Red
Rhino Tours
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Tanzanian
Wildlife Safari and
Lamu Island Excursion
A 15 Day Sample Itinerary
Day
One
Arrive Nairobi, Kenya
You are welcomed at the airport at Nairobi by Red Rhino Staff. From Nairobi
proceed to Arusha, Tanzania via the border post of Namanga. Time permitting,
you will have a chance to explore bustling Arusha Town with its lively streets
and markets with a personally guided tour.
Overnight at a selected Arusha Hotel
Day
Two
Arusha Town to Arusha National Park
Morning departure for Arusha National Park. En route visit a family owned and
run coffee plantation for an interesting look at how Tanzanian coffee is grown,
harvested, and roasted. From the plantation depart on a beautiful hike through
lush farmland to picturesque Lake Duluti. After a stroll around the lake area,
depart in your safari vehicles for Arusha National Park. This beautiful park
is a hidden treasure--not visited by many tourists and has an amazing variety
of flora and fauna. It is also one of the view parks in East Africa that one
can walk in (accompanied by a ranger). The alkaline lakes in the park are at
times frequented by many birds including thousands of flamingos. The park's
main features are Ngurdoto Crater ("little Ngorongoro),
Momela Lakes, views of rugged Mt. Meru, and the wildlife including: mongoose,
vervet and colobus monkey, hyena, hippo, elephant, zebra, klipspringer, buffalo,
and many others.
Overnight at Game Lodge
Day
Three
Arusha National Park to Manyara National Park
After a morning game drive depart for Manyara National Park. After lunch in
Arusha proceed to Manyara National Park; the road is as bumpy and as African
as it gets. Before reaching Manyara the topography changes dramatically--the
savanna grassland changes to tropical rainforest (actually, to be precise:
groundwater forest). After dropping gear off at camp (tonight is spent in pitched
tents) enter Lake Manyara National Park and enjoy an afternoon game drive;
Manyara is famed for its tree-climbing lions, bountiful bird life, and large
numbers of hippos. The park is a combination of mahogany forest, marsh and
grasslands. Over 350 species of birds populate the park.
Deluxe Tented Camp
Day
Four
Lake Manyara to Ngorongoro Crater
This
morning depart Manyara and travel to Ngorongoro Conservation
Area, about a two hour drive up the volcano. The drive is beautiful
and the life along the road vibrant. Arrive at Ngorongoro in
time for an afternoon game drive. Spend the rest of the day inside
the crater. Ngorongoro has been compared to the Garden of Eden.
The 100 square mile crater is the largest caldera in the world
and the crater is packed with just about every species of wildlife
found in East Africa. The drive from the rim down winding dirt
tracks brings you to Africa's largest permanent concentrations
of wildlife. Some 25,000 animals live on the crater floor and,
because the grasses are short, game is easily spotted and can
often be approached quite closely. It is also one of the few
parks in Africa that rhinos are relatively easy to locate. Afternoon
game drive in park. Tonight camp on the crater rim in pitched
tents.
Wildlife Lodge or Tented Camp
Day
Five
Ngorongoro Crater
Rise early and be one of the first vehicles in the crater and spend the entire
morning on a game dive. Exiting the crater you will visit a Masai Village for
an culturally intriguing look at Masai village life in an untouristed village;
you will have a rare peak into the world of the Masai. Arrive at Ngorongoro
Wildlife Lodge in the late afternoon. The Lodge is perched on the edge of the
crater rim and the views (including those from the rooms) are spectacular.
Wildlife Lodge or Tented Camp
Day Six Ngorongoro to Serengeti via Oadavai Gorge
Set out early for the fabled Serengeti National Park, the most famous of the
Tanzanian parks, stopping en route at Oldavai Gorge, renowned as the "cradle
of mankind" where the Leakey family discovered the 1.75-million-year-old
Zinjanthropus skull. After viewing research on the nature of our origins at
the Oldavai Museum, travel onto the vast
Serengeti Plain, one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries on Earth. An estimated
2500 lions live in the park and there are more cheetahs here than anywhere
else in Africa. Hyena, wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, ostrich, hippo, and other
animals can often be seen in abundance. Covering more that 5,700 square miles,
the Serengeti is breathtaking terrain composed of acacia savannah, grass plains,
and dense woodland grouped around kopje (strange rock formations). Game viewing
en route to
camp.
Wildlife Lodge or Deluxe Tented Camp
Day
Seven Serengeti National Park
Full day of game viewing and evening of relaxation at camp.
Wildlife Lodge or Deluxe Tented Camp
Day Eight Serengeti
Early morning game drive with full afternoon and evening at Serengeti Sopa
Lodge. The family can relax around the pool, enjoy the views, and appreciate
the creature comforts of one of the finest luxury lodges in East Africa.
Wildlife Lodge or Deluxe Tented Camp
Day
Nine
Serengeti to Arusha Town
Depart this morning for Arusha on bumpy roads. The afternoon can be spent at
local (and untouristed) colorful markets shopping for enticing gifts. You will
be personally guided around town to explore this bustling town. Depart for
Europe (onward flight) or travel on to the tropical Island of Lamu in Kenya
to relax and enjoy the memories of your time on safari.
Selected Arusha Hotel or Onward flight via Nairobi
Day
Ten
Arusha to Lamu Island, Kenya
Depart at 6:00 a.m. for Nairobi, Kenya, where you will board a flight (1:30
p.m. flight ) to Lamu Island on the Indian Ocean. Lamu has not changed much
over the centuries and has been described as the Katmandu of Africa. It is
a place where the Swahili culture remains in its purest form. The local people
are almost entirely Muslim and men wear white robes and the women cover themselves
in black bui-bui, revealing only their eyes. Lamu Town is the oldest living
town in Kenya and, when you are wandering through its labyrinth of streets,
its easy to feel that you are living in the fourteenth century. You would be
staying at Shella--a quiet village four miles away from Lamu Town. Shella is
situated next to white-sand beaches that stretch for miles; it is a lazy, relaxing
place that is difficult to leave. Your hotel overlooks the water and the warm
trade winds blow
constantly through the windows that look out through the palm trees to the
water as you
watch as dhows (traditional Swahili boats) pass slowly by. Inexpensive custom
meals are made at your request consisting of fresh crab, lobster, rice with
coconut sauce, and a host of other Swahili delicacies. Arrive on Lamu (3:30
p.m.) and be welcomed at the airport by a Red Rhino representative and taken
directly to Shella by a motorized dhow.
Selected Swahili Guest House
Days
Eleven, Twelve, and Thirteen
Lamu Island
These days are spent at your leisure. Strolls through Lamu Town (a 20 minute
motorized dhow ride from Shella), snorkeling, fishing, long walks along beaches,
are just some things you can do during your stay. On one day you can visit
a Muslim school on the outskirts of Lamu. A definite highlight on Lamu is taking
a dhow trip for the day. There are more dhows here than anywhere else along
the coast of East Africa, and spending an afternoon on one is a wonderful experience
not to be missed. On the dhow you will fish and enjoy the catch with a barbequed
lunch on a neighboring island. The Red Rhino Associates on Lamu will be at
your service to help you with any activities you are interested in such as
tours of Lamu town and surrounding villages, additional dhow rides, and many
other possibilities. Most of all, however, Lamu Island is a place to relax,
people watch, and absorb the Swahili culture at its finest.
Selected Swahili Guest House
Day Fourteen
Lamu Island to Mombassa and Mombasa to Nairobi Train Ride
After
breakfast, you can spend the morning on the beach before a flight
to Mombasa. In Mombasa, you will taxi to the train station and
board the 7:00 p.m. overnight train to Nairobi (arriving at 8:30
a.m. the next morning). Travel in 1st class cabins (connecting
cabins) supplied with a wash basin, clean sheets, and drink service.
Dinner and breakfast in the dinning car are provided. One can
see animals such as giraffe, zebra, impala, ostrich, etc., outside
the window of your cabin at first light in the morning. This
romantic train journey is remarkable and inspiring.
Overnight Train in 1st class cabin
Day
Fifteen Nairobi and Onward Flight to....
Arrive early this morning at the train station and be greeted by our Red Rhino
staff.. You will be taken to day rooms. After a brief rest at the hotel, you
will proceed on a
City Tour. Places you can visit include:
• Giraffe Manor
• Karen Blixon Home
• Kigombe Market--a must! Entering this market is a total immersion into
Africa market life and you can see the crafts of Kenya being made before you
eyes and the prices are great here.
• Bomas of Kenya (introduction to Kenyan Tribal life)
• Animal orphanage
• Various markets and shops of Nairobi
• Nairobi School
After your personally guided tour of Nairobi, return to your hotel to pack
and get ready for your night flight to your next destination. At 5:00 p.m.
you will be taxied to CARNIVORES restaurant. This world-famous restaurant is
great fun and you can sample an assortment of meats from zebra to crocodile
(vegetarian meals are an option). After dinner, proceed to the airport for
your flight on the next leg of your journey. Kwaheri!
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