Travel in Luxury With Nyange Celebrity Adventures, by Nyange Adventures
Ngorongoro Crater to Cape Town Experience - 18 days
Arusha, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Isebania, Masai Mara, Nairobi, Victoria Falls, Chobe, Kasane, Johannesburg, Cape Town - 18 days from $14,328 USD per person
A travel experience like no other:
- Discover the rich wildlife of Ngorongoro Crater alongside your expert tracker.
- Explore the vast plains of the iconic Serengeti and Masai Mara in search of the Big Five.
- Feel the thunder of Victoria Falls, before unwinding with a sunset cruise on the Zambezi.
- Set out on a boat safari along the Chobe, where elephants and hippos gather by the water.
- Uncover Cape Town's hidden gems and the Winelands curated by your Destination Expert.
- Please note: USD per person, double occupancy. Custom designed personal tour. Prices subject to change.
Safari Itinerary:
Day 1: Arusha
For your added comfort, an English-speaking airport representative will meet you at Kilimanjaro Airport International Airport. This representative will walk you through your welcome package documents and itinerary, and they will answer any questions you may have. They will be holding a page board with your name as you exit the arrivals hall.
You will be greeted by a private English-speaking guide in the public waiting area of Kilimanjaro International Airport after passing through baggage claim. This guide will transfer you to your hotel and assist with check-in.
Before departing on your first day of activities, a trip representative will meet you at your hotel to discuss the details of your trip and answer any questions you may have.
While in our care, your safety and security are our number one priority. As such, in the unlikely event of serious illness or injury, all guests are provided with a “Flying Doctors” insurance policy. This emergency evacuation insurance covers the cost of the evacuation flight back to Nairobi for treatment, however, does not cover the cost of any medical treatment received. We highly recommend travel insurance for full coverage.
Where you’ll be staying:
- Rivertrees Country Inn
- Garden Room
Day 2: Arusha to Ngorongoro
Your guide will drive you from Arusha to the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater. The drive takes approximately three hours.
During your stay in the Ngorongoro region, a range of optional activities are available to you. From bush picnics to cultural visits to local Masai villages to guided wildlife discovery walks to sundowner cocktails, the choice is yours. As well, excursions to the massive Ngorongoro Crater can also be arranged where you’ll discover an incredible range of wildlife. If you would like more information on any optional activity, please speak to your Destination Expert.
Where you’ll be staying:
- Farm House Valley Lodge
- Standard Room
Day 3: Ngorongoro
An experienced tracker-guide and private vehicle will accompany you today while exploring Ngorongoro National Park.
Today, discover one of the most remarkable wildlife conservation areas in Tanzania; the Ngorongoro Crater. Departing from your camp in a privately driven vehicle alongside a local expert guide, make your way to the entrance of the park, then drive a further 20 minutes to reach the rim of Ngorongoro Crater: the world’s largest inactive, intact, and unfilled volcanic caldera. This geological marvel was formed as the result of a gigantic explosion which caused the volcano to collapse on itself, thereby creating the massive crater. Roughly 12 miles wide and some 2,000 feet deep, the trip from crater rim to floor takes approximately 45 minutes by vehicle. The extremely fertile crater floor has attracted incredibly dense populations of wildlife, and at present over 25,000 large animals call the crater home, including some of the world’s last remaining black rhinos. The crater floor is also host to some of the highest concentrations of carnivores in the world, featuring large prides of lions, packs of hyenas and solitary predators like cheetahs and jackals. A keen eye paired with expertly procured search patterns from your guide is sure to help you spot a wide range of wildlife and perhaps some of the more elusive species like leopards, servals, and bat-eared foxes.
Where you’ll be staying:
- Farm House Valley Lodge
- Standard Room
Day 4: Ngorongoro to Serengeti
Your guide will pick you up from your lodge in Ngorongoro and drive you to the famous plains of the Serengeti. On this drive you will have the option of stopping at Olduvai Gorge, the Serengeti Welcome Center and Lookout Point, or to stop for a picnic lunch. After entering the Serengeti, you will have the chance to enjoy a game viewing drive as you track through the park en route to your next accommodation. The drive takes five to six hours depending on the number of stops you make and the length of your game viewing experience. Longer transit times should be expected during the rainy seasons.
The massive Olduvai Gorge, or Oldupai Gorge, is often referred to as “The Cradle of Mankind.” Beginning in the eastern Serengeti plains, the cavernous ravine is some 30 miles long and is the result of millions of years of natural erosion. The gorge features a steep-sided gully that cuts its way through the Great Rift Valley stretching along eastern Africa, and is named after a commonly used plant by the Masai people; Sansevieria-Ehrenbergii, or Olduvai for short. This plant grows plentifully in the area, and is used for making bandages, rope, baskets, roofs and clothing. Today, discover the Olduvai Gorge firsthand alongside your expert local guide.
Where you’ll be staying:
- Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge
- Suite Tent
Day 5: Serengeti
One of the most well-preserved national parks on Earth, the Serengeti today looks much like it did thousands of years ago. Here, the patterns of life, death, adaptation and migration are as old as the hills themselves. Set out in the morning to explore this magnificent park and to track animals while taking in the breathtaking beauty of this abiding landscape of rolling plains, acacia trees and outstanding biodiversity.
Get ready for an afternoon to remember as you set out in the company of an experienced tracker-guide to explore the expanses of the Serengeti. The park is world renowned for its healthy populations of resident wildlife species, in particular the African Big Five consisting of buffaloes, elephants, rhinoceroses, leopards and lions. Although sightings are considered a rarity, a small group of black rhinoceros also live within the park grounds. Heavy concentrations of topi, gazelle, waterbuck and Coke’s hartebeest ensure that local carnivores including cheetah, hyenas and African wild dog are ever present. The park is also home to more than 500 species of birds, including ostriches, crowned cranes, marabou storks and secretary birds; some of the most sought-after and photogenic birds on the planet.
Where you’ll be staying:
- Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge
- Suite Tent
Day 6: Serengeti
The etymological root for the word Serengeti derives from the Maasai word ‘Siring’, which translated into English means ‘Endless Plains’. This description couldn’t be more apt, as the Serengeti is largely defined by the hundreds of miles of flat grassland that dominate the landscape. Local aboriginals are passionate about the Serengeti and possess incredible acumen with regard to its ecosystem. This morning, set out with your private guide into this magnificent park to track animals and take in the breathtaking beauty of this timelessly beautiful landscape.
On today’s afternoon game drive, the choice is up to you: search for the Big 5 or expand your horizons to discover something different. The Serengeti not only has a rich mix of animals – it also has an incredible array of bird life with almost 450 different species.
Where you’ll be staying:
- Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge
- Suite Tent
Day 7: Serengeti to Isebania to Masai Mara
This morning, your guide will drive you from Serengeti to the Isebania border. This day-long commute includes game viewing in the Serengeti en route, as well as a multi-hour drive across highway and bumpy patches of road to the border. Depending on your camp location and the stops on your game drive along the way, the drive to the Isebania Border is anywhere between three and five hours.
Upon arrival to the Isebania Border Crossing, switch to a Kenyan vehicle and continue your safari with a Kenyan guide.
Kenyan Visas can be purchased at the border at the cost of $50 USD. Please Note: Visas must be paid in USD, and in cash. No bills can be older than 2006 as a local counterfeiting safeguard. A Single Entry Visa is valid for three months and can be used for multiple entries into Kenya and Tanzania. It is also required that you have your Yellow Fever certification handy upon crossing.
After clearing the Isebania Border Crossing, you will continue onward to the Masai Mara. This last section of driving will be partly on a paved highway and partly by dirt road. Approximate travel time to the Masai Mara is between two to four hours, depending on road conditions.
In between game drives, there is plenty to do to ensure your free time is filled with engaging or relaxing activities. Arrange a boma-style dinner and dine fireside, chat with fellow guests in the common areas and recount your adventures, relax within the property grounds and watch as wildlife passes before your eyes, grab a refreshment and curl up with a good book, and enjoy sundowner cocktails to welcome the starry night sky; the choice is yours! Alternatively, a range of optional activities (at additional cost) are also available, including hot air balloon safaris and interactive school visits.
Where you’ll be staying:
- Mara Engai Wilderness Lodge
- Tent
Day 8: Masai Mara
Just like the wildlife, your day’s adventure will begin bright and early this morning. Alongside an experienced tracker-guide, set out for the day’s first game drive and discover the dazzling bio-diversity of the Masai Mara Game Reserve. The most recognized animals are known worldwide as the African Big 5, and this group includes the African elephant, Cape buffalo, rhinoceros, leopard, and the king of the beasts, the lion. The term “Big 5” was first coined by big-game hunters as a way to acknowledge that these species were the most difficult and dangerous to track and hunt, however, in subsequent years the term has been adopted and re-purposed by the tourism industry and painted in patently positive light, focusing now on the preservation and protection of these magnificent creatures. Numerous other species of bird and wildlife also inhabit this dynamic region, including hyenas, gazelles, impalas, giraffes, zebras, vultures, cranes, eagles, falcons, and ostriches, many of which you’ll spot on this morning drive through the Masai Mara Game Reserve.
On today’s afternoon game drive, the possibilities for adventure are endless! Search for the Big 5 or expand your horizons to discover some of the regions lesser known animals. The Masai Mara not only has a rich mix of mammals both large and small, but is also host to an incredible array of birdlife that includes approximately 450 different species, from the fierce bateleur (or short tailed eagle) to the musical sooty chat.
Where you’ll be staying:
- Mara Engai Wilderness Lodge
- Tent
Day 9: Masai Mara to Nairobi
Your guide will drive you from Masai Mara to Nairobi, with short stops for refreshments and souvenirs along the way. The drive will take approximately 6 hours.
Please note that the first half of this drive will be on rough & bumpy roads and the last towards Nairobi will be on paved roads.
The opportunity to explore the local markets and shops presents itself today so you can interact with the local vendors in search for the perfect handicraft or souvenir for yourself or your loved ones.
Where you’ll be staying
- Four Points by Sheraton – Nairobi Airport
- Traditional King Room
Day 10: Nairobi to Victoria Falls
A complimentary shuttle will transfer you between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and your nearby hotel. Approximate travel time is 15 minutes. Board a flight in Nairobi with service to Victoria Falls. Approximate flight duration is three hours and 15 minutes.
Transfer between the Victoria Falls Airport and your lodge with a private driver and vehicle.
Flowing past Zambezi National Park in Zimbabwe and Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in Zambia, the Zambezi River forms a spectacular natural border between the two countries. This evening, board the Malachite floating restaurant for an unforgettable dinner cruise on the Zambezi. Head to the upper deck and enjoy a glass of sparkling wine. With a beverage in hand, float gently down the river and expose your senses to your serene surroundings. Look out for a number of animals that inhabit the banks of the Zambezi; hippos, crocodiles, elephants and countless birds can all be spotted from the comfort of the vessel before the sun slips behind the horizon. Once the sun sets, dinner is served on the lower deck. After the cruise returns to shore you will be transferred back to your accommodation.
Where you’ll be staying
- Ilala Lodge
- Deluxe Room
Day 11: Victoria Falls
The Victoria Falls – now in its remarkable 150 millionth year - reaches its zenith in about May each year. It’s a truly awe-inspiring experience – the sight, the sound, the smell; the humbling feeling that here indeed is nature’s supreme masterpiece. No photograph can begin to depict the reality, and nothing prepares you for your first sight. This tour is conducted in the morning and afternoon. En route, you may be taken past the ‘Big Tree’ where you may stop and take photos. You will be accompanied through the rainforest by one of our qualified guides, who will give a brief history of the Falls themselves as well as detailing the flora, fauna, bird & wildlife and other points of interest. Guides are also happy to assist you with photographs whilst visiting this most spectacular of waterfalls. Raincoats are provided when needed.
Victoria Falls hosts an array of exciting activities that you can book from your hotel, such as helicopter rides, fishing, whitewater rafting, Chobe game park day trips, jet boat tours, cultural tours, and more. Additional charges will apply.
Where you’ll be staying
- Ilala Lodge
- Deluxe Room
Day 12: Victoria Falls to Chobe
A private transfer from Victoria Falls to Chobe provided. Approximate transfer duration is 1.5 hours.
Home to the largest concentration of elephants, the Chobe National Park is one of the world’s leading wildlife destinations. The famous Chobe River, which forms the park’s northern boundary, provides a permanent source of water for the region’s high volume of wildlife, making the river an important focal point for safari enthusiasts. Enjoy the diversity of Chobe National Park’s abundant wildlife on guided 4WD game drives and take in the beauty of the river on boat safaris, while witnessing the herds of game and prolific birdlife along the riverbanks. Elephant line the water’s edge, hippo congregate in lagoons, hundreds of antelope and giraffe make their way to the water, and sightings of predators along the river are common. Chobe Game Lodge is also a fully ecotourism-certified safari property. Guests are invited on an Ecotour to witness firsthand the projects underway during a mid-morning back of house ecotour conducted by Albert Ndereki, one of the company’s longest standing employees and ecotourism manager.
Where you’ll be staying
- Chobe Game Lodge
- Standard Room
Day 13: Chobe
Set out into the wilderness of the Chobe National Park alongside an experienced local guide from your lodge. Explore this famous African game viewing destination during this once in a lifetime opportunity where you’ll experience all that the recognized Chobe National Park has to offer. Keep your camera handy as the local big game can appear at any time. With a little bit of luck, you will be able to spot a variety of wildlife, including elephants, buffaloes, leopards, lions, giraffes, kudus and hippos. Exploring this dynamic flood-plain provides a unique game viewing experience as the animals are constantly on the move pursuing new sources of fresh drinking water.
Gliding across the picturesque Chobe River is considered by many as one of the finest game viewing experiences in all of Africa. Boasting from 80,000 to 120,000 elephants in the park alone, the area provides visitors with very frequent sightings of these majestic creatures along the ubiquitous waterways and flood plains of Chobe. Get your camera ready, or simply settle into your comfortable seat an enjoy the tranquil ride. Other African wildlife including hippos, buffalo, crocodiles, and waterfowl are also often spotted, providing for a truly exciting safari adventure.
Where you’ll be staying
- Chobe Game Lodge
- Standard Room
Day 14: Chobe to Kasane to Johannesburg to Cape Town
A shared transfer to the airstrip is provided today by a representative from your lodge. The approximate travel time to the airstrip may vary from 10 to 45 minutes.
Board a flight in Kasane with service to Johannesburg. Approximate flight duration is one hour and 50 minutes.
Upon arrival to Johannesburg, you will be welcomed at the door of your aircraft by a local representative holding a sign with your name on it. Alongside your assistant, you will be directed through immigration, baggage collection and customs. You will then be escorted to check-in for your connecting flight, where the representative will assist you with all formalities and take you to your boarding gate for your onward flight.
Board a flight in Johannesburg with service to Cape Town. Approximate flight duration is two hours and 10 minutes.
Meet your private driver for an airport transfer.
Where you’ll be staying
- Taj Cape Town
- Luxury City View Room
Day 15: Cape Town
Beat the crowds and start the day early with your private guide by visiting Cape Town’s most iconic landmark, Table Mountain. One of the most spectacularly bio-diverse places on Earth, an estimated 1,500 unique species of plant-life are found on Table Mountain alone, many of which are endemic and found nowhere else on the planet. Ascend by cable car as the mist from the clouds open up to the main plateau while striking views of Cape Town come into crystal-clear focus. Now with a better understanding of the city’s layout, walk past Cape Town’s storied past as your guide recounts the colorful histories of the Houses of Parliament, the Castle of Good Hope (South Africa’s oldest building) and the well-tended Company Gardens. Bargain your way through the lively Greenmarket Square in search of souvenir while meeting local artisans along the way. As you enter another one of Cape Town’s famed stop at Bo-Kaap, learn how the Cape Malay community, with its cobbled streets and brightly colored houses became one of city’ most vibrant neighborhoods. There’s no better way of understanding local history than through your Capetonian guide. From here you have the choice of being dropped off at the V&A Waterfront to experience this landmark at your own pace, with its many shops, restaurants and pubs - or at your hotel to end the tour. Should you choose to visit the waterfront, please speak to your Destination Expert for a range of recommendations for lunch.
The V&A Waterfront is surely one of the top attractions in Cape Town no matter your age, interests or group dynamic. To name a few highlights, the Two Oceans Aquarium is home to an incredible array of exotic, seemingly other-worldly creatures from the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Behind the aquarium, a small colony of Cape fur seals are almost always found on the docks, ready and waiting to pose for your camera. Chavonnes Battery, Cape Town’s first fortification, is now a museum with artifacts from centuries past. At the heart of the waterfront lies the Clock Tower of Cape Town. For your shopping needs, a visit to the Victoria Wharf Shopping Center is the perfect stopover for designer items and authentic Cape souvenirs.
Where you’ll be staying
- Taj Cape Town
- Luxury City View Room
Day 16: Cape Town
After meeting your expert local guide in Cape Town, begin the day with a visit to one of the more popular leisure hubs for locals – the glorious beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay, where impressive white sand beaches hug the shoreline with the Twelve Apostles as a stunning backdrop. Learn about the fascinating history of this breathtaking land from your Capetonian guide as you begin the spectacular sea-side drive to the quaint village of Hout Bay. After a stop in the village, you will track along the extraordinary Chapman’s Peak Drive, known as one of the most picturesque roadways world-wide. With the flexibility to spend as little or as long as you would like in this region crammed with incredible panoramic lookouts, the benefits of having a private vehicle and guide truly come into play. Further along you will reach the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve where, at Cape Point, you will board a funicular or walk up the stairway that leads to the Cape Point Lighthouse; it is here that you will observe the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans while enjoying fantastic views of False Bay. Departing from Cape Point, head northward to Simon’s Town to enjoy lunch (included). Although the city is host to a number of tasty dining options, consider indulging in fresh-caught fish & chips, the town’s specialty. After a refreshing lunch and a bit of time to learn about Simon’s Town, set off with your camera ready to visit Boulders Beach, a nearby nature preserve that is home to a colony of African penguins. Wrapping up your day’s adventure, tour the idyllic Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, a sprawling park brimming with rare and exotic plant-life that is surely one the finest examples of botany the world over, before being returned to your hotel.
Where you’ll be staying
- Taj Cape Town
- Luxury City View Room
Day 17: Cape Town
The world-famous Cape Winelands are known for more than just their award-winning wines. The region, replete with mountain ranges, Cape Dutch-style homesteads, quaint towns and meticulously kept vineyards, is a veritable postcard throughout. Alongside your private guide, wind your way through the picturesque heart of the Cape Winelands to tour a few of the county’s most popular and innovative wineries – tastings included – and to explore Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Walk under the cover of centuries-old oak trees as you explore the many cafes, boutiques and art galleries that colonial Stellenbosch has to offer, a canal-lined university town in the Western Cape. Exiting the town, be sure to have your camera ready as you depart for Franschhoek through the scenic Helshoogte Pass. A town set within a gorgeous valley, Franschhoek was founded by French Huguenots in the 17th century and is often billed as the “gourmet capital of South Africa.” Enjoy a sample of fine wine at a local vineyard before testing the fabled culinary skills of local chefs at one of the many top-tier restaurants in town (your guide will make recommendations to suit your interests and appetite). Working your way back toward Cape Town, you will also visit Paarl, one of the first farming districts in South Africa which is also home to a cluster of granite domes that the town is named after. Here you will enjoy your third and final wine sample before being returned to your hotel after an absorbing and serene day in the Cape Winelands and countryside.
Where you’ll be staying
- Taj Cape Town
- Luxury City View Room
Day 18: Cape Town
Meet your private driver for an airport transfer.
NOTES:
Made to order:
- Choose from a range of places to stay, from impeccable five-star hotels to equally outstanding boutique ones.
- Tailor your trip to include a wide variety of activities, from the must-see’s to the lesser-known, local experiences, and even the exclusive ones you may not know about.
- With no fixed dates or set schedules, you can explore on your terms.
- Whether you’re celebrating one of life’s big moments or looking to fulfill a personal journey, we always work with you to ensure we’re creating a trip-of-a-lifetime.
What’s included:
- A fully customized itinerary based on your interests and schedule
- 24/7 in-destination support from our local office
- All accommodation stays, tours and transfers for scheduled activities are covered, unless otherwise listed in the itinerary
- A private driver for tours and transfers (in some countries our local private guides also act as your driver - your Destination Expert will discuss with you if applicable)
- Regional flights between stops in your itinerary (unless otherwise indicated)
- A greeting at the airport or at your accommodation from one of our representatives – your expert will confirm your meet and greet location with you
- Breakfast each morning at your hotel, plus any meals indicated in the itinerary
- One suitcase and one carry-on per person for trip transfers
What’s not included:
- Your international airfare – please do let your expert know if you’d like to receive pricing from our Air Team
- Travel insurance, which we offer and can be purchased after you’ve booked your tour
- Visas (unless noted)
- Tips for services and experiences
- Lunches, dinners and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), unless specified in the itinerary
- Excess baggage charges, and where applicable, baggage not included in your fare
- Personal charges such as laundry, phone calls, SIM cards or room service
- Early check-in or late check-out from hotels (unless otherwise specified)
- Additional sightseeing, activities and experiences outside of your itinerary
- Optional enhancements like room or flight upgrades, or local camera or video fees
- Passport fees, immunization costs, and local departure taxes (when applicable)
Protect your travel:
We recommend travel protection. Between missed connections, lost or delayed luggage, or medical emergencies, you want some peace of mind that your travel investment is well protected.
No matter who you buy from, please consider purchasing a travel protection plan before you travel.
Get a Customized Safari/Trek in Tanzania
In addition to experiencing the luxury of customized travel, your tour of Tanzania can include game drives through the Serengeti in search of lions, cheetahs and elephants, explorations of the massive Ngorongoro crater, climbing Kilimanjaro and relaxation time on Zanzibar’s dazzling beaches – all with the peace of mind that comes from round-the-clock support.