W&J Tanzania Migration Safari
Our 2009 Northern Tanzania safari is timed to put us in Serengeti for the wildebeest migration, thus a tentative departure date of May 27. This could be moved into June should it pose a scheduling problem. Do not hesitate to contact Dr. Vinnedge Lawrence if you have questions, however, as the lodges & camps in Serengeti tend to fill well in advance. Our itinerary is:
Day 1 - Depart U.S. enroute to Kilimanjaro Airport.
" 2 - Arrive Kilimanjaro Airport late evening and transfer to Klub Afriko Hotel for B&B.
" 3 - Drive to Lake Manyara National Park for afternoon game drive; accommodation Migunga Forest Camp.
" 4 - Full day of game drives in Lake Manyara NP; accommodation Migunga Forest Camp.
" 5 - After morning game drive in Lake Manyara NP, proceed to Ngorongoro Crater; accommodation Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge.
" 6 - Full day game drive on floor of Ngorongoro Crater; accommodation Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge.
" 7 - Drive to Serengeti National Park; game drive enroute with picnic lunch; accommodation Seronera Wildlife Lodge.
" 8 - Full day of game drives in Seronera area of Serengeti; accommodation Seronera Wildlife Lodge.
" 9 - After morning in Seronera area, proceed to Western Corridor of Serengeti NP; accommodation Mbalageti Serengeti Lodge.
" 10 - Full day of game drives in Western Corridor; accommodation Mbalageti Serengeti Lodge.
" 11 - Game drive to Ikoma Gate of Serengeti with picnic lunch; accommodation Ikoma Bush Camp.
" 12 - Game drives in northern Serengeti; accommodation Ikoma Bush Camp.
" 13 - Game drive through Serengeti enroute to Ngorongoro Conservation Area; accommodation Ngorongoro Serena Lodge.
" 14 - Full day game drive in Ngorongoro Crater; proceed to village of Karatu; accommodation Karatu Lutheran Hostel.
" 15 - Drive to Arusha National Park for afternoon game drive; accommodation Meru View Lodge.
" 16 - Game drives in Arusha NP followed by day room & dinner Meru View Lodge; transfer to airport for evening departure.
" 17 - Continue return flight to U.S. & connect for home.
Cost of the safari is $3500 per person sharing. Included are accommodations, meals, bottled water, transportation in 4-WD safari cruiser with driver/guide, park fees, airport transfers. Excluded are airfare, drinks at meals, driver gratuity (usual is $10 per person per safari day), Tanzania visa fee, insurance, personal items.
Travelers to Tanzania must have a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond safari, yellow fever immunization (obtain & carry International Certificates of Vaccination card), and antimalarial prescription.
Complete details of safari preparation could constitute information overload at this point, but will be forthcoming at appropriate intervals. Our itinerary has been developed to expose group members to the most spectacular environments, widest range of habitats, and greatest variety of wildlife characteristic of northern Tanzania and consistent with our primary objective of encountering the wildebeest migration in Serengeti National Park.
We will first visit Lake Manyara National Park which, in addition to the lake, includes a strip of open meadows and dense groundwater forest bordering the western wall of the Great Rift Valley. The forest provides an enchanting, jungle-like environment for spectacular birds and interesting monkeys as well as an occasional elephant group. Near the hot spring at the far end of the park are rock outcrops where we may find the unusual klipspringer antelope. Less predictable is an opportunity to view tree-climbing lions for which the park is noted. We may be visited by bush babies in our ensuite tents during nights at Migunga Forest Camp in a lovely grove of yellow-barked acacia trees.
Actually the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, Ngorongoro Crater is a highlight of our itinerary that we visit on two separate occasions, the first while based at Sopa Lodge on the eastern rim with a virtually private road for accessing the caldera floor. Here we may encounter some of Africa's densest populations of large mammals, including the endangered black rhinoceros. Our return visit will be staged from the superb Serena Lodge on the western rim near the main descent road. At the end of our second day, our trip up the Lerai ascent road affords spectacular views over the caldera as well as a memorable experience in itself.
Combined with Ngorongoro, Serengeti National Park is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve. The world's greatest wildlife migration moves through the Serengeti from December to July with June typically the best month for viewing herds of wildebeest and zebra crossing the Grumeti River with its giant crocodiles. Depending on rainfall, we may find the densest herds in the Seronera area which often affords good views of leopards resting in trees along the Seronera River, the Western Corridor if the long rains have not been unusually heavy, or near the Ikoma Gate if the migration is already pushing northward. Although a leading guidebook states, "With the best will in the world, it would be practically impossible to ensure that a few days in the Serengeti will coincide with the exact and unpredictable date of the spectacular river crossing." we shall try to be there for it.
Finally we decompress with a visit to Arusha National Park that we may explore from the rim of scenic Ngurdoto Crater, whose forested slopes support troops of exquisite black-and-white colobus monkeys, to the seven Momella Lakes with their array of water birds. From a viewpoint over the lakes one may, in late evening and early morning, view Mount Kilimanjaro on the eastern horizon and Mount Meru to the west.
When compared with similar trips offered by companies who have just announced their 2009 costs, our trip represents very good value. International Expeditions' "Tanzania Migration," an 11-day trip offered March 7, 10, & 13 is priced at $5448 plus $260 for in-country airfare (over $5700 for only 11 days). These dates fall within the period of the long rains when herds of 10,000 or more are massed in the Seronera area. Large numbers, but little movement and no river crossings. More keenly priced is Overseas Adventure Travels' 14-day "Safari Serengeti" at $4895 for a May 27 departure, but subtracting three days of cultural village visits and two in Tarangire National Park where wildlife is relatively sparse in May and June leaves no more than one day in Ngorongoro Crater and four nights in Serengeti. OAT's trip is quoted as including rountrip airfare but excludes all taxes & fees levied on air travel.
The earlier we can forward deposits for booking accommodations, the better the chance of securing space. A deposit of $1500 per person may be made through the Washington and Jefferson College Business Office by VISA, MasterCard, or Discover credit card at (724) 223-6015 or (724) 223-6014. Specify that payment is for the 2009 Tanzania Safari and give the name of and amount paid for each individual. Alternatively, a check may be sent to the Business Office, Washington and Jefferson College, 60 South Lincoln Street, Washington, PA 15301. Make your check payable to Washington and Jefferson College and include "2009 Tanzania Safari" in the Memo blank. Your balance payment will not be due until March.
For more information contact trip leader Dr. Vinnedge Lawrence