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Adirondack Mountain Club: Norhern Tanzania Wildlife Safari, Hiking & Exploration
July 30-August 9, 2007, $4,200 (price goes down as people sign up)
Information also available: www.adktravel.org/07fitzgerald_tanzania.htm

Trip Leader: Kathleen H. Fitzgerald, kathleen @newildernesstrust.org
Guides: Dorobo Safari

Rendezvous and Return Point: Arusha, Tanzania

Participants will set off on a journey to explore the greater Serengeti National Park area, home to an incredible diversity of mammals and birds, and the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the largest unbroken craters on Earth, and its surrounding lands. These areas offer unparalleled opportunities for wildlife viewing and to spend time in Maasai country. Few places on Earth can compare to the vast landscapes and teaming wildlife of East Africa. It is simply awesome; a chance not to be missed.

For eleven days, participants will travel with Dorobo Safari Company to view lions, elephants, cheetahs, zebra, giraffe and more, and learn from local guides about the mammals, natural surroundings, environmental issues and the Maasai people. Since its beginning in the early 1980’s, Dorobo Safaris have designed unique wilderness trips that take participants off the beaten path. Dorobo Safaris is run by the Peterson brothers, who grew up in Tanzania. Their backgrounds are in the natural sciences and they have an intimate knowledge of the people and cultures of East Africa.

Dorobo safaris has established long-standing relations with local tribes, so participants have access to private camps and areas that are not available on other tours. Adventures with Dorobo engage participants in ecology, culture, animal biology, and land development. Topics such as land tenure, cattle grazing by native people, impact of development, fading cultures and Park creation will be explored. Dorobo is proud of their ecologically sensitive approach to travel, organized by wilderness-trained English and Swahili staff, and their fine food.

We will explore Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, hike in the crater highlands, visit Lake Manyara National Park, see Olduvai Gorge, part of the Leakey's famed archaeological discovery of the hominid that dates back 1.8 million years, and camp and hike in a private camp with local community members on the edge of Tarangire National Park. We will visit the great Serengeti, which covers nearly 15,000 square miles and spans north into Kenya where it connects to the Maasai Mara reserve.

The word Serengeti and its surrounding lands conjures images of wild African game in all its glory. The abundance of animals creates an overwhelming experience. The sheer mass of animals is both staggering and long remembered.

We will travel in land rovers and spend nights in both safari lodges and scenic, private campsites. There will be small hikes throughout the safari, which is not generally offered by other tours. Hiking and walking is limited in the Parks because of the mammals, but this unique itinerary is specifically designed to include hiking outside the Parks and protected areas. The safari trip is not a rigorous hiking trip. It is an opportunity to explore one of the most magnificent landscapes with local guides.

“The safari, by far, was the best experience I have ever had traveling. The leaders were supportive, very informed, and attentive to each individuals needs. Insight gained about nature and humanity will definitely impact future decisions, my life and daily choices. Thank you.” –Participant of 2005, ADK Serengeti Safari, with Dorobo

Itinerary

Flights from the United States arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport in the evening. KIA is approximately 45 minutes outside of Arusha. I recommend arriving a day before the official trip is supposed to start, if possible. This gives you a day to recuperate after a long flight. Lodging and transportation before the trip starts is not included in the trip cost, but I can help arrange both.

Day 1, July 30, Mt. Meru, Outpost B&B: Dorobo will meet at the Outpost Bed and Breakfast, Arusha, Tanzania in the morning. We will spend in a village just outside of Arusha meeting village leaders, visiting a traditional Doctor, visiting the organic gardening group, an AIDS support group, an orphan center that we are involved in and then having lunch prepared by the Organic Gardening group. We will return to the Outpost Bed and Breakfast for the evening. Lunch this day is included and all meals hereafter.

Day 2, July 31, Oldonyo Sambu Wilderness: We will leave Arusha and drive south through the Maasai steppe to camp in the Oldonyo Sambu Wilderness area just outside the eastern boundary of Tarangire National Park. This area belongs to the village of Emboreet, with whom Dorobo has a tourism use agreement. The Maasai village will choose village representatives who will stay with us and be our local guides while in this area. Dorobo private camp in the evening.

Day 3, August 1, Oldonyo Sambu Wilderness: We will spend the day hiking in the Oldonyo Sambu Wilderness area with village representatives. This is a great opportunity to explore the landscape and learn from the locals about the environment and their culture. Dorobo private camp in the evening.

Day 4, August 2, Tarangire National Park: We will drive to Tarangire National Park. We will spend the day watching wildlife in the park as we travel north to the Tarangire Safari Lodge where we will spend the night. Tarangire National Park is located 120km from Arusha. This park has a particularly dense wildlife population between June and October. Tarangire is home to thousands of elephant, and in the dry season game congregates along the river having migrated from the Masai Mara. This park is symbolized by the Baobab tree, growing in open acacia woodland. Tarangire is an ornithologist’s paradise rich in birds of prey and an incredible diversity of avifauna. We will have a picnic lunch on route.

Day 5, August 3, Tarangire National Park: We will spend the day watching wildlife in Tarangire National Park and spend another evening at the Tarangire Safari Lodge.

Day 6, August 4, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater: We will drive across to the base of the Gregory rift escarpment to spend time watching wildlife in Lake Manyara National Park with picnic lunch. Lake Manyara National Park provides excellent game watching including tree-climbing lions, baboons and elephant and is known for water birds and African flamingos. Exceptional birding. Mid-afternoon we will travel to a private camp on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater. Dorobo camp.

Day 7, August 5, Ngorongoro Crater: We will spend the day in Ngorongoro Crater, which is one of the largest unbroken craters on earth and claims the highest density of wildlife on the African continent. The view from the crater rim is breathtaking─a landscape like no other. We will spend most of the day exploring the crater observing the diverse array of wildlife. We will return in the evening to the Dorobo camp on the rim of the crater.

Day 8, August 6, Empaki Crater: We will travel through Maasai country to the rim of Empakai crater, a smaller crater that is visited less frequently than Ngorongoro Crater. We will hike along the crater rim. This will be a great opportunity to get to know the crater highland area on foot and explore one of the craters up close. In the evening will return to the same private camp on the rim of Ngorongoro crater for a final evening on the crater rim.

Day 9, August 7, Olduvai Gorge & Serengeti National Park: We will travel further west into the central Serengeti through Maasai land. On route we will visit the Olduvai Gorge archaeological museum. Olduvai Gorge is part of the Leakey's famed archaeological discovery of the hominid that dates back 1.8 million years. We will visit the interpretive museum. We will then drive on to the famed Serengeti Park and spend the evening at the Serengeti Serena Lodge.

Day 10, August 8, Serengeti National Park: We will spend the day watching wildlife and exploring the Serengeti National Park in the Seronera area. We will return to the Serengeti Serena Lodge for the evening.

Day 11, August 9, Serengeti National Park: We will spend the morning watching wildlife in the Park. At 11 a.m. we will take a commercial flight to return us to Arusha Airport, the final trip destination. The short flight gives a fantastic overview of the Park with possible views of Mt. Meru, Ngorongoro Crater and Kilimanjaro. Participants planning to leave this night can arrange for a day room at the Outpost B&B or KIA hotel. There are markets that are fun to visit in Arusha where people can look at crafts and purchase gifts if desired. Most flights back to the US are late in the evening, so you will have the afternoon to spend in Arusha on this final day.

Day 12, August 10 (OPTIONAL): For an additional $100, participants can spend the day biking with Dorobo Safari through villages, coffee plantations, Maasai Lands. Biking is on dirt paths, old, bumpy paved roads, and trails. Bike ride with picnic lunch out of Arusha. Lunch is included in the day trip. Participants will be responsible for the night stay the night before the bike ride.

Contact Kathleen for more details: kathleen@newildernesstrust.org