The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world and the 2,000 feet high walls of the approximately 10 mile wide crater create a natural amphitheater for the densest populations of large animals anywhere. It is a microcosm of the vast Serengeti National Park and in one day it is possible to see a staggering array of East African wildlife. The crater lives up to its famous reputation with abundant and easily accessible wildlife and offers a chance to see lions, hyena or cheetahs in action. Your Seabourn Journey includes a cultural tour visit Maasai, as well as The Datoga and Hadzabe tribes in Lake Eyasi.
Seabourn Journey - Ngorongoro Highland & Cultural Tour
This Seabourn Journey is part of our 2024 Grand Africa Voyage. Contact Seabourn Reservations to book.
Day 1
Transfer to Zanzibar International Airport where you will check in for your charter flight to Manyara. Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to Lake Manyara Serena for lunch before proceeding to your lodge located in Tanzania's famous Ngorongoro Crater area.
Check in at Ngorongoro Melia and enjoy some free time to explore this unforgettable property. Ngorongoro Crater is a breathtaking 8.000-meter square natural oasis with more than 20,000 herbivorous mammals and the biggest concentration of major predators on earth.
Dinner is served at the lodge restaurant.
(L/D)
Day 2
After breakfast, visit a local Maasai Village to learn about their traditions and culture that has remained relatively unchanged for thousands of years.
Following your visit, set off for a full day in the crater with a picnic lunch in your backpack. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area covers 892 square miles and encompasses the volcanic area around the Ngorongoro Crater, including the still active volcano of Oldonyo Lengai and the famous Olduvai Gorge. The floor of the crater is home to around 30,000 animals, with a high concentration of predators such as lions, leopards, rhino, buffalo, jackals, hyena and cheetah.
After spending most of the day in the crater and enjoying your packed lunch, start your ascent and drive back to your lodge where you'll have time to freshen up before dinner.
(B/L/D)
Day 3
Enjoy a quick breakfast and depart the lodge, again with a picnic lunch in your bag.
A truly unique cultural experience awaits you today, as you will visit with the local tribes and participate in their daily routine. This is a typically early start for the Hadzabe people -- hunter-gatherers who speak an ancient click language. . Their traditions are important to them but they are now struggling to keep them alive as young people move to the cities. Like the Maasai, the Datoga are a pastoral group, keeping cows, goats, sheep and chickens. Eat your lunch; then, visit a Datoga boma to gain an understanding of the social structure and customs of the tribe.
Your day ends with a visit to the local blacksmith. He will demonstrate how he makes weapons and jewelry using a traditional method of melting iron.
Returning to the lodge in the early evening, you'll have time to freshen up before dinner.
(B/L/D)
Day 4
After breakfast, check out and transfer to Manyara Airstrip for a charter aircraft flight to Dar es Salaam. Upon arrival, transfer back to your ship.
(B)
Please note: Due to this tour's popularity, exclusivity, and strict booking conditions, tour bookings must be confirmed 75 days prior to the call at Zanzibar, with no cancellations permitted thereafter. Maximum age is 80 years. Guests more than 6'6" tall may find they are not physically comfortable in the seating provided on the transportation. Bring binoculars. Shade is limited; please dress accordingly. Bring a hat and wear sunscreen. Wear comfortable walking shoes. There are some uneven natural surfaces at Serengeti National Park. Route and timings are subject to game movements and road conditions. The Serengeti is a malaria risk area; please consult your physician well prior to traveling for the appropriate medications. Ride will be bumpy. Pregnant women and/or guests with back or neck conditions are not allowed to participate. Waiver must be signed and medical conditions disclosed. A luggage limit of one (soft-sided) bag weighing less than 33 lbs is strictly enforced. Wildlife sightings are likely but are not guaranteed.