3 Day Wildlife and Flamingo Safari

Lake Natron

Duration

5 days

Tour Type

Big 5, Birding & Photography, Family Safaris & Holidays, Women Safaris

Overview

Have a game drive in Tarangire, followed by a 2-day immersion in the rugged beauty of Lake Natron. Experience the best of the open road on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure into the Tanzanian wilderness. The journey in a 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof can be tailored to your liking as the options are endless. Starting and ending in Arusha, you can design your dream adventure or let one of our safari consultants create the perfect safari itinerary according to your specifications.

Included/Exclude

Park fees
All activities
Accommodation
A professional driver/guide
All transportation
Meals & Drinks

International flights
Roundtrip airport transfer
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
Tips
Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)

Itinerary

Day 1

Arusha is the safari capital of the country and a bustling ‘ tourism-driven' city. You will be met by your driver-guide in Arusha or at Arusha airport and together, you will begin the transfer to Tarangire National Park to start your private safari game drive. The name of the park originates from the Tarangire River, which crosses the park and is the main source of fresh water for wildlife. This quiet park is famous for its elephant migration, birdlife and authentic safari atmosphere. You will enjoy a packed lunch at midday and at the end of the afternoon’s game drive, you will make your way to Africa Safari Lake Manyara. On arrival, you will have time to refresh before finishing the day with dinner under the stars and a good night’s sleep in one of our comfy canvas accommodations.

Day 2

This day brings you a road trip through northern Tanzania with the destination Lake Natron. You'll depart from Africa Safari Lake Manyara after breakfast. The drive can take up to 4 hours and it’s the perfect way to see different sides of Tanzania’s ever-changing landscapes. As you pass the Rift Valley and drive further towards Lake Natron, you will notice the lush green vegetation slowly exchanging for dry, arid and dusty landscapes. The occasional Maasai villages passed en route become dots in the distant scenery. The further north you reach, the more remains of old volcanoes rise around you. Among them is Ol Doinyo Lengai, meaning ‘Mountain of God’ in Maasai dialect. This volcano is one of the few that are still active. When you eventually reach Lake Natron, you might perhaps catch its smoke disappearing in the sky.

Day 3

This morning, put on your walking shoes as a Maasai guide escorts you on a walk around the shores of Lake Natron in search of the lesser flamingo. Lake Natron is the most important and regular breeding site for lesser flamingos in East Africa and during the breeding season, Lake Natron hosts up to 2.5 million flamingos. The majority of egg-laying and hatching takes place from September to April although the peak occurs between October & (early) December. The long-legged waterfowl may flourish here, but to most other living creatures including small birds, these conditions make survival extremely challenging. However, the Lake Flats do provide a variety of habitats for birds that flourish in the alkali oasis. In the mid-morning, check out and with a packed lunch, you'll begin the journey back to where it all started. Your heart and camera filled with memories of your African safari adventure.

Day 4

Here in Kenya’s most popular park with its deep savannahs offset with iconic acacia trees, you’ll have a good chance to spot the “Big Five” – lion, leopard elephant, rhino and buffalo because of the great density of animals in this reserve. At the Mara River, we’ll see hippo and crocodile deep in their usual habitat as wildebeest, zebra and gazelle forge across in search of food. The park also supports masses of impala, eland, Masai Giraffe, cheetah and hyena. You won’t go a day here without enjoying the ever-present wildlife. We offer several optional excursions to round out your safari. An early morning hot air balloon ride over the awakening Mara with its views of the endless trains of wildlife is an unforgettable memory. Just ask your guide to make the arrangements for you. You can also take a moment out from wildlife tracking to visit the local Maasai people. Here you can meet the villagers, learn about their lives and purchase some of their colourful crafts.

Day 5

Today is your last day, after breakfast, we will have a mini game drive as you exit the park as you have a long drive ahead of about 5hours to get to Nairobi. Guess what, it is your lucky day, we shall offer a complimentary visit to the Giraffe centre before dropping you off at your preferred location.