Get close to nature with this trekking safari, visiting Ngorongoro Highlands, Lake Natron, Olmoti Crater and hiking with donkeys into The Empakai Crater.
Overall operator rating 9.7/10 from 19 trip reviews
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My customized 13-day trip in Tanzania was absolutely amazing!
From breathtaking Ngorongoro hiking to a taste of Kilimanjaro and local village visits, it was truly a life-changing experience.
My driver and tour manager went out of their way to accommodate my whims and made sure that my stay in Tanzania was a pleasant one. Unfortunately I fractured my ankle during one of the hikes I took, but I was taken to the hospital immediately, and taken a great care of.
I would definitely recommend this operator to anyone who's looking for a tour that's much more than just game drives.'
We went on a two day walking – canoeing trip in Arusha National Park. The tour operator also made hotel arrangements for the first three days we were in Arusha.
They stayed in contact for 11 months via email. The person I was in contact with Elifasi and our guide, Apolo Kihwil, meet us at the airport took us to our hotel. On our rest day we visited a school at our request and not part of the paid itinerary this was on their time.
Our guide Apolo was the best we had on our entire trip. He was informative, friendly and had a great sense of humor, we were rewarded with a dream trip my favorite giraffe and several at a time the last bunch we counted eleven, baboons, wart hogs, black and white monkeys, hundreds of thousand of lesser and greater flamingos on big Momella Lake he provide delicious lunches and was infinitely patient while we took photographs.
I would not hesitate to use them on my next trip to Tanzania and would request Apolo as our guide.
We had a most wonderful holiday in Kenya and Tanzania.
They looked after us very well and we were very satisfied with their service. The service provided value for money. The only comment we would make is that the email from them gave us the impression that we would be staying in a lodge but when we arrived we were in a tent. We were satisfied with the tented accomodation, however it could have been made clearer in the original email that it was tented accomodation.
The staff were very kind and helpful.
Tour Operators Reply:
Thank you for the client's feedback and contructive comment/suggestion. We are glad that they were very satisfied with the service we provided to them, despite their impression that they would be staying in a lodge instead of tent.
As per the first enquiry which the clients sent into our company, she stated that she will prefer to stay in Camping “Accommodation Preference: Camping” and the price given to them was based on Camping accommodation, and these was stated in the itinerary that “Dinner and overnight at the camp”
However, there was typing error at the end of the itinerary which indicates Lodge accommodation instead of Camping accommodation.
We will try our level best to make sure that this mistake will not happen again.
After having a wonderful safari in southern Africa organised through your webiste, we decided to return again to Tanzania after 45 years.
We booked a 19 day safari to visit six game parks...Selous, Mikumi, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Tarangari.
Our guide/driver, Hurumu, met us at the Dar airport and drove us to a hotel for our day of jet lag recovery. We drove to Selous first. We're not strangers to East Africa, having first arrived in 1963. By far, Hurumu is the best guide that we've ever had. He was extremely knowledgeable of wildlife, has great game eyes, a good conversationalist, and was very caring for all our needs. He understood our physical age limitations (74) but was not at all solicitous. Cool water was always available. Hurumu had the ability to always get the Toyota into position for the best photograph.
We made our initial contact the operator in 2009. Elifasi, in the office, worked with me to create the itinerary. He also was most helpful. While at Selous we requested an itinerary change. Elifasi made the changes without a problem.
The entire safari was most enjoyable and problem free.
The best of Kenya & Tanzania and they made that experience a reality. They were always on time, concerned about our well being and would without any reservations recommend them! The scenery and game viewing were all memorable and expectations met. Organizing the tour was also without any hassle
I went solo, a 50 something white woman, and me and _______ (I forget his name), rode around for 5 hours. It was a unbelievable experience.
He was a wonderful guide, I called him the "Mayor" because everybody knew him! He was so popular everywhere we went that I felt completely comfortable, safe, and like an invited family friend.
He showed me 3 or 4 neighborhoods, I met coffee makers, chapati breakfast cooks (had breakfast there with a Masaai family who stopped by!), a traditional herbalist (where I learned the treatment for meconium aspiration, I'm a perinatal pathologist!), herbal pharmacist (where I saw that fenugreek seed is used to facilitate delivery with prolonged labor), local market, fabric seller, and had a delicious lunch at an outside Swahili restaurant. I played with kids, talked with everyone, and really got a great sense of the community.
My guide also is very active in local projects and inspired me to help with a bridge rebuilding project he is spear heading. The bicycle riding was easy and really the only way to get around in these neighborhoods. It was by far the best experience I had in Dar, and one of the best I have had in my many travels in East Africa!
We could not have asked for abetter way to end our incredible adventures in Tanzania. We saw everything and did everything we could have ever imagined. From the big game watching in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Lake Manyara, to ascending the highly active volcano next to Lake Natron, it was all so unbelievably incredible. A total dream come true!
Our guide Huruma had he most expansive breadth of knowledge of the natural environment, he was a pleasure to talk to. He was also extremely flexible with us as lans often changed for various reasons, but ALWAYS for the better. Huruma made us feel safe and comfortable the whole time. Alex our cook as wonderful as well making sure we had the best quality meals possiblemade from the freshest ingredients.
Choosing a safari operator is tough, but I will just say that I will always recommend these guys. They are very professional and will do everything to make sure you have the best trip possible. Thanks again for our lifetime memories. We will be back, so you will hear from us again.
Thanks Elfasi for all your time, flexibility and support in orchestrating this dream trip.
I would without hesitation recommend this operatorfor any Kilimanjaro Climb attempt and most certainly would suggest that you ask for Florence and his team.
I am reasonably confident that should you be looking for other adventures in northern Tanzania that you give them a try
I am happy to inform you that I was really happy with their services they provided me.
A special thanks and recomendation to the manager Mr Elifasi who was very helpfull. He really did his best to make our stay a nice one : he came with the driver to the airport to pick us up, as well he came along as well to drop us again. He was very invloved and met us various times in the hotel, even onces on a sunday evening.
His guides were very profesionall and friendly. We did not reach the summit of the Kilimanjaro, but we definately can look back to a very nice time, a big part of this was due to the smooth organisation of the operator.
I had a REALLY enjoyable cycle tour with Mejah. It was one of the highlights of my stay in Tanzania and a wonderful way to end my trip.
Mejah's vision for both cycling and encouraging entrepreneurialism in Tanzania are an inspiration. I discovered a lot about parts of Dar Es Salaam that I would never normally be encouraged to visit and I also learnt more about Tanzanian culture and attitudes. Mejah's concern for local people, businesses as well as environmental issues was encouraging and very close to my own interests and concerns.
I really hope that you can encourage and sponsor more of this kind of tourism.
When I come back to Tanzania, this is precisely the kind of thing I would be looking for.
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Itinerary
7 days: Ngorongoro Highland and Lake Natron Trek This is an exciting trek including game drives, taking you from Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Crater all the way up to Lake Natron. You will be accompanied by our walking guide, a park ranger and Maasai warriors to protect you from animals. Donkeys are carrying your luggage and supplies, and can even assist you if you feel too tired to walk by yourself. Overnight will be in campsites throughout the safari, your accommodations on your arrival day and on the last day after safari 'in Arusha town' are not included in the package price below but we can arrange on request. For this particular tour, we recommend you to book a flight to Kilimanjaro Airport and return, alternatively to Nairobi(Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) and return. You will not be with other guests in our vehicle(s) and we have the flexibility that you may need to accommodate your needs and requirements.
I T I N E R A R Y:
Arrival day: Transfer from point of arrival to Arusha. Your transfer and accommodation on this day is not included in the price but we can arrange on request which will attract some extra costs.
Day 1: Arusha - Lake Manyara - Ngorongoro In the morning after breakfast at around 0830hrs depart Arusha and drive to Lake Manyara National Park for game viewing, in the afternoon at around 1300hrs you will stop for picnic lunch, after lunch you will continue with game viewing in the Manyara Park and at around 1530hrs you will leave Manyara Park and drive to Ngorongoro for sunset.
Attractions available at Manyara Park: A major attraction of the Lake Manyara National Park is the tree - climbing lions. Unfortunately there is no guarantee that you will spot them. However, there are other things to see - elephants, hippos, zebras, impalas, buffalos, baboons, plains animals as well as huge variety of birdlife, both resident and migratory.
At certain times of the year, Lake Manyara is home to thousands of flamingos (attracted by the Lake itself), which form a shimmering pink zone around the lake shore. Other birds found here include ostriches, egrets, herons, pelicans and storks. Also seen are African spoonbills, various species of ibises, ducks and the rare pygmy geese. The most noticeable of the landscape within this park are the very impressive baobab trees with their huge trunks.
Accommodation: Camping (Simba Campsite) Meals: Full board
Day 2: Morning game drive in Ngorongoro - Olmoti Crater In the morning after breakfast at 0800hrs descend into the crater for game drive, continue to Olmoti crater, hike to the crater rim and down to waterfalls. Afternoon: continue to Embulbul, and spend the night at a campsite.
About Olmoti crater: This shallow grassy crater is the source of the Munge river, which pours through a north in the rim in a spectacular waterfall on its way to Ngorongoro crater. You will participate in a pleasant walk from Nainokanoka ranger post, through the forest up to the top of the waterfall.
Accommodation: Private camp Meals: Full board
Day 3: Olmoti Crater to Empakai After breakfast you will continue on your way heading to Empakai crater and hike into Empakai Crater with an armed ranger.
About Empakai Crater: No roads and no human inhabitants, a crater which contains forests and a deep lake, where flocks of flamingos can be spotted. The cardera is six kilometers wide and the lake occupies nearly half of its floor. The scenery is spectacular at every point. From the northern and eastern side you can look out to the dramatic cone of Oldonyo Lengai, the Great Rift Valley and Lake Natron. On the valleys eastern side you might see the snow capped peak of Kilimanjaro. It is possible to camp on the rim and hike into the crater with an armed ranger.
Accommodation: Private camp on the Crater Rim of Empakai Meals: Full board
Day 4: Empakai to Rift Valley In the morning after breakfast at around 0830hrs using donkeys for camp porterage, you will walk from Empakai Crater downward towards the edge of the Rift Valley Escarpment. Camp at an excellent viewpoint onto the Rift Valley and the splendid cone of Lengai volcano (for the Maassai, the Mountain of Godalley)
Accommodaton: Private campsite near Escarpment Meals: Full board
Day 5: Rift Valley to Lake Natron In the morning at 0830hrs treking into the Rift Valley, base of Ol Doinyo Lengai mountain, Hike into the Rift Valley: steep cliffs on one side, Lake Natron in front and the impressive stratovolcano of Lengai on the other side. Down in the valley, you will relax at a comfortable campsite near Lake Natron.
Accommodaton: Private campsite near lake Natron Meals: Full board
Day 6: Lake Natron Full day tour of Lake Natron where the highlights include the Engaresero river gorge, breeding flamingos in the soda lake, waterfalls and rift cliffs, (water-shoes are required, and swimsuits!).
Accommodaton: Private campsite near lake Natron Meals: Full board
Day 7: Travel back to Arusha In the morning after breakfast at around 08300hrs drive from Lake Natron back to Arusha. Overnight at a hotel in Arusha. Your accommodation on this day is not included in the price but we can arrange on request which will attract some extra costs.
Departure day: Pick up from the hotel in Arusha and transfer to your departure point. Transfer cost on this day is not included in the price but we can arrange on request at extra costs.
End of Tour
PRICE: US $1,861 per person
Price Includes: - Full board accommodation while on safari - Transport on a 4WD vehicle with a pop up roof - All parks entrance fees - Ranger and guide fees and allowances - Activities as per the itineraries
Price Excludes: - Accommodation on the first night on your arrival day before safari and on the last night after safari in Arusha town (book with us) - Airport transfers, book with us for US$60 per vehicle (6 seats) per transfer. - International flights - Tips and drinks - Sleeping bags, but we have for hire - Items of personal nature/use - And all not mentioned on the itinerary above
