Sacred Journeys - Tanzania
 

Maasai Heartland - Into the Wilds of the Serengeti
An Authentic Safari & Photographic Journey with Jaime Kowal

We can organize this tour for your group! Call us for details

Tour Leader: Jaime Kowal is a professional photographer, author, teacher and social entrepreneur. She specializes in travel photography and authentic portraiture and expertly captures the essence and beauty of all that comes across her lens. Learn more about Jaime on our About Your Tour Leaders page.

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Tour Description

Join professional photographer, Jaime Kowal, on our Authentic Safari and Photographic Sacred Journey in the heart of Tanzania, Africa. Considered the “Motherland”, Africa offers one of the most special and spiritual experiences you will ever encounter to connect with the power and beauty of Mother Earth. Travel through the vast wilderness and endless plains, encounter countless species of flora and fauna, and develop a new-found appreciation for the sacredness of our planet to once again feel like a child of the Great Mother.

On this true safari experience, you will visit some of the best game parks in Tanzania, camp amongst the wildlife, sleep under the stars, and be enveloped by the sounds of the African bush. Beginning with Tarangire, you immediately feel the thriving energy of the land, encountering an abundance of wildlife and admiring the remarkable Acacia and Baobab trees which so often find their way into memorable photographs. Travel through the expansive Ngorongoro Conservation Area and venture into the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera and an extraordinary natural sanctuary where some of Africa’s densest populations of large mammals have evolved. In Serengeti National Park, pay homage to the “Cradle of Mankind” while wondering at the unequalled beauty of the vast endless plains. Capture spectacular panoramic photograhs as you witness the breathtaking spectacle of the annual migration, when over a million wildebeest trek in columns of up to forty km long in search of grazing, drawing with them their predators and numerous other species of game.

Relax in the comfort of Private Camps situated in the heart of the action for the best game viewing possible. Let the wonderful support staff take care of everything so you can sit back and enjoy delicious meals, friendly banter, and amazing African sunsets.

Experience the distinctive culture of the semi-nomadic and great warrior tribe of the Maasai, a culture that existed long before man made boundaries. Mingle with the Maasai as you stroll through their local village “bomas”, and experience the interesting and unique traditions and celebrations of this colourful and friendly people. The vibrant traditional costumes, which appear in stark contrast to the umber earthen backgrounds, create a fantastic canvass and a photographer’s dream! Join in on the dancing, singing and jubilance and celebrate this once in a lifetime experience.

Feel the shiver down your spine at the echo of a lion’s roar breaking the silence of the night, tremble at the thundering sound of herds as they scamper across the great plains, weep at the sight of adorable elephant calves linked trunk to tail with their mothers as they meander through primeval forest, stand speechless before awe-inspiring vistas, laugh and feel an utter sense of joy with new found friends, and experience what it feels like to really be alive. This unforgettable journey in Africa will certainly change you for life!

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About Your Tour Leaders

Jaime Kowal

Jaime Kowal is an inspiring professional photographer, author, teacher and social entrepreneur. She is the publisher of the award-winning book celebrating healthy, green living called Waking Up the West Coast: Healers and Visionaries available across North America. Jaime also led our journey to Bhutan, Land of the Thunder Dragon in November 2008.

Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Jaime photographs for editorial and advertising clients all around the world and specializes in travel photography, authentic portraiture and all things green. Her client base includes values-based businesses dedicated to social justice, healthy living, sustainability and our environment.

She is an experienced, patient and knowledgeable lecturer and teacher, and has worked with the National Geographic Traveler Seminars, the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops and the Vancouver Photo Workshops.
Her wisdom and expertise will be shared to help guide you to become a more knowledgeable and competent photographer whether you are an adept photographer or a photography enthusiast. www.jaimekowal.com

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Tour Summary
Day 1 Arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport; transfer to Arusha
Day 2 Tarangire
Day 3 Tarangire, Mto Wa Mbu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Day 4 Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Day 5 Olduvai Gorge, Serengeti National Park
Day 6 Serengeti National Park
Day 7 Serengeti National Park
Day 8 Serengeti National Park
Day 9 Lake Natron
Day 10 Lake Natron
Day 11 Engrauka
Day 12 Arusha
Day 13 Depart Kilimanjaro Airport                       

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Detailed Itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport; transfer to Arusha
Welcome to the Motherland! Arrive at Kilimanjaro airport and transfer to our hotel in Arusha to settle in for the evening.
(Overnight at the Impala Hotel in Arusha)

Day 2: Tarangire (B, L, D)
This morning we meet with our local guide for our pre-departure briefing and hear about all the exciting experiences that await us. The guide will also be able to assist anyone who wishes to exchange money or purchase some beverages and snacks to take along with them to camp before we leave. In the meantime, the rest of the safari crew will already have gone ahead to set up camp to have it ready for us when we arrive. Jaime will also give us a brief introduction on how to develop a strong photo essay or story to prepare us for our journey.

After our morning preparation we begin our drive to Tarangire, whose ecosystem is the third largest in Tanzania spanning 20,000 square km, of which the park occupies a mere 13%. During the dry season, the park has the second largest concentration of wildlife in Tanzania. The unique acacia and baobab vegetation provides a home for over 550 bird species, as well as lion, leopard, buffalo and large herds of elephant. We may also see species such as gerenuk, oryx and eland which are rarely seen in the other parks in the north.

The ride to Tarangire will take just over two hours so we will either enjoy lunch upon arrival at our camp or stop for a picnic lunch en route so that we can spend the rest of the day on safari.

In evening we will enjoy a lecture with Jaime to learn how to obtain the best photographs on safari. She will discuss effective techniques, equipment, camera settings, different lenses and filters, etc.
(Overnight Private Camping within the Conservation Area)


Day 3: Tarangire, Mto Wa Mbu, Ngorongoro Conservation Area (B, L, D)
We arise early this morning so that our support crew can begin breaking down camp while we enjoy breakfast. We then head off with our packed lunches for a long game drive in Tarangire. This will give us an opportunity to spot more species of wildlife found in the park as well as learn about the various flora we will encounter.

We then visit the bustling town of Mto-wa-mbu, where there is a lively curio market, excellent for picking up gifts and souvenirs, and then on to Karatu, a rich farming area. We will also stop at a fabulous viewpoint which looks out over Lake Manyara and the Rift Valley to photograph the spectacular panoramas

We then weave our way upwards into the densely forested slopes of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, pausing to admire the splendid view of the crater floor 600m below at Heroes Point. At 8300 sq km, Ngorongoro Conservation Area is named after its central feature, the Ngorongoro Crater, which is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. Within this area, an extraordinary natural sanctuary for some of Africa’s densest populations of large mammals has evolved. The crater floor itself is 260 sq km and from the viewing points at the rim, the vast herds of wildebeest, buffalo and zebra look like mere ant formations winding their way across the grasslands below. The crater is also home to a great diversity of environments and you may encounter all of the large herbivores mentioned above, as well as lions, hyenas, jackals, male elephant (females and family groups tend to stay up on the higher slopes) and, in the forest around the rim, occasional leopard and bushbuck. There is an active black rhino breeding project inside the crater and you may be lucky enough to spot some of these magnificent, shy beasts during your tour.

We arrive at our private campsite in the early evening to enjoy dinner and share the outstanding photographs captured today. The crater rim can be very cold at night and cloaked in mist in the morning so you will need some warm clothing (layers are best) and a warm jacket for these nights.
(Overnight Private Camping within the Conservation Area)

Day 4: Ngorongoro Conservation Area (B, L, D)
Today we spend the entire day roaming through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. We will have countless opportunities to photograph the abundant wildlife as well as the breathtaking panoramas. Captivated by the unbelievable vastness, we truly experience our size in relation to our great Earth. Connecting with the powerful energies of the land which envelop us will be a transformational experience and one which will certainly change you for life. Relish the day in this amazing environment and make sure to take a break from your camera to just watch and experience all that is around and just “BE”.

Once back at camp we prepare for another sumptuous dinner followed by our photographic review and more great tips and hints from Jaime.
(Overnight Private Camping within the Conservation Area)

Day 5: Olduvai Gorge, Serengeti National Park (B, L, D)
This morning we break camp and embark on a game drive into the great Serengeti plains. The Serengeti is unequalled in its beauty and contains more than three million large mammals spread over the vast endless plains. It is here, that at certain time of the year, we may witness the breathtaking spectacle of the annual wildebeest migration, where one and a quarter million wildebeest trek in columns of up to forty km long in search of grazing, drawing with them their predators and numerous other species of game. From January to March the herds can largely be found in the southern area, proceeding north through the centre and Western Corridor during June and July before entering Kenya’s Masai Mara. They return south in November to repeat this amazing instinctive procession all over again.

Before crossing from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area into the Serengeti National Park we visit the Olduvai Gorge, the “Cradle of Mankind”, where we attend a short talk on the archaeological importance of Olduvai and the work of Mary and Louis Leakey which involves the excavation of this area where some of Africa’s most important hominid fossils have been discovered. The Gorge is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world as it has been instrumental in developing our understanding of early human evolution.

Later we stop at a local Maasai village “boma” to discover their unique culture. We will spend some time learning about the traditions and beliefs of this ancient, noble warrior tribe and mingling with the local people.

In the evening we settle in at our Serengeti Wilderness Camp. This camp is a seasonal camp which is relocated every three months or so to follow the game's movement. Site locations are positioned so that we will be as close to the best game viewing for that time of year as possible, while trying to avoid the busy areas of the park, in order to offer a true wilderness experience
(Overnight Camping at the Serengeti Wilderness Camp)


Day 6 & 7: Serengeti National Park (B, L, D)
We spend the next couple of days in the spectacular Serengeti National Park enjoying morning and afternoon game drives to capture photos of the abundant wildlife and endless plains. Africa’s most famous game reserve covers an area of almost 15,000 sq km and is world-renowned for its dense predator population and the annual wildebeest migration. The park is part of the much larger Serengeti ecosystem, which includes Kenya’s Maasai Mara Game Reserve, and encompasses more than double this area. The greater part of the park is open grassland, patches of acacia woodland and isolated areas of granite rock outcrops called koppies. Animal migration is linked to the annual rainfall patterns and its effect on their feeding habitats. Formerly the home of the Maasai tribe who displaced the Datoga pastoralists in the 17th century, the name Serengeti is derived from the Maasai word “serengit”, meaning “endless plain”. The national park was created by the Tanzania Government in 1951 and became famous through the work of Professor Bernard Grzimek (in particular his book ‘Serengeti Shall Not Die’).

Huge herds of wildebeest and zebra can be found here along with smaller concentrations of Thomson’s gazelle, Grant’s gazelle, impala, kongoni, Kirk’s did dik, klipspringer and small numbers of roan, oryx, oribi, eland and waterbuck. There are also significant numbers of buffalo, giraffe and warthog. Elephants are relatively scarce on the open plains, being more common in the northern areas and the western corridor. The few remaining black rhinos are restricted to an inaccessible part of the park. The most popular animals to be found here in greater abundance than elsewhere on the northern circuit are the cats. Lions, cheetahs and leopard may all be seen here along with other predators, such as the spotted hyena, golden and black-backed jackals, wild cats and servals.

In the evenings we will have time to share stories and experiences and review some of our photographs.
(Overnight Camping at the Serengeti Wilderness Camp)

Day 8: Serengeti National Park (B, L, D)
This morning we enjoy another exciting game drive before heading to the Lobo area. The great migration passes through the Lobo area on its way south, down the eastern side of the Serengeti National Park and the Loliondo Game Controlled Area between about October and November, so we are here at an opportune time. Because Lobo is so far to the north of the park, the game-drive roads around here can be marvellously quiet, allowing us an excellent opportunity for private introspection and a chance to connect with the energies that surround us.

In the evening we settle into the Lobo Lodge, which is strategically hidden inside an enormous volcanic rocky outcrop. It is the biggest lodge on the migration route and from the pool and deck area you can admire the stunning views and witness the spectacular wildlife. After dinner we review our fantastic photographs and gain more instruction from Jaime who will share tips on how to effectively edit our photos to achieve the best end result.
(Overnight at the Lobo Lodge)

Day 9 & 10: Lake Natron (B, L, D)
Today we drive to the wild and remote area of Lake Natron which lies in the northeast of Tanzania between the Ngorongoro highlands and the Serengeti plains and is situated at the base of Africa's only active volcano, Oldonyo L'Engai (Mountain of God). Lake Natron is one of the most alkaline lakes in the world and home to millions of tiny crustaceans. The lake is also a haven for literally thousands of lesser flamingos and is considered one of the most important flamingo breeding grounds on earth. Here, it is the landscape rather than the animals that is the attraction. The area around the lake is dry, desolate and hauntingly beautiful.

We will spend 2 days at Lake Natron to take advantage of the many activities and active pursuits available such as hiking and swimming, as well as private meditative walks to reconnect with Mother Nature.
(Overnight Private Camping at Lake Natron Camp)

Day 11: Engrauka (B, L, D)
This morning we leave the serenity of Lake Natron and head to Engaruka, home to one of Tanzania’s most important historic sites. Approximately 500 years ago, a farming community of several thousand, developed an ingenious irrigation and cultivation system. The water that flowed from the rift escarpment was channelled into stone built canals and led to stone-bench terraces. Measures were taken to prevent soil erosion and the fertility of the plots was increased by using the manure of stall fed cattle. A guided tour of the ruined city will allow us to see the remnants of the complicated irragation system firsthand. For unknown reasons, the farmers left Engaruka around 1700. Now, three centuries later, the ruins still give a good impression of the highly specialized, integrated agricultural economy, very remarkable for that period of African history. Although several famous archaeologists including Louis Leakey have investigated the Engaruka ruins, the site is still shrouded in mystery. Our guide will discuss the various theories and questions such as, who were the people living in Engaruka, how did they develop such a remarkable system, and why did they finally leave. We then tour Engaruka Village, which lies at the foot of the rift valley escarpment. The village makes use of the fast flowing streams from the escarpment to irrigate small plots of land, giving the village a pleasant green look in contrast to the surrounding plains where Maasai cattle graze side by side with herds of zebras. Birds of prey circle above the area looking for a kill, while remarkable looking secretary birds, beloved as snake killers, strut across the plains. Dust cyclones are often seen on the horizon and are feared by the locals as “devils fingers", bringing bad luck when they touch people.

In the evening we visit a local Maasai village “boma” for a unique cultural experience. The walk to the village is a highlight in itself. Guided by the shimmering evening light, passing grazing cattle and local villagers feels like a walk back in time. Here we will have an opportunity to experience some of the local customs and traditions of the Maasai Warriors such as the ritual slaughter of a goat which is then cooked on a large open fire and offered to the local villagers. We will be invited to join in on the dancing, singing, and all the exuberant festivities. The vivacious activity and vibrant colours of the Maasai make for a wonderful photographic opportunity so be sure to have your cameras ready!
(Overnight Private Camping at Engaruka Camp)

Day 12: Arusha (B)
After breakfast we make our way back to Arusha. Enjoy some independent time to stroll through the city, which is reputed as being one of the most pleasant cities in the world due its exquisite weather, location, beautiful countryside and lively music scene. Shop for last minute gifts and souvenirs and enjoy the lively night scene.
(Overnight at the Impala Hotel in Arusha)

Day 13: Depart Kilimanjaro Airport (B)
Transfer to Kilimanjaro airport and bid your farewells to Mother Africa.

(B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner)
Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to conditions beyond our control.


Tour Inclusions & Price

Tour Includes:
• Accommodation: 2 nights at 4 star Hotel in Arusha, 5 nights Private Camping, 3 nights at Serengeti Semi-Permanent Wilderness Camp, 1 night at Lobo Lodge
• Daily Breakfast, 9 Lunches and 9 Dinners
• Transportation throughout by Private Vehicles
• Entrance fees to all sites

Special Added Features:
• Lectures, Instruction, Technical Guidance and Presentations with Jaime Kowal and her assistant
• Expert Safari Guides
• Comfortable Safari Vehicles
• Private Campsites located for optimal wildlife viewing
• Visit a local Maasai Village Boma
• Traditional Maasai ritual and festivities in Engaruka

Tour does not include:
• Airfare to Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania
• Cancellation & Medical Insurance (ask us for a quote if you are Canadian)
• Cost to obtain valid passport and Tanzania tourist visa
• Gratutities for Porters, Waitstaff, Caterers, Drivers, Guides, etc.
• Any items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks and telephone calls. Any item that is not specifically detailed on our website or in the final trip itinerary

Tour Price Per Person

USD $3790.00

USD $760.00 Park Fees (Subject to change)

Single Supplement
USD $900.00

Note: The single supplement is ONLY for those who would like to secure a private room throughout the tour, at the indicated additional price. If you are not traveling with anyone you know and would like to share a room, we will be happy to work to find you a suitable roommate. Per our Terms and Conditions, registration for the tour will be held open until two weeks before the departure date in order to try to match everyone with a roommate. If by that date we have not been able to match you with a suitable roommate, you will be responsible to pay for the single supplement. An early registration will facilitate this process.

 

Sacred Earth Journeys, Ste 220 - 133 E. 8th Ave. Vancouver, B.C. V5T 1R8 Canada
Tel: (604) 874-7922, Toll Free 1-877-874-7922 www.sacredearthjourneys.ca