Leap Year Photo Safari with Reg Whatley
February 24 - March 4, 2024
Wanderful Tanzania has found a way to make an already epic adventure even better, by inviting renown wildlife photographer Reg Whatley to join the trip!
This very special chance to travel with Reg is limited to just 12 lucky guests, so it will sell out very quickly! Not only will Reg be taking amazing wildlife photos throughout the safari, but he is happy to help the other participants hone their own photography skills along the route as well. Whether you’re photographing with your cell phone or a DSLR, Reg will have tips and tricks to help you take better photos on all your future travels.
This will be an action-packed 10-day safari that takes place during Tanzania’s GREEN season! The grasses will be green, and the dust will be minimal as we make our way through four important regions of the safari circuit. This time of year, that circuit includes spending a good amount of time in the Southern Serengeti in order to witness the Great Migration herd on their calving grounds. During a few precious weeks in February and March, this herd will give birth to more than 400,000 babies, so it is an absolutely glorious time to be on safari!
In addition to Reg, Wanderful Tanzania’s Founder, Susie Langley, will also be accompanying this safari. She is passionate about Tanzania’s abundant wildlife and its rich culture, and her joy and love for this land is absolutely infectious. You’ll be able to sit back, relax, and soak it all in knowing that she is attending to every detail to make sure your safari is the best ever!
On this safari, you’ll…
- Stay in luxurious camps and lodges (clean linens, flushing toilets, hot showers!).
- Enjoy chef-prepared meals daily.
- Be immersed in daily game drives where you’ll encounter incredible animals and breathtaking scenery around every bend.
- Have access to the best guides in the business… so don’t keep your questions to yourself!
- Travel in bush planes and safari-modified Land Cruisers to get you deep into the wilds of Tanzania.
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What Makes Us Unique
By keeping our safari menu small, WT ensures we maintain high-touch service throughout your safari experience. Our staff will work closely with you and guide you through everything you need to know before, during, and after your once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
Fully-Escorted Safari
When we take you safely into the wild, you’ll see why a Wanderful-safari is a cut above the rest!
See Big 5 Animals
Grab your camera, passport, and sense of adventure to experience the thrill of a lifetime.
Interact With African Tribes
Enjoy once-in-a-lifetime travel. Meet the locals. Create memories that last forever.
Best Overall Safari Experience
Best Guides. High-Quality Accommodations. Fun and Flexibility!
Safari with us! We'll never reduce your "Trip of a Lifetime" to a cookie-cutter experience!
This is a quick outline of our itinerary.
- Day 1 – Arrivals
- Day 2 – Lake Manyara National Park
- Day 3 – Ngorongoro Highlands & Crater Day
- Days 4-6 — Southern Serengeti (Ndutu)
- Days 7-9 – Olduvai Gorge & Central Serengeti National Park
- Day 10 – Bush Flight to Arusha / Lunch / Day Use / Departures
As with all grand explorations, it may be necessary to slightly modify this itinerary on the fly… but for now, this is what we have planned for your safari!
Day 1 – Arrivals
Your safari begins the moment you exit the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and are greeted by your guide(s). They will help you with your luggage, and will take you to your first night’s accommodation at a beautifully appointed safari lodge in Arusha.
Day 2 – Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara National Park is a great place to let the fun begin! In fact, the fun may even start before you enter the park if you encounter the HUGE troop of baboons that sort of “own” the stretch of highway leading to the park. We think of them as the official greeters for LMNP!
Once inside LMNP you’ll encounter a wide variety of animals which thrive in the short savannah grasslands and shrubs which dominate the landscape. Keep an eye out for leopards, elephants, wildebeest, cape buffalo and giraffes. And continually scan the trees for lions, as LMNP’s nickname is “Home of the Tree-climbing Lions.”
Not surprisingly, LMNP is a birding paradise as well! It is home to approximately 400 bird species that thrive in the variety of habitats inside this park. It’s fun to keep track of how many you spot during your time in this park! You’ll be amazed! You guide(s) can help you identify any of them you are unfamiliar with.
Day 3 – Ngorongoro Highlands & Crater Day
It is worth the early wake up to be one of the first groups to reach the crater floor on “Crater Day!” The primary goal of this day is to be on the lookout for the endangered Black Rhino. This will be your best shot at finding this element of the Big Five!
Although Tanzania has many wilderness and wildlife show pieces, this one is particularly difficult to put into words. With remarkable views from the ridge above, to the real action on the crater floor, the crater embodies a constant stir of wildlife and unspoiled scenes to keep you engrossed.
One of our past guests described Ngorongoro as “Where Heaven Meets Earth!” Another said it was like “A mixture of Narnia and Seuss, with just a dash of Jurassic Park!” However YOU describe it, it is a MUST-SEE on any Tanzanian safari!
Millions of years ago this enormous volcano collapse and formed this massive CALDERA that we mistakenly refer to the “Ngorongoro Crater.” Present day, this caldera is now an incredible, self-sustaining ecosystem that boasts the highest density of African wildlife on Earth, and a UNESCO World Heritage site to boot!
Days 4-6 — Southern Serengeti (Ndutu)
Your next adventure will take place on the Ndutu Plains in the Southern Serengeti. This area was made famous by documentary and cinematic filmmakers, and by researchers such as Jane Goodall.
The best months to visit the Ndutu Region are from December (when the Great Migration herds start to arrive from the north) until April when the millions of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle have begun their next march northwards once again.
In the early months of the year – with a peak in February – the wildebeest herds are calving on the verdant grassy plains (upwards of 8,000 baby animals are born in this region each day during calving season), which, in turn, also attracts the attention of cheetahs, lions and hyenas. All six of the big cat species can be found in the area all year – lion, leopard, cheetah, caracal, serval and African wildcat.
Lake Ndutu and Lake Masek form shallow basins where water accumulates from the nearby highlands. The water in both lakes are extremely saline… too saline for human consumption. Lake Ndutu comes alive with animals during the migration because it is surrounded by the dense woodlands and short-grass plains, which provide ample cover and food.
Days 7-9 – Olduvai Gorge & Central Serengeti National Park
During the transition from Ndutu to the Central Serengeti, you’ll stop at the OLDUVAI GORGE for a “lunch-and-learn” session and a visit to their well-curated museum. This gorge is known around the world as “The Cradle of Mankind,” as the oldest human footprints were famously discovered there by Mary Leakey in 1959.
The site remains an active archeological excavation site, with universities, museums, and other research institutions sending teams of scientists there each year to continue the exploration. It is a fascinating place to spend a couple of hours and realize that every single person on the planet can trace their lineage to this very spot on Earth.
NEXT STOP… Serengeti National Park!!
The majestic and world famous Serengeti is the thing that dreams are made of! Granite kopjes (pr. co-pees) pop up, seemingly out of nowhere, and dot the landscape like islands in a sea of breeze-blown grasses.
The park has a well-earned reputation for reliable and unforgettable wildlife encounters that, at times, seem to be around every bend in the road! You should have no problem spotting elephants, giraffes, zebras, antelopes of every variety, hippos, and so forth. Your guide(s) will help you spot the big cats… as those are usually much harder to locate.
And, once again, the birds play a huge role in the beauty and vibrancy of the park. They are nothing short of mind blowing, both in volume and beauty!
Day 10 – Bush Flight to Arusha / Lunch / Day Use / Departures
There’s time for just one last mini-game drive on the way to the airstrip.
Saying goodbye to your safari guide(s) at the end of an incredible journey is bittersweet. They have shared their knowledge, expertise and passion for Africa’s wilderness with you, making your safari experience safe, comfortable, and unforgettable.
These guys were complete strangers just 10 short days ago, but now they are your forever friends.
Be sure to look out the windows as your plane lifts off from the tiny dirt runway, and silently say your thanks and goodbyes to the mighty Serengeti too!
Upon landing back in Arusha, new guide(s) will meet you and escort you through your final day in Tanzania. Time permitting, they may offer a lunch and shopping opportunity, and/or a few hours in day-use rooms so that you can repack, refresh, and prepare for your long flights home again.
Either way, the goal of this day is to ensure you get to the airport in plenty of time to negotiate the check in and security process, and then relax onto your homeward flight… with your heart and mind full of the wonderful memories from your time in Tanzania!
Once home, we truly hope that you’ll tell your friends about the epic adventure and fun you had with Wanderful Tanzania!
Referrals are the biggest compliment we could hope for!
If you think that being on a safari means you’ll be roughing it… THINK AGAIN!!
Our small size really works to our advantage (and YOURS)! Because we are not beholden to one brand or chain of camps and lodges, we take great care in selecting the accommodations that are just right for each of our safaris. Your safety and comfort are always our top priority!
Day 1 – Arusha – Safari Lodge
Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the main streets of Arusha, guests will enjoy their first night in Tanzania at one of the well-appointed safari lodges in the region.
After your long flights, you can rest assured that a nice hot shower, a bite to eat, and comfortable bed await before you set out on your safari adventure the next day.
Days 2-3 – Ngorongoro Highlands – Safari Lodge
Following today’s game drive you’ll check into one of the spectacular lodges that the Karatu region is known for. Delicious meals, comfortable beds, and vibrant lounges will have you make you feel at home while in the lush surroundings of the Ngorongoro highlands.
Feel free to get out and stretch your legs on the paths and walkways that meander around these properties.
Days 4-6 – Ndutu – Tented Camp
Wanderful Tanzania selects only well-located and well-run tented camps that can truly deliver an amazing experience to our guests. Nothing beats a hot shower and a spacious, comfy place to relax after a long day of game driving, bumpy roads, and close-up wildlife encounters. After you’ve rested a bit, wander over to the campfire for an evening drink and to compare notes with others about that day’s adventures…or just sit quietly and reflect on your own amazing day.
Days 7-9 – Serengeti – Tented Camp
During your time in the Central Serengeti, you’ll be staying at one of the incredible tented camps in that region. While each camp has a different vibe, they are little havens of comfort and relaxation smack-dab in the middle of the bush! With all the amenities you could desire, they are truly a wonderful home away from home!
The sunrises and sunsets in the Serengeti are reliably breathtaking, as is the beauty of this wild and precious place. You can’t help but feel the tensions of the first world melt away, so be sure to stay present and soak in every detail of your safari. So once back at camp after a long day of game viewing, take a nice hot shower, get a bit of rest, and then head over to the campfire to have a drink before dinner and to watch one of those aforementioned sunsets. We hope these are the moments that give you pause, and let you simply relax and reflect on where you are, and the gifts from another day on safari.