Tanzania is a destination every world traveler should visit once in their lifetime. This East African country boasts some of the largest and most famous national parks and reserves in the world, including Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, and Kilimanjaro National Park, all home to the “Big Five” animals. Our journey begins on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the largest freestanding mountain in the world and home to the Chagga people where we get to experience the "no hurry" African way of life off the beaten track. A group of expert guides led by Simon Mtuy (an environmental activist and a world-class athlete featured in National Geographic) will take you to some of the best wildlife-watching destinations on earth. In addition to experiencing the magic of safari, with the option of reaching the roof of Africa by climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, your time in Tanzania will open your eyes to its warm and friendly people, its ancient culture, and the breathtaking beauty of the country.

TAKE ME TO TANZANIA >

Day 1: Arrive in Tanzania

Welcome to Tanzania! You will be met upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport for transfer to your overnight accommodations in Arusha. Dinner this evening will be at your Leisure, time to relax and rest after your long journey!

Day 2: Tarangire National Park

Today is your first full day in Africa! The day will begin with morning yoga and breakfast. We will start our journey and depart to Tarangire. We will enjoy a boxed lunch along the way and the drive will be approximately 3 hours. Once we arrive we will take in the picturesque Tarangire National Park, the “Baobab Capital of the World,” which is known for its wild landscapes, resident elephants, large prides of lion, leopards, giraffe, buffalo, the last remaining pack of wild dogs in northern Tanzania, and excellent year-round bird-watching with more than 300 bird species. The Tarangire River is the only permanent water source within the 2,600 square kilometer park. During the dry season herd animals of all kinds (wildebeest, zebra, gazelles, and antelopes) migrate from the surrounding areas to this life-sustaining source of water. Following our afternoon game drive, we will head to our beautiful tented camp for an evening of relaxation and a delicious dinner!

Day 3: Tarangire National Park

Today will be an early morning start with a game drive in Tarangire. Lunch will either be enjoyed picnic style out in the park for continued game drives in the afternoon or enjoyed back at the camp for an afternoon at your leisure. Re-entry into the park is not permitted after the conclusion of the game drives. Yoga on this day will be scheduled during downtime – likely in the early evening hours. tonight you will experience a “Bush Sundowner” with cocktails and snacks on the shores of Manyara with spectacular views from the Rift Valley at sunset.

Day 4: Lake Manyara National Park

Today will journey to Lake Manyara National Park, a small gem nestled below the western wall of the Great Rift Valley. The soda lake for which the park is named appears tinted pink by huge flocks of flamingos. Upon closer inspection, you will find the lake bursting with hippos bobbing in the water or grazing at its edge. With your guide explore by vehicle the park’s many environments and their wildlife, including a jungle-like forest of wild fig, palm, and tamarind trees, an acacia woodland, and a grassy flatland where baobab trees and elephants abound. Keep a keen eye out for the park’s famous tree-climbing lions! We will picnic in the park and have unlimited game drives on this day. Yoga will be enjoyed either in the early part of the day at Lake Burunge Tented Camp or once you arrive and check into Farm House Valley Lodge. Upon arrival at Farm House Valley Lodge you will be greeted by cool drinks and welcome snacks before an evening at your leisure and another delicious dinner.

Day 5: Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of seven World Heritage Sites designated in Tanzania. It is the world’s first multi-purpose land use experiment, combining tourism, research, archeology, wildlife management, and traditional livestock grazing for the Maasai pastoralists for whom the reserve is home. Today we will enter the famous Ngorongoro Crater for a day game drive in what is often referred to as “Africa’s Eden.” The descent into the crater, 2,500 feet below the rim, is an unforgettable experience. While only 100 square miles in area, it offers several distinct habitats: acacia forest, swamp, short grass plains, long grass plains, riverine, and woodland. Each habitat attracts a unique variety of the crater's 30,000 resident animals that create a density and diversity of wildlife unseen anywhere else in Africa. The group will enjoy a  picnic lunch in the crater or hot lunch back at the lodge. Afternoon yoga is to be advised and the rest of your evening is free for drinks, appetizers, and relaxing in the lounge or by the outdoor campfire at your leisure.

Day 6: Serengeti Plain

This morning we will head west, through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the great Serengeti Plain. Ngorongoro is a permanent home to many Maasai pastoralists. You will have the opportunity to visit a Maasai boma (homestead) for an exciting cultural interaction and peek into the lives of this fascinating tribe, known for their beaded jewelry, dramatic dancing, and steadfastness to their indigenous culture. The Serengeti is probably the most famous wildlife area in the world. More than 4 million animals reside within its ecosystem, including a million and a half wildebeest, a quarter million zebra, twice that many gazelle, and tens of thousands of their predators (lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, crocodile, etc.). Moreover, the vast park offers breathtaking scenery unto itself. Scattered throughout the southeastern short grass plains are kopjes, geologic wonders comprised of exposed gneiss and granite shaped by the wind and temperature fluctuations. Different environments emerge as you head deeper into the Serengeti, where you will find riverine forests, acacia woodlands, forested hills, and open grassland that create a vast geographic mosaic. All our days in the Serengeti will include unlimited game drives and yoga will be woven into complement your adventures on the plains!

Day 7: Serengeti National Park

Today we will be accompanied by a trained expert in East African wildlife and ecology, about areas to explore the Serengeti with unlimited game drives in search of the best animal viewing opportunities - dependent on the seasonal and daily migration patterns. We may take early morning drives at dawn and late afternoon drives at dusk – the times of day during which the animals are most active – with a midday rest at camp. Or, head out to explore a greater range of the vast savanna. With multiple vehicles, we will be able to tailor our exploration to suit our needs as a group and yoga will be included during our downtime at camp.

Day 8: Serengeti National Park

For those who are interested, today presents a fabulously unique way to explore the Serengeti. On this optional Balloon Safari ($545pp; book and pay prior to the trip): Rise before sunrise for pick-up at 5:00 am by Serengeti Balloon Safaris for transfer to their launch site in preparation for the balloon flight. As the sun rises your balloon lifts off! This magical experience floating above the treetops offers expansive views of the plains and its wildlife in the peace and serenity of the early morning. Following your flight, you will be treated to a full English breakfast in the African bush. For those who would prefer to stay on the ground, normal game drives will be offered throughout the day.

Day 9: Trip Concludes

The trip concludes today with our final game drive and lunch at the camp. In the afternoon we will board a Coastal Aviation light aircraft flight from Serengeti Seronera airstrip to Kilimanjaro International Airport (via Arusha) for our international departures. The Serengeti flight departs at 4:45 and arrives at JRO at 6:30 pm (included in the price of your program).

Please note that the accommodations, exact timing, and details are subject to change with each trip.