Conservation Trip
Overview
Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport
After arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you’ll be greeted by our driver, who will assist with your luggage. You’ll then enjoy a private transfer to Malkia Trees Lodge in Arusha, a scenic drive of approximately 1.5 to 2 hours through the lush countryside and vibrant local communities. A briefing on the upcoming safari in Tarangire National Park will be provided in the evening, followed by dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge (it depends on the time you land at the airport).
Day 2: Immersion in the heart of the Maasai communities
After breakfast, departure towards the district of Simanjiro, at the gates of the Maasai lands, to reach the region of Terrat (approximately 2.5 hours drive). The afternoon is dedicated to an immersion in a Maasai village (boma), an opportunity to discover their way of life, their traditions, and their connection to nature. You will also have the chance to buy small handcrafted souvenirs directly from the villagers during your visit to the boma. At the end of the day, a sunset stroll in this preserved environment offers a first glimpse of the local wildlife and landscapes.
Overnight stay in community accommodation in Terrat.
Day 3: Fieldwork and wildlife monitoring
After breakfast, the morning is dedicated to monitoring wildlife on foot with the local teams. Equipped with a form and a pen, you will note your observations: species encountered, number of individuals, males or females, presence of young, observed behaviors, as well as indirect signs such as footprints, tracks, droppings, or carcasses.
This data will be analyzed by the partner NGO for wildlife monitoring and management, and to guide conservation actions in the field.
In the afternoon, participation in concrete projects, depending on the season:
- Rainy season (November to May): nursery work and tree planting
- Year-round: installation and monitoring of camera traps to monitor wildlife
- Dry season / depending on needs: possible participation in the construction of livestock enclosures
These actions contribute directly to ecological restoration and the protection of local communities and wildlife.
Night in Terrat.
Day 4: Setting up camera traps in the bush
After breakfast, we departed in 4×4 vehicles for the bush to install camera traps. These devices allow us to monitor and track wildlife movements, and the data collected is used to mitigate and prevent attacks on livestock, thus reducing human-wildlife conflict.
Your direct participation in the installation and recording of the cameras is therefore invaluable for conservation.
You may also have the opportunity to view the latest captured images and videos, an exciting experience that reveals the secret behaviors of local wildlife. Lunch in the bush or at the lodge, then continue the journey to other strategic sites to install and check the camera traps.
At the end of the day, return to the lodge in Arusha for dinner and an overnight stay, enjoying a well-deserved rest before starting safaris in the great parks of northern Tanzania.
Day 5: Tarangire National Park Safari.
Breakfast and departure for Tarangire National Park (approximately a 2-hour drive).
Lunch at the lodge or a picnic in the park.
A full afternoon safari to discover the iconic wildlife of Tarangire, which takes its name from the winding waters of the Tarangire River. Large herds of elephants dig in the dry riverbed to find water, while wildebeest, buffalo, zebra, and antelope gather around the increasingly smaller lakes. This is one of the few places in Tanzania where you can see the magnificent oryx and the striking gerenuk. Elephants are a permanent fixture in the park, but Tarangire will also delight birdwatchers, who can observe some 500 species of birds. Lions and leopards are also present, some basking in the shade of baobab trees, others stretching in the branches of sausage trees.
In the evening, you’ll travel to your lodge (approximately a 2-hour drive) located in the Karatu district. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 6: Safari in the legendary Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, depart for one of Africa’s most iconic parks: the Serengeti. This legendary territory is the stage for the Great Migration of wildebeest, a breathtaking natural spectacle. Crossing its vast plains, you will have the opportunity to observe exceptional wildlife, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, and other predators. Enjoy a game drive en route to your camp, where you will spend the night in the heart of the Serengeti, in the Seronera region.
While migratory animal populations fluctuate seasonally, Seronera remains a wildlife hotspot at other times of the year, being located directly on the Great Migration route. It is home to the Big Five, among many other species.
This is where, if you dream of it, you can enjoy a hot air balloon ride over the savannah.
At the end of the day, return to camp. Dinner and overnight stay in an eco-camp which enjoys a magical location in the heart of the Serengeti, offering local organic cuisine and west-facing tents for unforgettable sunsets.
Day 7: Full-day safari in the Serengeti
Today begins with a bush breakfast and continues with a safari exploration of the fabulous Serengeti National Park.
The feeling of freedom offered by the vast open spaces of the Serengeti is as breathtaking as the safari itself. After the rains, the golden expanse transforms into a vast green carpet dotted with wildflowers. The Serengeti may be popular, but it is so vast that you will likely be the only one to witness a pride of lionesses hunting for their next meal!
Return to camp after the safari. Dinner and overnight at the camp.
Day 8: Safari in the Ngorongoro Crater
An early start to try and spot the big cats before they seek refuge in the shade. After a few hours of safari, we drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unflooded and intact caldera in the world (20 km in diameter, 600 m deep), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A breathtaking natural spectacle.
Then you descend into the crater, a true wildlife sanctuary. The majority of animals live inside this caldera, making them particularly easy to spot. This crater is home to an exceptionally rich and diverse ecosystem, where thousands of wild animals live, including lions, elephants, buffalo, black rhinos, leopards, as well as a wide variety of antelopes and birds. The crater offers a spectacular landscape blending plains, forests, marshes, and lakes, creating a perfect habitat for wildlife. Thanks to this unique biodiversity, Ngorongoro is often called the “Noah’s Ark” of Africa. At the end of the day, you exit the crater, cross the verdant hills of the highlands, and then return to your lodge in Karatu.
Day 9: Safari day in Lake Manyara National Park
After breakfast, departure for a full day safari in Lake Manyara National Park, a site renowned for its exceptional biodiversity and contrasting landscapes of lake, forest, and savannah.
You’ll be able to observe a wide variety of animals, from herds of elephants to giraffes, as well as iconic species like hippos and tree-climbing lions. The park is also famous for its many bird species, offering unique opportunities for photography and birdwatching enthusiasts.
Throughout the day, your guide will accompany you to help you spot wildlife, understand their behavior, and discover the park’s unique ecosystem. Return to the lodge at the end of the day for dinner and the night, enjoying a moment of relaxation after this immersion in the heart of Tanzanian nature.
Day 10: Return flight to your home or Zanzibar extension
Breakfast and transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (approximately 4.5 hours drive) for your return flight, your head, heart, and camera filled with fabulous images of Tanzania.
Optional extension to Zanzibar.