CHEESEMANS’ ECOLOGY SAFARIS 555 North Santa Cruz Avenue Los Gatos, CA 95030-4336 USA (800) 527-5330 (408) 741-5330 [email protected] cheesemans.com

Tanzania Extension Ruaha and Katavi National Parks July 25 to August 2, 2021

Bat-eared foxes

SAFARI OVERVIEW

In southern Tanzania, you’ll venture in remote areas of Ruaha and Katavi National Parks. Timed during the dry season, you’ll focus on the Great Ruaha River and the Katavi floodplains where wildlife congregate. See elephants, zebras, lions, hyenas, and many beautiful birds. Stay in top-quality lodging while game-viewing in habitats that vary from woodlands to plains to rivers. The diversity of wildlife within each region and the wonderful photographic opportunities are guaranteed to impress!

HIGHLIGHTS • Visit two wonderful, remote national parks, Ruaha and Katavi, in southern Tanzania. • Maximize time for game driving among the abundant wildlife by flying between reserves. • Search for and photograph lions, leopards, cheetahs, and other exciting carnivores.

TRIP OPTION: This is a pre-trip extension to our Kenya safari from August 1 to 17, 2021 (www.cheesemans.com/trips/kenya-aug2021). The information contained in this itinerary is supplemental to the main itinerary.

Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris Page 1 of 4 Itinerary Updated: May 2019 LEADERS: Topnotch experienced resident guides from family-owned Ruaha River Lodge and Kitavi Wildlife Camp.

DAYS: Adds 6 days to the main safari to total 23 days including estimated travel time.

GROUP SIZE: 11.

COST: $7,200 per person, double occupancy, not including airfare (except four internal flights), singles extra. See the Costs section on page 3.

CONDITIONS: This is a non-smoking tour for people who are very interested in spending the maximum time in nature.

Date Description Accommodation Meals Jul 25 Travel to Arusha, Tanzania. Jul 26 Arrive in Arusha, and transfer to your lodge to Arusha Coffee Lodge, — relax for the night. Arusha Jul 27–28 Morning flight from Arusha to Ruaha National Ruaha River Lodge, B, L, D Park with afternoon game drive. Then a full day Ruaha National Park to discover and photograph many new species. Jul 29–Aug 1 Morning flight from Ruaha to Katavi National Katavi Wildlife Camp, B, L, D Park in time for a full afternoon game drive. Katavi National Park Then two full days exploring Katavi. Aug 2 Fly from Katavi to Dar es Salaam and connect to Nairobi, Kenya to join the B Kenya safari.

LEADERS

Resident Tanzanian Guides We will announce our resident guides closer to our departure. They are excellent, professional naturalists and they know how to position vehicles for great photos.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Jul 25 ~ Travel to Arusha, Tanzania

Jul 26 ~ Arrive in Arusha Arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha, Tanzania. Upon arrival, our local agent will transfer you to the hotel. You’ll stay very close to the Arusha domestic airport, so you’ll have an easy transfer in the morning. If you would like to arrive earlier, we can arrange divergent airport transfers and other extras for you, such as a full day safari in Arusha National Park (costs extra).

Jul 27–28 ~ Fly to Ruaha National Park After breakfast, you’ll transfer to the Arusha domestic airport and fly to Ruaha National Park. Containing more than 5,000 square miles, it’s Tanzania’s largest national park. You’ll arrive in time to have lunch at the

Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris Page 2 of 4 Itinerary Updated: May 2019 lodge and get settled, and then head out on an afternoon game drive to find exciting African wildlife. Ruaha National Park is rich in big game: giraffes, elephants, zebras, elands, impalas, and others that sustain the big cats, jackals, bat-eared foxes, and other carnivores. Rare antelopes, such as kudu, sable, and roan do well in Ruaha’s Brachystegia woodlands, commonly known as miombo. The diverse habitats are nurtured by the Great Ruaha River where your lodge is located, and where acacia and baobab trees add to the beautiful landscape. Crocodiles, monitor lizards, and other reptiles, plus more than 500 species of birds thrive in Ruaha’s rich ecosystem. You’ll have maximum time in nature for game driving and photography.

Jul 29–Aug 1 ~ Fly to Katavi National Park In the morning, fly from Ruaha to Katavi National Park and transfer to your small, luxury tented camp, isolated in the wilderness of Brachystegia woodlands. After lunch, join your resident guide to explore this very remote part of southern Tanzania where the wildlife is completely wild and where very few visitors get to experience the richness of Katavi National Park.

Katavi National Park is Tanzania’s third largest national park with over 1,700 square miles, located in the southwest, and nurtured by the Katuma River and big floodplains. Animals are not very habituated to vehicles, so photography is more challenging than in Ruaha and the Masai Mara. You will explore the thriving riverbanks of the Katuma River and seasonally receding lakes, as once the floodwaters retreat in the dry season, it’s truly a game animal concentration spectacle. Elephants, hippos, buffalos, giraffes, reedbucks, zebras, impalas, and other prey keep the lion prides and hyena clans gathered here onto the floodplains.

Aug 2 ~ Fly from Katavi to Nairobi, Kenya Fly in the morning from Katavi to Dar es Salaam, and then fly to the Jomo Verreaux’s eagle owl Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi to join the Kenya safari (www.cheesemans.com/trips/kenya-aug2021).

COSTS (ALL COSTS ARE IN US DOLLARS)

Cost

Type Cost per Person Trip Cost, double occupancy $7,200 Single Supplement $1,000

Costs are per person, double occupancy, not including airfare (except four internal flights), singles extra. See Included and Not Included sections for more details.

This cost will be added to your main safari balance. The payment schedule and cancellation policy are the same as for the main safari. See main safari itinerary for complete terms and conditions at www.cheesemans.com/trips/kenya-aug2021.

Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris Page 3 of 4 Itinerary Updated: May 2019 Included • All leaders, transport, park entry fees, and permits for all activities unless described as optional. • Flights from Arusha to Ruaha, Ruaha to Katavi, Katavi to Dar es Salaam, and Dar es Salaam to Nairobi. • Accommodations for the nights of July 26 through August 1. • Meals from breakfast on July 27 through breakfast on August 2. • Airport transfers on July 26 and August 2. • Bottled beverages – bottled water is provided in the vehicles, and each lodge provides one free half- liter bottle of water per person in your room daily. • Short Term AMREF Flying Doctor medical emergency evacuation insurance. This does not include hospital or treatment costs. For more information see www.cheesemans.com/travel-insurance.

Not Included • Full-day pre-trip excursion to Arusha National Park on July 26. • Bottled beverages: Bottled water costs extra during meals, except at breakfast when water is often available to fill your water bottle. • Gratuities – tipping our resident guides is, of course, discretionary, however we suggest budgeting about $22–$25 per participant per day for July 27–August 1 with our guides on the main safari (about $132–$150 total per participant) and $10–$15 per participant for the airport transfer driver on arrival.

OTHER DETAILS

Climate Temperatures generally range from around 60°F at night to 88°F during the day (15–31°C) at this season. It is the cool dry season in the southern hemisphere, but weather is variable, so come prepared by dressing in layers, including a warm jacket. Even during the dry season of July and August, expect localized afternoon thunderstorms causing temperatures to drop.

Transportation Travel in open-air, jeep-style four-wheel drive vehicles with rows of seats that provide 360° viewing. Dust protection for your camera and gear is necessary.

Flights Unless listed as included, airfare is not included in trip costs. Detailed logistical information and the contact information for our recommended flight-ticketing agent are included in the Trip Materials we will send you. Please let us know if you are arriving earlier or staying later as we are happy to assist you with any extra overnights that you might want to arrange.

Flights you (or a travel agent) book: Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) by the evening of July 26. If you would like to join the full-day pre-trip excursion to Arusha National Park, arrive by the evening of July 25. Depart from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi (NBO) after 5:00 pm on August 16. If you are continuing on our Mountain Gorilla extension, see the Flights section in its itinerary for departure information (www.cheesemans.com/extension/rwanda-ext-aug2021).

Flights we book for you: Four internal flights. The cost of this booking is included in the tour cost. Important: the charter flights within Tanzania have a very strict luggage weight allowance of 15kg (33lbs) total. This means that you will need to pack light for both the Tanzania and Kenya safaris.

Cheesemans’ Ecology Safaris Page 4 of 4 Itinerary Updated: May 2019