Expedition Details
Set out on a wildlife safari amid the incredible diversity of landscapes in Tanzania's most famous game parks: Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater, and the Serengeti. Venture into a Maasai village and meet renowned anthropologist Meave or Louise Leakey** on a visit to Olduvai Gorge.
Trip Highlights
- Spot spectacular wildlife in the Ngorongoro Crater, a unique habitat sheltering almost 30,000 animals.
- Witness the great annual wildebeest migration in the Serengeti National Park.*
- Meet Meave or Louise Leakey — both National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence — at Olduvai Gorge, where their family discovered fossils that have shaped our understanding of human origins.**
- Spend an evening with a Maasai elder and his wife, learning about their fascinating traditions and everyday lives.
Itinerary - 10 Days
Days 1 & 2 — U.S./Arusha, Tanzania
Depart on an overnight flight to Kilimanjaro Airport via Amsterdam, and arrive in the late evening the next day.
Serena Mountain Village
Day 3 — Arusha/Lake Manyara
Drive to Lake Manyara National Park, famous for its tree-climbing lions, elephants, hippos, giraffes, and flamingos. This afternoon, set out on our first wildlife safari.
Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 4 — Lake Manyara/Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast, enjoy a morning safari around Lake Manyara. Visit a Maasai village and continue to the Ngorongoro Crater. This evening, get acquainted with this fascinating culture during a talk by a local Maasai chief.
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 5 — Ngorongoro Crater
Descend 2,000 feet to the base of the crater, where volcanic slopes shelter almost 30,000 animals. We may see elephants, rhinos, buffalo, cheetahs, lions, hyenas, hippos, wildebeests, and much more of East Africa's spectacular wildlife. Then view the vast crater from above on a hike along its rim. Tonight, National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence Meave or Louise Leakey joins us for dinner and a discussion of their family's research.
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 6 — Olduvai Gorge/Serengeti
Drive to the Olduvai Gorge where, on a National Geographic-sponsored expedition in 1960, Louis and Mary Leakey discovered Homo habilis, regarded as one of the earliest members of the human genus. Meave or Louise Leakey will join us on a visit to the Olduvai Gorge. In 1999, Meave and Louise discovered a 3.5-million-year-old skull and partial jaw believed to belong to a new branch of early hominid. Continue to the central Serengeti, and on a late afternoon safari, catch a glimpse of the wildebeest migration.
Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 7 — Serengeti
This morning, head out on safari, or soar over the plains on an optional hot-air balloon ride, followed by a champagne breakfast under the shade of an acacia tree. In the afternoon, watch for wildlife as we travel through beautiful scenery on the way to our tented camp in the western Serengeti.
Kirawira Camp Western Serengeti (B,L,D)
Day 8 — Serengeti
Embark on a sunrise game drive and return to the lodge for breakfast and some time at leisure. Then observe the fascinating interplay of Serengeti's legendary wildlife on an afternoon game drive. Look for herds of zebra or wildebeest eyeing a predator warily, and spot crocodiles as their snouts surface in the Grumeti River.
Kirawira Camp Western Serengeti (B,L,D)
Days 9 & 10 — Serengeti/U.S.
Set off on your last early morning safari in the Serengeti. Then fly back to Arusha and transfer to your evening flight home, arriving the next day.
(B,L)
Optional Extensions
- Mount Kilimanjaro Climb - Pre-Trip Extension, 9 Days
- Zanzibar - Post-Trip Extension, 5 Days
- Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania - Post-Trip Extension, 5 Days
Related Trips
View LargerNational Geographic Expert
David Bygott
Biologist and artist David Bygott first came to Tanzania in 1969 to work on Jane Goodall's National Geographic-funded team studying wild chimpanzees. David spent four years as a lion biologist for the Serengeti Lion Project, researching lion behavior in northern Tanzania. He later taught zoology to future wildlife managers at the University of Dar es Salaam. He has contributed illustrations to numerous East African guidebooks and visitor centers. David and his wife lived in Tanzania for 27 years.
David will join the following departure:
Aug 28 - Sep 06, 2010
Expedition Dates 
* The annual wildebeest migration coincides with the February, March, and December departures.
** The Leakeys are not able to join the July and August departures. Instead, meet Dr. Fidelis Masao, co-director of research at Olduvai Gorge.
Expedition Costs
The internal flight in Tanzania is included in the expedition cost. International airfare is not included. Round-trip economy airfare between New York and Arusha is $2,200 (subject to change).
Please note: Each departure is offered in two versions. Tanzania and Zanzibar is the long version, and On Safari in Tanzania is the shorter, safari-only version.
