A short Tanzanian safari must concentrate on its greatest feature, the impressive Great Migration that characterizes the greatest drama of the Serengeti National Park. You'll notice that this program only operates during the first half of the year, because that's the only time that the great herds are concentrated on the southern grassland plains of the Serengeti. (See our "Serengeti Shall not Die" safari for the rest of the year.)

This safari sweeps through the northern circuit attaining incredible value. You'll visit the three great big game parks of the northern circuit, see Africa's great mountains, visit Olduvai Gorge and have opportunities to visit Maasai villages. It is the most complete short northern circuit safari available.

The prices include: ** Guaranteed window seats in specially outfitted Safari Landrovers with pop-top roofs ensuring sun protection; ** Meals as detailed in brackets following each day's description below; ** All park entrance fees, VAT and other government taxes; ** Comprehensive pre-trip material with discount coupons for travel gear and equipment. Additional expenses not included: - Meals not included; - All beverages; - Requisite visas and other travel preparations like inoculations; - Tipping.

Contact EWT for the best international air fares and for recommendations on how to use your frequent flyer miles.

On arrival you'll be personally met and escorted to the Arusha Hotel located in the Arusha city center opposite the famous Clock Tower, which marks the midway point between Cape Town and Cairo. If you arrive early, a variety of activities can be booked for this afternoon, including a game drive in Arusha National Park.  [no meals]

After breakfast drive over the Maasai Plains outside Arusha and proceed into the Great Rift Valley. This is a spectacular drive through Maasailand. Your destination is the looming escarpment of Lake Manyara. Arrive Manyara Serena Lodge for lunch, followed by an afternoon game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. This is an exciting introduction to your big game viewing, for Manyara has everything, from small dik-diks to its greatest fame, lions-in-the-tree. The beauty of the park is unmatched on the circuit. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.  [b-l-d]

Leave the lodge after an early breakfast for a day's journey into the Serengeti through spectacular scenery and with game almost the entire way. You drive first into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, to which you return for game viewing, later. The road through the highland rain forest of the rim and along the western rim is one of the great drives of Africa. You'll pass numerous Maasai villages and likely encounter big game on the way. After emerging from the lip of Ngorongoro all the Serengeti National Park appears in view. First stop is Olduvai Gorge where you'll enjoy the curator's lecture about this most famous of all world paleontological sites, and then have time to browse the interesting museum. From here you continue onto the plains, enjoying your picnic lunch enroute and game viewing at every moment as you pass the great herds, giraffe, Thomson gazelle and much more. At the end of the day you've arrived the great lakes area of the park for dinner and overnight at Ndutu Lodge.  [b-l-d]

This safari operates only during the first half of the year, and that means these southern plains of the Serengeti will be teeming with wildlife. For the next two full days you'll explore the greatest wildlife park on earth and undoubtedly enjoy the best game viewing there is! Ndutu lies in two important areas, on the border between the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti National Park. You're in control of your safari vehicle and driver/guide, together with the other guests sharing it with you. Your driver will have the most current information about the whereabouts of the great herds, of recent lion kills and elephant migrations. His advice is born of years of experience. You can elect to go out all day with picnics, or return to the lodge for meals. Meals and overnight at Ndutu Lodge.  [b-l-d]

On this last day in the Serengeti you might continue your pursuit of the great herds, see a lion kill, scour the shores of Lakes Ndutu or Masek for hundreds of migrant birds, or possibly visit sacred Maasai sites like the Ngong Meeting Rock and cave paintings. Not fare from these plains by the lakes on which your lodge is situated are the beautiful Moru and Kusini Kopjes, huge rocky outcrops some the size of small mountains. In these beautiful areas is unusual wildlife like klipspringers, oribi and reedbuck to complement your black-maned lion and cheetah sightings! Whatever you do, you'll be enoying the greatest game viewing in the world! Meals and overnight at Ndutu Lodge.  [b-l-d]

After a very early breakfast, you leave the lodge shortly after dawn to maximize your time in Ngorongoro Crater National Park. The drive from the lodge to the crater's down-road takes you through the southern plains once again, with game all around. You'll be on the crater floor by mid-morning, and you spend your last game viewing day in Africa's Garden of Eden. The 100 sq. mile caldera of the crater normally has around 20,000 animals at this time of the year, one of the most concentrated biomasses of big game found on the continent. It has the highest density of lion, nearly 100, and it's one of the last places on earth where you have a good chance of seeing the very endangered, free-ranging black rhino. Enjoy a picnic lunch beside a lake often filled with hipp. Above all, the crater is one of the most beautiful places on earth, a fitting end to your magnificent journey. Towards the end of the afternoon you ascend the crater and continue to the nearby farming community of Karatu for dinner and overnight at Plantation Lodge.  [b-l-d]

After breakfast you drive back to Arusha, with time for shopping and lunch at a popular local restaurant. In the afternoon you continue to KIA Lodge which is located adjacent the international airport. You'll have your private room before the lodge shuttles you to the terminals for the overnight departures home.  [b-l- ]

END OF EWT SERVICES
JH