Trekking Safari in Tanzania

Accommodation at The Highlands – 1 night

Fly camping (basic or small mobile, as selected) – 6 nights

Accommodation at Namiri Plains – 3 nights

All meals, all house drinks (soft drinks and selected alcohol) throughout

Transfer Manyara airstrip to The Highlands and Namiri Plains to Seronera airstrip

Park fees and camping fees, expert walking guide  throughout, back-up four-wheel safari vehicle, all logistics for fly camp set up, permanent camp conservation charges

Camping and trekking equipment, except for personal day pack

Medevac cover

Internal flights ARK – MAN / SER – ARK

Services of an Active Africa host (where opted for inclusion)

Given the remote location of this program, the itinerary makes use of specific camps and lodges.

We kick off at The Highlands, a beautifully quirky camp nestled on the side of Olmoti Volcano. We spend our first night of the trip here, though additional nights can be added if you wish to explore the highlands a little more.

The following SIX nights are spent at walking fly camps.

Travellers can choose a more basic fly camp and a more comfortable camp.

A basic camp comprises lightweight nylon dome tents with mattresses on the floor, pillows, bed linens or quality sleeping bags. There are shared bathroom facilities with composting toilets and bucket showers.

A small mobile camp comprises 4mx4m dome tents, beds, mattresses, linens.

Sit-down meals are taken outside, weather permitting, but a mess tent is erected for shelter or shade.

The program ends at Namiri Plains, a spectacularly-located wood, stone and canvas camp.

Visas are required by all travelers to Tanzania and are valid for 3 months.  While available at the main entry points to the country, it is strongly advised to obtain a visa prior to departure.

US citizens are obliged to purchase a multiple entry visa at a cost of $100. This is valid for one year.

Canadian, British, Australian and New Zealand citizens may purchase a single entry visa for $50, valid for a 90 day stay.

Yellow Fever and Malaria occur below 1800m, while Meningitis can be present in the dry season.

We recommend that you supplement the mattresses provided with a good inflatable camping mattress for added comfort.

Cancellations, Returns, Exchanges, and Refund Policy

1. Activ Retreats is committed to providing the requested services. However, in case of a booking's partial or complete cancellation, for any reason, by you or on your behalf, Activ Retreats retains the right to recover services, administration, communication, and cancellation charges. These charges may include fees imposed by any supplier upon Activ Retreats for the affected booking. The minimum charge for these fees will be R300 per person but may exceed this amount.

2. Cancellation of a booking must be communicated in writing. Depending on the timing of the cancellation, the refund process follows these guidelines:

a. If the cancellation is received 60 days or more before the departure date, you will be eligible for a refund of 70% (seventy percent) of the total confirmed tour price for the booking, plus any increases in costs as stipulated in Clauses 12 and 13.

b. If the cancellation occurs less than 60 days before the day of departure, the entire confirmed tour price will be forfeited.

3. Cancellation of any air ticket on your behalf will be subject to the terms and conditions established by the airline and corresponding to the chosen fare type. You understand and agree that any airline tickets submitted for a refund will undergo a minimum 8-week processing period. Activ Retreats will strive to expedite your refund, but it is only obliged to refund the amount to you upon receipt from the respective airline.

4. Activ Retreats retains the right to terminate and promptly cancel any booking for which payments are overdue. Should this right be exercised, the entire outstanding balance will become immediately due and payable upon request.

Preamble

1. Active Retreats functions as a facilitator for client travel services, acting as an agent on behalf of travel industry principals and other associated agents, such as airlines, tour operators, hotels, shipping companies, car rental agencies, and other providers of travel arrangements and services (referred to collectively as "the suppliers"). Upon booking, considered as your acceptance of these terms and conditions, Active Retreats will disclose, upon request, the identity and terms and conditions of the suppliers relevant to the service associated with your booking.

Liability

2. Active Retreats acts solely as an agent representing airlines, tour operators, service providers, and other travel entities. Upon receipt of your booking (deemed to signify your acceptance of these terms and conditions), Active Retreats will transmit your booking to the relevant supplier and strive to secure all reservations and arrangements in a timely manner.

3. Vouchers, receipts, and tickets issued adhere to the terms and conditions specified by the suppliers. Accepting these vouchers or tickets, or utilizing services included in Active Retreats tours or packages, is considered an acceptance of the suppliers' terms and conditions.

4. While Active Retreats will make reasonable efforts to promptly secure your reservations and ensure your comfort and safety, participation in any tours or packages offered by the suppliers, including transportation to and from venues, is at your own risk. As such, neither you nor individuals on whose behalf you've booked can make any claims (regarding loss, damage, injury, accident, delay, or inconvenience to any person and/or their belongings) against Active Retreats, its employees, agents, or assigns (including parent, subsidiary, affiliated, or associated companies or their representatives), regardless of whether such losses are caused by the negligence of these indemnified parties or not.

5. Suppliers may be indemnified against any liability for damage or loss (arising in any way) that you might suffer. They may act as agents themselves or have disclaimed liability. It is, therefore, advisable that you obtain comprehensive insurance coverage.

Bookings, Change of Arrangements, Routes, and Prices

6. The terms "booking" or "reservation" pertain to part or all of the travel arrangements, covering transportation, accommodation, sightseeing, and other linked travel services, arranged by Active Retreats on your behalf with the suppliers. These terms exclude services of a peripheral nature, as described or similar to those outlined in Clause 20.

7. Active Retreats will strive to confirm the status of any booking in writing as soon as possible. In cases where this confirmation isn't promptly provided, the absence of written confirmation will not invalidate the booking's terms and conditions or indicate negligence on the part of Active Retreats.

8. In situations necessitating unscheduled extensions due to events like flight delays, adverse weather, strikes, or other factors beyond Active Retreats' control, expenses related to these extensions (e.g., hotel accommodations) will be your responsibility.

9. If any supplier cannot provide the service booked on your behalf, Active Retreats will seek alternative arrangements of similar classification in the same area, wherever possible. If you are unwilling or unable to accept these alternatives, any refunds you might be entitled to are subject to the relevant supplier's terms and conditions. Any refund concerning commission paid or payable to Active Retreats is at the sole discretion of Active Retreats.

10. While every effort is made to adhere to confirmed itineraries, Active Retreats reserves the right to make changes when deemed necessary. Alterations due to factors such as weather conditions do not warrant a refund.

11. Payment in full is due upon confirmation for air tickets or for bookings with a total value less than R 10,000. Other bookings require a deposit equal to 30% of the quoted booking price upon confirmation, of which 10% is non-refundable. A 100% booking fee is required if the booking is made less than 60 days before the travel date. Failure to pay the deposit by the specified due date may result in the cancellation of the booking.

12. The quoted booking price is based on prevailing tour prices, fares, hotel rates, land costs, and other relevant expenses at the quotation's date provided by Active Retreats. You agree that any increase in these costs before Active Retreats receives your final payment (as stated in Clause 14) will be for your account, unless otherwise agreed upon by Active Retreats or the relevant supplier. This increase will be payable concurrently with the final payment mentioned in Clause 14, without deductions or set-offs.

13. Any increase in the booking price due to fluctuations in exchange rates between the quotation date and the final payment date specified in Clause 14 will also be for your account.

Payment and Additional Charges

14. Final payment for any booking must be irreversibly credited to Active Retreats account at least 60 days before the departure date, unless specific arrangements have been made and confirmed in writing by Active Retreats.

15. Bookings made less than 60 days prior to the departure date must be accompanied by the full quoted and confirmed price unless agreed upon in writing by Active Retreats.

16. Final invoicing is based on the quoted and confirmed price, reduced by any deposit paid, plus any additional charges accrued as per this agreement. Payment for such invoices must be made in full, without deductions or set-offs, on the due date, regardless of any cancellations.

17. Failure to make final payment by the specified due date will result in the cancellation of booked services and the forfeiture of all monies paid up to that point.

18. In addition to passport, visa, and other peripheral service fees (additional fees) as outlined in Clause 20 below, Active Retreats reserves the right to claim late booking charges, communications, consultation, administration, and amendment fees where applicable.

Peripheral Travel Requirements

19. Active Retreats will aim to assist you in obtaining or complying with the requirements for passports, visas, health documents, insurance, credit card usage, customs and immigration regulations, and other peripheral requirements or services outside the core travel arrangements referred to as "the booking" or "the reservation." However, due to the ever-changing nature of such peripheral requirements and services, Active Retreats cannot guarantee the accuracy, promptness, or completeness of these services and requirements.

Due to the nature of this trip, safety and the limitations of supply and logistics, we limit the group size to a maximum of 8 people.

This trip is graded Moderate to Hard. Although the hiking is not demanding, the terrain and distance (~20km/12miles) per day require a good level of walking fitness. Participants should be physically prepared to maximize the experience.

Walking activities on this program take place in a habitat where potentially dangerous wildlife exists and participants should be aware of the associated risks

This program is not suitable for children under the age of 18.

We cannot control the weather – this is an outdoor, nature based itinerary and indoor alternatives are not available. Come prepared to be take on the elements if the weather is not playing fair.

Descending from the Ngorongoro highlands involves a long period of downhill walking. We will provide lightweight trekking poles where needed.

Best time to travel

This program is restricted to the summer months from December through March. Large sections of the trek around the Gol Mountains and Salei Plains are dry and arid during the dry season. This makes the trek hot and uncomfortable with very little wildlife to see.

Please note however, that this coincides with the short rains (November/December) and the start of the long rains (March – May).

There is a good chance of encountering the wildebeest migration between December and February.