Day 1: Arusha

You will be met at Kilimanjaro or Arusha Airport by your personal safari specialist and driver who will brief you on the journey ahead. Equipped with a wealth of knowledge, our experts will be able to answer any questions you have and provide you with all the information necessary for an unforgettable safari experience. After checking into your chosen Arusha hotel, relax and unwind before enjoying dinner at the hotel or in one of our recommended local restaurants in Arusha town.

Overnight at your chosen Hotel/Lodge in Arusha

Day 2: Tarangire National Park

You will wake early and start your journey to the unique Tarangire National Park. One of the last untouched places on earth, the park is famous for its huge herds of elephants against a stunning backdrop of majestic, ancient Baobab trees. Between November and June, many of Tarangire’s larger residents follow the rains to greener pastures. Wildebeest and zebras join elephants, buffalo and giraffes to form a wildlife migration second only to the Serengeti/Maasai Mara phenomenon

There are large populations of impala, giraffe, eland and buffalo. Thompson’s gazelle, hartebeest, bohor reedbuck and both the greater and lesser kudu are also in abundance here. In terms of predators, lion prides are common throughout Tarangire, as are leopards and spotted hyena. Packs of wild dogs sometimes pass through as well.

After a day spent exploring Tarangire, you will head to your camp for dinner and overnight rest.

Overnight at your chosen lodge/camp in Tarangire

Day 3: Lake Manyara National Park

Early Morning after breakfast you will depart your lodge and head for Lake Manyara National Park to continue your safari. Lake Manyara lies in the Great Rift Valley and is, one of the most beautiful places in Africa. Dramatically bordered by lush green vegetation, upon entering the park you will become captivated by large troops of baboons and blue monkeys swinging from the trees. Further down, the forest opens up into woodlands, grassland, and swamps, beyond which sits the soda lake itself. Home to 350 species of birds including the flamingos, pelicans, sacred ibisses, grebes and storks – it’s easy to see Lake Manyara is commonly referred to as “the bird watcher’s paradise”.

The most famous spectacle in the park is the tree climbing lions who spend most of their days lazily relaxing along the branches of acacia trees 6 – 8 metres above the ground. The park is also noted for its numerous buffalos, elephants, giraffes, impalas, hippos and a number of smaller animals, which can all be seen in a single day.

After a picnic lunch, you will continue your afternoon game- drive to see as much wildlife as possible. You will depart the park around 6pm and head to your lodge where you will relax  and rest overnight.

Overnight at your chosen lodge/camp in Lake Manyara or Karatu

Day 4: Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Crater

After an early breakfast you will begin your journey to the stunning Ngorongoro Conservation Area. By lunchtime, you will be descending into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, formed when a volcano exploded and collapsed in on itself 2-3 million years ago.  You will enjoy your first game drive around the crater floor, stopping for a picnic lunch at one of the many scenic lunch spots. With its 2,000-foot-high walls, very few animals migrate in and out of the crater making it an area with its one of the highest concentrations of wild animals in the world.

You’ll be searching for lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, hippos, flamingos, jackals, rhinos, antelopes and many rare birds you might even get to see the “Big Five” all in one day!

At around 6pm you will depart for your lodge perched on the edge of the crater rim. The rest of the evening can be spent relaxing and enjoying the spectacular views over this prehistoric landscape.

Overnight at your chosen lodge in the Ngorongoro Crater or on the rim

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater - Serengeti National Park

A 6am wake-up call is recommended to catch the amazing sunrise over the crater. After breakfast you will depart for the South Serengeti ecosystem belonging jointly to the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. One of the most scenic drives in Tanzania, you can see Maasai warriors grazing cattle and, depending on the time of year you may witness what makes up the largest mass migration of animals on earth. Huge herds of wildebeest, gazelle and zebra moving clockwise to find better grazing areas. Before entering the Serengeti National Park, you will visit a traditional Maasai village and experience how this ancient tribe have lived for hundreds of years, receiving a personal tour of the manyattas (houses).

After lunch, you will begin your afternoon game drive where you can expect to see large numbers of elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, monkeys, baboons, hippos, rhinos, antelopes and many exotic bird species. Your drive will end at your chosen camp or lodge where you will relax and rest overnight.

Overnight at your chosen camp in the Serengeti

Day 6: Serengeti National Park

The endless plains of the Serengeti…

Your drive will begin around 6am in search of nocturnal predators returning from their night’s hunting and animals waking up in the early dawn.  Breakfast boxes will be prepared for you to enjoy and as soon as the sun rises.   After breakfast you will go in search of prides of lions, cheetahs and leopards, just a handful   of the many of animals residing in the park.  We will pass by the Serengeti information centre in the Seronera area for a brief look at the history of the region.

We will then return to your lodge for a relaxed lunch and cold drinks. Later in the afternoon, when the sun is less intense, you have the option to go on an early evening game drives or undertake a nature walk around the camp with resident tribesmen, who will be happy to share their knowledge of the surrounding plants and animals.  

Alternatively, lunch can be taken as a picnic to maximise your time in the park – a long day but worth it for the experience of a lifetime.

Overnight at your chosen camp in the Serengeti

Day 7: Serengeti National Park – Kopjes Circuit

Today will be a full day of game driving with lunch at the lodge. We will follow the Kopjes Circuit, taking an anti-clockwise route around the Maasai Kopjes, an area known to attract lions and some formidably large cobras. Kopjes are weathered granite outcrops, scattered around the plains. Most of which are miniature ecosystems, providing surrounding wildlife with shade and drinking water in pools left in the rock following the rains. The kopjes is a particularly good location for spotting wildlife throughout the dry seasons – you may even see lions who like to lie and wait for their prey by the water!

Overnight at your chosen camp in the Serengeti

Day 8: Serengeti National Park

Enjoy breakfast with views over the stunning Serengeti plains before, departing for the Seronera airstrip, located in the central area of the Serengeti. You will take a flight back to Arusha airport where you will connect onto flights to your next destination, or transfer to Kilimanjaro airport if required.

Stay longer

Extend your stay in the Serengeti by one day, for a more relaxed pace to your safari. This will maximize the opportunity to see more game and give you time to explore different regions of the park.