Walking the Safari in Tanzania

14 Days, Multiple Departures

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Walking the Safari in Tanzania
  • About
  • Gallery
  • Itinerary
  • Location
  • Things to keep in mind

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When thinking of walking in Tanzania, the image conjured is of Maasai herders journeying across the plains on foot; a stereotypical vision of many visitors to Africa. Couple these vistas with the northern circuit’s unlimited game viewing and you have the ultimate walking safari opportunity.

Our dry season Tanzania walking safaris include time in the best locations in national parks, private reserves and conservation areas. They offer a range of experiences such as full day walking safaris, game drives, night drives and cultural hikes.

The Northern Serengeti is one of our favourite walking safari destinations, primarily because the plains are vast and wild. And we select camps that are located in quieter tourism sectors, but close to large densities of game. During the dry season, guests may even catch a river crossing during the Great Migration.

We include walks wherever possible, but undoubtedly the highlight of the trip for keen walkers and hikers is a full day hike on the Ngorongoro crater rim and the inevitable, informal interactions with resident Maasai villagers.

Highlights

Gaze across the endless grasslands

Hug a baobab tree in Tarangire NP

Breathe rare air from the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater

Feel the ground move under a million hooves

Experiences

Cultural engagement

Safari

Walking or hiking

About

Premium Itineraries:

Airport Meet & Greet and Hotel Transfer on arrival.

Airport transfer on departure

Private 4×4 vehicle for the duration of the experience, including fuel & tolls.

Domestic charter flights (Man – Koga – ARK)

Dedicated service of the professional trip crew: 1 Trip Leader/host & 1 approved local English-speaking, qualified walking safari guide.

Premium grade accommodation for 13 nights on a per-person sharing basis

13 x Breakfast, 13 x Lunch & 13 x Dinner, including all drinks, hot beverages and bottled water.

All entrance fees, camping, and national park fees, and activity costs.

Biking, night drive, treetop walkway, MtuWamBo visit

All equipment for activities as listed (mountain bikes, walking poles, water bottles).

General Hosting (mineral water on walks & vehicles, activity refreshments and snacks, minor incidental costs while touring)

Hotel porterage, event, local guide & meal gratuities as applicable

Meal & accommodation per diems for the trip crew.

Classic and comfort itineraries:

Airport Meet & Greet and Hotel Transfer on arrival.

Airport transfer on departure

Private 4×4 vehicle for the duration of the experience, including fuel & tolls.

Domestic charter flights (Man – Koga – ARK)

Local English-speaking, qualified walking safari guides.

Your choice of Classic or Comfort grade accommodation for 13 nights on a per person sharing basis

13 x breakfast, 12 x Lunch & 13 x Dinner, including all beverages and bottled water in camp (drinks not included in Arusha lodge)

All entrance fees, camping, and national park fees and activity costs.

Biking, night drive, treetop walkway, MtuWamBo visit

All equipment for activities as listed (mountain bikes, walking poles, water bottles).

Bottled mineral water on walks & vehicles

Meal & accommodation per diems for the guide.

Internal flights ARK – MAN / SER – ARK

Services of an the host (where opted for inclusion)

Premium

Our Premium range of properties offer a stylishly unique African take on modern lodgings. From city hotels to countryside lodges, think African chic with expansive rooms, slick service, creative cuisine, engaging wine lists, high thread counts and all the other modern conveniences associated with the luxury lodging experience.

Our favorite premium lodges and camps on this program: Legendary Lodge, Little Chem Chem, &Beyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, Sanctuary Crater Camp, Nomad Entamanu, Lamai Camp, Private Serengeti Walking Camp

Classic

Often selected more for their regional character and location than as a cost-effective alternative, our Classic range of properties tick all the boxes associated with good lodgings.  Expect great service, character filled comfortable rooms and delicious locally sourced meals to weave a common theme, while the stunning African landscape elevates your stay from the memorable to the sublime.

Our favorite classic lodges and camps on this program: Rivertrees Country Inn, Kuro Camp, Manyara Green Camp, Sanctuary Crater Camp, Entamanu, Lamai, Private walking Camp

Comfort

Local flavor is key in these simple but cheerful lodgings.  Think friendly locals and a homely feel. These hotels are selected with the budget conscious in mind, but may occasionally be the only choice if exploring off the map. These properties can vary from simple private rooms in well maintained guest-houses to funky back-packer style accommodation.

On safari, we offer ‘green’ camps under our comfort accommodation, since these camps offer solar power and composting toilets. However, the camps concerned are often located off the tourist-heavy routes and are ideally situated to experience the ‘real’ Africa, offering excellent value for money.

Our favorite comfort lodges and camps on this program: Katambuga House, Maramboi Tented Camp, Manyara Green Camp, Sanctuary Crater Camp, Kogatende Green Camp, Serengeti Walking 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.

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About The Host
Chris and Jacqui

Chris and Jacqui

Chris dedicates his life to having as much fun as possible. After 13 long years in the commercial catering industry, Chris realized that he had forgotten how to breathe. So in 2001, armed with a desire to enjoy his working hours, he took a deep breath and walked out of the office. Now, as he pounds the ground on a trail run, climbs a rock face, or rides a bicycle, Chris enjoys every breath. As a result, he constantly inspires travelers on his tours with his energy, enthusiasm, and pure enjoyment of life. Chris is a consummate organizer and loves the little operational details that go with managing or overseeing a tour.

After earning a doctorate in molecular biotech, Jacqui served time in the corporate grind of big pharma before discovering tourism. Thanks to 20 years of travel as a guide, tour leader, and trip designer, Jacqui can offer qualified recommendations to the finest destinations and informed insight on experiencing them. Jacqui has a passion for the natural environment and a genuine desire to blend information with experience. This keeps her returning to the road as a guide when not consulting, supporting, or making tea for Active Africans.



Itinerary

Day 1 Arusha

Transfer from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your lodge in Arusha

Enjoy dinner and a good night's rest before the adventure begins.

Day 2 Tarangire National Park

Transfer by road or by air to this gem of a park. Enjoy your first safari from the vehicle today. Look for elephants, lions, buffalo, and giraffes along with the region's mini migration.

Picnic under the acacias with wildlife as your lunch companions. Check into camp late in the afternoon.

Day 3 Tarangire National Park

Start the day with a walking safari, the best way to experience the morning sights and sounds of the bush.

Surrounded by forests of baobab trees, follow large herds of game as they make their way towards the river, the lifeblood of the park during the dry season.

Day 4 Lake Manyara National Park

Game drive out of Tarangire to the Southern part of Lake Manyara.

Enjoy a picnic lunch at a quiet waterfall.

Ride mountain bikes the rest of the way through local villages and farms to the southern entrance to Lake Manyara National Park.

Game drive through the park to camp, stopping to enjoy sundowners along the way.

Day 5 Lake Manyara National Park

Rise with the birds this morning and head out on a lakeshore walking safari.

Return to camp for lunch.

Explore around camp of head out on an afternoon game drive, returning for dinner.

Finish the day off with a night drive after dinner.

Day 6 Ngorongoro Crater

Game drive out of the park this morning, stopping at the treetop walkway to wander among the canopies of ancient giants.

Transfer to Mtu Wam Bo village for a bicycle tour of the village, ending with a local lunch at a banana plantation.

This afternoon, make your way to the crater rim and check into your camp in the acacia forest.

Day 7 Ngorongoro Crater

Exclusive experience!

Start early this morning on a 20km hike around the crater rim. Our trail leads through the Acacia Lahai forests with stunning views overlooking the crater.

Spend the night in comfort at a luxury camp.

Day 8 Ngorongoro Crater

Descend onto the crater floor at first light, to enjoy a game drive in the crater.

Optional afternoon walk from the ascent road back to camp.

Day 9 Northern Serengeti

Fly from Manyara airstrip to Kogatende.

Meet your new guide and game drive to camp, arriving late afternoon.

Day 10 Northern Serengeti

Enjoy another day of game drives in the Northern Serengeti. You will have opportunities to try to catch a crossing at the Mara River if your stay coincides with the migration.

Day 11 Serengeti Walking Zone

Drive to the northern walking zone this morning. Afternoon walking safari from camp. Return to camp for dinner under the stars.

Day 12 Serengeti Walking Zone

Spend the morning on a walking safari, returning to camp for a sit-down lunch. Rest during the hottest part of the day and head out for an afternoon walking safari. Return to camp for dinner.

Day 13 Serengeti Walking Zone

Option to fly camp tonight. Morning walk to the fly camp for lunch and an afternoon rest. Afternoon walking safari, returning to the fly camp for dinner. Be lulled to sleep by the night sounds, under a ceiling of stars.

Day 14 Return to Arusha

After breakfast, game drive transfer to the closest airstrip for your flight to Arusha.

Transfer to your lodge and check into a day room to freshen up and have lunch before transferring to Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Location
Things to keep in mind

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.

This program is offered year-round, but offers the best game viewing at all locations between the dry months of June and October

From November to May, the Serengeti walking safari and migration camps will be located in the southern regions of the park


This trip is graded Moderate with a good level of walking endurance required. Although the hiking and biking is not demanding, the terrain and weather can elevate the grade and participants should be physically prepared to be able to maximise the experience.

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

The long crater hike (20km/12.5 miles) takes place at an altitude of about 2300m / 7500ft. There are no roads and therefore no options to abort and drive once the hike has started.

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 limited, if non-existent. Come prepared to be take on the elements if the weather is not playing fair.