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Our group of volunteers all decided to do a safari tour together just 3 days prior to the weekend. We knew we were just hitting the peak safari season in Tanzania, so we figured our chances of booking a decent deal was slim.
Luckily, I had come across a brochure at our homebase that a previous volunteer had left behind. I figured I'd call them and find out what the chances were of accommodating 13 people on a safari in just 3 days.
It took a little bit of negotiating but we managed to score a very GOOD deal with a company called "Ranger Safari."
For a 2-night stay in a 5 star lodge, a full day tour of the Ngorongoro Crater (and a 1/2 day tour of Lake Manyara), all meals, transportation in a Range Rover, a guide, and pick up from our home in Moshi to the safari destinations........our deal came out to $335 USD. We thought that was such a bargain, considering we only had a few days' notice, and most of the prices we saw online previously for these types of excursions were well into the $500 range.
We were very pleased with the deal, and hoped we hooked up with a legitimate company.
When they arrived in these luxury range rovers to our home base to pick us all up......that was a nice start.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: P.O. Box 9 Arusha, Tanzania
Phone: +255 27 2503023
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Do you think you can differentiate zebras from one another? I tried but I could not. Maybe because I use the stripes as point of comparison. Next time, I will try to use height and size to distinguish them from one another.
Updated Feb 27, 2010
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If you think the hyaenas can just join the lion when the latter is having a meal, think again. What happens is, the hyaenas gather together and wait until the lion has had enough and then they eat the left over.
Hyaenas look like something between tiger and hippo to me. But it's my opinion okay.
Updated Feb 27, 2010
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So we were having lunch at the picnic ground...the hippos were just loving the water and won't show themselves up. I was about to become impatient and then came these yellowish birds. SLLiew recognized this bird as Lesser Masked Weaver.
Updated Feb 27, 2010
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They look so kind. Lions eat them. I actually saw a fresh kill and on our way back from the game-drive I saw its remains. Apparently, the lion comes back to eat some more of the flesh and when it has enough, the hyaenas finish the wildebeest totally.
Updated Feb 11, 2010
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The diminuative worthog is alive and well in the crater and can be seen often. With its small tusks and quick stepping it is one of the more interesting animals to view. Pumba lives in the longer grass and tries to blend in and out of the notice of the hungry predators.
Written Nov 13, 2009
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The movement of the Wildebeest is the heartbeat of the Serengeti and surrounds. Each migration includes the movement of the Wildebeests predators as they follow their food supply. From the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara over 1.4 million wildebeest migrate in a clockwise fashion over 1,800 miles each year in search of rain ripened grass.
The animals appear to stand around in haphazard groups then move in a long line to their next destination. It's as though there is an 'overmind' at work as the animals appear to act as one - weird I know!
Updated Nov 7, 2009
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The only way to see animals in the crater is via Jeep. Most are purpose built with open tops so that you can stand and take your photos. Drives start from your camp site and go down into the crater via the guard post at the entrance.
As the crater is reputed to have over 30,000 large animals (including black rhino) there is lots to see. Animals are free to leave or enter the Crater but most of them stay because of the plentiful water and food available on the crater floor throughout the year. This means that you should always have something to photograph no matter when you visit.
Time in the crater is limited by law and all vehicles must be out by 6pm with a maximum of 8 hours in the crater.
Written Nov 7, 2009
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The Ostrich is the largest living bird in the world with only the extinct Giant Moa (up to 3.7M) and Elephant Bird (up to 3M) taller. Famed for many things, including being Zola Buds training buddy, the Ostrich can be seen running about the Crater area in search of a quick meal (lol). The Ostrich is part of the same family of birds as NZ's own Kiwi (ratites). The male is black and white and the female is brown.
Written Nov 7, 2009
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Not part of the Crater but in the Ngorongoro Conservation area, Olduvai Gorge is a place to visit and is situated in the plains area. The gorge is named after the Maasai word for the wild sisal plant you see growing around the gorge, called Oldupai. The story goes that the gorge is called Olduvai after early white visitors didn't quite understand what local Maasai called the area. The Museum is marked as Oldupai!
The gorge is famous for being one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world. It is considered the seat of humanity after the discovery of the earliest known specimens of the human genus, Homo habilis as well as early homonids, Paranthropus boisei. Excavation work here was pioneered by Mary and Louis Leakey in the 1950s and is continued today by their family. You can see some copies of what was found plus other info in the small Olduvai musuem.
Incidently, you can also get Cellular coverage here as the gorge has its own Cell site!
Written Nov 7, 2009
Reviews and photos of Ngorongoro attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Ngorongoro sightseeing.
Not part of the Crater but in the Ngorongoro Conservation area, Olduvai Gorge is a place to visit and is situated in the plains area. The gorge is named after...
Q: Hi! I'm travelling in Sept./Oct. to Tanzania with husband, 5 year old and 8 year old and am curious as to drive times between...
A: You will have a great time in Tanzania, thats for sure. I was there 2002. (see tips on my pages). As for the driving time you need, I cannot give you the time, because...
Read 4 Replies
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Ngorongoro crater is a volcanic crater. It's the largest unflooded and unbroken caldera in the world. It's about 20kms across, 600 metres deep and 300 sq kms in area. The Crater is supports over...
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Ngorongoro Crater - Eighth Wonder of the World?!!
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) covers some 8,300 square kilometers in northern Tanzania. It boasts of the finest blend of landscapes, wildlife, people and archaeological sites in Africa. It is...
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Ngorongoro Crater - oh, oh, oh!
The main gate. Here, your tour guide will have to process some papers. If you need to go to the loo, they are clean, go ahead. Inside, you will find a shop which sells some postcards - good ones at...
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This was my favourite of the three safari locations we visited in Tanzania. It had everything going for it – a fantastic luxury lodge in a spectacular setting, plenty of wildlife to photograph and...
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Not a crater, but a caldera. This means: the ground of this area broke in due to vulcanic activity. It is the 6th biggest Caldera in the world. The rim lies on 2280-2440 m.ü.m. (meters over sea...
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