The Spirit of Tanzania

Day 1. Depart the UK for Arusha via Nairobi

Day 2. Tarangire, 2-nights [B,L,D]

Tarangire National Park, dominated by the Tarangire River is a grossly under-rated park and one of the best-kept secrets in Africa. Perhaps this is because it does not fit so conveniently into a week's safari, or because it lies just off the 'northern circuit'. Whatever the reason, it means that Tarangire is a superb wildlife destination for the enthusiast, particularly welcoming when added on after the busy 'northern circuit' of Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti. The river attracts enormous herds of Elephants and the landscape is a rich and varied mix of Baobab trees, acacia bush, plains, swamps and rocky outcrops. The wildlife here is superb and the area actually experiences its own migration - although smaller in scale than the one further north. Elephants are virtually guaranteed here, and Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, jackal and occasionally Wild Dog hunt the herds of Cape Buffalo as well as Grant's, and Thompson's Gazelle, Burchell's Zebra, giraffe and Warthog. The area is excellent for birds of prey and provides superb habitats for hundreds of other species. The park is within half a day's drive of Arusha and Lake Manyara so it is an easy add-on to any northern circuit safari.

Day 4. Lake Manyara, 1-night [B,L,D]

Hemingway described Lake Manyara National Park's magnificent hunting country in "The Green Hills of Africa". Mahogany, and Sausage Trees are alive with Blue, and Vervet Monkeys, Elephants feed off fallen fruit, while Bushbuck, Common Waterbuck, baboons and Leopard all make their home in the forest. Manyara is also a sanctuary to Hippo, giraffe, impala, zebra, the elusive Cape buffalo and, its most famous residents - tree climbing Lions. Lake Manyara itself is a magnet for birdlife and a kaleidoscope of different species can be found around its shores, including sizeable flocks of flamingoes. The park is often just seen as a stopping off point on the popular 'northern circuit' of Tanzania, yet this small and interesting park definitely warrants a visit.

Accommodation options: Lake Manyara Serena, Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, Kirurumu, E Unoto

Day 5. Ngorongoro Highlands, 1-night [B,L,D]

Often referred to as the 'eighth wonder of the world', the Ngorongoro Crater provides one of the finest wildlife opportunities that Africa can offer. Covering 260 square kilometres the balance of predator and prey within the Crater is so precise that animals seldom leave, and it possibly contains the largest permanent concentration of wildlife in Africa, with an estimate of 30,000 large animals. The game-viewing is good all year-round. The expansive floor is predominantly grassland, which provides for excellent game-viewing. There are two swamps fed by streams (a favourite for Hippo, Elephant and reedbuck, among other species) two forests, and a huge soda lake that attracts thousands of flamingos and other water birds. The Crater walls are also lightly forested.

There is no accommodation on the Ngorongoro Crater floor itself so every day a restricted number of visitors are given permits to descend the 650 metre walls of this caldera (a collapsed cone of a volcano) for half a day. Despite the restrictions on numbers, the popularity of the Crater and its location on the classic 'northern circuit' mean that you will not have a solitary experience here. However, the size of the Crater is such that it is possible to escape the crowds whilst on the Crater floor, and the guaranteed sightings and benefits of wildlife-viewing here far outweigh the negatives.

Accomodation options: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Ngorongoro Farm House, Gibbs Farm

Day 6. Ngorongoro Crater, 1-night [B,L,D]

Day 7. Serengeti, 3-nights [B,L,D]

The Serengeti is one of the world's last great wildlife refuges. It is a vast area of land supporting the greatest remaining concentration of plains game in Africa, on a scale unparalleled anywhere else in the world. Equal in size to Northern Ireland, the Park contains an estimated three million large animals, most of which take part in a seasonal migration that is one of nature's greatest wonders. Many of them become prey for the Lions, Cheetahs, Leopards and other predators which constantly attend to the moving mass. Vegetation in the Serengeti ranges from the short and long grass plains in the south, to acacia savannah in the centre and wooded grassland concentrated around tributaries of the Grumeti and Mara Rivers in the north. The western corridor is a region of wooded highland and extensive plains reaching to the edge of Lake Victoria. The Seronera Valley in the central Serengeti is famous for the abundance of Lion and Leopard that are generally easy to find.

The Serengeti is famous for its annual migration but space in the lodges and tented camps is at a premium during these times, often being booked up over a year in advance. However, it should be remembered that the Serengeti makes a superb wildlife and safari destination at any time of year with many animals not choosing to follow the migration and outside the peak times you will have vast areas of wilderness to yourself!

Accomodation options: Serengeti Sopa Lodge, Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, Ndutu Safari Lodge, Mbalageti Safari Lodge, Mbuzi Mawe Tented Camp, Grumeti River Camp, Migration Camp.

Day 9. Fly to Arusha and depart for the UK via Nairobi [B,L]

Day 10. Arrive home