Overview
| Accommodation | Confirmed together with you — see the Rates tab for general comfort levels we work with. |
|---|---|
| Meals | Full board on safari days; meals as specified for any city/beach nights, per your final itinerary. |
Day by Day (6 days)
ARRIVAL IN ARUSHA
You arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and are met by your driver-guide, who takes you on the 45-minute drive to your hotel in Arusha, at the foot of Mount Meru. After check-in your guide gives a full briefing on the route, the park rules, the vehicle and what to expect each day, and you can ask any questions about your safari. The rest of the day is free to rest after your flight, or to walk to the Arusha Cultural Heritage Centre and the local markets. Early to bed is wise, since the game drives start at dawn. You stay at a comfortable mid-range lodge or tented camp with private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, a restaurant and a pool or garden, chosen for its location close to the wildlife.
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK GAME DRIVES
Tarangire is best known for its giant baobab trees, some over a thousand years old, and for the largest elephant herds in northern Tanzania. You spend the day on game drives along the Tarangire River, the only permanent water source in the area during the dry season, where elephants, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, giraffe, impala and eland gather in large numbers. Lions are often found resting in the shade of acacia and baobab trees, leopards are seen in the riverside trees and the park holds more than 500 bird species, including the colourful yellow-collared lovebird and the huge kori bustard. In the green season the animals disperse across the wider ecosystem, but the scenery and the birdlife are at their best. Your guide takes a picnic lunch at a viewpoint above the river, where you can stretch your legs and watch the herds from a distance. Mid-morning and late afternoon are the best times for game viewing, as the animals move to the water and the light is soft for photography. You stay at a comfortable mid-range lodge or tented camp with private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, a restaurant and a pool or garden, chosen for its location close to the wildlife.
SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK GAME DRIVES
The Serengeti covers about 14,750 square kilometres of open plains, kopjes, woodland and rivers, and holds the largest concentration of big cats and plains game in Africa. On a game drive you cross the Seronera valley, the central area known for lions and leopards resting in the sausage trees and on the granite kopjes. Large herds of zebra, wildebeest, Thomson's gazelles and topi graze the plains and hyenas, jackals and cheetahs hunt around them. Hippos and crocodiles line the Seronera and Grumeti rivers, and the birdlife includes ostriches, secretary birds, lilac-breasted rollers and many vultures. Your guide uses park radio reports, tracks and years of local knowledge to find the best sightings and takes a picnic lunch in the bush or at a hippo pool. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and the most animal activity, so most days start with coffee at dawn. From December to March the herds are in the southern plains around Ndutu for the calving season, when tens of thousands of calves are born in a few weeks and predators are everywhere. From June to October the herds move to the northern Serengeti and the Mara River, where the dramatic river crossings take place. You stay at a comfortable mid-range lodge or tented camp with private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, a restaurant and a pool or garden, chosen for its location close to the wildlife.
SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK GAME DRIVES
For a further day in the area, you explore a different part of the park with your guide. The Serengeti covers about 14,750 square kilometres of open plains, kopjes, woodland and rivers, and holds the largest concentration of big cats and plains game in Africa. On a game drive you cross the Seronera valley, the central area known for lions and leopards resting in the sausage trees and on the granite kopjes. Large herds of zebra, wildebeest, Thomson's gazelles and topi graze the plains and hyenas, jackals and cheetahs hunt around them. Hippos and crocodiles line the Seronera and Grumeti rivers, and the birdlife includes ostriches, secretary birds, lilac-breasted rollers and many vultures. You stay at a comfortable mid-range lodge or tented camp with private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, a restaurant and a pool or garden, chosen for its location close to the wildlife.
NGORONGORO CRATER DESCENT AND GAME DRIVE
At dawn you drive down the steep crater road to the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater, the largest unbroken volcanic caldera in the world, about 260 square kilometres across and 600 metres deep. The crater floor holds roughly 25,000 large animals in a natural enclosure, so the viewing is concentrated and reliable throughout the year. You search for black rhinos, one of the best places in Africa to see them, along with lions, spotted hyenas, elephants, buffalo, hippos and huge herds of wildebeest and zebra. Flamingos gather on the soda lake, and golden jackals, servals and secretary birds are often found on the grassland. Picnic lunch is at the hippo pool, and vehicles are limited to six hours on the crater floor so you must descend early. You then climb out and continue to your next stop. Mornings can be cool and misty at the rim, so bring a warm jacket. You stay at a comfortable mid-range lodge or tented camp with private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, a restaurant and a pool or garden, chosen for its location close to the wildlife.
DEPARTURE FROM TANZANIA
After breakfast you check out and your driver-guide takes you to the airport for your flight home, or to your next destination. Allow plenty of time for the transfer and for check-in, and your guide will help with your luggage and any last-minute shopping for souvenirs. We hope you leave with wonderful memories of your safari and look forward to welcoming you back soon. Please let us know if you would like to add a beach stay, a Kilimanjaro climb or a cultural experience to your next trip.
Rates Per Person
The Overview tab explains the accommodation and meal options. Send us your dates and group size for an exact price.
Next: Inclusions →Inclusions
Included
- Private vehicle with your own driver-guide
- Park entry and conservation fees
- Accommodation as specified in your itinerary
- Meals as specified per day (full board on safari days)
- Airport pickup and drop-off
Excluded
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Getting There
Tour Start & End
This trip starts in Serengeti National Park and ends in Tarangire National Park.
Airport Information
Kilimanjaro International Airport or Mwanza Airport is the most common arrival point for this trip.
Transfer Information
We meet you at the airport and handle every transfer between destinations throughout your trip.
Accommodation Before/After
Want an extra night in Arusha, Moshi or Zanzibar before or after your trip? Just ask and we will arrange it.