Today you will go on an early morning walk at Tarangire before departing for Karatu, on the outer slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater. Along the way you will cross the floor of the Great Rift Valley near Lake Manyara and mingle with villagers at local markets such as Mto Wa Mbu or Karatu. Shopping and bargaining for bolts of cloth, crafts, and local produce immerse you in a daily ritual of African life. In the afternoon visit to a school then drive up the escarpment to Lake Eyasi arriving at Kisima Ngeda Tented Camp in the evening. Kisima Ngeda Tented Camp is situated directly on the shore of Lake Eyasi. Across this huge, seasonal soda lake that stretches away in front of camp, the Alipi escarpment wall rises two thousand feet up into the Endulen area of the Ngorongoro Conservation providing a stunning view.

The camp is set in a natural palm and acacia forest with a colossal rock as a backdrop and a natural spring nearby. The camp itself consists of six tents built on permanent platforms with views of the lake, an open dining room and bar, as well as a platform hidden in the reeds next to the spring. Each tent has an ensuite bathroom with flush toilets and hot running water. Furniture and bedding is comfortable and in keeping with the rustic and understated look of the Camp. Lighting is supplied by a generator until the daytime. Overnight - Kisima Ngeda Tented Camp (all meals & activities)

In the afternoon you can also visit the Datoga, a tribe of semi-nomadic pastoralists who migrated into this area looking for good grazing land many decades ago, are interesting people to visit. They have so far resisted neighboring tribes' cultural infiltrations. The women, still wearing locally fat treated goatskin gowns, carve their faces and bodies to look prettier are usually seen. Learning about their history is as fascinating. Overnight - Ngeda Tented Camp (all meals & activities)

This morning after breakfast depart to the “Eighth Wonder” of the Natural World – the Ngorongoro Crater. Descend to the crater floor and spend the day wildlife viewing, stopping for a picnic lunch. The crater is a virtual "Noah's Ark", inhabited by a wide variety of wildlife. It contains a river, several swamps, a soda lake (complete with flamingoes), a forest and open plains. It contains over 30,000 large mammals, roaming free. The grasslands are home to black rhinoceros, zebra, eland, lion, wildebeest, gazelle, cheetah, hyena and other wildlife. It is also known for its large bull elephants who have exceedingly large tusks, because of the mineral rich grasses in the crater.

In the afternoon, after a day of wildlife viewing, continue to your camp which has been set up on the crater rim. The view from your camp some 2,000 feet above the 102 square mile floor is spectacular. <.p On your second day, weather permitting, you will be able to go on a hike into the Empakai Crater. This impressive extinct volcano is especially suited to hiking along the animal trails, escorted by a ranger. The scenery of Empakai is beautiful, with islands of forest and a waterfall at the source of the Munge River. Monkeys and buffalo are frequently seen in the area. After the hike you may also visit Maasai village near where herdsmen are often grazing their cattle, around the crater rim.

NOTE: From June through September the Ngorongoro Farm House will be used because of the potential cold temperatures at night during this time, as the crater rim is at 7,000 ft. Ngorongoro Farm house is a luxury lodge facing the Oldeani Volcano, set on a 500 acre coffee farm located only 3 miles from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area gate. Three separate and intimate camps contain a total of 30 comfortable bungalows. The huge main building, covered with an elegant thatched roof, contains the reception, bar, dining area, library and lounge with a fireplace where guests can enjoy a rest during the cool evenings in the highlands. Guest Areas are completed by a swimming pool with superb views of Oldeani Volcano and a craft shop. There is also an organic vegetable and flower garden. Overnight - Private Tented Camp or Ngorongoro Farm House (all meals & activities)

After breakfast you will be driven to what the Maasai people refer to as the endless plain - the 5,700 square mile Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti has the largest concentration of migratory game animals in the world. Huge numbers of wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle inhabit the park during this time with estimates of up to 1.5 million animals. From December through March the migratory herds congregate around the Ndutu and Salei plains, where the calving season takes place, attracting the attention of predators like lion, cheetah and hyena. In June and July they move into the western corridor and in October and November the herds can usually be found in the northern Serengeti. The Serengeti you will see "Kopjes" - massive boulder islands of granite standing in a sea of grass. These provide shelter to a great variety of plants and animals, from the elusive leopard to the tiny dik dik.

You will spend four nights at your private camp, set in wilderness areas, depending on the season and movement of the animals. During the days you embark on morning, afternoon and all day game drives – returning to camp each evening in time for sundowners around the fire. Overnight - Private Tented Camp (all meals & activities)

NOTE:Direct flight out of Serengeti ($185) can be arranged for those flying out of Nairobi who would like to fly home on day 12