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Few places can deliver the sights and sounds of everyone's "dream" Africa more than primeval Tanzania, home to famous Serengeti National Park - site of the great wildebeest migration. Hear the trumpeting of proud elephants… greet tribesmen in colorful native dress… listen to the screech of the fish eagle or see sunlight glistening off the arched backs of hippos lazing quietly in their watering holes - all from the heart of this untamed land, rich with natural and archaeological treasures.

This 12-day safari reveals the majesty of Tanzania's distinct regions where wildlife reigns amid spectacular settings - from the baobab-studded landscape of Tarangire and Lake Manyara national parks to the panoramic expanse of Ngorongoro Crater and the endless grasslands of the Serengeti.

In addition to your comfortable stays at three of Tanzania's premier lodges, you'll experience safari life under canvas at Tarangire Safari Lodge and Kirawira Camp Western Serengeti - both camps with private tent accommodations in the bush.

En route, visit a manyatta (or Masai village) for a glimpse of daily life among native Tanzanian tribesmen. Also stop at Olduvai Gorge, the site of rich fossil beds where, in 1959, an ancient skull of Zinjanthropus, now renamed Australopithecus boisei (an early humanlike species that lived nearly 1,750,000 years ago) was discovered by Dr. Mary Leakey. Due to its massive skull and large teeth, the find was nicknamed "Nutcracker Man."

This afternoon, continue your journey through the heart of the Seronera Valley, enjoying the sights and sounds of the wild. While in the Serengeti, enjoy two-night stays at two of Tanzania's premier safari properties. Situated high atop a hill with commanding views of the endless savanna, the beautiful Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge is elegant but unobtrusive. Modeled after a traditional African village, it features rondavel huts that house luxurious guest rooms with modern amenities.

At Kirawira Camp Western Serengeti - your home under canvas in the bush - enjoy a very luxurious safari lifestyle, as if reenacting a scene from Out of Africa. Your deluxe walk-through tent includes a personal valet, four-poster beds, handmade quilts, an en-suite Edwardian-style bath, and an inviting terrace that overlooks the Serengeti. Five-course meals are served on fine blue-and-white china.

Day 8-10 -  Serengeti National Park

Serengeti - in Masai, the word itself means "endless plain," and throughout your stay, morning and afternoon game drives will showcase this fertile region. You will explore the vast open grasslands and woodlands, searching for elephants, giraffes, and plains game, among others. And, perhaps, even encounter a lion pride or two, as the Serengeti - renowned for its large population - is one of the best places to see them up close. Also discover the rich Ndutu plains, where the vast herds of wildebeests congregate during their annual migration between the Serengeti and Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. The wildebeests, as well as scores of zebras and gazelles, graze on the region's grasslands, attracting a wealth of predators. Both a festive sundowner reception and an exotic dinner at the heart of the bush promise to be real highlights of your Serengeti safari experience, while an informal lecture on cheetah research further rounds out your activities. For a completely different perspective, you will have the option of joining a hot-air balloon safari (at additional cost); champagne and breakfast on the open plain follow the flight over Africa's vast expanse.

Day 11 -  Serengeti National Park/Arusha

Depart for U.S.A. (via Kilimanjaro Airport) Enjoy a final game drive early this morning, followed by breakfast at camp, before transferring to a nearby airstrip for the flight to Arusha. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant then continue to Serena Mountain Village Lodge, where you can relax in your dayroom, which has been reserved until departure, or take advantage of an afternoon shopping shuttle. Later, your return flight to the United States departs from Arusha's Kilimanjaro Airport.

Day 12 -  Arrive U.S.A.