camp
Luxury Tented Accommodations
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Following an early breakfast today, drive to Lake Manyara. En route, stop at the linguistically rich Mto wa Mbu — home to more than 90 tribes — to peruse the market and Maasai handcrafts.
Check in to the Lake Manyara Serena Lodge. Lunch is served and the early afternoon is free to relax. Late in the afternoon depart on a game drive around Lake Manyara.
Lake Manyara Serena Lodge
Room Standard
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lake Manyara National Park lies about 75 miles southwest of Arusha. Entering the park the tall trees surrounds the ground forest. In many ways it resembles a tropical rainforest - with its verdant foliage and variety of bird life - the difference being these trees are supported by a water supply from underneath rather than by abundant rainfall.
After an early breakfast, depart for Ngorongoro Crater. En route stop for lunch at quaint Gibb’s Farm. Continue to the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, your home for the next two nights. Within Ngorongoro Crater ’s 100-square-mile floor lives a fascinating microcosm of East African wildlife, including a thriving lion population.
Ngorongoro Serena Lodge
Room Standard
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The floor of the Ngorongoro Crater is only 100 sq miles but is home to around 30,000 animals with a high concentration of predators and some of the finest black-maned Lion in Africa. Rhino can be seen with calves at heel. Eland and waterbuck appear not to notice the human visitors, enabling photographers to shoot at ease. On the lake in the middle of the Crater you may see thousands of flamingos fluttering and shimmering like a pink heat haze. Zebra and wildebeest account for almost half the animals - gazelle, buffalo, eland, hartebeest and warthog can also be seen.
The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken caldera in the world and the first sight of it is breathtaking. After breakfast descend into the Crater by four-wheel drive safari vehicle. Track and photograph the animals before enjoying a picnic lunch with the hippos and birds. Afternoon visit to a Maasai Village.
Ngorongoro Serena Lodge
Room Standard
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8 -- Tue, Jun 21 -- NGORONGORO CRATER - SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
Following breakfast this morning transfer to Olduvai Gorge, the cradle of mankind, made famous by Dr. Leaky’s discovery of fossil fragments dating back some 3.5 million years. With a picnic lunch continue to your Lodge centrally located in the Serengeti National Park with a game drive en route. Mbalageti Serengeti Lodge
Room Standard
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The Serengeti National Park is arguably the most famous National Park in the world. The Serengeti perhaps defines the safari experience as surely as the wildlife that inhabits it. Established in 1951, and covering an area of almost 5800 sq miles – an area comparable to the state of Connecticut or Northern Ireland, the Serengeti hosts a fantastically diverse eco-system. The principal attraction of the Serengeti is the passing of the wildebeest migration, 1.5 million wildebeest, hundreds of thousands of zebra, gazelle and other plains game that follow close behind, stalked by the inevitable predators who make the most of the ‘feast’ close at hand.
Spend two more days on safari in the Serengeti, watching vast herds at one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in the world. At the end of each day, linger over sundowner cocktails overlooking the Serengeti plains. On our final evening, join fellow travelers for a farewell dinner, with the backdrop of a fiery African sunset.
Mbalageti Serengeti Lodge
Room Standard
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Bid a fond farewell to the Serengeti and our camp staff, as you leave the vastness of the plains and fly to Arusha. Spend the remaining afternoon at leisure; a dayroom is provided for your comfort and convenience. You will be transferred back to the airport for your onward flight.
Dayroom at Arusha Coffee Lodge
Room Standard
Meals Breakfast
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Arusha Coffee Lodge is located on a coffee plantation on the outskirts of Arusha. Designed around the original plantation houses but completely renovated to achieve the highest standards of comfort, the décor is luxuriant and stylish with undertones of the bygone days of early exploration. Each of the 18 plantation houses has been lavishly furnished and features a split level living area and a private deck. |
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Sanctuary Swala Camp is located under majestic umbrella of acacia and Baobab trees at the south western part of the park, by the Gurusi marches. The camp offers a most peaceful setting after a long day of game viewing. The camp comprises 12 double luxury tents, a swimming pool, lounge and dining mess with sweeping decks overlooking an active waterhole. All tents face east over the marshland and watering hole and feature full length windows, indoor & outdoor shower and broad decks with comfortable lounge chairs. |
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Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge has an incredible location on the edge of the Mto Wa Mbu escarpment, commanding panoramic views across the volcano-studded floor of the Great Rift Valley and Lake Manyara. Dotted around the grounds, all with views over the lake, are a series of circular two-storey ‘rondavels', which house the rooms. Designed to reflect the brilliance of Lake Manyara's unique birdlife, the architectural motif melds swooping avian curves with the gentle concentric patterns of traditional Maasai ‘Bomas' , while the vibrantly colored wall frescoes depict the intricacy of bird migratory patterns. |
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Ngorongoro Serena is regularly voted one of the best hotels in the world. This unique lodge clings to the rim of the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, the largest and most perfect volcanic crater on Earth. Long and low, the lodge is built from local river stone and camouflaged with indigenous vines. Designed to blend completely into the landscape, it is entirely invisible from the floor of the Crater 600 metres below. |
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Mbalageti Serengeti is situated in the vast Serengeti National Park. The lodge comprises tented chalets and a central building built from natural materials, all positioned to take advantage of the great views as well as the immediate surroundings. The central building consists of an elegant bar which is the natural meeting point and heart of the lodge, serving a wide range of local and imported beverage. Outside, a wooden deck features a swimming pool made of local rocks and set on the edge of the hill with 360 degree views of the Serengeti. A newly built Massage ‘Boma’ offers massage. |
2012 |
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DOUBLE |
$7295 |
$300 |
$7595 |
SINGLE |
$9295 |
$300 |
$9595 |
- Total 9 nights in lodges/camps: 8 nights’ accommodations + 1 dayroom in Arusha while waiting for departure flights
- Breakfast daily at the lodges/camps
- Room types in the lodges/camps as listed in the itinerary
- Meals as listed in the itinerary. Drinks are not included unless specified
- Private 4x4 safari Land Cruiser
- Arrival and departure transfers between airports and hotels. Transfers not with the group are at additional cost
- Expert, English-speaking safari guide/driver for game spotting and cultural enrichment
- Park entrance fees, safari briefing
- Government taxes and levies
- Bottled water available on the vehicle
PROGRAM DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- International airfare; Intra-tour airfare (quoted separately); Passport & Visa expenses (a visa is required for entry into Tanzania); Trip Cancellation & Interruption insurance (highly recommended); Meals not specifically indicated in the itinerary; Drinks with meals; Gratuities to guides & drivers
A passport and visa are required for travel to Tanzania. U.S. citizens with valid passports may obtain a visa either before arriving in Tanzania or at any port of entry staffed by immigration officials; however, the U.S. Embassy highly recommends that U.S. citizens obtain their visas before arriving in Tanzania to avoid long delays at entry points. The current fee for a visa is $100 for a 12-month multiple-entry tourist visa to reciprocate the fee the United States charges visa applicants. This could rise again as the U.S. application fee rises. U.S. passports should be valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date the visa is obtained, whether it is acquired beforehand or at the port of entry. If you wish to obtain your visa prior to arrival in Arusha, you may do so through our recommended visa service, Zierer/CIBT. Initiate your application at http://www.zvs.com
Cholera is prevalent in many areas of Tanzania, and several strains of malaria are endemic. Malaria suppressants are advised, and travelers are strongly advised to carry malaria suppressants with them. Visitors should consult their physicians before traveling to learn about prophylaxis and the possible side effects of various available medications.
If you are arriving to Tanzania from a yellow fever endemic zone (such as Kenya), then a vaccination for Yellow Fever is obligatory. The Yellow Fever Endemic Zone includes the following countries:
Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote D'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, Niger, Chad, Central African Republic, Togo, Benin, Sao Tome and Principe, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, United Republic of Tanzania, Angola, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Somali, Sudan and Equatorial Guinea, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Bolivia
Travelers who are in transit in any of the Yellow Fever Endemic Countries will be exempted from the requirement of inoculation against Yellow Fever. Transit means remaining at the airport under the management of Airport Authority awaiting a travel connection.
Other recommended vaccinations are hepatitis & tetanus.
Delta, KLM, ANA, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines are among airlines that can be used for this trip. We recommend booking at least 7 months in advance if you want to try to use Frequent Flyer Miles for free tickets or upgrades or the American Express Platinum card 2-4-1 program.
The trip is guaranteed on a minimum of 6 participants. A Coda Tour Manager accompanies the tour on a minimum of 6 participants.
Most of East Africa is savannah, comparable to the high plateau, semi-desert areas of Colorado or New Mexico. Altitude ranges from 3,000 to 7,000 feet. Temperatures during the day range from 75 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Nights are cool with temperatures dipping as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas (Ngorongoro Crater, for example). Even though you will be traveling near the equator, please take our packing recommendations seriously and take along a light jacket or sweatshirt, sweater, and a fleece pullover. Additionally, bring something warm to sleep in at night. Humidity is low. It usually does not rain in June, when this trip is scheduled.
We recommend that you bring light casual clothes, (please bring khaki clothing, sunglasses, sunscreen, hat and insect repellent if you go on safari). In the evenings it can get rather chilly, especially in the desert areas and in the months of May-August, so bring a sweater and a windbreaker.
Tanzania uses 220 Volt, but you will need adapters. Most hotels have adapters available.
On our Safari cars you can recharge your phone and cameras with the cigarette lighter. We also have small transformersin in combination with the cigarette lighters (producing 220 Volt), please let us know in advance if you would need this. Especially on camping Safaris there is no other way to charge than the car's electricity.
