Africa is one of those destinations that most people dream about and once visited, keeps drawing us back. Africa dances to a different tune and has a raw vitality not found in any other place. This combination trip to East Africa is the perfect trip of a lifetime, visiting the ancient plains of the Serengeti and the world’s largest animal migration. To top it all off we climb to the roof of Africa; 5895m Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest point.

Tanzania, for many people is the ultimate Safari destination, featuring vast herds of game and limitless opportunities for viewing them up close. We will visit a cluster of World Heritage Sites and globally significant National Parks. On this outstanding journey through traditional Masai homelands, you explore some of the greatest game reserves in Africa, encountering a wealth of animal and bird life. You will stay at the superb Sopa and Serena Lodges, which offer the highest standard of service and comfort. Please follow the links on the home page to view their sites.

Of special appeal to those seeking to bring back photographs of their trip of a lifetime, Natural Pursuits takes a novel approach. We provide a Professional Nature Photographer to document the entire journey for you and to optimize your photography efforts with instruction along the way. Please follow the link opposite to ‘Steve Short Photography’ to get a glimpse into his work.

Game Safari

Part of the adventure of Africa is in not knowing what to expect. I have witnessed lions and cheetahs hunting, elephants challenging my vehicle, wildebeests giving birth, and jackals moving their pups to a new den.

Typical Safari days include driving in the parks looking for game. These game drives are best in early morning and late afternoon when animals are most active. We will take you as close to the wildlife as possible without unduly harassing the wildlife. The land rovers have large open windows and pop-tops for maximum game viewing. This leaves mid-afternoon for relaxing at the lodge pool, shopping in the gift shops or catching up on some reading and writing in your travel diary. Some locations may warrant an all-day game drive with a packed lunch.

Safari Itinerary

After landing at the Kilimanjaro Airport we travel by Safari vehicle to the Sopa Lodge in Tarangire National Park. Exceptionally spectacular in the dry season, when many migratory animals and birds return to the Tarangire River, this picturesque park will be our first taste of wildlife viewing.

We then travel west to perhaps the two most famous places in Africa Serengeti and Ngorongoro. Serengeti translates from the Masai language as endless plains, and every species of savannah wildlife, from the tiny dik-dik to the magnificent African elephant lives here. Leaving the Serengeti we will stop at Olduvai Gorge, the Cradle of Mankind, before arriving at our lodge perched spectacularly on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater. Three million years ago, the Ngorongoro volcano imploded leaving the world’s largest intact caldera, home to 30,000 animals, including the world famous black-maned lions.

From Ngorongoro we move to the edge of the Great Rift Valley where your lodge is perched high on the rip overlooking Lake Manyara. In tall forest rare blue-faced monkeys leap from branch to branch; in the acacia woodland the famous tree-climbing lions lie in the branches of umbrella trees; in the lake hippopotamus wallow in mud pools while flamingos wade in the shallows.

Every day brings awesome and fascinating experiences only to be found in East Africa. It truly is a trip of a lifetime!

Day 2 - arrive in Tanzania and on to the Tarangire Sopa Lodge. Afternoon game drive if time permits
Day 3 - morning and afternoon game drives in Tarangire
Day 4 - drive to the Serengeti
Day 5 - all day game drive
Day 6 - stop at Olduvai Gorge on way to Serena Lodge above Ngorongora Crater
Day 7 - morning and afternoon game drive in Ngorongora Crater
Day 8 - drive to Lake Manyara, afternoon game drive
Day 9 - morning game drive in Lake Manyara, drive to Marangu Hotel at base of Kilmanjaro

Kilmanjaro Trek Machame Route

Just 3 degrees south of the Equator is the 5895m snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro. This trek involves some challenging walking but no technical climbing. Most normally fit, healthy people prepared for some physical exertion can make the ascent to the summit.

Day 10 - Head for Machame Gate at 1800m and climb to Machame Camp at 3000m, 6 - 7 hours
Day 11 - Trek to Shira Camp at 3840m, 4 - 5 hours
Day 12 - Trek to Baranco Camp at 3950m, 5 - 6 hours
Day 13 - Trek to Karanga Valley Camp, 3900m, 3 - 5 hours
Day 14 - Trek to Barafu Camp at 4600m, 2 - 5 hours
Day 15 - Midnight trek to Uhuru Peak at 5895m, 6 - 7 hours of strenuous hiking, watch sunrise and descend to Barafu camp, pack and descend to Mweka Camp at 3100m, 2 - 4 hours
Day 16 - Trek to Mweka gate, 2 - 4 hours, and transfer back to Marangu hotel

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