Day 13 Ngorongoro Crater

This morning, you are driven by 4-wheel drive vehicle to the floor of the crater to explore an area of more than 100 square miles that can honestly be described as awesome. Over the passage of time, the floor of this extinct volcano has become a grassland with a lake in the middle. There is a high concentration of hippos, elephants, lions, jackals, wildebeests, hyenas, zebras, elands, cape buffalo and many colorful birds, as well some rare species, such as black rhinos and cheetahs.

Tonight, you dine in the Lodge’s restaurant overlooking the crater, recounting the exciting events of the day with your companions. (B,L,D)

This morning, on your drive, you stop at the unique archaeological site at Olduvai Gorge. The gorge itself lies in the Great Rift Valley, which stretches from Central Africa to the Red Sea. It was here in 1959 that Drs. Louis and Mary Leakey discovered homo habilis (the remains of a two million-year-old man). There is a small, but very interesting, museum here with impressive jewelry and Masai artifacts.

You continue on to the Serengeti National Park; the word "serengeti" from the Masai word siringet, means "an extended area". Here is a vast wilderness of semi-arid grassland and woodland lying just south of the equator, 5,000 feet above sea level. Covering an area over 5,700 square miles, it is an excellent place to observe animal migrations.

Your overnight accommodations are at the Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, which offers luxury features not usually found in the Serengeti. The thatched-roof bomas are accented with brightly colored fabrics, mahogany pillars, high wicker and twig ceilings, tree-stump tables, and local pottery. The veranda and stone-ringed pool are for your relaxation. (B,L,D)

Today you will see vast numbers of wild game as you drive through the park. The main residents are wildebeest, zebra gazelles, buffalo, giraffe, waterbucks, reedbucks, bushbucks, diddiks, warthogs, baboons, leopards, aardvarks and verver monkeys. In certain areas, there may be black and white colobus monkeys and groups of orange-haired patas monkeys.

The Serengeti has become well enough known now to attract funding for the construction of well-equipped research facilities. An ecological monitoring program monitors the animal numbers, vegetation, rainfall, and fires – the area has become a living laboratory.

This evening, you gather for a farewell cocktail party and dinner with your travel companions. (B,L,D)

This morning, you say goodbye to the Serengeti and fly north to Nairobi, where you have the afternoon at leisure for last minute shopping and relaxation. Your evening flight brings you to Europe for your connecting flight to the States. (B,L,D)

OR (Journey Extension) Nairobi – Zanzibar