Sopa Lodge Safari / Run
with Kathy Loper and Kurt Bodmer
Tour Itinerary
Thu 22Feb ~ Departure Day.
Morning flight on Northwest Airlines from your hometown to the Group Gateway Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport in time to make the connection. Change planes.Thu 22Feb 1520 ~ Leave Minneapolis/St. Paul
on NORTHWEST AIRLINES NW/42, Airbus A-330, non-stop, dinner and breakfast served.Fri 23Feb 0630 ~ Arrive AMSTERDAM
Schipol Airport (change planes).Fri 23Feb 1030 ~ Leave Amsterdam
Leave Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL/569, MD-11, non-stop, lunch and snack served.Fri 23Feb 2050 ~Arrive KILIMANJARO Airport in Tanzania, East Africa
Meet and Greet and transfer to nearby (3kms)
KIA LODGE
for overnight
Sat 24Feb ~ Kilimanjaro - Arusha ~ Tarangire National Park.
Breakfast at the Lodge.Drive through the town of Arusha on to the Tarangire National Park to your...
TARANGIRE SOPA LODGE
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Tarangire is the home of magnificent herds of elephant. Herds of up to 300 elephants scratch the dry river bed for underground streams, while migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest, and eland crowd the lagoons. It's the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem - a smorgasbord for predators - and the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as the stately fringe-eared oryx and peculiar long-necked gerenuk are regularly observed. The swamps, tinged green year round, are the focus for 550 bird varieties, the most breeding species in one habitat anywhere in the world.
Afternoon game drive in the Park.
Lunch and Dinner at the Lodge.
Sun 25Feb ~ Tarangire ~ Ngorongoro.
Breakfast at the Lodge.In the morning we head up the escarpment of the Rift Valley past Mto-wa-Mbu bustling village (time to stop for curios if you wish) and up to the Ngorongoro Crater to your...
NGORONGORO SOPA LODGE
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Dinner at the Lodge.
NGORONGORO CRATER is one of the natural wonders of the world. A large volcanic caldera, with an area of 259 square kilometers, it contains a huge variety of game and birds and is often referred to as a microcosm of Africa with its dramatic weather changes and varied terrains consisting of forest, grasslands and both freshwater and soda lakes.
Mon 26Feb ~ At Ngorongoro Crater.
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0730 Descend by safari vehicles steadily down the steep 2,000-foot sides of the crater to the crater floor. A morning's game viewing in the crater is almost guaranteed to turn up 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 en route. In the afternoon, return to your lodge.
1800 Meet at the Bar Terrace overlooking the Crater for a sunset cocktail, hosted by your escort.
Dinner at the Lodge.
Tue 27Feb - Ngorongoro Crater ~ Serengeti National Park.
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Breakfast at the Lodge.
0900 Leave Ngorongoro by safari vehicles, with picnic lunch, for the drive to Olduvai Gorge. This is where, 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! This also includes a visit to a Masai Village.
A picnic lunch will be supplied today.
Continue westward, viewing game en route to the...
SERENGETI SOPA LODGE
Set on a hillside with breathtaking vistas of a landscape teeming with game.Late afternoon game viewing.
Dinner at the Lodge.
SERENGETI is unequaled for its beauty and contains more than three million large mammals spread over the vast endless plains. Wildlife includes: Wildebeest, Zebra, Grants' Gazelle, Jackal, Striped Hyena, Aard-wolf, Black-faced Vervet Monkey, Cheetah, Oribi, Bush Pig and Lion.
Wed 28Feb ~ In Serengeti.
Early morning surprise breakfast, followed by game viewing.
1830 Welcome to Serengeti cocktail, hosted by your escort.
Lunch and dinner at the Lodge.
Thu 01Mar ~ In Serengeti.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the Lodge.Morning and afternoon "game drive". Early morning "optional" BALLOON SAFARI (1 hour flight) during sun rise, followed by champagne breakfast after landing. (see separate description. MUST BE PRE-BOOKED at time of tour booking, cannot book on location! Limited availability!).
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Optional Balloon Safari at SerengetiFri 02Mar ~ Serengeti ~ Arusha ~ Moshi.
Breakfast at the Lodge.Mid-morning spectacular flight from Serengeti over the Rift Valley, back to Arusha. Lunch at Stiggy's Bar & Grill.
Mid-afternoon continue drive by safari vehicles to MOSHI to your
KEYS HOTEL
on Uhuru Street. A modest trekker's base hotel. Small, with swimming pool, bar, restaurant with good food. Friendly, accommodating staff. This will be your base hotel for the run and the trek as it is also Race Central and Kili Trek Central.
"Upgrade option" to AMEG LODGE which is also located on the outskirts of town and has been constructed with local Tanzanian materials with the aim to combine antique African and modern contemporary styles. It is set in nice gardens with swimming pool and a Pool bar. Also has a gym. Each room has its own private verandah, satellite TV and phone. Shuttle service to/from stadium on Race Day. Limited number of rooms available.
Dinner at the hotel.Sat 03Mar ~ In Moshi
Breakfast and lunch at the hotel.Day at leisure to relax from your safari.
Optional morning visit to nearby Amani Children's Home.
1600 Bib packet distribution and briefing/description to get acquainted with the route of your marathon, half marathon or 5k runs.
1800-1930 Special Carbo-loading Pasta Dinner at our hotel.
Sun 04Mar ~ In Moshi - RACE DAY!!!
The runs start at the Stadium near your hotel, a 10-minute walk. After a very early morning light breakfast, you see Mt. Kilimanjaro in all her glory in full view as the sun turns its glaciers from pink to gold. The blowing of a traditional horn by the Ngoma dancers will first get the runners started around town and leading up the roads in the direction of the "Kili". A well marked route, with plenty of waterpoints, the marathon route traces its way gently upwards across bridges from the colonial days, past small banana and coffee plantations, villages and patches of forest, always with the sight of Mt. Kilimanjaro ahead. The turn-around point is after about 1000 feet of elevation gain and a welcome sight before the last 10k downhill stretch to the finish line. The local villagers are out to cheer you all along the way. Being a Sunday, a lot of the farmers and their families, in their colorful Sunday best, are on their way to church as the runners pass through their towns. All runs start and finish at the Stadium.The finish at the very full Stadium is amazing - local bands, dancers in their monkey skin costumes playing traditional instruments, tents with food and beer, an atmosphere of immense local jubilation.
Finally, after the run, awards presentations and a remaining fun day. Proceeds from the run entry fees go to the local Amateur Association for local athletics, and to children's ward of the local hospital.
For more details on the 2007 Kilimanjaro running event, go to www.kilimanjaromarathon.com
Late afternoon Farewell Cocktails at the pool of our hotel, followed by a BBQ Dinner.
Lunch and Dinner is provided at our hotel.
Mon 05Mar ~ Moshi - USA
Breakfast at the hotel.Day at leisure, feeling exhausted and yet, triumphant of an experience in a lifetime.
Early evening transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport.