 Asking a traveler where they want to go and what they want to see in Africa is a loaded question that’s often difficult to realistically answer right off the bat. Some travelers might dream about enjoying 3-days of luxurious wine tasting via horseback followed by a mobile safari through the Serengeti—but if these travelers are bringing their young children, these activities might be difficult or even prohibited to take part in.
Therefore, it’s important to ask yourself a variety of questions prior to planning your trip, and be sure that you consult with a trusted travel agent who specializes in trips to Africa. These questions include: “What’s my budget?,” “Who am I going with?,” “What do my travel partners and I want to see and do?,” and “What type of accommodations do we want to stay in?” Each and every answer to these questions has an influence on the answer to the next question. In order to plan the perfect vacation around your specific preferences, here is what you’ll need to know: |
What’s your budget?  This is a big one and is the very first thing you must consider before planning your trip to Africa. Taking a vacation to Africa is quite an investment—one that is well-worth the money and the time it takes to travel. Nonetheless, you must be realistic about your budget and understand that creating a completely customized itinerary pulls in a variety of financial factors such as flights, transportation within Africa, accommodations, activities, reserve and park fees, tours, and more. If you want to experience a highly personalized and luxurious vacation, you must have at the very least $5,000 per person in your budget. After you’ve decided on your budget, it’s time to figure out the fun stuff. |
| Who are you going with?
Are you going to Africa with your spouse? Or are you going with your family? Perhaps you’re visiting with a group of friends. Whomever you’re going with, deciding on activities that are appropriate for everyone in your party is a must.
Or, if you are going to Africa with a group of friends varying in age and physical endurance, you might want to consider the physical requirements for certain activities you want to take part in such as mountain biking, hiking, horseback safaris, or walking safaris. |
| What do you want to see and do?
Do you want to discover ancient architecture, swim with penguins, relax at a luxury spa, or enjoy spectacular game viewing? Deciding what you want to see and do has a huge influence on the countries and regions you will visit while in Africa. For example, there is only one place in Africa where you can swim with the penguins and that’s Boulder’s Beach in South Africa. And, wine tasting can’t be enjoyed just anywhere in Africa—you must go to Cape Winelands to take part in the best of wine tasting. Also, game drives cannot be experienced everywhere in Africa. This is why it’s important that you weigh your activity preferences to determine which ones you are top priority while in Africa. |
| What type of accommodation do you want to stay in?
Africa is full of various types of accommodations ranging everywhere from mobile camps to non-mobile camps, rustic lodges to lavish hotels, and extravagant bandas to romantic bush tents. Because each of these accommodations varies dramatically in terms of adventure and comfort, you must gage your personal preferences and consider your comfort zone and desire for extreme exploration. If you want to sleep in plush beds surrounded by regal interior décor, visit the spa, enjoy fine dining in elegant restaurants, and have luxurious amenities at your disposal, a mobile camp, rustic lodge, or bush camp probably isn’t for you. Rather, you might want to consider extravagant bandas on the water’s edge or a luxurious hotel in Cape Town or the Garden Route, South Africa. But if you are interested in experiencing the wilderness or are an adventurist at heart, you’ll love the mobile safaris and rustic lodges. |
Guest post by Mark Homann, professional safari guide
In the early 1990s I guided out of a National Park known as Chizarira in Northern Zimbabwe. The park is dominated by the Zambezi escarpment that takes up its Northern border. It is by no means a well-known wilderness; not then and certainly not now, but it is very beautiful, unique, and wild. It was with this in mind that I guided a group of clients back here in 2009. I have shared many safaris with this particular group so I knew that they would appreciate this majestic place for what it was.
We had a great safari there. The park was in good shape considering that it has seen less than a handful of tourist in the last decade. The animals were there, but not in the massive numbers as I saw in the early 90s. But we did get to walk up on a large herd of buffalo and two elephant bulls.
Two things make this area so special. One is the people. They are known as the Tonga people. They were moved, after some resistance, from the flood plains of the Zambezi River when Lake Kariba was built, to the foot hills of the escarpment where they live today. We went to visit an old friend and chief of this area who goes by the name of Judas. He showed us great hospitality and showed us around his village and introduced his family (which has grown to 4 wives and a number of kids in the 20 years since I called his valley home). Life is not easy for these people as they live in one of Africa’s harsher environments—the Zambezi valley is very hot and not very fertile (except by the river, which the Tonga people used as their main source of food and income).
They also began struggling with the complete collapse of their tourism-based wildlife economy thanks to the onslaught of bad press Zimbabwe has had since 2000 (it’s worth mentioning that the last time a foreign tourist was hurt in Zimbabwe from politically motivated violence was back in the early 1980s!). Today the Tonga people make a living growing millet (which is regularly eaten by elephant) and some vegetables grown on the sides of the spring lines coming out of the escarpment. They are as proud and tough as ever and it’s easy to feel that the Tonga people could outlive us all.
The other aspect to this area is the Zambezi escarpment itself. As a young guide I spent many hours walking through this wild terrain. Made up of very old sandstone and lifted by tectonic movement, the area is awash with natural spring lines, rugged cliff faces, and deep river gorges that cut deep down into the sandstone, creating a wilderness of valleys and gorges. Elephants have negotiated paths through these steep hills that are thousands of years old (their feet have worn paths into the rock itself). I more than once saw a whole herd of elephant 900 feet above us feeding on the steep sides of river gorges in places where we would not tread without safety harnesses.
So Chizarira may not be the ideal place for a safari for the average person, but it is one of the finest wilderness areas for dedicated wilderness explorers.
Elephant trail in the sandstone.
What inspires travelers to choose a trip to Africa above any other exotic destination in the entire world? Although it is different for everyone, many individuals would say that one of their lifelong dreams has been to experience an African safari. These adventurers-at-heart might say that from the time they were 10 years-old they’ve imagined blazing through the bush and sprawling plains of Africa with the wind in their hair and the wildlife by their side. But what many travelers don’t realize, prior to their first visit to Africa, is that there is something much greater at work within this glorious continent.
There is something mysterious about Africa that ignites something within. Many would consider the catalyst behind this powerful feeling of bliss to be the pure energy emitted by all living things in Africa.
Everything from the smell of the first rains to the melting sunsets, the bright colors of the sky to the empowering sounds, and the magnetic wildlife to the intricate eco-systems, all have an indescribable energy that lives and thrives. Africa is a place where you leave with a new outlook on life and on yourself. But, what many travelers to Africa consider to be the beating heart within this palpable energy are the people of this fascinating continent.
The People
The people you come in contact with while in Africa will most likely be the most genuine and hospitable individuals you will ever meet. Their smiles, gentleness, sense of welcoming, laughter, kindness, and joy in providing you with happiness on your trip are so powerful that you cannot help but feel transformed by their energy.
Many first time travelers to Africa are blown away by the gentleness and attentiveness expressed by the natives, including staff members and safari guides. In fact, most individuals say that their needs and desires have never been addressed as promptly, thoroughly, and joyously, as they were in Africa.
The Relationships that Form
Every individual you meet in Africa, whether a local, safari guide, staff member, or other traveler, offers another opportunity to build a lasting relationship that lives with you throughout the rest of your life.
As you converse with your private safari guides, who are often with you for days on end, you build a unique relationship with those individuals.
Coming into contact with other travelers is also a highly enriching experience as each individual or group is often from a different part of the world than you. This enhances your cultural experience as you are not only interacting with and learning about African cultures, but you are also speaking with people from Europe, China, Australia, the United States, Canada, and more. Africa’s ability to attract a variety of different people and cultures is what makes it one of the most enriching melting pots of the world.
The Memories
Interacting with the people you meet in Africa will quite possibly be some of the most inspirational memories that remain with you for the rest of your life. Every experience you have in the bush with your guide, family members, and new-found friends is something each and every one of you can connect with 20 years down the road and share with new generations, family members, and friends.
Of course everyone on an African safari vacation wants to see the famous Big Five. Who doesn’t? But what many travelers don’t realize is that there is much more to see in various eco-systems of Africa besides lions, elephants, rhinoceros, leopards, and Cape buffaloes.
Often underrated for their size, the Little Five are some of the most interesting and curious creatures to observe in the African wilderness. These five animals consist of the rhinoceros beetle, buffalo weaver, elephant shrew, leopard tortoise, and the ant lion.
See below for a description of each of the Little Five:
Elephant shrew: Growing up to 30 cm in length, the elephant shrew is an adorable little mammal that hops along the ground in search of yummy insects and grub. Their hops are so tremendous that some can reach anywhere between 2 – 3 ft. in one leap! They also have a long tail and nose that enables them to sniff for insects before projecting the insects into their mouths using their tongue.
Living in solitary pairs of two, the elephant shrew isn’t the most social creature in the Africa’s southern region. In fact, the elephant shrew is so against socializing with others that it will mark its territory with a musky odor that is produced by a gland beneath its tail.
But although these creatures may be named after a shrew, they are in fact more closely related to aardvarks and moles.
Rhinoceros beetle: A frightening looking insect, the rhino beetle has a thick coating of pointy armor that makes it an intimidating sight to see in the wild! Growing up to 2.5 inches in length, the rhino beetle is one of the world’s largest species of beetle and actually ranks as one of the world’s strongest creatures—proportionately. Rhino beetles are so strong that they can lift nearly 850 times their weight.
Equipped with two large horns—hence the name rhinoceros beetle—the rhino beetle will use these horns to dig for food in trees as well as under rotting bark and beneath soil. They’ll also use these horns to defend themselves and fight other male beetles for mates.
Although these insects have a threatening appearance, they are harmless to humans as they do not bite or sting.
Image taken from (http://bugs.bio.usyd.edu.au/learning/resources/Entomology/internalAnatomy/imagePages/rhinocerousBeetle.html)
Buffalo weaver: Comprised of vibrant orange, black, and white feathers, this tricolored bird is one of Africa’s most beautiful bird species. Although this bird may appear graceful in pictures and at first glance, it’s actually a loud bird t
hat causes quite a ruckus. With large communal nests comprised of thorns and twigs, the buffalo weaver is a social bird species that interacts with others using loud vocal callings and aggressive movements.
Found primarily in the dry savanna and acacia woodland in Eastern Africa, these birds feed on grass seeds, acacia, insects, and fruits.
Image taken by the Honolulu Zoo (http://www.honoluluzoo.org/whiteheaded_buffalo_weaver.htm)
Leopard tortoise: With shells comprised of unique carvings, patterns, and colors, the leopard tortoise is one of the world’s most beautiful reptiles and one of the most interesting. It can live to be 100 years old and can reach up to 18 inches in length and weigh nearly 40 lbs.
While most turtle species produce eggs that incubate for 90 – 120 days, the leopard tortoises’ egg incubation period can last for over a year before the eggs hatch. This lengthy incubation process happens beneath the ground in dry, grassy areas of southern Africa.
Image taken from http://www.leopardtortoise.com/
Antlion: A frightening and bizarre looking insect, the antlion’s name more accurately depicts its larval stage than its adult stage. Named for its large head, jagged jaws, and bristle-covered body, the antlion is a beast compared to most other ants.
When antlions are in their larvae form, they will dig little holes in the sand where they will wait for another insect to fall into their trap before eating them.
In adulthood, the antlion can reach roughly 1.5 inches in length with a wingspan of 3.2 inches in length. During their adult stages, the antlion looks completely different from its larval stage and resembles a dragonfly more than an ant.
Image Taken by Wayne Schmidt (http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/mybetterpictures.htm)
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When you think of Africa what are some of the first visions that come to mind? For many, safari tours and the Big Five are some of the first thoughts that arise. Of course, Africa is the ultimate destination for safaris and game viewing, but there is so much more to do in Africa besides exceptional safari experiences.
One of the most fascinating elements about Africa is its extensive diversity. Comprised of 53 countries that range in climate, culture, history, landscape, cuisine, activities, accommodations, and wildlife, Africa is one of the world’s most astonishing and eclectic continents. Attracting everyone from beach addicts to ocean enthusiasts, romantics to spa lovers, and cultural buffs to wine connoisseurs, Africa is a destination for almost everyone.
Although Africa does attract a variety of different people with different interests, needs, desires, and preferences, visitors to Africa do have something in common: the desire to discover and grow.
So, what else is there to do besides game viewing? Tons! See below for an insight into the real Africa:
Cape Town City Tours: Grow, learn, discover, and uncover on a tour through the glowing city of Cape Town, South 
Africa. With a bustling atmosphere filled with architectural fascinations, shopping hubs, gardens, beaches, quaint bistros and cafes, mouth-watering seafood, hiking trails, and the infamous Table Mountain, Cape Town invites all sorts of individuals and various interests.
Cultural Visits: An absolute highlight among visitors to Africa, cultural visits are not only enlightening and rewarding, but they’re also often the gateway to an entirely new perspective on Africa and life in general. Almost all of the most popular destinations in Africa offer exceptional cultural visits that allow travelers to immerse themselves into local cultures and customs. Some of the best cultural tours take visitors to local schools, orphanages, and private homes, while others consist of exciting interactive bush walks or bicycling tours through local villages.
World Heritage Sites: Southern Africa is home to some of the most intriguing World Heritage Sites on earth. From cultural sites such as the Fossil Hominid Sites, Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape, Robben Island, Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape to natural sites including Vredefort Dome and the Great St. Lucia Wetland Park, Africa holds captivating secrets of the past in what remains in the present.
Golfing: As one of the top golf destinations in the world, South Africa is speckled with stunning courses that provide the avid golfer with exciting challenges around every corner. Whether looking for a five-day golf safari tour or half a day of golf, South Africa’s renowned courses can accommodate.
Each and every day (and hole for that matter) provides seasoned golfers with new challenges and experiences. For example, Leopard Creek County Club’s sixteenth hole requires balls to pass over hippo-populated waters onto a fresh green while Links at Fancourt is South Africa’s most challenging course, providing visitors with surprising twists, dips, and obstacles.
Ocean Visits: The coastline and archipelagos of Africa are bustling with beauty and infinite opportunities for exploration.
Africa’s coastlines and islands are so diverse and spectacular that they’re known for being some of the world’s top beach, scuba diving, and snorkeling destinations in the world. Africa’s waters are also home to whales, the African penguin, sharks, dolphins, and other aquatic creatures, making shark cage diving, whale watching, and swims with the penguins some of Africa’s most exciting ocean activities.
Wine Tours: There is no shortage of wine tours in Cape Winelands, South Africa. With dozens of types of tours to choose from, visitors find their time in Cape Winelands isn’t long enough. Some of the most acclaimed wine tours include wine making, personal wine tasting, VIP wine tasting, one-day village tours, horseback riding, bicycling, and hiking tours.
Fishing: Whether you’re interested in big game saltwater fishing or freshwater fishing, Africa’s rivers, lakes, and 
surrounding ocean are always teeming with adventure and thrilling catches.
Travelers interested in freshwater fishing have the opportunity to observe large land game and other lake dwelling creatures such as a wide variety of birds, hippos, and crocodiles as they enjoy an exciting day of fishing. One of the most popular and aggressive freshwater fish is the tigerfish, which can weigh in anywhere from 10 – 25 lbs.
Deep sea fishing, on the other hand, typically consists of larger and stronger fish depending on the time of year. Sailfish are caught the most as they are found in the area year round, while species of marlin, wahoo, kingfish, yellowfin tuna, and swordfish are typically caught between the months of October and March.
Preparing for a vacation to Africa should be exciting, not stressful. But how can you eliminate the stress of packing if you’re unsure of what to pack for a safari? And with all of the packing regulations on charter flights and luggage weight restrictions, how can you avoid the stress of packing that seems nearly impossible to eliminate?
These and other questions will be answered on a special, one-hour teleseminar, What to Pack for an African Safari Vacation. But to give you a little taste of what you can expect on this call, we’ve invited the co-host of this call, Lee Heyward, to guest blog on 5 Packing Tips for an African Safari Vacation.
Below is Lee’s guest post:
Your trip to Africa might require a more minimal and casual wardrobe than you are used to, but it can give you a great opportunity to portray your sense of style in a new and different way.
No matter where you travel you don’t have to loose your sense of style, you just have to be sure your style is practical, appropriate, and comfortable for the activities of your trip.
How to Look and Feel Great in Africa:
Athleta Top
Athleta Top
1. Fuse stylish details into your casual clothing.
Your trip to Africa will mostly require casual clothing. Choose casual pieces with stylish details to keep you feeling stylish and chic.
This moisture wicking top from Athleta offers interesting seaming and ruching, a great way to take on a safari in style.
2. Wear natural or wicking fabrics.
Natural fabrics like linen, cotton, or silk are very breathable which will help you stay cool and comfortable on your trip. Wicking fabrics are engineered to wick moisture away from your skin.
3. Make your clothes work double duty.
With strict luggage weight limits you need stylish clothing that works double duty. As you pack consider how many ways you can wear something. Remember, you can always do laundry so your item stays fresh
Athleta Top
and comfortable. This structured shirt offers maximum versatility in both function and technology. It is made of a wicking fabric that also contains SPF protection. Use it as a bathing suit cover up, sun protection on a safari, or a chic travel piece on the plane.
4. Choose color wisely.
We are all drawn to certain colors, but your favorite red shirt is not going to work in Africa. The last thing you want is to miss out on a photograph of the one animal you came to see because the color of your shirt distracted it. Choose the colors that you wear wisely. The best color choices for your Africa trip are ones that are found in nature. Think greens, browns, and khaki. If these colors don’t excite you, remember that every color comes in different shades. Hold up different shades of each color to find the one that makes you feel your best.
This wrap is not only the perfect color but offers versatility. Wear it day or night, and pair it with a camisole for a chic safari look.
Athleta Top
5. Leave your animal print at home.
As tempting as it may be to bring along your best safari chic pieces, leave the animal print at home. In Africa your animal print wardrobe looses the chic and just becomes cliché.
About Lee
Lee Heyward is a style coach and owner of Charleston Style Concierge, LLC, a company which specializes in teaching women how to achieve easy and effortless style. Lee works with clients one-on-one, virtually, and hosts monthly seminars. Lee believes anyone can have great style with a little knowledge and an open mind. Charleston Style Concierge is located in Charleston, South Carolina.
Register here for this free, upcoming teleseminar What to Pack for an African Safari Vacation, happening Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 1pm EST.
What if there were an organization that rose to the occasion to help companies and communities dramatically reduce their carbon footprints? A company with the hope and conviction that with a joint effort and a passion for the earth and its fragile eco-systems, we could create a healthier, more sustainable living environment for all. This company is Carbon Tanzania.
Dedicated to protecting the wildlife and rehabilitating the habitat of Tanzania and the earth as a whole, Carbon Tanzania has established a program and several branch projects that enable local Tanzanian communities to thrive and businesses to seek and implement effective strategies to dramatically reduce these harmful emissions.
Below is a breakdown of how Carbon Tanzania helps local Tanzanian communities and how it helps companies:
Local Communities: Employing large quantities of local villagers to maintain and plant tree seedlings, Carbon Tanzania helps communities establish effective economic and environmentally sustainable practices. When these locals are employed, Carbon Tanzania provides them with training sessions and project baseline scenarios that enable the locals to establish highly valuable skills that can be used for additional personal success in the future.
By establishing these reforestation projects and employing the native Tanzanians, Carbon Tanzania hopes to ensure a long term solution to environmental and community finance issues.
Companies: Consider all of the combined carbon emissions produced by businesses around the world. Off the top of your head, it might not seem to be that much, but when you factor in staff vehicle fuel consumption, outside deliveries, employee (and sometimes client) air travel, electricity costs, paper usage, and office cleaning materials, the estimations often expand dramatically.
Carbon Tanzania offers all types of businesses, camps, lodges, and safari providers, the opportunity to have a Greenhouse Gas Audit performed on their company. The results of this audit enable companies to establish a visual on their emissions, implement effective emission reduction strategies, and reduce their carbon footprint.
A Greenhouse Gas Audit can detect a company’s global and local impact and it can also detect an individual’s personal impact on the environment.
In addition to helping local communities and eco-systems thrive, as well as helping companies to reduce their carbon emissions, Carbon Tanzania also partners with local organizations that are interested in managing natural resources, helping communities become sustainable, and developing reforestation projects.
To learn more about the positive impact Carbon Tanzania is producing, visit their website at http://www.carbontanzania.com.
Image taken by the Traigers
Recently returned from a trip to Africa, Dr. Dean Traiger and Tami Traiger share their photographs and experiences below:
What was your greatest interest/challenge/obstacle that brought you to Africa?
Our passion is to travel and to visit exotic places. Our biggest obstacle was figuring out the logistics (What? Where? When? How?), and that is where Hills of Africa’s expertise really shined!
Image taken by the Traigers
What was the experience while traveling and working with Hills of Africa Travel?
Working with Hills of Africa was very easy. Mark and Sandy were quickly available by email or phone whenever we had an issue or question. While in Africa we had contact numbers to call for help but thankfully we didn’t need it. That was a great anxiety reducer to know that if we had trouble we were not completely on our own.
Image taken by the Traigers
What has changed for you since your travels?
Learned more about African culture and the jewel that this continent represents and the importance of preserving it for others to experience. I want to take my children there when they are a few years older.
Image taken by the Traigers
Image taken by the Traigers
Image taken by the Traigers
Deciding where to go on your African safari vacation is quite likely one of the most exciting and toughest decisions you’ll ever make. This post is designed to ease your mind about where to visit on safari and choose the parks, reserves, and areas that are right for you.
Below is a spotlight on a variety of southern African parks and reserves to make your decision process go a bit more smoothly:
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Perfect for . . .
- Honeymooners who are looking for the ultimate romantic setting with a seamless combination of adventure and relaxation.
- Families who want to experience some of Africa’s most highly acclaimed safari tours.
- Bird lovers who want to exercise their photography skills in the bush.
- The adventurous and the non-adventurous. With accommodations for all preferences, travelers can choose from adventurous camps to more refined, luxury lodges and hotels.
When to go: Although the Okavango Delta offers year-round beauty, the best time for game viewing is during the months when vegetation has dried out, between May and October. And for bird lovers, the months between November and April are an exciting time as migrant bird populations return to the area.
What to see and do:
- Enjoy adventurous game drives where you’ll witness exotic birds, elephants, zebras, buffalo, red lechwe, wattled crane, lion, buffalo, hippos, and giraffes.
- Visit Moremi National Park and witness breathtaking scenery comprised of cracked, red-mud plains and glistening lagoons hidden between the solid trunks of towering baobabs.
- Experience glorious boat rides through the blue lagoons and witness some of Africa’s most exotic bird life.
- Enjoy a delightful picnic on one of the Okavango Delta’s exclusive islands.
- Embark on a journey above the treetops in a helicopter safari.
South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
Perfect for . . .
- Honeymooners who are interested in spending most of their days exploring one of the world’s most magnificent wildlife sanctuaries.
- Adventurists looking to explore and discover the unknown on walking safaris.
- Avid birdwatchers.
When to go: Although South Luangwa National Park is open year-round, the best time to visit is during the months between April and November.
What to see and do:
- As one of Africa’s leading safari destinations, South Luangwa National Park is ideal for walking safaris and game drives where visitors often witness the elusive leopard.
- Strewn with interlacing networks of streams and tributaries, South Luangwa National Park is comprised of thriving eco-systems that are home to over 100 different species of mammals and more than 500 species of birds.
- Enjoy a mountain biking safari tour through game trails and paths.
Mana Pools, Zimbabwe
Perfect for . . .
- Honeymooners interested in African safari tours.
- Adventurous families.
- Photographers looking to capture some of the most beautiful areas of Africa on camera.
When to go: The best time to visit this park is during the months of March to early October. These months offer fantastic weather and game viewing at its best.
What to see and do:
- Located on the southern bank of the Zambezi River, Mana Pools encompasses 541,000 acres of unspoiled wilderness—commonly called Zimbabwe’s Wildlife Riviera because of its abundant wildlife.
- Experience walking safaris among the roaming wildlife and discover animal tracks, callings, and behaviors.
- Take a wild journey on an adventurous canoeing safari as you trail down the Zambezi from Kariba in the west and reach Kanyemba in the east.
- Observe grazing buffalo, still crocodiles, wading elephants, hippo families and over 380 species of bird, such as as goliath herons and malachite kingfishers.
Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in our comments section.
Image taken from Manyara Ranch Conservancy website (http://www.manyararanch.com/)
Imagine experiencing a trip to Africa that is built around exclusivity, pure wilderness, and complete luxury. Manyara Ranch Conservancy has the exact formula for the ultimate African safari vacation you’ve been looking for. With 35,000 acres of pristine wilderness and cultural enlightenment, it’s no wonder Manyara Ranch Conservancy has been referred to as the most exciting tourism project to come out of Tanzania.
Below is a 4-day sample itinerary of just a few things you can experience at Manyara Ranch Conservancy:
Day 1
After arriving at the Manyara Ranch Conservancy, enjoy an energizing lunch and experience an exceptional game drive where you’ll witness the Big Five as well as other mesmerizing animals such as the African wild dog, the zebra, and exotic bird species. After a day of excitement, relax with refreshing sundowners and a scrumptious bush dinner before a good night’s rest at the Manyara Ranch Tented Camp.
Image taken from Manyara Ranch Conservancy website (http://www.manyararanch.com/)
Day 2
Awake to the refreshing aromas of a bush breakfast and prepare yourself for an early morning game walk where you’ll venture though the bush to discover new and exciting creatures.
When you return from your adventurous walk, visit the local primary school and enjoy a Maasai cultural visit where you’ll have the unique opportunity to learn about the Maasai culture and lifestyle, directly from the locals. Because the neighboring Maasai communities own the Manyara Ranch, everyone who visits the Conservancy has a direct contribution to helping the Maasai sustain their ancient cultural heritage.
The day ends with a night game drive through the lively bush, followed by a traditional bush dinner.
Image taken from Manyara Ranch Conservancy website (http://www.manyararanch.com/)
Day 3
Delight in breakfast at the camp before you embark on a horseback safari through the sprawling plains of Tanzania and the local villages. With a plethora of wilderness beauty and wild game, the Manyara Conservancy is one of the best places in Tanzania to experience a horseback safari. These breathtaking safaris are led by professional equestrian guides and are offered in one-day tours and multiday safaris.
After your adventurous horseback safari, enjoy a private dinner beneath Tanzania’s velvety and star-sprinkled sky.
Image taken from Manyara Ranch Conservancy website (http://www.manyararanch.com/)
Day 4
After breakfast, embark on a drive to Lake Manyara National Park for a game drive where you’ll witness some of the most fascinating wildlife Tanzania has to offer.
You’ll then be transported to the luxurious Ngorongoro Crater Lodge where you will take pleasure in traditional Tanzanian cuisine before you retire to your lavish suite in the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge.
Day 5
Embark on one of the most unique tours of your trip, a thrilling full-day crater tour. On this tour, you’ll be able to walk through the Ngorongoro Crater and discover thousands of residential wild game within this spectacular World Heritage Site. From sightings of lions, elephants, wildebeests, gazelles, rhinos, and zebras, this once-volcanic site is the perfect way to end your adventurous stay with the Conservancy.
After your tour, enjoy relaxing sundowners before your dinner at the lodge, where you will stay until it’s time for your next adventure!
Discover more of what Manyara Ranch Conservancy has to offer by visiting their website.
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