AtlantaOutdoorClub
sponsor
Print-Friendly Version
Add this event to your calendar (Outlook, iCalendar)
Add REGISTRATION REMINDER to your calendar


REGISTRATION & PAYMENT REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page. This is a paid event with payment managed by the trip leader(s) and NOT the AOC. Please read the event description carefully for payment details and instructions.



African Safari Adventure




The Basics:
Event Type:Adventure
Event Location: Tanzania, Africa   Adventure: African Safari Adventure   National Weather Service Forecast
Date(s) & Time:Tue, May 8 2012  9:34 am >> Fri, May 18 2012 9:34 am
Registration Opens: Tue, Aug 2 2011 9:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Sat, Dec 31 2011 9:00 pm
Event Duration:10 Days
Difficulty Rating:D3: Moderate (Exploratory)
Pace:Leisurely
Trip Leader(s):
Allston
Katherine Bennett
Email Trip Leader(s)
You must be logged in to get the Trip Leader contact information.
Member Cost:$2,300.00/Person (See Detailed Cost Info Below)

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:12
Minimum Group Size:12
Number Registered So Far: 13 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Note: This is an "EXPLORATORY" trip. This means that there are parts of this trip, or perhaps the whole trip, that is new to your Trip Leader(s). However, they are confident that this will not be an issue.
This note is here so that you can make an informed decision. When a Trip Leader isn't personally familiar with a trip, there is an increased chance of things not going as planned and you need to be prepared. The Trip Leader may have additional details in the itinerary.

Itinerary:
Ever seen an elephant in the wild? Want to?  We are leading a group of 12 people on an eight day safari adventure in Tanzania next May so here's your chance!  The safari itself will cover lots of ground including several national parks and parts of the Serengeti. I've included a full itinerary below for your review.  In addition, the outfitter is offering us three optional activities: canoing in Arusha National Park, Mountain Biking in Lake Manyara National Park and Hiking in the Ngorongoro Highlands Forest. You can do one, two, three or none of them, as you like.

This will be a private tour, meaning that we will not be lumped in with other big tour groups and will have our own guides and drivers taking care of us throughout the trip.  All of the lodges and tented campsites are double-occupancy and have en-suite bathrooms/showers and porches/verandas for looking out over the landscapes.  We will have two large game driving vehicles that each seat eight people so there will be plenty of room and the tops of the trucks roll back to allow for game-viewing.

May is a great time of year since it is just after the rainy season and everything will be green and slightly cooler.  Some of the animals will have had their babies and the hordes of tourists tend to stay away until June. We will depart Atlanta on May 8th, connect through Amsterdam and arrive in Arusha on May 9th. That will be the "Arrival Day" in the itinerary below.  We will depart Arusha the 18th, and arrive back in Atlanta on the 19th, a Saturday.

Our days will mostly be spent game-driving to view the flora and fauna, with evenings back at our lodges/campsites to compare stories around a campfire and meet other travelers.  Here is the itinerary:

Arrival Day: Arrive in Arusha at Kilimanjaro International Airport.
The outfitter will meet us at the airport and have all of our documentation and visas ready to walk us through customs.  They will take us straight to the Arumeru River Lodge for us to rest overnight. It is situated in an old coffee farm overlooking Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru. Here is their website: www.arumerulodge.com

Day One: Arusha National Park

  • Optional: a two hour canoe ride in the park in the morning, following by a tour of the town in the afternoon.
  • A town tour of Arusha in the morning, followed by a half-day game drive in the afternoon.

Day Two: Lake Manyara National Park- Karatu Plateau

  • Travel through the Great Rift Valley on the way to Lake Manyara. It is well known for its tree climbing lions and the lake has huge flocks of flamingos.
  • Optional: a mountain bike ride through part of the park and around the lake.
  • Overnight accommodations at the Bougainvillea Lodge http://www.bougainvillealodge.net

Day Three: Ngorongoro Conservation Area- The Crater

  • Rise before dawn to reach the crater floor, to capture the best animal activity. The crater is known for Black Rhinos and elephants, in particular, but is teaming with animal and bird life in general. It is also a World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve.
  • All day will be spent game-driving in the crater.
  • Overnight accommodations at the Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, situated on the rim, overlooking the crater http://www.serenahotels.com/serenangorongoro/default-en.html

Day Four: Ngorongoro Conversation Area- Ndutu Woodlands

  • Optional: a short guided hike through the Highlands Forest.
  • Everyone: travel to the Ndutu Woodlands, with a stop at a Masai village and an opportunity to visit the Olduvai Gorge where English Anthropologist Leakey discovered the skull of a primitive, "Australopithecus," dating back approx. 1.75 million years.
  • For those who don't hike, they will simply spend additional time game driving in the morning, but all will do so in the afternoon.
  • Overnight accommodations in the Ndutu Lodge, made up of individual stone cottages, each with their own veranda overlooking Lake Ndutu http://www.ndutu.com

Day Five: Ndutu Woodlands

  • Drive to the Ndutu area with the opportunity to do some short guided walks. Breakfast and lunch will be served "in the bush" while on the go.
  • We will be arriving just after the Wildebeest calving season and the woods are known to be great for spotting leopards and cheetahs.
  • Ndutu is also home to the huge, umbrella acacia trees and is surrounded by the Serengeti.
  • We will stay this night at the Ndutu Lodge again (see above).

Day Six: Central Serengeti

  • Start from the Ndutu Woodlands, then travel to the southern tip of the Seronera Valley. We hope to see big game cats out hunting in the cooler morning hours.
  • Drive to the Retima Hippo pool to watch hippos at a close distance.
  • Overnight accommodations in the Mbuzi Mawe Luxury Tented Camp, which is made up of 16 tented rooms with en-suite bathrooms and verandas http://www.serenahotels.com/serenambuzi/default-en.html

Day Seven: Central Serengeti

  • Full day of game driving in the Serengeti with overnight again at the Mbuzi Mawe Luxury Tented Camp (see above)

Day Eight: Central Serengeti- Arusha

  • One final game drive en route to the Seronera Airstrip, where we will catch a return flight to Arusha.
  • We will have free time in Arusha to shop, relax, etc. and they have arranged for us to have use of a day-room at the Arumeru River Lodge.
  • After dinner in the evening they will take us to the airport for our flight.

 The costs for the additional activities are as follows:

Canoeing in Arusha National Park                                                                    $55.00 per person  

Mountain biking in Lake Manyara National Park:                                                $50.00 per person

Hiking in Ngorongoro Highlands Forest:                                                             $65.00 per person


The cost per person, for double occupancy, is $2300, not including airfare, travel insurance and the three optional activities listed above.  A detailed explanation of what is/is not included is provided below.

Please note: if you want to sign up for the trip, an initial $500 deposit is due by August 24th and you will need to complete a form with your address and indicate if you want to do any of the optional activies so that the outfitter can plan accordingly. 

You will need to get your deposit to one of the two trip leaders no later than August 24th. You can pay by cash or personal check but if you pay by check please make the checks out to the trip leader of your choice so that we can consolidate the amounts and make one single payment to the outfitter.  Our phone numbers are available to all who sign up and here are our mailing addresses:

Allston Kendall
271-A Lakemoore Drive NE
Atlanta, GA 30342

Katherine Dorsett
2303 Westchester Ridge NE
Atlanta, GA 30329

The balance of the safari costs will be due by December 31st, 2011.  You can pay the outfitter directly via check or credit card by that date, or send it to the one of the Trip Leaders. Please read the cancellation policy carefully below, as you will be responsible for your spot once you sign up and make your deposit, unless you can find someone to take your place.  As soon as we submit our deposits everyone will receive personalized information packets from the outfitter with details about preparing for the trip and the places we will be visiting.

Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro
Finally, if anyone is interested in combining this trip with additional days spent climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, the outfitter we are working with does offer this as well. If you want the details and pricing to add this to your trip, please contact us and we will provide them to you.  We will not be coordinating that portion of your trip, however, should you choose to do so, and it will not be included as an option for the safari trip.

We hope you can join us for this amazing adventure!


Required Items to Bring:
  • A sense of adventure!
  • Non-cotton fabrics that wick away moisture, as well as possibly some linen.
  • Bug spray with Deet and possibly additional additives. The outfitter will provide details.
  • Sunscreen and a hat for protection while game-driving.
  • Sturdy hiking shoes if you wish to do any walking, and additional comfortable shoes for everyday activities.
Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
  • A good camera- this is one trip where you really, really need one!
  • Water shoes, such as Tevas, Keens, etcl, in case you decide to opt for the canoeing trip or in case it rains one day.
  • Medicine- the outfitter will provide a basic summary of recommended items.
  • Mosquito netting for your head, in case we have a bad bug day.
  • At least one long-sleeved shirt, again in case of bad bug activity.

How to Get There:
Event Directions:We are investigating flight options now. Traditionally the easiest way is to fly from Atlanta to Amsterdam and then south to Arusha. However, we are checking into optional group rates, etc. and will keep everyone who signs up posted so that we can coordinate, as needed.

Notes:
Please note that you will need to visit your doctor to get advice on any vaccinations and malaria treatments needed prior to this trip. The outfitter will be providing us with packets of information on items to pack, recommended clothing, etc. as soon as our deposits are submitted, and we will have at least one or two group meetings/dinners prior to our trip to compare notes and ensure everyone is prepared.
* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Member Cost:$2,300.00/Person
Cost Includes:

This cost includes all in-country transportation, park entrance fees, guides, lodging (two person per room) and food. It also includes the cost of our visas and all documentation needed upon entering Tanzania. We are using Proud African Safaris as our outfitter.

What it does NOT include:
-any of the three optional activities (canoeing, biking, hiking)- these will need to be added to your total amount
-airfare to Kilmanjaro International Airport in Arusha, Tanzania (approx. $1500-$1700 but we are checking into group rates and other options now)
-travel insurance (approx. $150-250 per person)
-the cost for any vaccinations needed before departure
-souvenirs purchased in-country
-alcohol (all other drinks are included)
-Approx. $60 per person for tips for our guides (this is total, not per day)

Make a Payment:Although there is a cost for this event, you do not pay through the AOC. Please review the event details carefully for information about how/where to make your payment.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.
*Note: Please note that once you have signed up for this trip and paid your $500 deposit by August 19th, you are committed to going. Full payment of the balance is required by December 31st, 2011. Should you need to withdraw from the trip for any reason, you will either need to ensure that there is someone on the wait list who can and will take your place, or you will be held responsible for the full amount of the trip costs.

This is due to the fact that we have gotten a special discounted group rate that requires double-occupancy at lodges and at least 12 participants. Therefore, should anyone withdraw without a replacement, it increases the cost significantly for the rest of the group.