OFF TRACK
TANZANIA DELUXE SAFARI BIRDING & BIG GAME
Day 1: Arrival Dar es Salaam International Airport.
Meet and transfer to your Hotel. Depending on flight arrivals we may
have a chance to visit adjacent Pugu Coastal forest or just spend the
rest of the day by the beach where common coastal waders may be encountered.
Overnight Beach Comber Resort.
Day 2: Will meet up for a drive
to Mikumi National Park. On the way we may have chance to sample a number
of bushes where chances may avail the Kurichane Thrush and a number
of other southern dry country bird species. We will the arrive at our
Luxury Tented Lodge for Lunch. After Lunch we will drive along a local
track into the Miombo woodlands where an evening walking may reward
us with the rare Pale billed Hornbill, the racket tailed roller and
many more Miombo dry woodland species. Evening our Tented Camp for Dinner
and Overnight.
Day 3: We will start with an
early drive south wards through the Udzungwa mountains down further
into the Kilombero flood plains looking out for the Endemic Kilombero
Weaver, Kilombero Cisticola and the un named Melodious Cisticola, other
specialties here include the Coppery tailed Coucal and Black egret may
also be spotted. Depending on how much more time is left, we will return
for an afternoon Game viewing in Mikumi National Park. Over night at
our Tented Lodge.
Day 4: We will have a sunrise
game drive in the park, searching out the big game in Mikumi National
park as well as birding, return for breakfast .After breakfast the day
scheduled for a flight to Pemba. Depending on request the flight could
be scheduled or preferably a private Charter Air Craft from Mikumi to
Pemba Island. On arrival we will be met and transferred to Manta Reef
Lodge on the North coast. On our way we will have an opportunity to
visit Ngezi Forest Reserve that is a habitat for some of the Tanzanian
Endemics to include the Pemba Scopes owl, Pemba sunbird, Pemba green
Pigeon, Pemba white eye and any other specialties. Over night at the
Manta Reef Lodge.
Day 5: This day will depend on
how successful the previous evening was in the forest, otherwise we
will start an early breakfast and have another opportunity to visit
the Forest for any species that might have gone dodgy species. We are
scheduled to fly to Tanga this afternoon. Depending on arrangements
we can use of the daily scheduled flights between Pemba and Tanga or
preferably take a private Charter aircraft to Tanga. Upon arrival at
Tanga, we will me met and transferred to Amani Forest Reserve. Dinner
and overnight Amani Zigi Informational Guest House.
Day 6: The rest of the day will
be spent birding the East Usambara mountains. While in the area we should
be able to encounter the rare specialty, near endemic and Endemic birds
of the East Usambara mountain forests. This should include the Green
headed Oriole, Amani sunbird, Uluguru Violet backed sunbird, Mountain
Greenbul, Cabanis bunting, Forest Batis, Usambara akalat, white chested
ale, the Usambara eagle owl etc.
Day 7: After breakfast, we will
transfer to the extensions of the Usambara Mountains into the Western
Usambara mountains arriving in the afternoon at the Muller Lodge. The
evening can be spent around the lodge grounds where the Waller's Chestnut
winged starling and a number of other highland species can be seen.
Overnight at the Muller Lodge.
Day 8: The half of the morning
will be spent birding the different forest trail in search for yet other
Usambara Endemics and specialties to include: the Fullebourns Black
Boubou, the Usambara weaver, the Grey Cuckoo Shrike, Black Fronted Bush
Shrike and the red capped Forest Wabler. In the afternoon we will transfer
to the Pare Mountains. The pare mountains are excellent for the Endemic
South Pare white eye and many dry country the over-lap the Tsavo park
in Kenya and the Mkomazi game Reserve can be spotted here. Over night
at the Elephant Motel.
Day 9: Depending on how the previous
evening was successful in the area however, we have another chance to
explore the area bushes before driving to Arusha. We will arrive Arusha
in the late afternoon for Dinner and over night at the Impala hotel.
Day 10: After a leisurely Breakfast
at the Hotel, we will be departing for Tarangire national park.T arangire
is famous for the Big game, a home to thousands of Elephants, Giraffes
and many other mammals. Birdlife in Tarangire is Prolific too. The Endemic
Ashy Starling, the rufous tailed weaver, the Yellow colored Lovebird…
should all be encountered in the park. Over night at the Sopa lodge.
Day 11: We will spend the entire
day Bird watching and Big game viewing in the park. Overnight at the
Sopa Lodge.
Day 12: Early morning drive to
the Serengeti, which is actually a continuation of the Masai Mara Eco
System. You will be welcomed by the famous spectacular wildebeest migration
where plenty of wildlife including Lions and other predators are seen
taking advantage of the migrating prey. The Serengeti National Park
is arguably the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world. "Serengeti"
means "endless plains" in the Masai language, and within its
boundaries are more than three million large mammals. About 35 species
of plains animals can be seen here including the so called "big
five" - elephant, rhino, lion (more than 2,000 of them), Leopard
and Buffalo. Most of the plains game congregates in Southern Serengeti,
followed by their attendant predators. Other common species found here
include hippo, giraffe, eland, impala and other antelope types, baboons,
monkeys and a profusion of almost 500 bird species have been recorded
on the Serengeti. Overnight at the Sopa lodge.
Day 13: You will then embark
on a full day on the Serengeti Plains exploring the entire park and
as well searching for the two Endemic birds on the plains which include
the Grey Breasted Spur fowl and the Fisher's Love bird. Overnight at
the Sopa Lodge. Looking out over the seemingly endless Serengeti plains,
the Serengeti Sopa offers a tranquil oasis set in thousands of square
kilometers of National Park. This full service hotel has spacious rooms,
all boasting the same fine view as the restaurant, pool and bar area.
Each suite, with its own large balcony, has a full en-suite, fridge,
air conditioning and comfortable double beds.
Day 14: After an early game drive
and all the wildebeest migration excitement, you will then drive out
of the Serengeti plains into the famous Ngorongoro Crater. Overnight
at the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge. Listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site,
the incomparable Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest "caldera".
A caldera is the broad, crater-like basin of a volcano formed by the
collapse of the central cone. Dominated by cliffs standing some 600
meters high and presenting a sheer drop down to a wide open space of
some 264 square km, the crater is one of the most amazing sights seen
anywhere. The Crater is home to 25,000 larger mammals, almost half of
them zebra and wildebeest. There are also gazelle, buffalo, eland, hartebeest
and wart hog. Such vast numbers attract predators a plenty, mainly lion
and hyena but also cheetah and leopard. More than 100 species of birds
not found in the Serengeti have been spotted here. Countless flamingos
form a pink blanket over the soda lakes. Spread out along the upper
most rim of the Ngorongoro Crater the Sopa offers breathtaking views
of the crater floor far below. Gazing on the sight below you will be
amazed at the wildlife when you actually make your way to the crater
floor today or tomorrow - it is like no where else in the world! Each
room of the Ngorongoro Sopa offers a fine view - unless the infamous
fog shrouds the view in the early morning - with full en-suite, two
double beds and one can enjoy the view from the pool, restaurant and
bar as well.
Day 15: The entire day will be
spent on the Crater floor taking your last wildlife pictures. Overnight
at the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge.
Day 16: Today you will be transferred
to Arusha arriving for an early lunch at the Impala Hotel. After lunch
you will be transferred to Nairobi by a Public Tourist Shuttle Bus and
to Nairobi Airport for your evening flight home, or you will be transferred
to Kilimanjaro Airport for your outbound flight depending on your flight
arrangements.
END
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