Itineraries – ASPILIA AFRICAN SAFARIS

6 Days Marangu Route

tourism — Thu, 16 May 2019 12:20:34 +0000

6 DAY MARANGU ITINERARY

DAY 1

Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut
Elevation (ft): 6,046 ft to 8,858 ft
Distance: 8 km/5 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest

We depart Moshi for Marangu Gate for the necessary formalities before beginning our trek. The hiking trail begins by ascending a beautiful, tropical rain forest. At the upper edge of the forest line, we have the opportunity to see blue monkeys. The trail then widens to expose beautiful hillsides until we reach Mandara Hut.

DAY 2

Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut
Elevation (ft): 8,858 ft to 12,205 ft
Distance: 12 km/7 miles
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Habitat: Heath

We start the day continuing through the forest until the trail opens into high moorland. We may get our first views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks – two of the three volcanic peaks that make up the summit of Kilimanjaro.

DAY 3

Horombo Hut to Mawenzi Ridge
Elevation (ft): 12,205 ft to 14,400 ft
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
Habitat: Heath

Mawenzi Ridge to Horombo Hut
Elevation (ft): 14,400 ft to 12,205
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Hiking Time: 1-2 hours
Habitat: Heath

This is an extra day meant for acclimatization and can be spent day hiking on Mawenzi Ridge. The unique landscape offers motivating views of Kibo and Mawenzi. After spending a few moments exploring the area we head back to Horombo Hut.

DAY 4

Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut
Elevation (ft): 12,205 ft to 15,430 ft
Distance: 10 km/6 miles
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

We climb gradually, then cross the lunar desert of the “Saddle” between Mawenzi and Kibo. Our camp, Kibo Hut, sits at the bottom of the Kibo crater wall. Once here we rest, enjoy an early dinner to prepare for the summit day.

DAY 5

Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak
Elevation (ft): 15,430 ft to 19,341 ft
Distance: 6 km/4 miles
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Habitat: Arctic

Uhuru Peak to Horombo Hut
Elevation (ft): 19,341 ft to 12,250 ft
Distance: 16 km/10 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Heath

Very early in the morning (around midnight), we begin our push to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short, breaks. At Gilman’s point (18,600 ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see coming over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak- the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.

After spending a few moments taking in the plains of Africa and your accomplishment, we descend to Horombo Hut. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

DAY 6

Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate
Elevation (ft): 12,205 ft to 6,046 ft
Distance: 20 km/12 miles
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest

On our last day, we have a long trek mostly downhill through the tropical rainforest. Once at the park headquarters at Marangu gate, we collect our summit certificates. A vehicle will meet us here and drive us back to the hotel in Moshi.

6 Days Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro crater and Tarangire

tourism — Thu, 16 May 2019 12:20:00 +0000

Day 1 – Arusha – Lake Manyara

Non game-viewing travel time: 2½ hours
Distance: 130 km

Pick up from Arusha and transfer to Lake Manyara national park.
We arrive in time for lunch at the lodge and after lunch do we head into the Lake Manyara National Park for an afternoon game drive. This national park is one of Tanzania’s most dramatically located wildlife areas, consisting of a massive but shallow soda lake (covering two-thirds of the park), located at the foot of the Great Rift Valley’s western escarpment. The park’s varied habitat attracts a wide variety of animals, including one of Africa’s largest concentrations of elephants, Lake Manyara’s unique tree-climbing lions, as well as large flocks of flamingos attracted by the algae in the lake.

Dinner and overnight as per the standard and type of accommodation option requested.

Day 2 – Lake Manyara – Serengeti Plains

Non game-viewing travel time: 6 hours
Distance: 205 km

After breakfast we head towards the Serengeti National Park, via the beautiful high lying farmland of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Leaving the highlands behind, we descend into the heart of wild Africa – the Serengeti National Park – with its endless plains, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. We head to the central park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti’s species.
We arrive in time for lunch and enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Serengeti national park.

Dinner and overnight in the Seronera area, as per the standard and type of accommodation option requested.

Day 3 – Serengeti Plains

Be one of only a few fortunate people to glide in a Hot Air Balloon over the Serengeti Plains (available at supplementary cost by pre-arrangement). Floating silently above the awakening bush, while spotting wildlife and enjoying the amazing scenery of Africa, across rivers and over numerous small villages.

We do an after breakfast game viewing drive along the Sogore River Circuit, which loops into the plains south of the Seronera River, and which is good for possible Lion, Thomson gazelle, topi, ostrich and cheetah sightings. The Visitor Centre close to the Serengeti Seronera Lodge and public campsites, is well worth a visit after the morning’s game drive. This nicely designed centre offers some interesting wildlife displays as well as a gift shop selling information leaflets and maps of the area. The centre also has a shop where cold drinks and snacks can be purchased, as well as a picnic area and information trail up and around a nearby kopje. We will enjoy a relaxed picnic lunch at the centre in the shade of the giant acacia trees.

In the afternoon we will follow the Kopjes Circuit, which goes anti-clockwise around the Maasai Kopjes, which usually attract a number of lion and some formidably large cobras. Kopjes are weathered granite outcrops, scattered around the plains, most of which are miniature ecosystems, providing shade and drinking water in pools left in the rock after the rains. This makes the kopjes particularly good for spotting wildlife in the dry seasons – including lions, which like to lie in wait for animals coming to drink!

Dinner and overnight in the Seronera area, as per the standard and type of accommodation option requested.

Day 4 – Serengeti Plains – Ngorongoro crater

Non game-viewing travel time: 4 hours
Distance: 145 km

After breakfast at the lodge do we depart to Ngorongoro Conservation area. We will stopover at Olduvai Gorge, boasting with a history dating back to the dawn of time. It was here, that the anthropologists Drs. Lois
and Mary Leakey discovered the skulls of ‘Nutcracker Man’ and ‘Handy Man’, both very significant links in the chain of human evolution.

We arrive in time for lunch at the lodge and after lunch we will descend over 600 meters into the crater to view wildlife for a half day’s safari tour. Supported by a year round water supply and fodder, the Ngorongoro National Park supports a vast variety of animals, which include herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants. Another big draw card to this picturesque national park, is it’s dense population of predators, which include lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and the ever-elusive leopard, which sometimes requires a trained eye to spot. We will visit Lake Magadi, a large but shallow alkaline lake in the southwestern corner, which is one of the main features of the crater. A large number of flamingos, hippos and other water birds can usually been seen here.

Dinner and overnight as per the standard and type of accommodation option requested.

Day 5 – Ngorongoro Crater – Tarangire National Park

Non game-viewing travel time: 3½ hours
Distance: 155 km

After breakfast we depart for the Tarangire National Park. The park runs along the line of the Tarangire River and is mainly made up of low-lying hills on the Great Rift Valley floor. Its natural vegetation mainly consists of Acacia woodland and giant African Baobab trees, with huge swamp areas in the south. Both the river and the swamps act like a magnet for wild animals, during Tanzania’s dry season. The Tarangire National Park is reputed to contain some of the largest elephant herds in Africa. This African national park is also home to three rare species of animals – the Greater Kudu, the Fringed-eared Oryx, as well as a few Ashy Starlings. After a picnic lunch we do an afternoon game drive.

Dinner and overnight in the Tarangire National Park area, as per the standard and type of accommodation option requested.

Day 6 – Tarangire National Park – Arusha

Non game-viewing travel time: 2 hours
Distance: 120 km

We enjoy breakfast at the lodge and then transfer back to Arusha. Upon arrival in Arusha will we have lunch and then we will end our African safari adventure. The group should tip the guide around $20 a day. You will be taken to your hotel, which ends our safari services.

DEPARTURE DATES

The departure dates for all our Africa safaris, tours, holidays and travel packages are totally flexible according to your own personal needs. Please contact us for further and more detailed information, as well as information on our Africa safaris, tours, holidays and travel packages into Tanzania.

4 Days to Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater

tourism — Thu, 16 May 2019 12:19:12 +0000

DAY 1: DEPART TO TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK & A FULL DAY GAME DRIVE

Pick you up at the hotel in Arusha at 7:30 am, and drive for 2 – 3 hours to Tarangire National Park with packed lunch boxes. On arrival, go for a full day game drive across the enormous beautiful Tarangire until sunset.

The animals come by thousands from as far north as the shores of Lake Natron to the bank of this river, significantly swelling the resident population with wildebeest, zebra, eland, elephant, hartebeest, buffalo, and fringe-eared oryx. During the dry season, the Tarangire pools are full of thirsty migrants, and the elephants begin to dig for underground streams in the dry riverbed. Tarangire National Park is said to have the highest recorded number of breeding bird species for any habitat in the world.

Back at in the evening for dinner, and stay the overnight will be at Tarangire Safari Lodge (lunch & dinner included)

DAY 2: DEPART TO LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK FOR A FULL DAY GAME DRIVE

After breakfast, depart to Lake Manyara National Park (2 hours drive) with packed lunch boxes. On arrival, go for a full day game drive until early evening.

This is a small but very beautiful park offering breathtaking views, excellent game viewing and an incredible array of bird-life. You have a chance to spot zebra, baboon, warthog, giraffe, impala, elephant, hippo, wildebeest and the rare tree climbing lion.

Back in the late evening and spend the night at Tloma Lodge (breakfast, lunch & dinner included)

DAY 3: DEPART TO NGORONGORO CRATER FOR A GAME DRIVE

After an early breakfast, depart for Ngorongoro Crater (a 2 hours drive) with packed lunch boxes. On arrival, descend to 600m depth for a game drive in this ‘8^th World Wonder’

As an UNESCO World Heritage Site the crater offers a unique biosphere which has remained virtually unchanged since the dawn of time. There are very few places in the world where you can find such a large population of wildlife throughout the year.
Deep within the crater, enclosed by towering walls, you have a good chance of spotting ‘The Big 5’: Lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard. For the latter two you need a bit of luck as they tend to shy away. Approximately 30,000 animals live on the crater floor!

After this great experience – transfer you to the lodge, dinner when you are ready and spend the night at Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge (breakfast, lunch & dinner included)

DAY 4: DEPART TO ARUSHA

After breakfast, depart back to Arusha (a 2 – 3 hours drive) with packed lunch boxes. On arrival, transfer you to the hotel/catch a flight back home (breakfast & lunch included)

7 Days Zanzibar and Unguja

tourism — Thu, 16 May 2019 12:16:15 +0000

DAY 1: STONE TOWN TOUR.

Your program starts with a morning visit by walk on our Historical Stone Town Tour. This tour takes you through fabled Stone Town, where history appears to stand still. With visits to the House of Wonders, the Palace Museum (People’s Palace) and the Arab Fort amongst others, it is a fascinating look at the essence of Zanzibar. You will see Zanzibar’s bustling market, winding alleyways, ornately carved and studded doors, two cathedrals and countless mosques!
Dinner and overnight stay at Coral beach resort: (Bed and breakfast).

DAY 2: HOUSE OF WONDERS.

The House of Wonders show the cultural and architectural influences of Zanzibar, Britain, Portugal, and Oman over the centuries. When it was built it was the most modern building in East Africa. It was the first building to have electricity and an elevator. The House of Wonders hosts a historical exhibition and offers insight into Zanzibari and Swahili culture. It is a very important and visually stunning historic building in Stone Town. The House of Wonders is the grandest and tallest building in all of Stone Town and is found in a prominent location in front of the Forodhani Gardens on the old town’s waterfront along Mizingani Road.
Dinner and overnight stay at Coral beach resort: (Bed and breakfast).

DAY 3: SPICE TOUR.

Today you will go on an excursion to the spice and fruit plantations close to Stone town for the famous Spice Tour. We have developed a special spice tour with in-depth information not only about spices but also organically grown herbs and a detailed description of their traditional uses in medicine cosmetics and cooking. After the tour, we invite for an opulent lunch at our guides’ home, where you can taste the spices and fruits. After lunch, we take you to your beach resort.
On the way, you will pass Jozani Forest, the last habitat of the rare endemic Red Colobus Monkey. With a local guide, you stroll through Jozani Chwaka National Park and look at the rare monkeys. If you wish you can even wander down the boardwalk to the fascinating Mangrove Ecosystem.
Dinner and overnight stay at Coral beach resort: (Bed and breakfast).

DAY 4: DOLPHIN TRIP.

Today you will visit Kizimkazi. Situated on the southern point of the island, Kizimkazi fishing village is home to several schools of bottle-nosed dolphins and Humpback dolphins, which can often be sighted following a short boat trip from the village. If you are lucky, you may be able to swim quite close to the dolphins, which can be a very rewarding experience. We are doing this trip in the afternoon to avoid the crowds of tourists in the morning, which in big numbers disturbing the dolphins.
Dinner and overnight at Fumba Beach Lodge: (Bed and breakfast).

DAY 5: SAFARI BLUE TOUR.

Morning at 7:30 picked up from your hotel to Fumba village where you will meet your special boat, it is about visiting three different sandbanks and you will stop in one of those for Seafood lunch where by later you do snorkeling and having the chance of seeing the dolphins. It is full day back at 17:30 Fumba village and arrives at the hotel around 18:30.then back to the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the Tembo Hotel: (Bed and breakfast).

DAY 6: ZANZIBAR TO THE AIRPORT.

Depending on your flight schedule and departure point you will be transferred to the Zanzibar Airport to take a flight back home. If you are flying out of Dar es Salaam or Nairobi, we will arrange a connection flight for you to catch your flight back home.

TRIP INCLUDES.

• All transfers while in Zanzibar.
• All entries fees as listed in the itinerary
• All accommodations on bed, dinner & breakfast
• Pick up from hotel to Airport for flight
• All tours & excursion
• Lunch during tours & excursion

TRIP EXCLUDES.

• International airfare & flights
• All items of a personal nature
• Airport departure tax
• Travel insurance
• Visa and Passport fees.

2 Days Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara

tourism — Thu, 16 May 2019 12:14:37 +0000

Day 1 – Arusha – Lake Manyara

Non game-viewing travel time: 2 ½ hours
Distance: 130 km

Meet our professional tours guide/driver in Arusha town, who will deliver a short safari info briefing, after which, we travel to the Lake Manyara National Park. We arrive in time for lunch at the lodge. After lunch we head into the Lake Manyara National Park. This impressive park is one of Tanzania’s most dramatically located wildlife areas, consisting of a massive but shallow soda lake (covering two-thirds of the park) at the foot of the Great Rift Valley’s western escarpment. The park’s varied habitat attracts a wide variety of animals, including one of Africa’s largest concentrations of elephants, Manyara’s famous tree-climbing lions, as well as large flocks of flamingos attracted by the algae in the lake.

Dinner and overnight as per the standard and type of accommodation option requested.

Day 2 – Lake Manyara National Park – Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha

Non game-viewing travel time: 2 & 4 hours
Distance: 60km & 190 km

After breakfast we descend 600m into this magnificent crater for a morning, half-day game drive. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most densely crowded African wildlife areas in the world and is home to an estimated 30,000 animals including some of Tanzania’s last remaining black rhino. Supported by a year round water supply and fodder, the Ngorongoro National Park supports a vast variety of animals, which include herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants. Another big draw card to this picturesque national park is the dense population of predators, which include lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and the ever-elusive leopard, which sometimes requires a trained eye to spot. We will enjoy a picnic lunch in the crater, after which we travel back to Arusha where we will end our African safari adventure. The group should tip the tour guide around $20 a day for all our safaris. You will be taken to your hotel, which ends our safari packages services.

DEPARTURE DATES

The departure dates for all our African safaris and tours, packages are totally flexible according to your own personal needs. Please contact us for further and more detailed info on safaris, tours and travel packages into Tanzania.

1 Day Tarangire National Park

tourism — Thu, 16 May 2019 12:14:00 +0000

Day 1 Arusha – Tarangire National Park

We will collect you from your hotel in Arusha and following a 2-3 hour drive, you will arrive at the Tarangire National Park. In this region, Hemmingway often went on big game hunting safaris. After the formation of the national parks in 1970, they turned the seasonal marshes and the endless savannah that one sees today into, once again, profitable hunting grounds. Today however, cameras thankfully have replaced the elephant guns. The Tarangire National Park has the highest density of elephants in North Tanzania and you can view these animals all year round in which the herds often can reach an impressive number of 300 animals. The Tarangire River has water all year round and during the dry season, between July and October, many animals from the surrounding areas come to the river for drinking. If you visit the park during the dry season, you will witness an unforgettable natural wonder as you can observe wonderful creatures such as lions, giraffes, buffaloes, wildebeests and zebras as well as various types of antelopes and gazelles and with a little luck, you can also spot a python! This area is during the dry season also a haven for bird watchers with over 550 different species including the Masai Ostrich -the world largest bird. Around lunchtime, you will stop at a suitable picnic place before the afternoon is dedicated to more wildlife watching. Before sunset, you will be taken back to your hotel in Arusha.
Lunch

Items included:

Day trip according to the itinerary
Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
Professional, English-speaking guide
Meals according to the itinerary
Mineral water
All mentioned activities
All national park fees
Flying Doctors insurance (AMREF) during the day trip

Items excluded:

Flights
Optional activities
Alcoholic and soft drinks
Visa fees
Tips
Personal spending money for souvenirs etc.
Travel insurance

1 Day Ngorongoro Crater

tourism — Wed, 08 May 2019 07:02:20 +0000

Ngorongoro Crater Tour day Trip is a short Safari tour departs from Arusha that gives visitors great chance to visit the famous Ngorongoro Crater in the northern circuit tour destination of Tanzania. The Crater is the world’s largest unbroken caldera which hosts varieties of animals includes the rare black Rhino, the best chosen Tanzania day trip you might not miss. We do not have fixed departure dates for this tour, anyone can book and do it any day, all are welcomed, individuals to incentive groups, though joining group can be organized on request for flexible guests.

Trip Info

You will enjoy and experience nature, wildlife, habit and habitat of the fauna and flora in the natural areas, also peoples and culture. Availability 100% Sure, Book today

Minimum Rate Per Adult: US$ 191

Departing From: Arusha

Duration: One Day Tour

Departure Time: 0630 Hrs (possible to leave earlier than)

Departures: Daily

Minimum Persons Required: 2

Best Time: All the year round

Detailed Tour Itinerary

At 0600 hrs in the morning, be ready for a pick up from your hotel or from your stay in Arusha town, your driver guide will collect your picnic lunches, drive 190 km on tarmac road to Ngorongoro Conservation entry gate.

From the gate, drive to the Crater Rim and spend few minutes for awesome view of the Crater from the top, descend into the crater floor for a day game drives. Ngorongoro Crater is one the largest intact caldera in the world and one of the most spectacular sights in the whole of Africa. All the BIG FIVE Rhino, Lion, Leopard, Buffalo and Elephant live in this wonderful caldera, others are Zebra, Hippo, Wildebeest, Hyena and more… Birds includes flamingos on the Soda lake, Geese, Storks, Vultures and more other bird families.

Your picnic lunch will be served in the Crater picnic site at Ngoitokok swamp, a Hippo pool, after lunch proceeds with afternoon game viewing. At 1500 hrs ascend the Crater and drive back to Arusha, End of Service