WILDEBEEST CALVING SPECIAL JAN - MAR 2015

Departure day – Tues, Thur& Fri

Day     01:     (Tue/Thur/Fri)   Arusha – Ngorongoro Conservation Area

On arrival at the Kilimanjaro International airport, Inclusive Holidays Africa representatives will warmly meet you and welcome you to East Africa. We drive to Arusha in time for lunch and later proceed to Ngorongoro conservation Area. This afternoon, just relax and enjoy the panoramic views of the crater below; the largest unbroken caldera in the world. It has been described as one of the great natural wonders of the world. Eight million years ago, the Ngorongoro Crater was an active volcano but its cone collapsed, forming the crater that is 610 meters deep, 20 kilometres in diameter, and covers an area of 311 sq. km. Spectacular as it is, the crater accounts for just a tenth of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The crater is home to many species of wild game and birds. With the exception of impala and topi (due to fierce competition with the wildebeest) and the giraffe (because there is not much to eat at tree level), almost every species of African plains mammal lives in the crater, including the endangered black rhino, and the densest population of predators in Africa.

A strange thing is that the crater elephants are mainly bulls! The bird life, which includes the flamingo, is mainly seasonal, and is also affected by the ratio of soda to fresh water in Lake Magadi on the crater floor.

NOTE: Warm jacket/cardigan is highly recommended.

Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge            LDBB

www.serenahotels.com

Day     02:     Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After breakfast, we descend some 600 metres into the crater, which is home to an abundance of wildlife and a photogenic paradise, for a Half day of game-viewing drive. Ngorongoro Crater, the largest intact caldera in the world teams with an abundance of wildlife permanently resident on the crater floor. Prides of lions, herds of Cape buffalo, impala, thompson gazelles, rhino, golden & black-backed jackal, zebra, cheetah, leopard and the spotted hyena. Unmatched for its natural variety & breath-taking beauty, there are few places on earth where such a tremendous diversity of landscapes exist inside a region this size.

Apart from its wildlife riches, the crater is also of great archaeological importance, with the remains of some of mankind’s earliest ancestors discovered in the area, also a home to hundreds of bird species, refreshing in the small lakes in the crater floor. Early in the afternoon ascend to the crater rims where you will enjoy your lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge             LDBB

www.serenahotels.com

Day     03:     Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Serengeti National Park

After breakfast drive to Serengeti National park with a brief stop at the Oldupai Gorge, one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world to learn on human evolution. We will enjoy an on-site talk on the interpretation of the gorge by the resident guide.  Then, drive to Serengeti National Park to arrive late in time for an afternoon game drive.

Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Serena Lodge LDBB

www.serenahotels.com

Day     04:     Serengeti National Park

Full days spent in the Serengeti with morning and afternoon game-viewing drives. The name comes from the Maasai word Siringet, meaning 'endless plains'. The park's vegetation ranges from the short and long grass plains in the south, to the acacia savannah in the centre and wooded grasslands concentrated around the tributaries of the Grumenti and the Mara rivers in the park. The western corridor is a region of wooded highland and extensive plains reaching the edge of Lake Victoria. In the early morning and evening light, the Serengeti landscape is stunningly beautiful.

The Serengeti ecosystem supports the greatest remaining concentration of plains game in Africa, including more than three million large mammals. It is the sanctuary of an estimated four million different animals and birds. Wildlife that roam the vast park include lions (the adult males of Serengeti have characteristic black manes), cheetahs, hunting dogs, Savannah elephant, Cape buffalo, topis, warthogs, hunting dogs and spotted hyena among others.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Balloon Safari in the Serengeti.

All meals and overnight at Serengeti Serena Lodge            LDBB

www.serenahotels.com

Day     05:      Serengeti National park – Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast drive to Lake Manyara area to arrive in time for a late lunch. After lunch we drive into the parkin search of the tree climbing lions and other wildlife found in this small, scenic ornithological paradise.

Contrasting with the intimacy of the forest is the grassy floodplain and its expansive views eastward, across the alkaline lake, to the jagged blue volcanic peaks that rise from the endless Maasai Steppes. Large buffalo, wildebeest and zebra herds congregate on these grassy plains, as do giraffes –some so dark in coloration that they appear to be black from a distance. Drive back to your lodghe before dusk.

All meals and overnight at Lake Manyara Serena Lodge                  LDBB

www.serenahotels.com

Day     06:     Lake Manyara – Arusha

This morning we enjoy our breakfast then check-out. Unbelievable but true, our good bush moments have come to an end. We bid farewell to our wonderful lodge manager and his team then depart to Arusha.

Not empty handed though. With us are photographs – a capture of the special moments we have had on this tour to immortalize the experience. Enjoy your farewell lunch at Arusha and later proceed to Kilimanjaro International airport in time for your onward international flight.

**Thank you for choosing Inclusive Holidays Africa!**

 NET QUOTATION IN US$ (Valid from 2^nd Jan to 03rd Mar 2015)

Per person sharing US$ 2,300

Single room Supplement US$ 270

Quotation Includes

·         Arrival and departure airport transfers as per itinerary

·         Full Board accommodation in the Lodges/Camps whilst on safari

·         Transportation whilst on safari in 4x4 safari Land cruiser/land rover, driven by a professional English-speaking driver guide.

·         Visit to OlDuvai Gorge

·         Ngorongoro Crater Tour

·         All Park/Reserve entrance fees

·         Farewell lunch at Arusha

·         Services of an English-speaking guide for briefings in Arusha

·         Complimentary bottled mineral water in vehicle, on safari