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Kathy Loper
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Camping Safari & Run
with Kathy Loper and Kurt Bodmer
Tour Itinerary
Available Kilimanjaro Options: |
Thu 19Feb ~ Departure Day - MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL - AMSTERDAM
Morning flight on Northwest Airlines from your hometown to the Group Gateway Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport in time to make the connection. Change planes.1510 Leave Minneapolis/St. Paul on NORTHWEST AIRLINES NW/42, Airbus A-330, non-stop, dinner and breakfast served.
Fri 20Feb ~ AMSTERDAM - KILIMANJARO
0630 Arrive AMSTERDAM Schipol Airport (change planes).1030 Leave Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL/569, MD-11, non-stop, lunch and snack served. Flying time 8hrs20min.
2050 Arrive KILIMANJARO Airport in Tanzania, East Africa
Meet and Greet and transfer to nearby (3kms) ...
KIA LODGE
for overnight.Note: Our office staff will be meeting you on Saturday morning (before you leave the Lodge) to collect your excess baggage (items you do not need on safari) and store it at our offices. Labels will be supplied, which you will need to complete with the name of the hotel AFTER the safari where you will be staying (i.e. Keys Hotel or Ameg Lodge). We will help you with the bags. These excess bags (mostly with your trekking stuff in them) will be delivered to Keys & Ameg on the day you return from safari, and will await your arrival there.
For the Safari, bring only a soft bag (run bag type), it makes packing in the back of the safari vehicle easier between safari lodges. In addition, you can bring a backpack to have with you in the safari vehicle by your seat.
Note on the domestic flight from Serengeti to Arusha the WEIGHT ALLOWANCE is max 15kg. This includes your camera and "carry-on" bag, so we suggest around 12kg (26lbs) for checked luggage on this flight. This must be strictly adhered to for your personal safety.
Sat 21Feb ~ Arusha - Lake Manyara
0830 Safari begins - everyone has a window seat!We will stop en route to purchase some soft drinks and beer for your personal consumption during the safari, and continue to Lake Manyara National Park. We will provide you with a picnic lunch that will be enjoyed in the National Park.
LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
LAKE MANYARA is a shallow, alkaline lake at the base of a cliff face that is part of the western Rift Valley wall. Lake Manyara National Park is 330 sq km (127 sq miles), of which up to 200 sq km (77 sq miles) is lake when water levels are high.The compact game-viewing circuit through Manyara offers a virtual microcosm of the Tanzanian safari experience. Lush jungle-like groundwater forest features baboon troops, blue monkeys, ancient mahogany trees, dainty bushbuck, and honking forest hornbills. Jagged blue volcanic peaks rise from the endless Maasai Steppe. Large buffalo, wildebeest, zebra herds, and giraffes congregate on the grassy plains. Inland of the floodplain, the acacia woodland is the favored haunt of tree-climbing lions, along with impressively tusked elephants, banded mongoose, and diminutive Kirk's dik-dik. Pairs of klipspringer appear on the rocks above steaming hot springs. More than 400 bird species have been recorded here, and even a first-time visitor to Africa might reasonably expect to observe 100 of these in one day, notably pink-hued flamingos, pelicans, cormorants, and storks.
Late afternoon extensive game drive along the lake in the park.
"Welcome to Africa" cocktails, hosted by Kathy Loper.
Overnight at Lake Manyara Private Campsite, including all meals.
LAKE MANYARA Private Campsite
Spectacular setting overlooking the Great Rift Valley and the stunning Manyara soda lake.Sun 22Feb ~ Lake Manyara - Ngorongoro Crater
Breakfast at the Camp.From Lake Manyara, we head up the escarpment of the Rift Valley past Mto-wa-Mbu bustling village (time to stop for curios at a local market if you wish) and up to the Ngorongoro highlands.
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NGORONGORO CAMPGROUND
The campsite will be located near the crater rim, in a secluded area. Please note that it gets cold here at night, and warm clothing for the evenings and early morning drives should be taken.Lunch and dinner at the camp.
Mon 23Feb ~ At Ngorongoro Crater.
0700 Breakfast at the camp.0800 Full day game viewing in the Crater.
After breakfast we descend by safari vehicles steadily down the steep 2,000-foot side of the crater to the crater floor. A morning's game viewing in the crater is almost guaranteed to turn up four of the Big Five (lion, buffalo, elephant, leopard, and rhino), as well as zebra, gazelle, warthog, and a rich variety of birds, all viewed against the backdrop of the thickly forested crater walls. Picnic lunch in the Crater, then return to your camp.
Overnight Ngorongoro camping, all meals included.
Tue 24Feb ~ Ngorongoro Crater - Serengeti National Park.
0800 After breakfast we head to the Serengeti with a picnic lunch, for the drive via a Masai Village to Olduvai Gorge. Here, in 1959, Mary Leakey made her ground breaking discovery of a hominid (human-like) skull dating back 1.8 million years. Since then other hominid species, possibly our early ancestors, have been found in the area dating as far back as 3.7 million years.The whole area is often referred to as the "cradle of mankind". You will visit the original excavations down in the gorge and the museum, with narration by the museum curator. A fascinating place!
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Continue westward, viewing game en route to the...
SERENGETI WILDERNESS CAMP
Overnight at the Serengeti Wilderness tented camp, a semi-permanent camp in the middle of the Serengeti. Tents are spacious, and include two permanent beds with duvets, hot water bucket shower, eco-friendly toilet and shady veranda. Lighting is by 12 volt, with solar bedside lamps, and paraffin lamps, plus limited battery recharging facilities will be available (for videos and cameras).SERENGETI is unequaled for its beauty and contains more than three million large mammals spread over the vast endless plains.
It is here that we may encounter the breathtaking spectacle of the annual wildebeest migration, where one and a quarter million wildebeest trek in columns of up to forty kilometers long in search of grazing, drawing with them their predators and numerous other species of game. Wildlife includes: Wildebeest, Zebra, Grants' Gazelle, Jackal, Striped Hyena, Aard-wolf, Black-faced Vervet Monkey, Cheetah, Oribi, Bush Pig and Lion.
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Wed 25Feb ~ Serengeti
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the Camp.Full day game viewing in the Serengeti.
Overnight Serengeti Wilderness Camp.
Thu 26Feb ~ Serengeti
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the Camp.Or, half-day game viewing with a late lunch at the camp and the balance of the day at leisure.
For those who have pre-booked this "optional" adventure, enjoy an early morning spectacular Balloon Safari (1 hour flight) during sunrise, viewing countless game from above, followed by champagne breakfast after landing.
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Optional Balloon Safari at SerengetiFri 27Feb ~ Serengeti - Arusha-Moshi
0800 Pack up and depart your camp for the Seronera airstrip, and enjoy a spectacular flight from the Serengeti over the Ngorongoro highlands back to Arusha, where you will be transferred for lunch at the local restaurant STIGGY'S BAR & GRILL.1500 Continue drive to Moshi. Overnight at Keys Hotel or Ameg Lodge with all meals included during your stay here.
Pasta Dinner at your hotel.
KEYS HOTEL
A basic trekker's hotel. Small, it has a swimming pool, bar, garden area and restaurant. The rooms are a little old fashioned, but comfortable. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. This will be your base hotel for the run and the trek as it is also Race Central and Kili Trek Central.
AMEG LODGE
The lodge has been constructed with local Tanzanian materials and designed to combine antique African, and modern contemporary styles. It is set in beautiful gardens and has a quiet, relaxing feeling.
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Sat 28Feb ~ In Moshi
Breakfast and lunch at your hotel.Day at leisure to relax from your safari and prepare for the race!
Morning visit to the Amani Children's Home. You may also like to walk into town, or just relax at your hotel in the afternoon.
1500 We will collect guests from AMEG, and transfer them to Keys Hotel for the race briefing.
1600 Race Bib packet distribution and briefing/description at the Keys Hotel, to get acquainted with the route of your marathon, half marathon or 5k run.
Another Special carbo-loading Pasta Dinner at your hotel.
Sun 01Mar ~ In Moshi - RACE DAY!!!
Guests staying at AMEG will be collected early this morning and transferred to the start of the race. We will be running a shuttle bus service today both to and from the event at regular intervals. Guests at Keys will walk half a mile to the run start. More information will be available at your hotel.The marathon route leaves Moshi Stadium and heads down towards the town, and then along the main road in the direction of Dar-Es-Salaam for approximately 8-9k. This section of the route is relatively flat, and there are plenty of well-wishers along the road. We turn around and head back through the town of Moshi before turning towards Mount Kilimanjaro and heading up a long, steady ascent towards Mweka at the foot of the mountain. The uphill climb is gradual, leads through villages and coffee plantations, with the Kilimanjaro towering above and all the local villagers out to cheer you on this early Sunday morning - the time passes quickly. The turnaround point marks approximately 32km and the last section is a fast downhill run back toward the stadium. Regular water tables as well as "sponging points" and the odd "shower" keep the runners refreshed and cool along the entire route.
For those running the half marathon, the route also starts at the Moshi Stadium and after a short section on the flat, it follows the gradual uphill route to Mweka as per the full marathon - before turning around at approx 10k to return to the stadium. The atmosphere in the stadium is electric with local bands playing, entertainment, crowds of local enthusiasts to cheer the runners, and lots of food and drink for sale.
Goody bag/finisher medal for Full and Half. Enjoy a cool-down at our own Wild Frontiers Hospitality Tent with free water and beer.
The 5k fun run heads off from the stadium and does a short loop around town, where the crowds will cheer you on, before returning to the stadium.
After the run, awards presentation with a fun time at the stadium.
For more details on the 2009 Kilimanjaro running event, go to www.kilimanjaromarathon.com
Lunch at your hotel.
1700 "Happy Hour" and Trek briefing by the Pool at the Keys Hotel. Ameg guests will be transferred to/from.
1900 BBQ Dinner at Keys Hotel for all KLE participants.
Mon 02Mar ~ Moshi - USA
Breakfast at the hotel.Day at leisure in Moshi, relax from your run. Time for shopping.
Lunch provided at your hotel.
For those continuing on to the trek tomorrow, please collect your pre-ordered trekking gear from the Keys Hotel rental department during your stay in Moshi, but no later than today. Your actual trekking permit will be secured today by Wild Frontiers/Keys.
Dinner provided at your hotel for those on the trek.
For those returning home, you will be transferred to the airport for your evening flight from Kilimanjaro to Amsterdam. Only breakfast and lunch will be provided to guests flying out tonight. Our rooms will be held for 6:00 PM check-out.
1830 Transfer to the Kilimanjaro Airport.
Mon 02 Mar 2150 ~ Leave KILIMANJARO
on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL/569, MD-11, late evening snack and breakfast served, non-stop.Tue 03Mar ~ AMSTERDAM - MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL
0720 Arrive AMSTERDAM Schipol Airport (change planes).1020 Leave Amsterdam Schipol on NORTHWEST AIRLINES, NW/41, Airbus A-330, non-stop, lunch and snack served.