Dates: 24th June, 2015 to 1st July, 2015
Visited: Arusha, Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater CA
Overall: Its all about Nature. Animals. Big 5 and much more. Savanna. Cradle of human evolution. Very Nice people. Good food.
Recommend: *****
I hear the drums echoing tonight
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation
She’s coming in, twelve-thirty flight
The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation
I stopped an old man along the way
Hoping to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies
He turned to me as if to say, “Hurry boy, it’s waiting there for you”
Day 1 (24th June, 2015): Istanbul to Aruhsa, TZ
- Continuing our Trip onwards from Istanbul. Turkish Airlines direct flight to Arusha (Kilimanjaro Airport-JRO) from Istanbul. 7 hrs flight reached early morning of 25th (around 3:00 AM).
- Two crazy things happened at Airport: 1)Visa was on arrival and needed Cash $$s to pay for it (clearly called before to come prepared with cash). We came with no cash, assuming that we can take from ATM. So I had to request and leave out w/o Visa to go to ATM outside and get cash 2)Our pickup from Agent was not there. Apparently they confused by a day. We had no clue even to where we had first night booked. No public phones outside. So I had to request a Taxi Agent outside to call locally to our travel agent (the guy charged $10 for one local call- talk about Swindle!). Got details on Lodge, took taxi. Obviously our agent reimbursed for this and was very apologetic.
- Lesson: Keep some cash as emergency. Make sure you have Contact name, details, etc printed out with you and emergency contacts.
Day 2 (25th June, 2015): Aruhsa, TZ
- Woke late. Relaxed at the lodge. Tasted some local food at Lodge. First flavor of Africa! Vegetarian food has some influences to Indian food and that is always a Plus for me.
- Lodge: Meru View Lodge (owned and managed by German-Tanzanian folks. As we had booked through Tanzania Experience which is subsidiary of Elephant tours- a German Travel agency)
Day 3 (26th June, 2015): Arusha to Tarangire NP
- Start of Trip. Met our co-travelers for the trip. A Very nice German couple – Danny and Stephanie – became good friends, especially with Avni. Also our Driver/ Guide for the Trip – Michael – soft spoken, knowledgeable, very good guy.
- Quickly went to Arusha town for me to take some more cash, buy some basic essentials and for our Driver to pick Picnic Lunch for the day.
- 2 hour drive to Tarangire. First view of African Savannah, Elephants, Zebras. Per Travel Guide “Giant baobab trees, the savannah and the seasonal marshes add to the wonder of this nature reserve. The Tarangire National Park is considered as one of the best places to view elephants up close, not only because there are thousands of animals but also because they are not disturbed by the presence of vehicles. The park is also home to buffaloes, zebras and wildebeests which are always closely followed by a range of predators such as lions. Leopards are seen now and then but cheetahs are rarely spotted. From the open roof of the safari vehicle you will be able to absorb the landscape and watch the animals. “
- Picnic Lunch at the Park.
- Evening reached at Maramboi Tented Camp. Beautiful lodge. Views of African savannah. Good Buffet dinner.
Day 4 (27th June, 2015): Tarangire to Lake Manyara via Mto Wa Mbu (MWM) village.
- Walk across the MWM village. Saw banana plantations- wood carvers and other local arts like paintings – local brewery. Had a good flavor of a village there.
- For lunch visited a local house.
- Continued to Lake Manyara. Per travel guide ” The park is known for its over 400 bird species, primate-filled forests and grassy plains. A large area of the park is covered by the alkaline Lake Manyara, the seasonal breeding grounds for large colonies of flamingos and many more waterfowls. The park is also home to giraffes, hippos, wildebeests, impalas and groups of noisy monkeys and baboons.”
- Lodge: http://www.kirurumu.net/kirurumu_manyara_lodge.html
Day 5 (28th June, 2015): To Serengite NP
- Drove around Lake Manyara- view of Pink Flamingoes. High Cliff on one side. Close to Olduvai Gorge (mankind’s evolution happened here- true Genesis place)
- Skirted around cooler highlands bordering the Ngorogoro crate and reached Serengeti. For Serengeti “This park is the largest in Tanzania and has a diversity of habitats and landscapes – short grass plains, savannah, thick bush, swamps and lakes. Bizarre rock formations called kopjes dot the grassy landscape where predators are often seen. The Serengeti is famous for the yearly migration when hundreds of thousands of wildebeests and zebras trek to find fresh grass and water.
- Stated game drive by following Big 5 trails.
- Lodge:
Natures Red in Tooth and Claw
Sleep Time
Day 6 (29th June, 2015): Serengite NP
- Whole day of game drive. Per itinerary “The entire day is dedicated to game viewing in the Serengeti National Park. The areas that you visit will depend upon where the migrating herds are. Predators usually follow closely behind the trekking animals and include lions, leopards (in the acacia trees) and cheetahs. During the short rainy season in November and December the herds move from the hills in the north to the plains in the south. During the longer rainy season from April to June they return up north. As the migration is completely dependent on the yearly rainfalls, the location of the herds may vary from year to year”
- Michael was in continuous radio with other Safari drivers and they will keep sharing notes on where to see game. Lions were main attractions. There was point here few lions were lounging on trees and suddenly we had 10 Jeeps – almost a Gala there. The Big animals seems in perfect harmony with Tourists. Several instances here they would walk next to Jeep with complete indifference.
Hippo Pond
Migration
Day 7 (30th June, 2015): Serengite NP to Karatu
- Started back journey with some more game viewing at Serengeti.
- Early afternoon continued journey to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. From the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater, saw the giant caldera below – a breath-taking view.
- Drove to the Ngorongoro Farm House in Karatu. Did the coffee plantation walk in the evening. The Lodge is super-impressive. Beautiful sun downer view from the terrace. Started with some evening snacks as you sit on the terrace and see the sub go down and drink some beer. Some cultural show at terrace with local dance. Way to spend your evening. Met quite few people wo were staying at this place for days and just relaxing.
- Lodge: http://www.tanganyikawildernesscamps.com/camps/ngorongorofarmhouse
Day 8 (1st July, 2015): Ngonrongoro Crater
- After breakfast travelled back to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and drove down into the crater. While waiting as Micheal got the tickets at the gate, it wss interesting to see all the tourists – student groups from US, Europeans, Indians etc… It was chilly a bit as the gate is at altitude.
- The massive collapsed volcano is home to over 25,000 mammals ranging from the “Big Five” – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard to spotted hyenas, rare wild dogs and some of the more than 500 bird
species of the area. Some says that Ngorongoro is the “Garden of Eden” and looking at beauty, I cant dis-agree.
- There were some Masai herdsman inside. Apparently only Masai are allowed to live inside.
- On the top there is a lodge- super luxury one. It would be fun to stay there and have view of the crater below :).
- Had a picnic lunch.
- Returned to the Lodge for another evening.
Day 9 (2nd July, 2015): Karatu. Back to Arusha. Fly late night to
- Left the nice lodge after breakfast and drive back to Arusha.
- Danny and Stephanie (other couple with us on the Safari) were going for some days to Zanzibar and so we dropped them at local Airport. Wish I was going to the beach 🙂
- Michael (our guide) drove us around Arusha city a bit. Saw Golf course, local markets…Arusha showed all the signs of bustling city, expanding in all directions, rush.
- Reached back to the lodge (Meru View) and then some sleep before leaving around midnight for the flights back.
Day 10 (3rd July, 2015): Back to Seattle
- Long Flights: Arusha to Istanbul (7 hrs). Change Flights (4 hrs break). Istanbul to Los Angeles (13 hrs). Change airline at LA and break and then to Seattle.
- Home Sweet Home at last.
It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do I bless the rains down in Africa-Toto “Africa“Toto
This entry was posted in Intl Travel