Arusha - Tarangire National Park - Lake Manyara National Park - Ngorongoro - Serengeti National Park - Moshi

Itinerary:

Day 1: Arusha / Arrival Day

You may fly into Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport (both are convenient), where our private driver will be there to transfer you to our hotel. The rest of the day will be yours to recover from jet lag and meet your fellow travelers. In the evening, we’ll gather for a tour orientation and welcome dinner.

Hotel: 3.5* hotel
Included Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Arusha / Tarangire National park / Lake Manyara

Leaving Arusha after breakfast, we'll travel to Tarangire National Park where we’ll embark on our first safari game drive of the trip. Home to one of the most reliable sources of freshwater in the country, this park is one of the best locations for spotting wildlife. As we enter the park, we’ll need to keep our eyes peeled as we search for a variety of different animals including buffaloes, elephants, antelopes, wildebeests, lions, giraffes, cheetahs and more! After the game drive, we'll settle into our comfortable countryside accommodation for the night.

Hotel: 4* lodge
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Tarangire National Park / Mto Wa Mbu / Maasai Village / Lake Manyara

Today we’ll visit the fascinating Mto Wa Mbu village, a cultural melting pot of 120 different tribes that peacefully coexist. From farmers to artisans to painters and more, we’ll mingle with the community and gain an understanding about their lives and culture. We’ll then head off to a local Maasai village. Here we’ll get a close look at the local way of life, including the construction of their huts, the clothes and ornaments they make, and even get a chance to participate in their famous jumping dance, the adumu. In the evening, we’ll return to our accommodation by Lake Manyara.

Hotel: 4* lodge
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Lake Manyara National Park / Ngorongoro

Today we'll visit Lake Manyara National Park, one of Tanzania's smallest and most underrated parks. We'll cruise around the park, with its diverse scenery, searching for the tree-climbing lions, pink flamingos and some of Africa's largest herds of elephants. This park receives fewer visitors than other parks, making it an ideal location for a rewarding, off-the-beaten-path safari experience. After our safari we’ll head directly for a light treetop walk, where we’ll experience nature from high among the trees, getting a bird's-eye view of the world below. In the evening we'll head to our conveniently-located lodge near Ngorongoro.

Hotel: 3.5* lodge
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater / Serengeti National Park

Off we go to the amazing Ngorongoro Crater, a 100-square mile former volcano that's now home to over 30,000 animals. Here we’ll have the best chance of seeing large herds of zebras, wildebeest and elephants as well as carnivores such as lions and hyenas that thrive in the caldera from the abundance of prey. We'll also try and spot some rare seasonal birds that come to Lake Magadi specifically to drink the alkaline water. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of the most magnificent places to visit in all of Tanzania and will not disappoint! After our safari, we’ll reach our accommodation in the nearby Serengeti.

Hotel: 4* lodge
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Serengeti National Park

Today we’ll enter the remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site that is known as the Serengeti. It’s the ultimate safari destination with a surreal multitude of wildlife, including lions, cheetahs and hyenas. Add in giraffes, wildebeests, zebras, leopards and more and this park provides the best chance to observe wildlife in their struggle for survival. We’ll partake in a full-day safari through the Serengeti, with our highly-skilled naturalist leading us on a journey for a lifetime.

Hotel: 4* lodge
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Serengeti National Park / Arusha

Early in the morning, there will be an optional excursion - a hot air balloon ride safari at sunrise! Floating above the plains will give us a bird's-eye view of the landscape and the waking wildlife, a truly special experience. Afterwards, we’ll dive back into the wild for our second game drive in the Serengeti. Here in the Serengeti Valley, the animal world is directly connected with history. Seeing herds of wildebeest passing by the German forts of the First World War is an unforgettable experience. So is witnessing extinct volcanoes and mountain ridges that merge into plains extending towards the horizon in the west. Being right there in person, among the landscapes and the animals that inhabit them, will undoubtedly leave us with a sense of magic. After our morning safari, we’ll catch a short afternoon flight back to Arusha where we’ll spend the night.

Hotel: 3.5* hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8: Arusha

Today will be a free day to relax in laid-back Arusha. Your tour leader will still be on hand to offer some options for activities, such as a stroll through the local market, a visit to one of the orphanages, local food tasting or a visit to the nearby Mount Meru for a stroll through nature.

Hotel: 3.5* hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9: Arusha / Materuni / Moshi

Heading out of Arusha, we’ll begin with a short drive to the Materuni Waterfall. During the walk to the falls, we’ll encounter local fruits such as avocados, mangos, lemons, and bananas and we’ll learn about the local history, traditions, village economy and culture of the region. When we reach the waterfall, you can refresh yourself in the natural pool, so swimsuits will come in handy! The day will then continue with a visit to the local Chaga village that sits among the coffee plantations. The villagers will demonstrate the process of coffee farming and guide us through the preparation of coffee from a bean to a cup. The Chaga people will not only prepare us some of their famous fragrant coffee but they will also prepare some of their typical dishes as we sit down with them for lunch. After our village visit, we’ll drive to the relaxed town of Moshi, where we’ll spend our final two nights.

Hotel: 4* hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10: Moshi

This morning we'll visit a local non-profit, the Moshi Mama Craft Cooperative. Here we'll marvel at their intricate, handmade crafts and learn about their mission to empower local women by providing free English and business classes. We’ll have ample time to spend at the cooperative before some afternoon free time for shopping along the main streets of Moshi, wandering through friendly neighborhoods or simply soaking up the views of Mount Kilimanjaro, towering high into the sky just beyond the town. We’ll then have our farewell dinner in the evening.

Hotel: 4* hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11: Moshi / Departure Day

As the tour comes to an end, we’ll say goodbye to Tanzania and all our fellow travelers before making your journey back home. You'll be picked up from the hotel for your airport transfer according to your flight departure time from Kilimanjaro Airport.

Included meals: Breakfast

A Little Bit About the Travel Tribe & Our Trusted Travel Partners 

In August of 2019, Janet Jaffe, founder of The Women's Travel Tribe, was looking for other like-minded women with whom to travel. Unable to find the sense of camaraderie she was seeking in already established Facebook groups, she impulsively started one of her  own—The Travel Tribe for Women 50+. Flash forward four years and that group has grown to nearly 11,000 women strong and that little impulse has turned into a thriving small business organizing specialty tours for mature women. 

Janet meticulously searches out and, carefully vets, a tight, select group of small group tour operators. Working together, in partnership, they co-create unique itineraries for small groups of women. 

We're more than happy to connect you to our tour operator for this (or any) trip if you'd like. They are known for their incredible responsiveness and dedication to customer service. Our partners go out of their way to try to accommodate the specific needs of each traveler since their continued success depends on our satisfaction!

What’s Included Trip Includes:

• Small group (maximum 12 participants)

• Professional group leader throughout

• All accommodation (10 nights - 3.5*/4* hotels and lodges)

• Breakfast every day, 6 lunches, and 9 dinners

• Transportation in Tanzania (4x4 jeep for safaris, Toyota Coaster and internal flight)

• Local English-speaking guides throughout the trip

• All mentioned activities and entrance fees

• All airport transfers

What’s Not Included?

• Flights to/from Tanzania 

• Passport/visa fees 

• Meals and activities not mentioned 

• Travel insurance (mandatory) 

• Gratuities for Guides and Tour Leaders

Accommodation:

On this tour, we’ll stay in comfortable and convenient 3.5* and 4* accommodations. All rooms have a private bathroom. There are a maximum of 8 single rooms available. These rooms will be offered on a first come-first served basis. The remainder of the rooms will be shared. Solo travelers will be paired together, two travelers per room in two single beds.

Participant Minimum & Maximum:

This tour requires a minimum of 8 participants and has a maximum of 12 participants in order to ensure the best small-group tour experience.

Physical Demands - Is This Trip Right For You?

While the tour itself is not very strenuous, please note that it can involve the following: somewhat long days, walking tours in the towns, being outside in potentially warm temperatures, long journeys, extended periods of time spent in safari vehicles going over uneven roads, early morning wake-ups and other similar scenarios.

*Please Note:  In small group travel it’s important to remember that one person’s health and well-being (or lack thereof) has the power to impact us all. If you are unsure of this trip's suitability for you, you may wish to consult your healthcare provider.

Tour Operator:

This private group tour experience is led by Wandering Earl Tours. Unlike tour operators that use the exact same itinerary over and over again, Wandering Earl Tours ensures that every trip is 100% unique. They choose the ideal route, best lodgings, most rewarding activities, tastiest restaurants, and more, for the most extraordinary trip possible. Since 2013, they’ve been providing highly-regarded, excellent-value trips to dozens of groups in dozens of countries around the world.

Tour Cost:

• $5,920 USD per person (Twin-share)

• $6,675 USD per person (Single)

Payment Terms:

• Deposit: In order to secure your spot on this tour, a $500 deposit is required. However, our peace of mind policy ensures that this deposit will be refundable - minus a 3% transaction fee - for 10 days (or until 90 days before the tour starts, whichever comes first). After that, the deposit becomes non-refundable.

• Balance: The payment balance will be due 90 days prior to the start of the tour.

• Cancellations: If you cancel between 60-89 days before the tour start date you will receive a 50% refund of the balance amount, minus a 3% transaction fee. For cancellations made 59 days or less before the tour start date, the balance is non-refundable.

Travel Insurance:

Travel insurance for this trip is required. Let’s face it, things happen. Why is a risk of losing money if you’re forced to cancel for any reason? We recommend a policy with a “cancel for any reason” clause. Better safe than sorry.

Dietary Considerations:

If you have restrictive dietary requirements, we encourage you to reach out to us ahead of booking to ascertain our capacity to accommodate you in a way that suits your needs. While we can guarantee an awesome experience, we cannot necessarily guarantee a destination’s ability to provide nourishment to satisfy every diet.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

1)  Do not book your flights until we’ve met the minimum number of participants required for this trip (8). We will notify you once we can confirm this departure.

2) Details in the day-to-day itinerary may be changed and tweaked as our arrival date draws near or during the trip itself. Rest assured, that any changes will serve only to further enhance and enrich the quality of the experience.

LIMITATION OF RESPONSIBILITY

The organizer shall not be liable for any damage/injury (physical or otherwise) to participants as a result of the physical activity performed during the trip, the consumption of alcohol, breakage of equipment and materials or for any other reason which, within the limits of professional diligence, could not have been foreseen or resolved. The organizer is not responsible for expenses (transportation, meals, hotels) not included in the program but necessary to reach the meeting point or to leave the finishing point on conclusion of the trip.

PHOTO / VIDEO RELEASE

We occasionally videotape and photograph guests and activities for promotional use. Please notify us if we are not free to use images of you.

QUESTIONS??

Got questions? Need more info? info@thewomenstraveltribe.com