Highlights of Tanzania

This short but sweet tour commences with lunch in Arusha, a small town which perches beneath Mount Meru and is surrounded by coffee plantations and flower farms. Later, depart for Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a stunningly beautiful place which was established as a conservation area for both wildlife and the semi-nomadic Maasai population. Its main attraction is the Ngorongoro Crater, home to over 25,000 animals, including the Big Five.

Kick things off by descending 2,000 feet to Ngorongoro Crater floor for a half day tour. Explore the diverse habitats including forest areas that are inhabited by monkeys and elephants, the lake where you may see flamingos, and the open savannah where prides of lions hunt for food. This afternoon, drive onwards to Serengeti National Park via Olduvai Gorge, an eight-mile long ravine and remarkable archeological site.

This morning is sure to be a tour highlight, as you embark on a game drive amidst the endless plains of the Serengeti. Keep watch for great herds of wildebeest, zebra and gazelles as well as lions lounging in the shade. Return to the lodge for lunch and then depart for Lake Manyara which is renowned for its diverse range of landscapes, including marshland, dense acacia woodland and steep rocky slopes.

It's an early start today, but so worth the alarm call, as you set off for a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, whose inhabitants include hippos, monkeys, tree-climbing lions, vast flocks of flamingos and hundreds of other bird species. Later this morning, return to Arusha where you will have lunch before the tour concludes in Kilimanjaro.