TANZANIA SAFARI · STUDY LEADER Greg Sharam PhD’2005 (Zoology) is a wildlife biologist working in the field of environmental resource management. He completed his UBC graduate work

Join us in Tanzaia to witness some of Africa’s most extraordinary animal spectacles in iconic safari destinations. The Serengeti Ecosystem represents the intersection between wild savanna ecology and modern conservation – it supports the largest intact migration of mammals on the planet, ancient habitation by our human ancestors, and modern conservation challenges.

Begin Arusha, a modern town on the slopes of Mount Meru, before making our way to Tarangire National Park to watch the behaviour of large herds of African Elephants feeding among the baobab trees. Spend time in the natural amphitheatre of the Ngorongoro Crater to observe the “Big Five” African animals in the crater floor. A cornerstone of our safari will be our time in the Serengeti where you’ll have incredible close-up views of Plains Zebra, Thompson’s and Grant’s Gazelle, cheetahs, giraffes, and some of the over 350 recorded bird species which collectively contribute to what has been called “one of the world’s greatest wildlife spectacles.”

During game drives, we’ll travel in six-seater pop-top Land Cruisers. Everyone has a window seat (and a sliding window) for unrestricted viewing. Each vehicle is driven by one of our team of expert local naturalists, who take great pride in sharing their heritage and their vast knowledge of the wildlife and habitats we encounter.

We’ll be staying in two wonderful tented camps in the Serengeti - these pristine areas offer unparalleled game viewing. Experience traditional ‘under canvas’ accommodation with comfortable beds, ensuite flush toilets, and a shady verandah to relax and watch the spectacle before you. There is superb food, a cosy campfire for sundowners, and congenial company.

WORLDWIDEQUEST.COM/ALUMNIUBC | TOLL-FREE 1-800-387-1483 / 416-633-5666 | [email protected] | 491 KING ST. E. TORONTO, ON M5A 1L9

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS BY:

TANZANIA SAFARI OCTOBER 9 – 20, 2020

Open toalumni UBCand friends

STUDY LEADERGreg Sharam PhD’2005 (Zoology) is a wildlife biologist working in the field of environmental resource management. He completed his UBC graduate work in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Greg has led safaris to both Tanzania (2017) and Kenya (2018) with alumni UBC.

WHY TRAVEL WITH THE ALUMNI UBC

TRAVEL CLUB?


Ngorongoro Crater

• Observing the African “Big Five” – African Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Lion, Leopard and rare Black Rhinoceros – at the famed Ngorongoro Conservation Area

• Meeting with Serengeti-based researchers around a campfire

• Experiencing the Great Migration of wildebeest, zebras and antelope

• A night-time game drive at Tarangire National Park

• Listening to the sounds of the savanna from within a luxury tented camp

• Enjoying a picnic lunch under the shade of a fig tree atop a rocky kopje

Friday, Oct. 9: Meet in ArushaOn arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, Tanzania, we will be met by our Tanzanian hosts and driven to our country inn just outside the bustling town of Arusha. Please refer to the Joining Instructions below.Overnight: Kahawa LodgeMeals: Dinner

Saturday, Oct. 10: Arusha National ParkBegin with a visit to vibrant Arusha, a multi-cultural city that blends colonial heritage with modern Africa. Visit the market to view local masks and carvings. The search for wildlife then kicks off at beautiful Arusha National Park. Although many of the better known big game animals are present, we’ll seek out mammal species we are less likely to find elsewhere, such as black-and-white colobus monkey, blue or sykes Monkey, duikers, and bushbuck. We’ll also enjoy the outstanding birdlife in this park including raptors such as Crowned Eagle and African Goshawk. If we are lucky during our picnic lunch, we may glimpse the snow-clad peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro.Overnight: Kahawa Lodge Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sunday, Oct. 11: Tarangire National ParkToday we make our way southwestward to Tarangire National Park on the lookout for game as we drive. Tarangire’s elephant herds should be at their peak at this time and make for impressive viewing! This evening, we set out on a night-time game where we hope to catch the eye shine of small cats such as genet and African wild cat, and, if we are lucky, we may even experience the thrill of seeing lions hunting. Bats and nightjars may also flutter past us under dark skies and a suite of equatorial stars.Overnight: Tarangire Safari LodgeMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Monday, Oct. 12: Tarangire National ParkToday, drive in the dry undulating landscape of this wildlife-rich park, which lies between the short grass plains to the north and the thick miombo belt to the south. It was designated as a national park in 1970, specifically to protect populations of black rhinoceros, lesser kudu, and fringe-eared oryx. Drive through part of the grasslands, floodplains, woodlands, and rocky outcrops, which make up the wildlife reserve where we hope to find, among other mammals, leopard, common zebra, wildebeest, impala, Cape buffalo, elephant, Masai giraffe, eland, warthog, lion and olive baboon. Tarangire is also exciting birding territory — out in the bush we’ll find many superb birds, from Bateleur eagles to pygmy falcons, saddle-billed storks and hamerkops, and paradise whydahs.Overnight: Tarangire Safari LodgeMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tuesday, Oct. 13: Lake ManyaraLake Manyara National Park lies between the spectacular Western Wall of the Great Rift Valley and the alkaline waters of Lake Manyara and supports an outstanding variety of birds and mammal species.Among the date palms, tamarind and mahogany trees, we may encounter some of the elephants, Olive Baboons, Blue and Vervet Monkeys, or even Leopards, which occur here. Crested Guineafowl and Silvery-cheeked Hornbill are just two of the interesting bird species living in the forest zone. The area is home to one of Africa’s densest populations of elephant, the open grasslands support large numbers of Cape Buffalo and, where the Simba River enters the lake, large numbers of hippo wallow in the fresher water. The area is particularly well known for birding, notably including up to a million lesser flamingos. Overnight: Lake Manyara Wildlife Safari CampMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Wednesday, Oct 14: Ngorongoro Between two and three million years ago, the entire summit of an enormous volcano disintegrated and collapsed leaving behind the natural amphitheater or caldera, which is known today as the Ngorongoro Crater. Today we descend through the lush montane forests to the turquoise salt lake which fills most of the crater floor, offering some of Africa’s best game viewing and photographic opportunities, in a setting of breath-taking beauty. All of Africa’s “Big Five” game animals – elephant, Cape buffalo, lion, leopard and the now extremely rare black rhinoceros – reside within the crater itself. This is sure to be a wildlife rich day!Overnight: Ngorongoro Serena LodgeMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Thursday, Oct. 15: Serengeti National Park Today we make for the Serengeti, and, on our way, stop at Olduvai Gorge. It was here in 1959 that Louis and Mary Leakey discovered fossil remains of an early hominid, Australopithecus boisei, dating back some 1.75 million years. This find established Africa as the most likely home of our early ancestors and gave Olduvai a worldwide reputation as “the cradle of life.” We’ll take a moment here to consider that we are adapted to this very climate and surrounding landscape, thus giving us a deep and special bond with this place. We’re staying for two nights under canvas in a seasonal wilderness camp with the sounds of the wilderness all around us. Overnight: Ndutu Serengeti Bush CampMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DETAILED ITINERARY


Dung beetle


Friday, Oct. 16: Serengeti National ParkToday is a full day in the area south of the Serengeti Plains which we will explore during both morning and afternoon game drives. The Seronera River’s network of river valleys ensure year-round water supplies and support residents including big cats, elephant, and buffalo herds. Overnight: Ndutu Serengeti Bush CampMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Saturday, Oct. 17: Serengeti National ParkSeronera is the research hub of the Serengeti. According to study leader Greg Sharam, “Serengeti’s large animal populations, strong interactions between species, and rapidly changing ecology, make it one of the world’s best places to gain both theoretical and applied information about animals and plants.” Enjoy a presentation by an active researcher here to get an up-to-the-minute look at current research projects. Over the next three days, we will enjoy morning and afternoon game drives and an optional balloon safari (at additional cost) for a bird’s-eye-view of the plains and savanna. Lions, cheetahs and spotted hyenas, as well as black-backed and golden jackals, are constantly on the look-out for an easy meal and will provide us with many opportunities to view their behaviour and take photos. We will also be sure to sit among the candelabra trees atop a rocky kopje to enjoy a picnic lunch and perhaps hear the shrill cry of a rock hyrax. Overnight: Kubu Kubu Tented CampMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sunday, Oct. 18 and Monday, Oct. 19: Northern Serengeti For two days, we may well find ourselves in the midst of significant migration activity. Scattered for as far as the eye can see across the plains are thousands upon thousands of wildebeests taking advantage of the product of the unique black-cotton soil and the true star of the Serengeti story: grass. With rich, rain-moistened soil, this grass continuously grows, but is eaten as quickly as it appears, thus leaving a grazing lawn of centimetres-long grass with an especially high protein content. Overnight: Kubu Kubu Tented CampMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tuesday, Oct. 20: Flight to Arusha and departOur final morning in the Serengeti will be spent high above it as we take our flight back to Arusha. As we gaze upon the Great Plains for a final time, we will do so having made countless personal connections to the land and having developed a more intimate understanding of the forces that shape this dynamic ecosystem. There is time at leisure to enjoy a final glimpse of Arusha before homeward-bound flights. Meals: Breakfast

Please enquire about personalized extensions to southern Tanzania or to Zanzibar.

Note: The itinerary and accommodation described in these notes are subject to change due to logistical arrangements and to take advantage of local events.

Hippopotamus Cape BuffaloSaddle-billed Stork

TOUR DETAILS

What’s Included:• Airport transfers for passengers arriving and departing

as per the group itinerary • Accommodation based on double occupancy in lodges

and tented camps as listed or similar• All meals• All ground transportation by private safari vehicle• Internal flight: Seronera to Arusha• Professional English-speaking safari guides (one safari

guide per vehicle)• Bottled water in the vehicle• National Park entrance fees• Gratuities for safari guides, lodges, and group meals • Taxes • Fully escorted by UBC alumnus Dr. Greg Sharam

Not Included:• Roundtrip airfare from your home• Meals not indicated in the itinerary• Alcoholic beverages• Cancellation / Interruption and Medical

Insurance• Items of a personal nature• Additional arrangements required due to any

emergency or other situation• Excess baggage charges• Any item not mentioned in “included features”

above


Tour Cost (per person): US$7495 Including all taxes and gratuities.

Single Supplement: US$995If you are travelling on your own and would like to share accommodation,

we would be happy to try to match you with a suitable roommate. If we are unable to do so, the single cost applies.

Group Size: 14 – 18 participants

African Bush Elephantsat Tarangire

Payment Details:A non-refundable deposit of US$500 per person is required to reserve a space on this tour. A second non-refundable deposit of US$1000 per person is required 6 months prior to departure. Final payment is due at least 90 days prior to departure.

HOW TO BOOKPlease contact

Worldwide Quest.

1-800-387-1483

WHAT TO EXPECT

Joining InstructionsThis tour begins with arrival on October 9th . Most flights arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport in the late evening. Please ensure that you arrive by the evening of October 9th to join the group. All travellers arriving on the start date of the tour will be met on arrival and transferred to the group hotel. This transfer is included in the cost of the tour. When you book the designated pre-trip accommodation with Worldwide Quest, your transfer from the airport to our group hotel on arrival is included. If you are making your own pre-trip arrangements, this transfer can be provided at additional cost. Note that the flight from Seronera to Arusha on October 20th are expected to arrive in Arusha at 12:30PM. Please contact us to verify timing of this flight prior to making any onward flight arrangements.

Level of Activity: Easy to ModerateWe will be doing most of our game viewing from the comfort of our pop-top safari vehicles, as it is illegal to get out and walk in the parks. Note that roads are frequently bumpy and dusty, and you should be prepared for this. There are some opportunities for walks within certain areas – these walks will be on uneven terrain. If you have any concerns about being able to participate in this trip, please contact our office for further information.

Accommodation We will be staying in comfortable lodges with private facilities. We will also enjoy two tented camps. The Savannah Ndutu Camp is a mobile camp in the southwest sector of the Serengeti. Kubu Kubu is located in the central Seronera part of the Serengeti. Tents have comfortable beds and ensuite facilities including a flush toilet, and shower.

Kubu Kubu

Transportation When travelling overland between sites, we will be in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle driven by a professional driver. Safari vehicles are Toyota Land Cruiser 4X4 7-seaters with a pop-up roof. Each passenger also has access to a window seat for optimum views of wildlife. Note that there is a luggage limit of 15kg for domestic flights. Soft sided luggage is preferred.

WeatherWe are travelling towards the end of the long dry season when daily temperatures will be in the low to mid 30°C. A sweater will be useful at high elevations – especially at night and early morning.

Travel Documents:You will require a passport for your trip to Tanzania. Please make sure it is valid for six months after the date of your return home. Canadian and U.S. passport holders require a visa to visit Tanzania. This visa can be obtained online prior to travel or on arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport. Other nationalities should reconfirm their own requirements. Further information will be provided at 90 days prior to departure. Before booking, please refer to the Canadian government website to obtain travel advice for the destination(s) you are visiting: www.travel.gc.ca


Parthenon

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See our complete list of tours at:WorldwideQuest.com/alumniUBC

The University of British Columbia Alumni Association will not be responsible for the financing, the arranging, or the conducting of these tours. They assume no liability or responsibility for damages or financial loss to person howsoever arising from the negligence, omission or otherwise of travel services arranged through Worldwide Quest International. Refer to the General Terms and Conditions established by Worldwide Quest International with respect to participating in this tour.


TICO#: 2667946

Terms and ConditionsFor additional information about our terms and conditions, please refer to your booking form, the current brochure or our website. All participants booking with Worldwide Quest are covered by the terms of the Ontario Travel Industry Act (Worldwide Quest International, Ontario - License # 2667946).

Cancellation PolicyAll payments are non-refundable, however you may transfer your initial deposit for any land tour to another tour 90 days or more prior to your scheduled departure date. Initial deposits for cruises are non-refundable and non-transferable. Your second payment and your final payment are non-refundable and non-transferable. If you cancel within 90 days prior to trip departure, all associated trip costs are non-refundable. The tour price is quoted as a package. No partial refunds or credits will be given for services not used. In the event of a cancellation, you must notify Worldwide Quest immediately and in writing.

Travel InsuranceWe urge you to ensure that you have adequate cancellation and medical insurance in place, should an unexpected event cause you to cancel or interrupt your trip or should the tour not be operable per our terms and conditions. We will offer you Manulife insurance coverage. Medical insurance including emergency medical evacuation coverage is mandatory on all our tours.

ADDITIONAL INFO