SERENGETI AND LAKE NATRON SAFARI

Arrive in Arusha town the safari capital of the country and a bustling ‘tourism-driven’ city. You will be met by your driver-guide at the airport and be brought to Arusha for your first night at the lodge in the city.

Start the Srengeti and Lake Natron Safari package today. This day brings you a adventure road through northern Tanzania with the destination, Lake Natron. You’ll depart from Arusha after breakfast. The drive can take up to 6 hours and it’s the perfect way to see different sides of Tanzania’s ever-changing landscapes. As you pass the Rift Valley and drive further towards Lake Natron, you will notice the lush green vegetation slowly exchanging for dry, arid and dusty landscapes. The occasional Maasai villages passed en route become dots in the distant scenery. The further north you reach, the more remains of old volcanoes rise around you. Among them is Ol Doinyo Lengai, meaning ‘Mountain of God’ in the Maasai dialect. This volcano is one of the few that are still active. When you eventually reach Lake Natron, you might perhaps catch its smoke disappearing in the sky. The night is spent in a comfortable Lodge at Lake Natron.

This morning, put your walking shoes on as a Maasai tribesman guides you on a walk around the shores of Lake Natron on the lookout for the lesser flamingos. Lake Natron is the most important and regular breeding site for lesser flamingos in East Africa and during the breeding season, Lake Natron hosts up to 2.5 million flamingos. The majority of egg-laying and hatching takes place from September to January, although the peak occurs between October and (early) December. Besides the waterfowl, there are other limited bird species due to the lake’s steeply alkaline waters. At around midday, you will depart Natron for Karatu. The drive can take up to 4 hours and it’s the perfect way to see different shades of Tanzania’s ever-changing landscapes. The arid and dry scenery will slowly be exchanged for the lusher and greener surroundings of the Rift Valley. At the end of the afternoon, you will arrive at Karatu for dinner and a good night’s sleep at the Lodge.

You have a long day ahead full of chances and new animals to be spotted as you are headed to the Ngorongoro Crater! A visit to this breathtaking Natural Wonder of the World is an absolute must on any northern circuit safari itinerary. The Ngorongoro Crater is around 3 million years old and it is the world’s largest inactive, intact and unfilled caldera. Inside the 20-square-kilometre volcano is a variety of wildlife which includes the rare and endangered black rhino. Lions, elephants, zebras, hyenas and many others keep him company. Your safari continues towards Tanzania’s oldest and most popular park, Serengeti, which is always filled with adventure and discoveries. Late in the afternoon, you will arrive at Serengeti for your overnight stay.

Nothing beats waking up from a restful sleep to the sounds of the Serengeti. Once you have enjoyed your breakfast, the acacia-studded savannah welcomes you to start exploring its wildlife. Enjoy another day filled with safari adventure on African soil. By the end of this day, you’ll probably understand the meaning of the name ‘Serengeti’ to be ‘endless plains. Late in the afternoon, you go to the Tented lodge in Serengeti.

After a good night’s sleep, this morning is departure time. After the last game drive, your vehicle will be taking you to the Seronera Airstrip for your flight back to Arusha Airport. After boarding the aircraft, your trip nears the end, but you can still peer out over the wings of the plane and enjoy the magnificent views while flying over Serengeti National Park and admiring the changing scenery of the Great Rift Valley. This will be the end of Serengeti and Lake Natron Safari tour in Tanzania.