Our support vehicle and camp crew travel ahead of the group and set up camp for you. We provide 3.4x3.4m dome tents, which are extremely spacious and we provide camp beds, foam mattresses and warm bedding which consists of a sleeping bag, cotton inner sheet and a small pillow. Sumptuous meals are prepared by our friendly safari chef(s) and are either served in the mess tent, or directly under the stars if you prefer. Outside your tent and at the meal table you will have the use of large, comfortable, foldaway chairs and we provide washstands and a large towel for each client. A separate bush shower and bush toilet are provided. During the safari (from Day 3) you may wish to take advantage of the support vehicle for carrying your larger items of luggage and carry only a daypack, allowing extra space and comfort inside your safari vehicle.

Inside your safari vehicle you will find a selection of reference books on Tanzania's parks, history, its flora and fauna, and a coolbox for drinks. In our specially customised extended landcruisers the windows are enlarged and the roof height extended to allow ease of photography and game-viewing, with plenty of room to stretch your legs. Our standard landcruisers are also very comfortably customised for safari and both types of vehicles have game viewing hatches that allow 360 degree views.

Your guide and their assistants are experienced professionals who will prioritise your comfort and safety as well as ensuring optimal game-viewing opportunities throughout your safari with us.

Meals usually consist of a cooked breakfast, light lunch and a three-course dinner. We supply 2 litres of mineral water per person, per day and 2 soft drinks/sodas. We regret that we are unable to supply other beverages or alcoholic drinks, however your guide will be happy to show you where best to purchase these prior to departure and at convenient points along the way. Your drinks supply will be carried in the supply vehicle.

Authentic Mobile safaris are a relaxed alternative to a lodge safari - for those who prefer to sleep under canvas and get away from the crowds.

Please note that we can offer this same itinerary, or similar itinerary to private groups and individuals on any date.

Includes: Airfare Johannesburg - Kilimanjaro - Johannesburg on Air Tanzania, airport transfers, 2 nights hotel accommodation in Arusha including breakfast only, 6 night 'authentic mobile' safari by road with full back up crew in second vehicle, all meals on safari game viewing activities as indicated, services of a driver/guide, support crew and cook, camp beds and mattresses, bedding, small pillows and towels,
bottled water for game drives / in vehicle.

Excludes: Visas, travel insurance, health requirements, gratuities, drinks, all items of a personal nature and any service not specified.

Optional Extras:
Balloon safari or Serengeti - Arusha flight at an additional cost per person.

Style of Safari: On this style of trip our clients are not expected to participate in any of the camp preparations or chores. Our camp crew will take care of all aspects of camp life behind the scenes, allowing our guests to have a real holiday in some of the most beautiful game areas in Africa.

We supply stretcher/camp beds and mattresses, bedding (normally sleeping bag and inner sheet), towels, pillows, washstand, bush showers and bush style toilet. Our safari chef prepares all meals and vegetarians can be easily catered for but please do advise us well in advance so that we can shop accordingly. During the safari bottled water will be made available - 2 litres per person, per day and two soft drinks per person per day. Any other type of preferred beverages or snacks should be purchased from town before departure or en route.

Group size is restricted to maximum 7 persons to a vehicle all with window seats. Our 'stretch' vehicles are very spacious with game viewing open hatches and large windows for photography, while standard cruisers have standard landcruiser windows and large game viewing hatches with overhead shade - those vehicles will carry up to five persons.

We have put together a few set departures for people to enjoy a slightly longer visit than 'normal' to the Serengeti, and to join like-minded guests on this once in a lifetime trip! The minimum age limit is 16. We can arrange a private trip for families with children under 16 on request.

All prices are subject to change due to airfare increases or any other unforeseen circumstance.

Health Requirements - Yellow Fever inoculations are necessary. This must be done no later than 10 days prior to departure. Anti-malaria tablets are also necessary. Please enquire for details of travel clinics operating in your area.

Visas - Are required by most citizens for entry into Tanzania. Please enquire for further details.

Travel insurance - We strongly recommend that you take out Travel Insurance for the duration of your holiday.

ITINERARY:

Day 1 - Friday - Depart Johannesburg on Air Tanzania flight at 14h45 to Dar es Salaam, arriving at 19h25. Immediate onward connection to Kilimanjaro, departing Dar es Salaam 20h00, arriving Kilimanjaro 20h55. On arrival you will be met and transferred to the Arusha Hotel set in the central shopping and business area of Arusha town, 45 minutes from Kilimanjaro Airport. Overnight on a bed and breakfast basis.

Day 2 - Saturday - Your driver will come to greet you and conduct a pre-departure briefing at 08h30 for a 09h00 departure. Your guide can assist you should you wish to exchange money or purchase other beverages or snacks. The rest of the safari crew will have gone ahead to set up your camp. The drive to Tarangire is just over two hours and so we will either be able to enjoy lunch at the campsite or a picnic lunch en route so that you will be able to spend the rest of the day game viewing. Note: At certain times of the year we recommend Lake Manyara National Park in place of Tarangire (November - April). Lunch and dinner included. Overnight private campsite inside Tarangire or Manyara National Park.

Day 3 - Sunday - An early start this morning in order to allow the support crew to start breaking down camp while we enjoy breakfast. As the camp crew get on their way to set up camp at our next location, we will be able to take our picnic boxes and enjoy a morning game drive inside the park before making our way through the bustling towns of Mto-wa-Mbu, where there is a lively curio market, and Karatu. We then weave our way upwards into the densely forested slopes of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, pausing to admire the splendid view of the crater floor 600m below at Heroes Point, before driving on to our campsite located close to the rim of the Ngorongoro caldera. Arrive late afternoon at our private campsite. If we arrive in good time, you may like to consider an optional extra of an early evening/sunset visit to a Maasai village boma where you can spend some time learning about the culture, traditions and beliefs of this ancient, noble warrior tribe. This is at an additional cost, and should be discussed with the guide, and paid directly to the guide. All meals included. Overnight private campsite inside Ngorongoro Conservation area.

Day 4 - Monday - Today we will decend the steep walls of the crater to admire the microcosm of life within it. We will have a picnic lunch on the floor of the crater at a pleasant lakeside location where we can stretch our legs and soak up the magnificent scenery. The crater rim can be very cold at night and cloaked in mist in the early mornings. It can also be quite bleak and windy (July and August). You will need a heavy jumper, several layers or a warm jacket here. All meals included. Overnight at private campsite inside Ngorongoro Conservation Area on crater rim.

Day 5 - Tuesday - Today we break camp and embark on a game drive into the great Serengeti plains. Before crossing from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area into the Serengeti National Park we should take the opportunity to visit the Olduvai Gorge Museum where we may attend a short talk on the archaeological importance of Olduvai and the work of Mary and Louis Leakey in excavating the area and discovering some of Africa's most important hominid fossils. All meals included. Overnight private campsite inside Serengeti National Park. We will pre-book our campsite in the area where the migration is anticipated but please note that the movement of game in recent years has proved to be highly unpredictable due to abnormal weather patterns disrupting the growth of vegetation and thus the food sources followed by the herds. Balloon safari If you would like to go on an early morning balloon safari over the Serengeti, but this will be largely dependent on the position of your pre-booked campsites and the season that you travel (For instance it is not possible to travel from Kirawira or Grumeti in the western corridor, or Lobo or Bologonja in the north to do a balloon safari as the balloon company collects clients from the Seronera central area only.) Please note that balloon safaris can only be organised by PRE-ARRANGEMENT and there is an additional cost for this, detailed below. It can only be booked for Day 6 or 7 of your safari.

Day 6-7: Wednesday - Thursday - Morning and afternoon game drives in Serengeti National Park. All meals included. Overnight private campsite inside Serengeti National Park.

Day 8 - Friday - We recommend that you consider the option of flying back from the Serengeti to Arusha today. It is an exceptionally scenic flight over the highlands of Ngorongoro, across the vast expanse of the Rift Valley escarpments, and through to the green coffee plantations surrounding Arusha airport. On a clear day you will see amazing views of Mount Meru's dark profile rising up above the town, cloaked in wisps of cloud. The flight is an additional cost, detailed below. If flying back, breakfast only will be included. Alternatively, you may prefer to drive back to Arusha - arriving late afternoon (picnic lunch included). There may be a little time to shop for curios along the way or just outside the town centre. Overnight at the Arusha Hotel on a bed and breakfast basis.

Day 9 - Saturday - Early morning transfer from your hotel to Kilimanjaro Airport. Depart Kilimanjaro at 09h00, arriving in Dar es Salaam at 09h55. Immediate onward connecting flight departing Dar es Salaam at 11h00 arriving in Johannesburg at 13h40.