Delight in your morning meal, watch the elephant drink, bathe, and wander back into the wild before you follow its lead and depart the camp. The early morning visit from the elephant is never enough when the Serengeti is your morning playground. Search through the tall grass for the white tips of Jackal tails, listening for their high-pitched yip. They resemble a medium sized fox and are most often seen in pairs, for they mate for life. Wave goodbye to the golden plains of the Serengeti as you end your morning game drive. Make your way to Olduvai Gorge. The afternoon sun warms the world giving the area the aroma of freshly baked clay. Just like the air, the rim of the gorge resembles clay, its rim a rusty red from the oxidized sand that shimmers in the sunlight. The layered colors of the gorge rim, along with the large monolith in the gorge’s center, showcases the evolution of the topography, having been carved out by two rivers cutting through the rough terrain. Here you will visit the oldest fossils of human life to ever have been found. These fossils gave the scientific world reason to believe that mankind originated in Africa before sprawling to other continents. The museum offers many other fossils and exhibits as well, from the animals that graced the area, prospective life of ancient mankind, to what the gorge may have looked like before it was carved by Mother Nature. Once you have filled your mind with information, and your belly with lunch, continue on your way to the Ngorongoro Crater’s rim. The scent of fresh grass lifts into the cool breeze of sunset. The gentle wind rustles the trees. And even in the crimson light of the setting sun you can see down into the crater watching the distant color of Lake Makat glitter.

. The grass beams in the sunlight; specks of dew sparkle in the bright light of the morning. The grass remains green year round keeping the grazers happy and the need to migrate at bay. The predators remain plump and content because of the dependable herbivore population. Once deep inside the crater, you will be able to see the exceptional wildlife up close and active. Clans of hyena wander through the green field. Their necks extend and their heads hang low. Their ragged fur is speckled a dark brown. The females grow larger than the males and tend to be more dominant. The hyenas’ cackle can be heard in the distance when the air is still, as they call to one another. Watch them pass along the road in search of an easy hunt, being very opportunistic predators, or an easy meal, being known to mostly scavenge. The lush vegetation of the crater extends out and up to the crater’s rim as you follow the colors and exit Ngorongoro Crater knowing that what you have witnessed is unparalleled, unable to be traded for anything in the world, unable to have a price placed upon it. Continue your journey from the crater to the Mto wa Mbu village market. Here you will find a variety of goods that you can dawdle over in search souvenirs or a taste of the local customs and environment. The rich blues, reds, and greens stand against one another in a collage of Maasai clothing displayed to catch your eye. Plantains grow as large as a wildebeest’s head, their vibrant green just as awe-inspiring. A mixture of newly carved wood and freshly picked fruit fills the market area. Woodcarvings are presented based upon size, and can be made or modified to your liking. The most popular being carvings of the Big Five: elephants, rhino, leopard, lion, and buffalo. Wander around the Mto wa Mbu market, watch the distinct colors of the fresh fruit glow in the deepening sunlight, explore the various souvenirs, and get a taste of the local shopping customs as vendors tell you, “looking is free,” and are always ready for, and expecting, a negotiation.

Known for its birdlife, flamingos are exceptionally prevalent at the lake, and they shine as bright as the sun along its shore, if the sun were indeed pink. Their necks tangle and twist amongst one another, their sharp, black beaks dip into the clear water and dig for fish. As you drive along, bumping through the track roads, pay attention to the trees for Lake Manyara is also known for its tree-climbing lions. Lazing comfortably among the branches, their golden fur stands out against the deep bark, their tails dangling down and swishing in the cool air of the shade. The lions climb the trees to better see the terrain, searching for signs of prey that would be invisible to them in the high brush of certain areas. Between the tree-dwelling lions and the flock of flamingos, there is a collection of color and movement that swirls through and around Lake Manyara.

. The rim of the rift extends into the distance looking similar to a mountain range. Today you will have the opportunity to explore the culture of Tanzania on a walking safari through villages that remain connected to their culture through current practices and a determination to keep their history alive amongst the constant push of the modern world. From woodcarving to fishing, the region is full of a mixture of historic tradition and current economic practices, including plans for a geothermal power generator. Many of the people that reside in the Great Rift Valley are Maasai, known for their migratory nature. They remain traditional in their dress, in their customs of cattle and goat herding, and their traditions of being large-familial, patriarchal polygamists. They are incredibly friendly and inviting to those curious about the Maasai culture and desiring to learn more. The children shout in excitement, crowd around you and guide you to their boma, the surrounding gate of their village. Stay a moment and hear the children sing with joviality. The goats bleat, the cows moo and you have experienced another treasure of Tanzania: its local people.

Continue from your moment of cultural education to a walking safari through the bush of the Great Rift Valley. Wander through the trees with your guide in search of the hidden and quiet beauty of the area’s wildlife. Leopard tortoise meander across the grass, their shells a rich yellow decorated with dark spots and swirls, resembling the coat of a leopard. Starlings sing in the trees, their blue feathers iridescent in the sunlight. The quieter beauty of the Great Rift Valley and of Tanzania is shown as you slow down for a moment and pay attention to what you may have once sped past. Try to slow down time as much as possible to linger in your final moments in the Tanzanian wild. Eventually time will speed up once again, your last day exploring Africa coming to an end. Return to Arusha for the end of your journey with golden memories still radiant. Or, consider adding on an extension to your trip.