Ngorongoro & Serengeti Safari – 2 Days

Ngorongoro & Serengeti Safari

Duration:2 Days

Led By: Locally LED

Price:$1,463.00

Number of Persons: $1,463.00 per person

Ngorongoro Conservation Area 2 Nights

Day 01

A representative of Keys Hotel will meet you at reception (they will advise you the exact time to meet) and transfer you to Arusha Town (arrival around 08h30 at our Offices) for a short briefing. After the briefing your crew will assist you in purchasing water, other beverages or items of a personal nature and help you, if necessary, to exchange money at a bureau de change.

We transfer from Moshi to Arusha, one way in private 4×4 vehicles with game viewing hatches for Adventure Grade. Tonight we camp on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater.

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 very warm jacket here.

Day 02

Today we will descend the steep walls of the crater to admire the microcosms 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 8,300km2 Ngorongoro Conservation Area is named after its central feature the Ngorongoro Crater, which is the world largest intact volcanic caldera and within which has evolved an extraordinary natural sanctuary for some of Africa’s densest populations of large mammals.

The crater floor itself is 260km2 and from the viewing points at the rim the vast herds of wildebeest, buffalo and zebra look like mere ant formations winding their way across the grasslands below! The crater is also home to a great diversity of environments and you may encounter all of the large herbivores mentioned above, as well as lions, hyenas, jackals, male elephants (females and family groups tend to stay up on the higher slopes) and, in the forest around the rim, occasional leopard and bushbuck.

There is an active black rhino breeding project inside the crater and you may be lucky enough to spot some of these magnificent, shy beasts during your tour, but sightings are limited as breeding areas are strictly protected and usually closed to public access.

We spend 6 hours on safari today before driving back to Arusha.

Adventure Grade

“Adventure Grade” Camping Safaris are run with a crew of a cook / assistant plus guide. It is a viable option for those keen to camp and stay in more remote places.

You are accompanied by an experienced, knowledgeable guide, a camp assistant and a cook – all fully trained professionals who will prioritise your comfort and safety as well as striving to ensure optimal game-viewing opportunities throughout your journey.

Meals usually consist of a cooked breakfast or brunch, light lunch and a three course
dinner. Fridges are used for safe and efficient storage of meat and food, and cool boxes are used for keeping your drinks cold – your guide will show you the best places to purchase these prior to departure and along the way.

You are requested to erect your own tent on arrival at camp and dismantle your tent on departure. This is very simple to do and takes about five minutes – your guide will show you how this is done. The balance of the chores (cooking, washing up, etc) will be taken care of by the camp assistant and cook.

It is important to note that this is a quality camping product, and not a luxury mobile camp. Accommodation is in the public campsites of Tanzania’s National Parks and, despite our best efforts, we have very little control over the quality and standards of ablution facilities at the campsite.

Please be aware that the toilets in public campsites are long-drop style without flush.

Game viewing at Lake Manyara National Park with picnic lunch included.
Lake Manyara is a shallow, alkaline lake at the base of a sheer stretch of the western Rift Valley escarpment.

The north-western area of this lake is protected in a 330 square kilometre national park, which contains a remarkable diversity of terrestrial habitats: the grassy floodplain of the lakeshore, the rocky base of the escarpment, a belt of thick acacia woodland and a lush patch of groundwater forest just inside the northern entrance gate. An interesting biodiversity of fauna and flora can be observed here and a variety of large mammal species including elephant, buffalo, wildebeest, giraffe and lion.

Perhaps, however, the most immediately visible residents are the troupes of olive baboon, sometimes found in the company of the smaller and rather beautiful blue monkey. This is also a wonderful location for viewing groups of elephant and, for keen birders, Manyara has recorded almost 400 species due to the wide habitat diversity.

After game viewing, you will weave your way upwards into the dense forest slopes of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, pausing to admire the splendid view of the crater floor 600 m below at Heroes Point, before driving on to our campsite on the rim of the Ngorongoro caldera.

If we arrive and set up camp in good time, you may consider an early evening/sunset visit to a Maasai boma where you can spend some time learning about the culture, traditions and beliefs of this ancient, noble warrior tribe. This visit is at an additional cost, and should be discussed with, and paid directly to the guide.

Overnight at a public campsite on the crater rim in the conservation area including all meals.

Inclusion

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  • Transfer from Moshi to Arusha, one way
  • Private 4×4 vehicle with game viewing hatches for Adventure Grade
  • Camping Safari from Arusha, return to Arusha including equipment
  • (Walk-in safari tents (3m x 1.9m x 3m), camp bedroll and bedding,mess tent, tables, chairs, fridges and / or cool boxes), driver / English speaking guide and safari chef, fuel, game drives, all vehicle / staff entries, and Public and Passenger Liability.
  • All the equipment is carried in a trailer. Guests are requested to erect their own tents, but the crew will take care of the rest of the chores.
  • All meals and additional services for Adventure Grade Camping Safari 2 nights camping Ngorongoro Crater
    Ngorongoro Park Fees.
  • Ngorongoro Camp Fees for public campsite.
  • Crater Visit Fee.

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The Kilimanjaro Adventurer

Contingencies

In case one person gets sick and has to stay behind or even return, he or she will be accompanied by one of the assistant guides while other climbers go on with the leading guide and other assistant guide(s). Unlike most other companies who charge about US$100, we provide a free transfer from the mountain to the hotel should a climber return earlier than planned. However, if the climb is extended for any reason, we will charge $170 per day per person.

Tipping

Tipping our porters, guides and cooks is an important way for us to supplement their wages. The following is a guide on what to expect to pay while in East Africa. Guide: US$10 Porter: US$5 Assistant Guide: US$7 Cook: US$4

This tipping structure is per group/per day. This is a local payment and cannot be paid directly to Wild Spirit Adventures. The amount you tip will depend on which Track you do however on average it adds approximately US$150 – US$250 to the cost of the expedition. All companies use this tipping arrangement.

Set Departures vs. Private Climbs Mt Kilimanjaro

Due to popular demand, we have group departures on the Marangu, Machame and Umbwe routes throughout the year.
When you book, kindly advise if your guests would like a PRIVATE or GROUP departure. Should it be the latter, we will endeavour to put them with other guests on the climb itself. Generally, Saturday arrival (Sunday climb) is the most popular days of the week as such we can more readily put your guests with others over the weekends.
Your consultant will confirm with you if your clients will be climbing with others or not, and the approximate group size during the booking process. We cannot guarantee a group departure, as certain times of the year are busier than others – and should you guest be travelling alone, then the solo / single supplement would still apply.

Please note

SOLO climber rate – This includes single room supplement at the hotel, single tent supplement on mountain, and solo climber supplement, i.e. to climb privately, not part of a group. Should you request for an individual to join a group, we cannot always guarantee the availability of others to climb, and therefore retain the right to charge the solo rate should we be unsuccessful in finding others to climb with your client.

Excludes

Travel insurance, tips (budget approx USD130-150 per person for any of the six day camping route), drinks and items of a personal nature, personal equipment. Airport transfers and shuttle bus optional extra.

Payments for drinks and extras at Keys Hotel

For all payments made by Travellers Cheque there is a service charge of US $15. Also all payments made by Credit Cards, attracts a surcharge of 7.5%.
Please pay preferably by CASH USD, small denomination notes are recommended (1’s, 5’s, 10’s etc for the smaller bills).
Telephone Calls are EXTREMELY expensive from the hotel for various reasons; please ASK FIRST before you call!

Tips

The tips have become a tradition, and are expected by the guides and porters for all attempting Kilimanjaro. Please budget around USD 170- 190 for this six day camping hike – per climber – which gets split across the group. Old clothing is also appreciated! Please do not provide tips whilst on the mountain (see tipping document).

Phone Home / Let the world know you made it!!!

There is cell phone network coverage on certain parts of Kilimanjaro and in
Tanzania, so remember to organise an international roaming facility.

Flights

It is imperative that you reconfirm your onward/return flights.

Visas

Most nationalities require a visa to enter Tanzania, which you can obtain on
arrival for USD 50 per person (depending on your nationality).

Health

Please note you will need a Yellow Fever inoculation, this must be done no later than 10 days prior to departure. If you have had any previous history of liver disorders you must consult your physician first. Malaria prophylactics are a must. Please refer to our medical sheet for the mountain.

Which is the best season on Kilimanjaro?

The January to March season tends to be colder and there is a much greater chance of snow on the path at this time. The days, however, are often clearer, with only the occasional brief shower. It is usually an exceptionally beautiful time to climb and is often a little quieter than the other peak season of June to October.

Mt Kilimanjaro

“As wide as all the world, great, high, and unbelievably white in the sun,
was the square top of Mount Kilimanjaro” Ernest Hemingway.

The first written reference to Mt. Kilimanjaro was by Ptolemy but even so, Africa’s highest mountain and the highest free standing mountain in the world remained relatively unknown to the outside world until 1848.

Snow capped and shrouded by clouds, the local Chagga people called it ‘Kilema Kyaro’ meaning ‘that which cannot be conquered’ or ‘that which makes a journey impossible.’ Today, it is the dream of every adventurer to conquer its summit and stand on the “roof of Africa.”

Situated south of the equator – in Tanzania – at 19 340 feet, (5895m) this is Africa’s highest mountain and the highest “free standing” mountain in the world.

Huge permanent glaciers flow down from the summit, and spectacular views and beautiful ice formations are the reward for the successful trekker, as well as the satisfaction of conquering this mighty peak.

It is not for the faint-hearted – this will test you to your limits, mentally as well as physically. The main problems encountered are altitude sickness, which can be countered by use of medicines, and lack of oxygen.

The standard route is a hike – no climbing as such. It is very cold – correct kit is a must – but our kit lists and hire equipment are top quality. We have personally done the major routes; so can offer first hand advice.

Good preparation and advice, as well as good guides on the mountain, have given us an over 95% success rate (the average is 60%) – this type of thing is a “once in a lifetime ” challenge, and must not be taken lightly.

We ensure that all our climbers have all the facts – medical list, equipment list, etc, long before they travel – possibly the reason for our success rate.

Any reasonably fit person who enjoys walking can reach the summit of Kilimanjaro. The youngest to make it was nine years old – the oldest seventy-nine.

While thousands of people scramble to the top of Kilimanjaro each year, there are some extremely severe climbs available to the experienced mountaineer. There are several principal hiking routes up the mountain, like the Marangu (Coca Cola), Shira, Londorossi, Rongai, Umbwe and Machame.

The Shira plateau can be reached with a four-wheel drive vehicle up to 4 000 metres. These routes are marked and provided with simple bivouac huts and water, we choose to camp on all of these routes (except Marangu which offers communal huts)

The Machame route is one of the more scenic routes up the mountain, after the Umbwe route, this is probably the most beautiful route by which to ascend the mountain. Nights are spent in ‘alpine tents’ sleeping two persons per tent (three person tents, so there is space for your luggage).

All your supplies and camping equipment are portaged up for you (tents, 20-25 mm compressed foam sleeping mats, awnings, stools, lights, etc), and your meals are prepared.

Your personal baggage limit is 12kg for the climb.

South African tents and sleeping mats are supplied on this trip.
The Keys Hotel, your base hotel, is located in Moshi and has a swimming pool, indoor bar and garden area, patio, restaurant and satellite television coverage. The rooms are clean, neat and comfortable. Showers are en-suite with hot/cold water. It is one of the best hotels in town, although fairly basic by South African standards. The staff are very friendly and ‘nothing is too much trouble’.

The guides employed are excellent (some have climbed Kili over 400 times)! They are employed by the Keys Hotel and have looked after a multitude of our clients. Each trip is lead by a senior guide, with other guides in a ratio of approximately one guide per 2 or 3 climbers – if you are a bit slower than the rest or get ill and have to descend, a guide will always be with you.

Food served on the mountain is generally plain and wholesome, including a lot of carbohydrates, stews and soups, vegetables and fresh fruit. Vegetarians are catered for, but please notify us in advance.

When flying, we strongly suggest you wear / carry on your boots, wet weather gear and cameras – these are crucial for your climb, and you do not want to risk losing them in the hold. Make sure you have your yellow fever certificate with you – as it will be asked for on in Tanzania and on arrival back home.

On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met by a Representative from Keys Hotel and transferred to the hotel in Moshi (approx 1 – 1 ½ hour’s drive), where you will overnight including a continental breakfast.

There are two sister hotels – Keys Mbokomo and Keys Uru. Both of these hotels have good views of Mount Kilimanjaro and are classified as modern “Tourist” standard hotels.
They are of medium size, and rooms are all en-suite.
Some have air-conditioning, television and mini-bar.

Meals consist of buffet continental breakfast, full restaurant meals, bar snacks served all day and occasional barbecues. A bar with a full range of drinks including beers, bottled
water and soft drinks is available.

Amenities include room service, full laundry service, swimming pool, international telephone, facsimile and internet services, car parking and security.
Leave any excess clothing and valuables at the hotel – they will lock them up for
you.

Pack your bag carefully for the climb – remember the weight limit of 12kg.

The best time to Climb Mt Kilimanjaro
The best time to climb Mt Kilimanjaro is during its two dry seasons, January to mid-March and June to October. You can trek Kilimanjaro in the rainy season but not only is there a much higher chance of trekking in the rain, the summits of Kibo and Mawenzi are likely to be wreathed in thick cloud too. Christmas and New Year, when the weather is far from perfect, are actually the most popular times for climbing Kilimanjaro.