Cost per person is $16,349
Single supplement is $4,500
This trip has it all! In just twelve days you can spend time in Lake Manyara National Park viewing flamingoes, experience the majesty of the N'Gorongoro Crater, explore the famed Serengeti and end with a few days in Gombe National Park watching the exact same Chimpanzees that Jane Goodall has studied for over 50 years. We will see Africa as David Livingstone first experienced Africa!
This trip is certain to exceed your expectations! After gathering in Arusha in the shadow of Mt Kilimanjaro we immediately depart for Lake Manyara National Park where we can view lions, elephants, possibly leopards and of course see amazing flocks of flamingoes. We then move on to the famed N'Gorongoro Crater where we can see the "Big Five" as this massive volcanic crater houses elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards and Cape buffalo. We then head for a mobile tented camp in the Serengeti so that we can witness the Great Migration.
We end our adventure with four days at Gombe National Park where Jane Goodall has studied the chimp population for an unbroken period of 60 years, by far the longest continuous study of any Primate population on Earth. Consequently not only are all individuals named and history known, but the chimpanzees are completely habituated and continue their daily lives all but indifferent to our presence.
Group size is limited to 11 individuals.
In keeping with the principles of responsible ecotourism:
We will make a donation to the conservation work of the Jane Goodall Institute.
We will employ local people.
We will use locally owned and operated lodges and outfitters.
We will use local goods and services.
This is an ecotour that will make a difference to you and to the places we visit.
Upcoming Dates
Thursday, April 3, 2025 to Monday, April 14, 2025
Availability — Trip FULL and closed to enrollment
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Arusha, Tanzania
We are met on arrival at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred through the bustling city of Arusha to our luxurious lodge for the night, the amazing Arusha Coffee Garden Lodge. Meet your fellow travelers and enjoy a Welcome Dinner at the lodge this evening.
Overnight at Arusha Coffee Garden Lodge (D)
Day 2: Lake Manyara National Park
This morning we head to Lake Manyara National Park well known for the great Rift Valley Escarpment, Sausage trees, the tree-climbing Lions, the large flocks of pink flamingos which fill the alkaline lake, as well as a magical hot spring which makes the Park quite outstanding. We will enjoy delicious packed lunches in the Park, before continuing to The Manor at N'Gorongoro.
Overnight at The Manor at N'Gorongoro (B,L,D)
Day 3: N'Gorongoro Crater National Park
This morning we will descend down to the N'gorongoro Crater Floor for game drive, enjoy the spectacular landscape's of the N'gorongoro Crater, viewing the dense wildlife populations including the Big 5, observing N'gorongoro's abundant flamingoes and so much more. We enjoy lunch in the Crater and return to relax at The Manor by the pool with a drink, followed by dinner and overnight stay at The Manor at N'gorongoro
Overnight at The Manor at N'Gorongoro (B,L,D)
Day 4: N'Gorongoro Conservation Area
Today is our chance to have a relaxed morning, enjoying the gorgeous Lodge with lunch, followed by an afternoon Horse-riding activity through the stunning coffee plantations. Alternatively we may visit the famed Olduvai Gorge where so many discoveries where made of our origins!
Overnight at The Manor at N'Gorongoro (B,L,D)
Day 5: Serengeti National Park
This morning after breakfast we will be transferred to Manyara Airstrip, for our scheduled flight to the Grumeti Airstrip in the heart of the Serengeti. Upon arrival you will be met by the Laba Migration Camp guides followed by a short drive with lunch en route to our mobile tented Camp. After Lunch you will go for an afternoon game drive in the Serengeti National Park, to witness the Great Migration, followed by dinner and overnight stay at Laba Migration Camp
Overnight at Laba Migration Camp (B,L,D)
Day 6: Serengeti National Park
We enjoy the next two days on full-day game drives exploring the vast magical Serengeti National Park. This historical Park has "World Class" game viewing, with endless rolling fields, majestic beasts and stunning Sunsets.
Overnight at Laba Migration Camp (B,L,D)
Day 7: Serengeti National Park
Another full day to explore the Serengeti, we can go in search of any species not yet encountered, perhaps search for the elusive Serval cat, or leopards, or maybe African wild dogs. We end our adventures in the Serengeti with sunset cocktails overlooking the plains.
Overnight at Laba Migration Camp (B,L,D)
Day 8: Gombe National Park
After breakfast, we are transferred back to Grumeti Airstrip for our charter flight to Kigoma Airport on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Upon arrival we will be met and transfer to Kigoma Hilltop Lodge about 20 minutes drive, where we will be provided with Packed Lunches and transfer for a 2 hours boat ride to Gombe Forest Lodge, we should arrive in time to enjoy the sunset lakeside, followed by dinner and overnight stay.
The lodge has been designed with every comfort in mind, whilst minimizing the disturbance and impact of such a stunning environment. The camp's spacious tents, set on wooden platforms are shaded by huge mango trees along the lake shore, each tent featuring a writing desk, and en-suite facilities.
Overnight at Mbali Mbali Gombe Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 9: Chimps of Gombe
This morning we take our first outing to track the Chimpanzees in Gombe National Park. It is our first FULL day in Gombe and we plan to go chimp tracking in the morning and perhaps hike to Jane’s Peak in the afternoon to enjoy the spectacular view. The Chimp tracking can last from one to three hours, so you should be prepared for hiking on steep and sometimes slippery terrain, and you should be able to walk under such conditions for several hours.
Overnight at Mbali Mbali Gombe Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 10: Chimps of Gombe
Today is our second FULL day in Gombe and we plan to go chimp tracking again. As yesterday the Chimp tracking can last from one to three hours, so you should be prepared for hiking on steep and sometimes slippery terrain, and you should be able to walk under such conditions for several hours. In the afternoon we can hike again, relax on the beach, and we may try and meet with some of the Jane Goodall staff for cocktails this evening. We should certainly plan to end the day with a swim in Lake Tanganyika!!
Overnight at Mbali Mbali Gombe Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 11: Chimps of Gombe
Today we have another full day to explore Gombe, we will certainly attempt to locate some of the chimp families not yet seen this trip, or maybe have a morning or afternoon off to relax at camp, swim in the Lake and catch up on sleep!
Overnight at Mbali Mbali Gombe Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 12: Gombe to Arusha and flights home
This morning we take the boat transfer back to Kigoma, if time allows we may enjoy a short tour of Ujiji where we can visit the memorial located in the exact spot where famed adventurer H.M. Stanley finally located Dr. Livingstone and uttered the famous phrase…”Dr. Livingstone I presume”. After the tour we fly back to Arusha where we have day rooms reserved, so that we can shower and clean up before the long flights headed home!
Day room at Lodge near Airport
Travel Information
Thanks for choosing Tanzania with Terra Incognita Ecotours, Inc. It is our pleasure to help you plan for your upcoming ecotour. To ensure that your travel arrangements are made to your satisfaction, please take a few minutes to read through this information.
What you need to have with you on your trip:
Passport: If you are a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you will need a passport, valid for six months from the date of completion of your trip.
It is always a good idea to make a photocopy of your airline tickets and of the pages of your passport that have the number, your photograph and other pertinent information. Keep the copies separate from the originals.
Visas: Please consult the Tanzania consulate or embassy nearest you for visa requirements to enter Tanzania. If a visa is required, you are responsible for obtaining it, and please note for most nationalities a visa can be obtained on arrival.
Documents for children under the age of 18, not traveling with both parents: The U.S. government is increasingly requiring that minors under 18 years of age traveling alone, with grandparents, or with one parent/legal guardian only, carry a notarized document signed by both parents or by the parent/legal guardian not traveling with the child. We suggest you obtain such a document (noting the age of the child, relationship to traveling adult(s), dates of travel, and destination) to avoid potential problems. For example, in the case of divorce, the parent with legal custody must sign the permit, and the accompanying adult must carry proof of this fact. In addition, if the child’s surname differs from that of either parent, you may want to carry the child’s birth certificate.
Please note: You must be over 15 years of age to obtain a Chimpanzee viewing permit.
Emergency Contact number while on your ecotour:
Call COLLECT (813) 289-1049
Security: There are currently no security problems in Tanzania. Please feel free to check with the US State Department for any updates or change in conditions.
Practical Information
Currency: Rates effective February 2024. The currency of Tanzania is the Shilling (TZS) and 1 USD = 2,544 TZS.
Major credit cards are generally accepted at hotels, some restaurants and larger stores. U.S. dollars are of course widely accepted in Tanzania, so we suggest you carry U.S. currency in small denominations for smaller purchases such as refreshments or other miscellaneous expenses.
Health: All information we obtain regarding health precautions is received from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta at 404.332.4559 or www.cdc.gov.
Please note that Terra Incognita Ecotours, Inc., as a travel company, is in no way authorized to prescribe any inoculations or medications. We recommend that you consult your personal physician or a travel clinic specialist for medical advice, showing him or her the brochure that indicates the places you will be visiting. Your physician is most familiar with your personal medical history and is best qualified to determine your particular needs. It is always advisable to have physical and dental check-ups before you leave.
At the present time, several immunizations are recommended/required for this ecotour, (e..g., Yellow Fever) and the CDC recommends that the normal "childhood" vaccines should also be up to date: Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR Vaccine), Diphtheria, Tetanus, Perturssia (DTP Vaccine) and Polio vaccine.
Swimming and snorkeling: There are several opportunities to swim during the ecotour, at some of the lodges and in Lake Tanganyika in Gombe.
Time Difference: Tanzania is seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, but during Daylight Savings Time (March - November) the time difference can be reduced by one hour.
Weather: Tanzania is located close to the Equator, daytime temperatures can reach 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, but, at some of the locations due to the higher altitudes (3,000 to 5,000 feet) you will be visiting, the mornings and evenings are cooler and nights can feel a little cooler. Please remember that the sun’s rays are more vertical than you may be used to, so you can sunburn more easily, and the additional altitude makes the sun’s rays even stronger. Be very careful of the midday sun.
Overall Tanzania has a generally comfortable, tropical climate year-round, although there are significant regional variations. Along the warmer and humid coast, the climate is determined in large part by the monsoon winds, which bring rains in two major periods. During the masika (long rains), from mid-March to May, it rains heavily almost every day, although seldom for the whole day, and the air can get unpleasantly sticky. The lighter mvuli (short rains) fall during November, December and sometimes into January.