Compare Where the Wild Things Are: Tanzania With Your Family by Road Scholar vs Tanzania Cultural and Wildlife Experience by Lights on Africa Safaris

Day 1 In Transit to Program In Flight

Day 2 Arrive to Kilimanjaro Airport, Transfer to Arusha Arusha

Kilimanjaro International Airport to the Arusha hotel is approximately 25 miles; about 1 hour. Check in available from 3:00 p.m. See your program's travel details regarding transfers.

Upon arriving at the lodge, we will check in and get our room assignments. Our Group Leader will be on hand to provide assistance as needed. The rest of the evening will be at leisure so we can get a good night's rest in preparation for the day ahead.

Day 3 Orientation, Arusha National Park Arusha

From the hotel to Arusha National Park is approximately 30 miles; about 1 hour. The slow paced, 2-hour walk in Arusha National Park will include walking on unpaved trails over mostly flat terrain. Some uneven, rocky stretches and potentially muddy areas should be expected.

Orientation: 8 a.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone with a warm welcome and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. This is a Road Scholar Family program. Adults are responsible for their minor children. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Minors are never to be left unsupervised. Meals on our program feature local and international cuisine. In many cases, they will be plated and served set meals; in others, we will have buffets with multiple options. Beverages include coffee, tea, water; other beverages are usually available for purchase. The transportation used throughout our program for transfers and game drives will be provided by four-wheel drive safari vans with pop-tops. Driving distances and times noted in your program itinerary are estimates. Actual driving times might vary depending on local traffic, road conditions and weather. Free time is reserved for your personal independent exploration. Please note that program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Following our orientation, we will learn about Tanzania's history, economy and people during a presentation given by a local expert. Next, we will board our safari vehicles and transfer to Arusha National Park, arriving in time for lunch.

At Arusha National Park, we will accompany a park ranger on a nature walk on local trails. During our explorations we hope to get close-up views of local wildlife in their natural habitat. Some animals we might be lucky to spot include giraffes, zebras, baboons, buffalo and warthogs. Then we'll return to the lodge with free time to relax, take a dip in the pool and recharge our batteries.

At leisure.

At the lodge plus coffee, tea, water.

Box lunch at Arusha National Park.

At the lodge plus coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Day 4 Shanga Beads Project, Maasai Village Tarangire National Park

From Arusha to Tarangire National Park is approximately 100 miles; about 3.5 hours.

After checking out of the lodge and loading our safari vehicles, we will begin our drive to Tarangire. Along the way, we will make a brief stop at a local market in Arusha. We will purchase food items that we will gift later on to a Maasai community during a visit to their village. Next, we will stop at Shanga--a project in Arusha that trains and employs locals with various disabilities in the production of jewelry and crafts. A member of the project will walk us through the gallery and share the inspirational story behind the creation and success of Shanga. We'll continue our drive to Tarangire, arriving at the lodge in time for lunch.

Check in and room assignments followed by free time to rest and relax at the lodge. Late in the afternoon we will transfer in safari vehicles to a local Maasai village. The food we purchased at the market in Arusha will be donated to the village. Our Group Leader will help introduce us to members of the community and we will learn about Maasai culture and their way of life. Return to the lodge. A pre-dinner talk by a local expert will focus on Tarangire's large population of elephants in preparation for our activities in the park.

At leisure.

At the lodge.

At the lodge plus coffee, tea, water. Other beverages available for purchase.

At the lodge plus coffee, tea, water. Other beverages available for purchase.

Day 5 Game Drives in Tarangire National Park Tarangire National Park

Full day of safari game drives; breaks for lunch and bathroom use. Participants with lower back issues might consider bringing a small lumbar pillow or a back brace/belt for extra support during off-road drives. A "buff" or face mask can offer added protection from dust during game drives in the drier seasons.

We will board our safari vehicles and drive into Tarangire National Park for a day of safari game drives in search of local wildlife. The Tarangire River snakes through the national park that bears its name. Wildlife travel long distances; drawn to the area's only permanent river. The 1,096 square miles of protected lands are home to a large variety of game such as: wildebeests, elephants, zebras, gazelles, elands, gerenuks, lions and leopards. Extensive grasslands, dusted with the occasional acacia or baobab tree, provide the optimum conditions for viewing wild animals.

We'll resume our game drives in Tarangire, looking for resident wildlife. Mid-afternoon return to the lodge, followed by free time.

At leisure.

Early breakfast at the lodge plus coffee, tea, water.

Box lunch in the park.

At the lodge.

Day 6 Mto wa Mbu Village, Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area Ngorongoro

From Tarangire to Mto wa Mbu is approximately 66 miles; about 2 hours. Mto wa Mbu to Ngorongoro Crater is approximately 40 miles; about 1.5 hours.

After check out, we will begin our transfer to the Ngorongoro Crater via Mto wa Mbu Village. At Mto wa Mbu Village, we will participate in a painting workshop with a local artist. We will learn the origin of the colorful Tanzanian paintings called Tinga Tinga (also Tingatinga) and how they are made. Then we'll give free rein to creativity as we create our own Tinga Tinga masterpieces.

We'll continue our transfer to Ngorongoro, making a stop at a lookout point to enjoy a panoramic view of the Great Rift Valley. The Great Rift Valley is a wide valley that extends from Syria in Western Asia, then down through East Africa, all the way to Mozambique in Southern Africa. This incredible geological feature is the result of a break and shift in layered segments of the planet’s crust (called tectonic plates). The separation of two plates pulling in opposite directions led to the creation of a deep valley dotted with lakes and edged by mountains and volcanoes. Once we arrive at our lodge we will check in and settle into our rooms. Next we will meet our Group Leader for a brief orientation of next day's activities.

At leisure.

At the lodge.

At Mto wa Mbu Village, we will learn how to make chapattis (a flat bread that resembles a flour tortilla) and then enjoy a traditional meal with members of the community.

At the lodge plus coffee, tea, water. Other beverages available for purchase.

Day 7 Game Drive in Ngorongoro Crater, Transfer to Serengeti Central Serengeti

From Ngorongoro to Central Serengeti is approximately 109 miles; about 3 hours. We’ll climb into 4x4 vehicles for our descent into the crater and a full morning game drive amid one of the most extraordinary concentrations of wildlife on earth. Viewing animals from such relatively close range, with the wall of the crater as backdrop, provides opportunities for incredible photos.

Check out of the lodge. After leaving our lodge we will begin our descent into the Ngorongoro Crater in preparation for a full morning game drive among one of the most unique concentrations of wildlife on earth. Ngorongoro Crater is the star attraction in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area (5,152 sq miles); a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The massive volcanic crater occupies an area of approximately 186.41 sq miles and is 1,968 feet deep. Vast grasslands cover most of the crater floor and provide ample grazing for resident zebras, gazelles, wildebeest, elephants, warthogs and rhinos. With such a large number of prey species contained within the crater, it is not surprising that Ngorongoro is also home to a dense population of lions. As the morning comes to a close we will drive out of the crater and begin our transfer to the Serengeti.

We'll continue our transfer to Central Serengeti, enjoying wildlife viewing along the way. We’ll check in upon arrival at the camp with time to freshen up relax before joining our Group Leader for an overview of next day's activities.

At leisure.

Early breakfast at the lodge plus coffee, tea, water.

Picnic-style lunch en route.

At the camp plus coffee, tea, water. Other beverages available for purchase.

Day 8 Game Drives in Central Serengeti Central Serengeti

Full day of safari game drives; breaks for lunch and bathroom use.

After breakfast, we will begin our first game drive of the day in the Serengeti. Wildlife viewing is usually best early in the morning, when animals take advantage of the cooler temperatures to hunt and forage.

Continue with game drives in the Serengeti. Late in the afternoon we will return to the camp and freshen up before dinner.

We’ll join our Group Leader around the campfire for a talk about wildebeests and their adaptation mechanisms.

Early morning at the camp, plus coffee, tea, water.

Picnic-style lunch in the Serengeti.

At the camp.

Day 9 Game Drives in Central Serengeti Central Serengeti

After breakfast, we will board our safari vehicles and begin our game drive in the Serengeti.

Transfer to the the Serengeti National Park Headquarters, enjoying some game viewing en route. At the headquarters, a park ranger will talk to us about the role of rangers and other staff in monitoring and protecting the wildlife in the Serengeti National Park. Return to camp.

We'll meet our Group Leader for one final campfire talk in the Serengeti. As we sit under the seemingly endless African sky, we'll learn about the great animal migration that takes place across the Serengeti Plains every year.

Early at the camp.

Picnic-style lunch in the Serengeti.

At the camp.

Day 10 Olduvai Gorge Archaeological Site, Transfer to Karatu Area Karatu

From Central Serengeti to Olduvai Gorge is approximately 75 miles; about 3 hours. From Olduvai Gorge to Karatu is approximately 46 miles; about 2 hours.

We will check out of our camp this morning and begin our drive to Karatu with a stop at the Olduvai (also known as Oldupai) Gorge to view its archaeological site. A local expert will reveal information about the important hominid fossils and tools discovered by paleoanthropologists Louis and Mary Leakey.

Next, we will continue our transfer to Karatu. Once at the lodge, we will check in and settle into our rooms and then have the rest of the afternoon free to enjoy the pool or rest before dinner.

At leisure.

At the camp.

Box lunch at Olduvai Gorge.

At the lodge plus coffee, tea, water. Other beverages available for purchase.

Day 11 Interacting with Local Schoolkids Karatu

The approximately 30-minute walk from the rural school to the local village will take place on slightly undulating, dirt paths/roads. Wear tennis shoes and bring a hat, sunscreen and bug repellent. It is not mandatory to bring anything to donate to the school and/or the children. However, anyone wishing to do so might consider bringing a few basic school supplies such as pencils and erasers, pens, colored markers, etc. to donate during the visit.

After an early breakfast, we'll drive to a local school to find out what a typical school day is like in Tanzania. We'll interact with teachers and students and sit in on classes. Best of all...we won't have any tests or homework!

After the classes are done for the day, we will join a couple of schoolchildren on their walk home to a nearby village. During our journey we will learn how the children get to and from school every day. At the village, we'll see how the kids live and meet some members of the community. We will walk back to the school and board our vehicles for the return journey to the lodge. We'll have free time at the lodge to enjoy the swimming pool and relax before dinner.

At leisure. Prepare for check out and transfer in the morning.

Early at the lodge plus coffee, tea, water.

At the local school.

At the lodge. Enjoy your last night in Tanzania among newfound Road Scholar friends.

Day 12 Drive to Arusha, Program Concludes, In Transit from Program Arusha

From Karatu to Arusha is approximately 96 miles; less than 3 hours. Hotel dayroom only (check out by 6:00 p.m.); no overnight accommodations are included on this day. The drive to Kilimanjaro International Airport is approximately 25 miles; about 1 hour.

After checking out, we'll begin our transfer to Arusha.

Transfer to Lake Duluti Lodge and check into our dayrooms. Next, enjoy free time to rest, finish packing luggage, or freshening-up before catching a night flight to North America.

At the lodge.

A local family will host us for lunch at their home.

Before leaving for the airport, we will have a light snack at the hotel. This concludes the program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Day 13 Arrivals to North America In Flight

Day 1: Arrive to Tanzania (Kilimanjaro International Airport

Arrive in Arusha. Meet and greet then Transfer from arrival point to your Hotel for overnight.

Accommodation: Kibo Palace Hotel/Similar- https://kibopalacehotel.com/

Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire

Overnight at your lodge (BLD)

Accommodation: Sangaiwe Tented Lodge/Similar- https://sangaiwe.com/

You depart Arusha with lunch box on the tarmac road across Monduli plains toward Tarangire for lunch at at the camp.

After a leisurely lunch, you depart the camp at 03:30 P for a walk accompanied by Maasai men and your guide to explain the native birds, animal tracks, and plant-life of the area that you will encounter during your walk.

Day 3: Tarangire National Park

Overnight at Tarangire N. Park

Accommodation: Sangaiwe Tented Lodge/Similar- https://sangaiwe.com/

After an early breakfast, you depart the camp with picnic lunch and proceed to the park for a full day game drive.

Tarangire N. Park covers 2,600 sq. kms in area. The park is famous for its majestic Baobab trees and Acacia Tortillas trees dotting a wide expanse of the rolling hills of the park.

To many people the park represents the features of Africa in scenery and landscape. There is the Tarangire River, which dissects the park from the south to the Northwest where during the dry season, a large congregation of animals can be found giving it a resemblance of the famous Serengeti migration.

Among the animals found there are great herds of elephants of which 200 can be seen at a time. Zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, giraffe, lions, leopard, cheetahs and hyena, The park is reputed to have more birds than the whole United States of America.

Day 4: Datoga tribe cultural Tour

Overnight at the lodge (BLD)

Accommodation: Lake Eyasi Safari Lodge/ Similar- https://lakeeyasi.com/

After breakfast, you proceed to south of lake Manyara to visit the Datoga tribe who are related to the Maasai. They are nomadic cattle herders who move from one place to another in search of green pastures for their cattle.

A great variety of bird species can be found in this area. Rare species like the Black Egret have on many occasions been spotted. They can be differentiated from the other birds by their peculiar fishing behavior pattern to feed whereby they shade themselves with their wings to attract more fish.

Day 5: Hadzabe Cultural Tour (Bushmen)

Overnight at your Lodge (BLD)

Accommodation: Lake Eyasi Safari Lodge/ Similar- https://lakeeyasi.com/

Wake up early for a pre-sunrise breakfast. Drive from the camp for approx. 20 minutes to locate the nomadic Bushmen (Hadzabe). In the company of the bushmen, you will hunt on foot using traditional weapons i.e. bows and arrows.

The Bushmen are related to the Kalahari Bushmen of South Africa. They speak the same click language but do not understand each other, as they have been apart for very long. The Bushmen live a medieval kind of life style. They do not build permanent homes but follow the animals in the area as they trap and kill them for food. They are hunters and gatherers. After a brief hunting stint with the Bushmen, we go back to our vehicles and drive to the camp for lunch.

After a short afternoon siesta, we depart the camp at 04:30P and drive to lake Eyasi to view flamingoes enjoy the sunset over the Rift Valley Escarpment.

Day 6: Elephant caves+ Coffee (Walking tour)

Overnight at your Lodge (BLD)

Accommodation: Farm of Dreams Lodge/ Similar- https://farmofdreamslodge.com/

After breakfast, depart your Lodge with your lunch box, and drive across the Rift Valley escarpment to Lake Eyasi via Gibb’s Farm. Gibb’s Farm was a once colonial farmhouse that has been converted into a lodge. It boasts one of the biggest coffee plantations in the area as well as a purely organic farm, which supplies the lodge with fresh vegetables throughout the year. Once there, we have a 45-minute walk to visit the elephant cave and the organic farm. We will also have a brief lecture about a coffee plantation.

Day 7:  Ngorongoro Crater

Dinner and Overnight in Ngorongoro (BLD)

Accommodation: Rhino Lodge/ Similar – https://rhino.co.tz/

After breakfast and drive to Ngorongoro Crater with a picnic lunch. You descend to the crater floor for a full day game-drive.

Day 8: Ngorongoro to Serengeti National Park

Dinner and Overnight Serengeti N. Park –. (BLD)

Accommodation: Tanzania Bush Camps- https://www.tanzaniabushcamps.com/

We break camp with picnic lunches after breakfast to drive to Serengeti National Park via the famous Ol-duvai Gorge where the Leakey family discovered the remain of the early man “ Zinjanthropus Bosei” Game viewing enroute to the Serengeti National Park.

Day 9-10- Full day game drive in Serengeti National Park

Overnight in Tented Camp at Serengeti N. Park (BLD)

Accommodation: Tanzania Bush Camps- https://www.tanzaniabushcamps.com/

Full day game-drive in the Serengeti National Park with game viewing in areas where the animals are most concentrated. The Serengeti national park covers about 15,000 sq. kms. It derives its name from the Maasai language “Siringet” which means, the endless Plains.

It boasts the largest number of species of flora and fauna both in quantity and variety coupled with its world famous wildebeest migration. The worlds single remaining wildlife migration.

Day 11: Serengeti to Arusha- Kilimanjaro Airport back home

After breakfast, you depart Serengeti for Arusha with game-viewing enroute. An option instead of driving can be a scheduled flight that departs at 11:15am.

Lunch in Arusha upon arrival

Afternoon transfer to Kilimanjaro Int’l. Airport for the flight out.