This tour is currently in the planning stages for the 2021 departure. To be notified first when it is complete before others, please call 800-748-6262 or email aia@studytours.org.
Join paleontologist William Harcourt-Smith on this safari through prehistory, experiencing the wildlife and landscapes of Tanzania while learning about the hominins who evolved and survived on those very plains eons ago. In July (and August) Tanzania is at its coolest, sunniest, and driest, and the dry season attracts abundant animals to the region’s life sustaining rivers. We have timed our visit to witness the renowned wildebeest crossing of the Mara River with lurking Nile crocodiles—an extraordinary predator/prey spectacle—and our time in Tarangire National park will include the migration of some 3,000 elephants.
Along the way we will learn about human origins at several physical sites, but also through a series of lectures and discussions with Dr. Harcourt-Smith. Spend two nights at Lake Natron, well known for being near Ol Doinyo Lengai – the only active volcano in Tanzania – and a number of archaeological sites, including Dr. Harcourt-Smith’s most recent project at Engare Sero, where was found the largest collection of footprints currently known from Africa’s human fossil record. We will also visit Olduvai Gorge, the site of Louis and Mary Leakey’s famous, mid-20th-century paleoanthropological discoveries that indicated that hominins had evolved in Africa; as well as Laetoli, site of the renowned, nearly 90-foot-long “Laetoli Footprints” made by early humans as they walked in wet volcanic ash.
Throughout our adventure you will enjoy generous comfort and exceptional service at several charming lodges and memorable safari camps. Camping (in great comfort) near the herds and away from the tourist lodges will leave you with unforgettable memories. All of our game drives will be led by expert driver-guides, and we will enjoy extra room for gear and to move about with no more than five guests per six-seater, stretch Land Rover and Land Cruiser, specially adapted for photography and unrestricted game viewing. Journeying through the impressive wildlife, beauty, and diversity of this African terrain highlights the privilege of exploring and learning from the world around us.