AUGUST TRIP - MARA CROSSING
Africa is the heart of the world, and nowhere else can you find so many wild animals in their daily battle as part of the circle of life.
Tanzania is one of the most authentic and untouched places in Africa. It‘s home to the last great migration on Earth, as almost two million Wildebeest follow the rain in an endless circle from Tanzania to Kenya and back.
From the high caldera of Ngorongoro, to the planes of the Serengeti, our natural world safari will provide an adrenalin-packed and awe-inspiring adventure.
Our expedition to this magical land is focused in the best time of the year - and that‘s when the great migration when millions of Wildebeests are crossing the Mara River, avoiding the crocodiles and other predators.
LATITUDE: around 2° south
SIZE: 947,303 km2 (365,756 sq mi)
HUMAN POPULATION: 55,000,000
GNU POPULATION: 2,500,000
CAPITAL: Dodoma
TEMP. DURING STAY: +26°C / 78°F
OUR EXPEDITION
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Super Comfort
Explorer's Elite provides premium comfort for adventure-seeking travelers. The all-inclusive accomodation cover top lodges and delicious meals. We also supply comfortable customized safari vehicles, with space for four people per vehicle. We strive to provide top comfort travel amenities, including VIP airport service, so you can enjoy your expedition worry-free.
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Exclusive Access
Our trips include top level expert guides, visa and park fees, and unlimited game drives mileage. Our experienced drivers observe patterns in animal behavior and help us reach the best views and best possible shots. This gives us the flexibility to follow the wildlife activity and access live-action nature shows, right before our eyes.
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Team of Experts
This expedition is guided by renowned and award-winning wildlife photographer, Roie Galitz, and his team of professionals. While enjoying the journey you will learn more about this region and its incredible inhabitants, and experience a close up and intimate encounter with them, witnessing the best “nature film” you’ve ever seen.
“To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position
in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.”
- Bill Bryson
EXCLUSIVE AMENITIES
WILDLIFE
 Lions (Panthera Leo)King of the Jungle and the biggest cat on earth. Living in prides on a vast area, each pride consists of 14 lions and lionesses on average. The females do most of the hunting and the males can help with the bigger and more complicated prey. |  Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)The world’s fastest land animal is truly built for speed. Within 3 seconds, a Cheetah can reach 60 mph and can run up to 70 mph for short bursts. They will only eat prey they’ve hunted by themselves. |  Baboon (Papio anubis)These intelligent monkeys have wonderfully complex social structures and behaviors. The Baboons, alongside with other monkeys of Tanzania, will provide countless funny and exciting moments. |
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 Hyena Crocuta crocuta)The Hyena has a bad reputation, unrightfully so, mostly because of the Lion King movie. These fascinating mammals are matriarchal by nature and posses some of the most intriguing characteristics in the the animal kingdom. They are true survivors and thrive where no-one else does. |  Leopards (Panthera pardus)This strong cat is mostly nocturnal, meaning it’s primarily active at night. Its hunting strategy relies mostly on stealth - a leopard can sneak up on its prey within several feet unnoticed. It will then carry its prey up an acacia tree, which can reach up to three times its own body-weight. |  Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis)The endangered Black Rhino is part of the "Big Five" safari animals. Despite their herbivore diet and limited predators (due to their massive size), Black Rhinos are known to be aggressive. |
 Zebra (Equus quagga)The beautiful Zebras migrate alongside the Wildebeest and guide them towards the rains. They are intelligent and maintain a very high guard against the predators around them. |  African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)The world’s largest land animal is the true giant of the savannah. Herds of dozens of elephants roam together, in search of food and water. |  Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)The tallest mammal on earth, reaching heights of up to 20 feet! We will encounter many of these majestic creatures during our expedition. |
ITINERARY
Day 1 Arrival/Ngorongoro
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro, our airport representative will welcome you and assist with the custom and immigration procedures to ensure speedy airport departure (your visa fee is included in the price). After obtaining your visa, you will be assisted to check in for your one hour flight to Ngorongoro. Depending on the weather in Ngorongoro on that particular day, the pilot might decide to fly into Lake Manyara airport which is 1.5 hour drive from Ngorongoro. You will then be met by your safari guides and transferred to the luxurious Ngorongoro Crater Lodge. This lodge has an amazing view of the Ngorongoro crater and provides ultimate comfort with an all-inclusive package.
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Day 2 Ngorongoro Crater
After early breakfast, we'll start the day at the Ngorongoro crater for a game drive with a picnic lunch. The Ngorongoro Crater is a wildlife hotspot, home to almost 30,000 animals, including the Big Five (buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion, and rhino). The crater is also known as the ‘Garden of Eden’, due to the abundance of wildlife, ever dancing clouds and beautiful colors of the landscape. Because of its natural beauty, the Ngorongoro Crater is chosen as one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders. It is the world’s largest volcanic crater. Enjoy the phenomenal views from the rim over the crater floor, before you drive in. With enough meadow areas, water and different vegetation, the crater is an oasis attracting zebras, buffalo, elephants, flamingos, ostrich, hippos and even the rare black rhinos.
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Day 3 Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, we will drive for around 1.5 hours to get to the Serengeti for game drive. Along the way, we will visit the Masai Tribes in their traditional village named Miata and learn about their life and customs. We will see giraffes, elephants, and the big predators on our way.
Lunch will be at Serengeti Melia Lodge, before continuing with afternoon game drive. The Serengeti landscape consists mainly of woodland and grassland. It has open grassland plains in the south, Savannah with acacia trees in the center, hilly grassland in the north, and woodland in the west. Discover each area's diverse atmosphere and wildlife. The entire national park is dotted with small rivers, lakes, swamps and kopjes (large rocky formations).
Accommodation: Melia Serengeti Lodge.
Day 4
Central Serengeti National Park
Start the day with a hot air balloon ride overlooking the sunrise on the Serengeti plains. Bush breakfast with champagne will be served in the plains upon landing, before we begin with game drive in the central part of Serengeti. If you want to spot the Big Five all in one park, the Serengeti is one of the best places to visit. With so many wildebeest and zebras present, it is no surprise the Serengeti is also home to 4,000 lions and 1,000 leopards. Observe other animals like the cheetah, serval, pangolin, porcupine, crocodile, giraffe, python, ostrich and vultures. The abundance of wildlife you can see here is unmatched anywhere else.
Accommodation: Melia Serengeti Lodge.
Day 5
North Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, we'll drive 3 hours to North Serengeti with game drive en route, stopping at Lemala Kuria Hills for lunch. In the afternoon, we'll depart for game drive along the Mara river. In this area, you will likely see the great migration, estimated to reach 3,000,000 animals now crossing the Mara River while the crocodiles in the river try to attack them.
Accommodation: Kuria Hills Lodge
Day 6
Mara Crossing of the Migration
Morning and afternoon game drives in North Serengeti along the Mara River to explore the great migration crossing the Mara river. This intense natural phenomena has been captivating minds and nature films for decades.
Accommodation: Kuria Hills Lodge
Day 7 Departure
After a morning Safari drive to get a last glimpse of the crossings of the Mara River, we will embark on a short drive (15 minutes) to the airstrip for a flight back to Kilimanjaro international airport and from there we will say goodbye for now and head back to civilization.
DATES
RATES
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The total cost of the expedition per person is including everything
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The trip is for group with a minimum of 2 persons.
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Cost depends on the date and duration of the expedition and additional amenities or optional upgrades can be adjusted and added. The expedition is fully customizable and can also be offered at a luxury level.
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A 30% deposit is paid upon registration.
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Guidance by top Explorer’s Elite guide.
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The top local VIP Guide who will drive and show you around
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All meals and accommodations in Luxury Lodges on all inclusive basis
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Comfortable customized safari vehicles, 4 people per vehicle
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Refrigerated Drinks (water, soft drinks, beers and wines)
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All park fees for all the national parks
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Unlimited game drives mileage
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Flight from Kilimanjaro to Ngorongoro
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Flight from North Serengeti to Kilimanjaro
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VIP services at the airport
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Tanzania visa fee
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Hot air balloon ride
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Porter services to take care of your luggage
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Tips for local service providers
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AMREF Flying doctors emergency rescue
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International Flights - We can consult.
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Travel and Health Insurance - you must have one
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Extra premium alcohol.
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Extra Amenities (massage, spa etc.)
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Everything not mentioned in the “included” section