October 2013
We had just finished Kilimanjaro and decided we had to stay for a few days for the Northern Circuit. As much as possible we wanted to stick with tented camps and were looking forward to Ngorongoro Crater. Things don't always end up being what you expected, but I wouldn't have changed a thing.
Base Camp Tanzania was a fabulous company and our guide Emmanuel was a fantastic person to spend 7 days with.
Day 0 Arrive from the Springland Hotel, where we stayed after climbing Kilimanjaro, to the
Arumeru Lodge near Mt Meru
Day 1 Drive from Arusha to Tarangire
One of the first things we saw as we entered the park. Tarangire had an abundance of wildlife.
Day 2 Drive Tarangire to Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara is famous for its tree sleeping lions, and we saw some right at the end of our day in the park.
Day 3 Drive Lake Manyara, through Ngorongoro Crater to Serengeti National Park
The view from the lookout as you enter the Ngorongoro Crater, stunning.
Day 4 Full day Serengeti National Park
This was one of the first things we saw on our full day, lions coming back to rest after a morning at the Zebra supermarket
Day 5 Full day Serengeti National Park
Our next day was just as good, as we headed out west to get a different perspective.
Day 6 Drive Serengeti National Park back to Ngorongoro Crater
Leaving the Serengeti National Park you got the feeling you had experienced something very special
Day 7 Ngorongoro Crater tour and drive back to Arusha
While Ngorongoro Crater wasn't the highlight that I had been hoping for, we still got to finish off the big 5 with these black rhino (look very closely) and the unexpected surprise was the Serval cat that ran in front of the truck as we made our way out of the park
Day 8 Early departure back to South Africa
For us our itinerary was almost perfect, I doubted the lack of time we had in Ngorongoro and the length we were spending in the Serengeti, but it turned out to be just right.
