Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti Safari Extension

Note: The evening of Day 11 of the Climb Kilimanjaro itinerary is the end of the trip. Those trip members not joining the safari extension transfer to the airport in the evening to depart on homeward-bound flights, while safari extension participants overnight at Mount Meru Game Lodge.

From Mount Meru Game Lodge, we head into the 3,200-square-mile Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which includes Maasai land as well as a large portion of the Serengeti Plains. Driving up to the rim of Ngorongoro Crater, we see below us one of the earth's most picturesque Edens: on the crater's 105-square-mile grassy floor lives Africa's largest permanent concentration of wildlife, a sort of mini-Serengeti in a phenomenally scenic setting. We enter the Ngorongoro Conservation area's eastern side and after driving along the rim proceed to our private seasonal luxury camp. Our private tented camp is away from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist area, just a short distance from the “boma” of Ole Dorop, a long-time Maasai friend and clan leader. In the early evening, Ole Dorop and members of the local Maasai community will prepare a special goat roast, a traditional "Ol Pul" Maasai feast. Those who are interested have a chance to sample the barbecue. The Maasai will stay at our camp until just after dark to share stories, songs, and dances—a wonderful opportunity to learn about their remarkable culture and traditions. Our regular dinner will be served as the Maasai barbecue is drawing to a close. Overnight at Private Wilderness Travel Seasonal Camp...BLD

A note about the spelling of Masai and Maasai: When referring to the Masai Mara, one “a” is used, but “Maasai” is used to refer to the people.

A full day's game drive takes us into the remarkable Ngorongoro Crater, with a picnic lunch around mid-day. During our time exploring this famous crater, we're likely to see elephant, zebra, wildebeest, and buffalo, and there's hardly a better place on earth for observing lions than on the crater floor, where the prides of lions are large. This is also one of the best places to see the endangered black rhino—about a dozen have been introduced into the crater environment and they are carefully monitored by biologists. In the late afternoon, we return to camp. Those who wish can go for a short hike with Ole Dorop to visit his boma and learn more about the Maasai way of life. Overnight at Private Wilderness Travel Seasonal Camp...BLD

Leaving the quiet luxury of our Ngorongoro Highlands camp, we bid farewell to our new Maasai friends and begin the descent onto the vast plains of Serengeti National Park, one of the earth's natural paradises. After a picnic lunch, we continue into Serengeti National Park. The Maasai call it Siringitu, “the place where the land moves on forever.” Today, Serengeti National Park, along with the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Masai Mara National Reserve across the border in Kenya, protects the greatest and most varied collection of terrestrial wildlife on earth as well as one of the world's last great migratory systems. The park itself is 5,700 square miles, with open plains in the south, acacia-dotted savanna in the center, and black clay plains to the west.

The Serengeti has it all! Tree-lined rivers, majestic kopje (rock outcroppings), and both long and short grass plains stretching for such vast distances that striking out into its expanses is like sailing the open seas. During the migration, huge numbers of migratory animals roam the plains in all directions—wildebeest number in the millions, intermingled with zebra numbering in the hundreds of thousands, along with a smorgasbord of other ungulates. These millions of hoofed animals form the traveling market of the Serengeti feeding the ever expanding numbers of predators: lions, leopards, hyenas, jackals, foxes, badgers, ratels, and many more. We spend our nights in a private seasonal luxury camp placed in the best location to maximize game viewing opportunities. Overnights at our private Wilderness Travel Serengeti Mobile Safari Camp...BLD each day

We enjoy a final game drive as we return to Arusha. We arrive in Arusha in the mid-afternoon, with the opportunity for last minute shopping, and time to relax in our day rooms at a lodge. Evening transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for departure on homeward-bound flights...BLD

A visa is not required for U.S. citizens visiting Tanzania.