Tanzania Biking, Canoeing & Walking Safari

This tour begins with your arrival at Arusha's Kilimanjaro International Airport, where you are met by a tour representative and driven to Rivertrees Country Inn. Lying an hour out of town on the foothills of Mount Meru and with distant views of Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak in Africa, Rivertrees is the ideal place to rest and relax after your journey. There is a swimming pool, sun deck, and complimentary Wi-Fi to catch up with news from home. The lodge has several exciting trails along the banks of the USA River if you would like to stretch your legs and look for local wildlife like birds and perhaps a monkey or two.

• Driving Distance: 35 / km (30 Mins)

An early morning start gets you to nearby Arusha National Park for a day of adventure. It is one of Tanzania's most minor conservation areas but surprisingly diverse: Arusha's wetlands are home to hippos, its forests hide monkeys and gaudy birds, while its grasslands are grazed by elephants, buffalo, and antelope and patrolled by leopards and spotted hyenas. You mix your game drives with walking and canoe trips to gain an exclusive insight into the Arusha environment. After a day of discovery, you head back to Rivertrees Country Inn for a well-deserved dinner and another restful night between crisp cotton bedsheets.

After breakfast at Rivertrees, you drive to Lake Manyara, one of the Rift Valley's most famous lakes and home to impressive concentrations of birds and large mammals. There is time for an afternoon drive in Lake Manyara National Park before checking in at An eye-catching lodge in Manyara's Secret, Small-scale with exceptional service and exclusive personal attention. The weather is always great here. Your lodge suite is large enough to hold a double bed and luggage racks; each has a private bathroom attached. The next day is spent in the national park, beginning with a morning walk along the lakeshore, followed by a game drive that turns into a spot-lit night drive, your chance to see Africa's nocturnal creatures on the prowl. You return to candlelight and have a delicious dinner at the Lodge.

The day begins with a morning game drive out of the park plus a treetop canopy walk, your opportunity to look for seldom-seen wildlife in the tops of forest trees, especially monkeys, tree squirrels, and birds. You then arrive at Mto wa Mbu traditional village for a walking or biking tour before checking in at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, your accommodation for the night. Set close to the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, this chic safari lodge is the perfect place to base yourself for a Ngorongoro safari: it lies close to the road down into the Crater, which puts you among the first vehicles onto the Crater floor, the next day.

An early start gets you into the Ngorongoro Crater before everyone else, and you can begin viewing your morning game. The Crater is home to Africa's Big 5 - lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard - and it is not unusual to see most, if not all, in a single drive. After a picnic lunch, you begin the journey to the central Serengeti and Asanja Moru Camp, your home for the next two nights. A stunning location near the moru kopjes assures gold-standard game viewing throughout the year. The region is most dramatic during the mid-year months when the Wildebeest Migration thunders in. You have two days of morning and afternoon drives to look forward to, returning each evening to a comfortable tented suite with solar-powered lighting and 3-course dinners served under the stars.

After breakfast at Asanja Moru, you are transferred to the local Seronera Airstrip for the 1-hour flight to Arusha Airport, where you will make your onward travel arrangements and end this tour.

End of 8-DAY TANZANIA BIKING, CANOEING & WALKING SAFARI