Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari

The rim of the Ngorongoro crater can reach up to 7,500 feet in altitude, which means you should be prepared for possible signs of altitude sickness.

On Short Breaks, you maintain a good level of independence and freedom, with the added bonus of having the details sorted out for you. You’ll have lots of free time and you won’t be accompanied by a Trip Leader. This means that all included activities and tours will be run by different local Intrepid partners, and these may operate independently from each other. The included activities and transfers will operate on a join-in basis, which means that you could have your Adventure all to yourself, or others may join you along the way. If you would prefer to travel in a group with a dedicated Trip Leader, just get in touch with your booking agent and they will take you through some alternatives.

1. This Short Break starts at the Kibo Palace Hotel in Arusha at 8am. It may be required that you overnight in Arusha the day before the tour. Alternatively, you can arrange pick-up from Kilimanjaro Airport if you arrive prior to 9am.
2. This trip starts in Arusha / Ngorongoro Conservation Area on Day 1 at 8am. This allows time after the welcome meeting to explore Arusha / Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This trip finishes upon arrival in Arusha on Day 4. Please do not book any flights until after 8pm this evening.

What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. Generally speaking, we recommend you pack as lightly as possible and make sure that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage, and walk with it for short distances.

Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips.

Below are some ideas and helpful tips on what you specifically need for this trip.

ESSENTIALS:
- Closed in shoes. As most of our trips include some bush walking we highly recommend that you take a pair of comfortable, closed-in walking shoes. Closed-in shoes will help to protect your feet from cuts and scratches when walking through bush/grass-lands, and will also act as a barrier protection in rare cases against bites or stings from dangerous animals in this environment.
- Lightweight clothing. You will need to bring a mixture of lightweight clothing, some warm items for the evenings, and long shirts and pants for protection against mosquitoes in the malaria areas. Clothes should be easy to wash and dry. Some people like to take jeans for evenings out but they can be tough to dry and should not be used for trekking. Avoid nylon and other synthetics, which can be very uncomfortable in hot weather. Ex-military or military style clothing and equipment is NOT recommended.
- Sun protection - hat, sunscreen, sunglasses

RECOMMENDED:
- A good quality, high-beam headlamp or torch for around the lodges and permanent tented sites at night. Some of these properties have limited lighting and are powered by generators that switch off at a certain time.
- Waterproof/windproof jacket is a good idea for wet days, and early morning or evening activities when it can be cool.
- Warm fleece and beanie for morning and evening activities including game drives where applicable.
- Personal medical kit. Large kits will be on hand at the lodges and from your group leader or local representative (on trips that have a dedicated group leader or local representative ) but we recommend you carry items such as mild pain killers, electrolytes and bandaids.
- Insect repellent.
- Water bottle. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1 litre plastic bottle takes 2 litres of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion end up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments.
- Camera with spare battery or power bank.
- Binoculars

OPTIONAL:
- Ear plugs to guard against a snoring room-mate.
- A good book, a journal or smart phone with music player.

LUGGAGE LIMIT:
Please keep your luggage to a minimum. One small soft-sided bag plus a day pack (no more than 15-20kgs in total per person) is essential.We recommend against bringing hard/externally framed suitcases as they are difficult to store and can damage equipment and other travellers' belongings. If your trip is beginning and ending at the same location, excess luggage can usually be stored at your arrival/departure hotel and can be collected after your trip.

VALUABLES:
Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables, and use your hotel safe. It’s also a good idea to purchase a money belt or pouch that is easily hidden. We strongly recommend that you photocopy all important documents e.g. air tickets, passport, vaccination certificate, etc. and keep the copies separate from the originals. While not valid, a photocopy makes it very much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.

BATTERIES/POWER:
Our trips have access to power to recharge batteries for phones and cameras every couple of days. We always recommend that you carry an extra battery or powerbank just in case.

CONSERVATIVE DRESS FOR WOMEN:
In many parts of Africa women travelers should dress modestly as there is a wide range of cultural differences. Wear skirts or shorts that reach just above the knee and tops that cover shoulders at a minimum. If visiting coastal areas wear a cover-up when you step off the beaches., PLASTIC BAG BANS ACROSS AFRICA
While Namibia holds people liable to a fine of N$500 or imprisonment for entering Game Parks with a plastic bag, Botswana has announced a countrywide ban on plastic bags to come into effect on 1 November 2018. The ban will make the importing, trading and commercial use of plastic bags a criminal offence. Exceptions will be made for plastics that are essential for health and hygiene. With these announcements, Botswana and Namibia join other African countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tunisia, Morocco, Rwanda, Uganda, Somalia and Eritrea that have banned plastic bags. South Africa imposed a levy on plastic bags in 2004 but they have not yet been banned.
Many countries are strictly enforcing this and have been searching luggage at border points. Camping stores are good for obtaining waterproof reusable bags, for dirty laundry etc, prior to departure.

Some easy physical activities are included in your trip. However, no physical preparation is required to make the most of this journey.

Kibo Palace Hotel, PO Box 2523 Old Moshi Road, Arusha, Arusha, TANZANIA, UNITED REPUBLIC OF, Phone: +255 272544472, Fax: +255 272548832

Named after the highest peak of Africa’s highest mountain – Mt Kilimanjaro, Kibo Palace Hotel is a relaxed, innovative and contemporary hotel. The hotel is located in the heart of Arusha, a short 15-minute walk to Arusha city center and 10-minute walk to the Boma History Museum.

The hotel offers all the creature comforts of home including an in-house restaurant, two bars, an outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre, spa and sauna as well as a gift shop.

All rooms are spacious and clean and include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, minibar, safe, room service and free Wi-Fi.

Alternate Joining Point

The Kibo Palace Hotel is approximately 50 kilometers (one hour drive) from Kilimanjaro International Airport. Taxis are readily available and will cost you around USD$50. Some airlines offer shuttle services - please contact your airline to find out. Alternatively, the much smaller Arusha Domestic Airport is a short, 20-minute drive/taxi from the Kibo Palace Hotel. However, there can be heavy traffic in the town centre that may delay your journey.

Private airport transfers are available for pre-booking through Intrepid. Depending on the trip or package you have purchased, these transfers may be complimentary. Contact your agent for details. Be sure to advise which airport you are arriving in to and your flight details at time of booking.

If you have pre-arranged a transfer, please look for your name on the transfer barrier when exiting the customs area. A representative will be there to collect you. If you cannot find your driver after a considerable amount of time, please contact Intrepid's East Africa Office in Kenya on their 24 hour number +254 733 523 813.

Kibo Palace Hotel, PO Box 2523 Old Moshi Road, Arusha, Arusha, TANZANIA, UNITED REPUBLIC OF, Phone: +255 272544472, Fax: +255 272548832

Named after the highest peak of Africa’s highest mountain – Mt Kilimanjaro, Kibo Palace Hotel is a relaxed, innovative and contemporary hotel. The hotel is located in the heart of Arusha, a short 15-minute walk to Arusha city center and 10-minute walk to the Boma History Museum.

The hotel offers all the creature comforts of home including an in-house restaurant, two bars, an outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre, spa and sauna as well as a gift shop.

All rooms are spacious and clean and include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, minibar, safe, room service and free Wi-Fi.

Alternate Finish Point

Private airport transfers are available for pre-booking through Intrepid. Depending on the trip or package you have purchased, these transfers may be complimentary. Contact your agent for details. Be sure to advise which airport you are departing from and your flight details at time of booking. Alternatively, your group leader or local representative or local representative can arrange a transfer for you on the ground.

If you have pre-booked a departure transfer, please inform your group leader or local representative and they will notify you of your departure transfer time.

If you have any problems with departure transfers please first contact your group leader or local representative or representative. If this is not possible, please contact Intrepid's East Africa Office in Kenya on their 24 hour number +254 733 523 813.

Breakfasts included: 3

Lunches included: 4

Dinners included: 3

Your group leader or local representative will endeavour to cater to specific dietary requirements where possible, and vegetarianism and gluten intolerance will be catered for in most instances. There are, however some meals and activities that are fixed in advance and therefore cannot be modified to suit dietary requirements.

Please notify your booking consultant of any dietary requirements at the time of booking. For those suffering from particular food allergies, your group leader or local representative will endeavour to disclose to their fullest knowledge the main ingredients in dishes being consumed. It is, however, your personal responsibility to ensure that you do not ingest any foods to which you are allergic.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/ourtrips/contact/

For transfers and accommodation issues, Intrepid's Kenya Office can be reached on their 24-hour number +254 758 555 556 or +254 758 555 557.

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

Intrepid's Local Operator: +254 758 555 550 or +254 758 555 551