Our African photo safari joins master naturalist safari guide, wildlife photographer, on this photo safari for novice and experienced photo enthusiasts. Photograph the best game parks of Tanzania including the Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, and Tarangire. Scheduled to coincide with calving in southern Serengeti National Park, the wildebeest and zebra migration will be spread out in the plains before us attracting an abundance of lions and cheetahs.

Expect to see hundreds of wildebeest calves just a few hours old, with good chances of witnessing a birth. Billowy clouds and occasional Spring-like showers among clear blue skies, bright sunlight, and vibrant green grass create brilliant photographic opportunities. Based from lodges, tented camps and mobile luxury camps ideally situated for seasonal access to wildlife movement, we travel in retrofitted stretch 4 x 4 Land landcruiser fully equipped with window seats and open hatch assuring unencumbered wildlife observation and photography. A flight from Serengeti back to Arusha minimizes driving time and rugged overland travel

Upon arrival into Arusha you will be met and transferred to overnight at Arusha Coffee Lodge, Delicious cooked meals are served in the open-air dinning room. Enjoy a sunset cocktail on the terrace overlooking nearby Mt. Meru and browse the high quality crafts in their gift shop.

Well make a stop in Arusha this morning to change money and purchase any last-minute supplies before heading about two hours South to the Tarangire National Park. Tarangire is the third largest national park in Tanzania, with an unusually large population of elephants. Majestic baobab trees are an interesting feature of the park, dwarfing the animals that feed beneath them. The area supports a great diversity of wildlife, including giraffe, buffalo, lesser kudu, eland, and zebra. Lion, leopard and cheetah are also present. Our first game drive is this afternoon, and well look for that great evening light which perfectly frames the baobabs.

Overnight at Kikoti Tented Camp. [BLD]

We depart Tarangire this morning for the hour drive to the Lake Manyara National Park. The lake, situated along the impressive escarpment of the Rift Valley, takes its name from the Maasai word for Euphorbia tirucalli, a bush which is used to make a thorny hedge to protect their cattle. With luck we may see the Manyara lions, well known for their tree climbing habits, lazily resting on the branches of an Acacia tortilis tree. Elephant, hippo, giraffe, buffalo and other animals are present in Manyara National Park, and this is a fantastic place to photograph elephant in addition to baboons, which are always found in abundance. The bird life is also very impressive with flamingoes, pelicans, hornbills and plenty of forest species.

Continue to the Ngorongoro Highlands where well overnight tonight at the Ngorongoro Farm House. [BLD]

Ngorongoro is one of the most spectacular game haunts in Africa and has been designated a World Heritage site. Here animals are found throughout the year due to the permanent availability of grass and water. Nearly 100 square miles, it contains an impressive variety of wildlife including black-maned lions, the highly endangered black rhino, herds of gnu, zebra, elephants, hippo and hyena, the most important predator within the crater. Bird life is also prolific, with flocks of flamingoes on the soda lake, plus other species of water and plains birds. Well spend two days game driving in the Crater.

Overnights at Ngorongoro Serena or Sopa Lodge [BLD]

Morning departure for Serengeti National Park, one of the most productive habitats and impressive wildlife sanctuaries in the world. Upwards of 1.5 million wildebeest and zebra concentrate in vast herds and migrate through the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.

Our photo safari is carefully timed to coincide when wildebeest and zebra concentrate in the short-grass plains of Ndutu and Salei to the south where the calving season takes place and game viewing is at its best.

During a short three week period in February over 8,000 wildebeest are born each day! This synchronization of birth in such abundance is one strategy of survival by sheer numbers against the active predation we will witness by lion, cheetah and hyena.

We spend four nights at the Nasikia Luxury Camp, centrally located in the heart of calving area.

‘Nasikia’ has been designed to strike a perfect balance between luxury and immersion within the environment.

The tents have varying configurations – queen size, twin share and triple share. We even have honeymoon suites complete with Zanzibari four poster beds – as romantic as you need it to be.

Each tent has its own ensuite bathroom with flushing toilet, hand basin with running water, and you step into our twilight showers to thrill in Mother Nature. All the décor was hand made or sewn with local wares by local people – from basin stands to the flowing curtains and hand beaded cushions.

In these spacious, walk-in, canvas havens, you will find all the comforts you need out in the bush: tastefully crafted furnishings, cozy bedding with fine linens, hand woven mats, fluffy towels and the small touches that will make you comfortable during your stay.

Meals are taken in custom-designed canvas dining tents and are made with fresh, local produce by skilled chefs. Freshly baked breads, homemade soups, salads, a variety of healthful, delicious entrees and, of course, decadent desserts highlight the daily menus. However when partaking in lunches at the camp, we prefer to set your table up under a shady tree as the breeze sweeps by and the environment engulfs you. Meet the new day to the cooing of the African dove, the fresh scent of the earth and grass and observe the zebra grazing in the distance. And as the sun sets again; sip a glass of cold white wine by the campfire beneath a canopy of a zillion stars....this is Africa! (BLD)

Ngorongoro is one of the most spectacular game haunts in Africa and has been designated a World Heritage site. Here animals are found throughout the year due to the permanent availability of grass and water. Nearly 100 square miles, it contains an impressive variety of wildlife including black-maned lions, the highly endangered black rhino, herds of gnu, zebra, elephants, hippo and hyena, the most important predator within the crater. Bird life is also prolific, with flocks of flamingoes on the soda lake, plus other species of water and plains birds. Well spend two days game driving in the Crater.

Overnights at Ngorongoro Serena or Sopa Lodge [BLD]

• Park fees
• All activities (unless labeled as optional)
• All accommodation as stated in the itinerary
• A professional driver/guide
• All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
• All Taxes/VAT
• Roundtrip airport transfer
• All Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)

• International flights (from/to home)
• Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
• Tips (tipping guideline US$20.00 pp per day)
• Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
• Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
• Alcohol drinks