The Taste of Africa ft. Ngorongoro & Tarangire

DAY 1 - AMINI AFRICA MASAI LODGE

After meet and greet with Shadows representative, you'll continue on to the Africa Amini Maasai Lodge on the outskirts of Arusha. Operated by the local Maasai people, this luxury lodge blends western comforts with Maasai traditional architecture.

You'll spend your afternoon participating in Maasai lead activities such as guided nature walks to learn about traditional medicines, spear throwing, handicraft lessons, and more.

Today offers a rare treat for visitors to Tanzania, as you'll have the opportunity to experience life among the famous Masai people who call Tanzania and Kenya home. You'll visit the Amini Life Masai Lodge, where you'll get a mix of both traditional Masai life and luxury accommodations.

Highlights of your day include:

Traditional lunch featuring plenty of meat and vegetables
A guided nature walk through Maasai territory to learn about various herbal remedies
Spear throwing demonstration
Sunset singing and dancing ceremony.
You'll then overnight in your very own Masai hut, designed to be authentic while still retaining the creature comforts to which you've become accustomed. Feel the cool night air on your skin as you take a hot shower and fall asleep to the sounds of insects and night birds singing you to sleep.

DAY 2 – COFFEE TOUR ARUSHA

On this day you will learn more about history of coffee, the process, taste different brews and see for yourself what all the hype is about. Arabica and Robusta coffee are Tanzania’s largest export, so of course they have refined the art of coffee making to near on perfection. Grown in Tanzania’s rich volcanic soil, coffee is the primary source of income for many Tanzanians and a tour around one of the many outstanding plantations is well worth the trip.

DAY 3 - TARANGIRE

You'll depart from Arusha after breakfast for the approximately two hour drive to Tarangire National Park. Along the way you'll pass bustling Masai villages and the vast, open plains that have become synonymous with images of Africa.

Once you've entered Tarangire, you'll begin your game drive across a rich vista of endless golden savannah that surrounds the Tarangire River. The river itself runs throughout the year and is a vital source of water for the animals of the region during the dry season. Lined with acacia and Baobab trees, the river is regularly visited by the park's large elephant population as well as other herbivores such as zebras and antelopes.

A picnic lunch with a view of the river is a great way to take it all in, but you'll have to keep on your toes as the local monkey population does its best to separate you from your lunch!

Driving through the park you'll also have the opportunity to see lions, leopards, cape buffalo, and a huge variety of antelopes. If you're particularly lucky, you might even see endangered animals such as the Greater Kudu or the Fringe-Eared Oryx.

After your day's drive is done, you'll retire to your accommodation for the evening.

DAY 4 – NGORNGORO CRATER

After breakfast, you'll depart for Ngorongoro Crater; sometimes considered as the 8th Wonder of the World.

Home to over 120 species of mammal including the fabled Big Five, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of the most sought after safari destinations in the world. It's a particularly good place to see the endangered black rhinoceros enjoying a lonely meal out on the grass plains, as well as a place to see large numbers of hippopotamus enjoying the cool water.

From the comfort of your open-top vehicle, you'll be able to observe and photograph some of Africa's most recognizable faces. The crater is home to a large number of predators including lions, leopards, cheetahs, jackals, and hyenas, as well as a large population of wildebeest, zebras, antelope, cape buffalo, and more. It is truly one of Africa's premier safari destinations.

After the thrills and excitement of the day, you will have a picnic lunch by the park's famous hippo pool. Thereafter, you will drive to Lake Eyasi for overnight.

DAY 5 -HADZABE TRIBE

You'll be up before breakfast today, as you'll be joining the Hadzabe Bushmen for the opportunity to hunt for your own food!

One of the last true bushman tribes in Africa, the Hadzabe live very much as they always have despite the rapid development of Tanzania. With only 2,000 members, the Hadzabe tribes are a fascinating people who offer us a window into how life in Tanzania was in the past.

The local hunters will prepare a demonstration of hunting techniques just for us. Far from being a mere performance, this display reveals a great deal about their everyday lives when they must hunt for animals to feed their families. You will see firsthand how the Hadzabe use distinctive motions and even the body parts of certain animals to lure their prey close enough that they can be brought down with hand-crafted poisons.

You can also pay a visit to the people of the Datoga tribe while you're in the area. The Datoga are farmers who keep animals such as cows, sheep, and goats. Their culture is another fascinating example of Tanzania's cultural diversity.

After the thrills and excitement of the day, you will have a picnic lunch in the park. Thereafter we will make our way to Lake Manyara to overnight.

DAY 6 - MTO WA MBU

On this day you will discover the farming village of Mto Wa Mbu on a walking tour to see the traditional way of life of the villagers. This village is unique in Tanzania since it is home to over 100 different tribes from across Africa and forms a colorful mix of languages and customs. You can see local farms, schools, homes, and the market, taste the Tanzanian food and interact with the people.

Learn more about cultural activities in Mto wa Mbu

 Later in the afternoon this day will mark the end of this unforgettable journey.