10 Days Walk on the Wildside Safari

Day 1 - 3: Traverse the Tarangire National Park View Lodge

walking safariFrom Arusha Airport, board a light aircraft bound for Tarangire. Here a camp representative will meet you and transfer you by road to the camp. The camp, situated in the southern part of Tarangire, is close to the Silale swamps and overlooks the floodplains of the Minyonyo Pools a year round haven for large concentrations of game. The camp is small and intimate with only ten tents, which are the epitome of bush elegance and comfort. Watch the wild animals wander by your tent, as you relax on your private veranda.

Spend your days here exploring the region on game drives and on walking safaris, where you can penetrate the more remote areas of Tarangire. Walking safaris, with trained and armed guides, allow you to get closer to the fauna and flora of Africa. The morning walk lasts around 3-4 hours (temperature dependant), offering you a chance to walk and safely track and observe wildlife giants like elephants, giraffes and buffalo. Stop off under the shade of a lofty baobab for a picnic and contemplate the surrounding wildlife’s majestic countenance, before setting off back to the camp for a well deserved siesta. In the evening, partake in a night game drive, searching for those elusive nocturnal creatures hidden during the day.

Day 4 - 6: Explore Lake Victoria View Lodge

Rubondo Island in Lake Victoria.Spend the early morning on a game drive or short walk before heading out after an early lunch to the airstrip, where a light aircraft will transfer you to Rubondo Island on Lake Victoria. Rubondo Island is the largest Island National Park in the world. This island is fantastic for the adventurous and active, where you can fill your days exploring the pristine forest and lake. On land, the camp offers guided forest walks, bird viewing and game drives. On the water, you can join a boat based safari searching for the sitatunga, crocodiles and hippos. Fishing from a kayak, catch and release, is a great way to enjoy the natural surroundings and relax.

Chimp TrekkingThe camp consists of eight individually crafted cottages nestled amongst the trees with lakeside views. White beaches and the gentle lapping of the lake, elephants and dwarf giraffe make this a magical place to have an adventure.

You have the option to assist in the wild chimpanzee habituation experience, by joining trackers during the day following the signs of the chimps, endeavouring to locate the troop (as they are not yet habituated there is no guarantee that you will find them). Then at night, sleep under the stars in dome tents with a bush bathroom and dinner cooked over an open fire. A great adventure where you can sit and share your experiences with the local guides and trackers. The following day, if unable to locate the chimps, continue with the search. If chimps were located, make your way back to the main camp by either walking, by vehicle or by boat. The terrain has limited paths and the ground is uneven, guests need to be sure footed and comfortable to walk 1 – 4 hours a day at a moderate pace.

Your stay at Rubondo Island allows for an active adventure or gentle strolls and relaxation by the poolside.

Day 7 - 9: Track wildlife on the Serengeti Plains View Lodge

lioness pride in the grassEarly in the morning, it’s time to leave the island life behind as you head for the Serengeti. Spend the next three nights of your Tanzania safari in the remote eastern corner of the Serengeti. This area, closed for 20 years to foster an area for cheetah to breed, reopened in 2014. The open plains in this area are a safe haven for the cheetah to roam and hunt undisturbed. Leopard and lion also frequent the area and can often be seen languishing on the rocky kopjes. Due to the Ngare Nanyuki, an underground river, the area supports a large amount of resident plains game. From October to May, the newly germinating grass offers an irresistible allure to the great migrating herds. During the rains, March to May, you can see high concentrations of hyena, with clans of up to 30 members, pursuing and then devouring their prey. Eland, wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle migrate to this region of the Serengeti, with large herds being the norm.

Following the Serengeti migration on a game drive.On arrival at the camp, settle in and enjoy the comfort of your spacious traditional safari tent as you watch the game passing in and around the camp. In the afternoon, after a sumptuous buffet lunch, go on a game drive, stopping at an elevated viewpoint for refreshing sundowners, taking in the enormous sky and vast plains of the Serengeti.

Over the next two days, depart camp early on guided walks and explore the area on foot. The pace is easy allowing your senses to reawaken as you walk through the bush and relish the sights, sounds and smells of Africa. Meander through the bush, following and identifying tracks alongside a trained guide, stopping under the shade of a tree with a packed lunch, taking some time to just sit and observe the wonders of nature that are all around you. Alternatively, you can return to camp for a delicious hot lunch. Laze in the afternoons with a good book and a siesta before heading out again on another walk or game drive. In the evenings dine under the stars and listen to the harmonious sounds of the African bush

Day 10: All good things must come to an end

Bid farewell to Tanzania as you leave for Kilimanjaro Airport where your onwards travel arrangements will be met.