10 days Tanzania Self drive Safari
10-days Tanzania Self Drive Safari allows you to visit Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Natron, lake Eyasi & Serengeti National Park. Additional time will enable you to explore multiple lakes and incorporate cultural excursions. Lake Manyara is perfect for Bird watching, boasting over 400 varieties. Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact crater globally, teeming with wildlife such as elephants, rhinos, cheetahs, lions, leopards, and hyenas. Tarangire National Park is an exquisite park characterized by Baobabs and Acacias, hosting a diverse array of wildlife, including zebras, elephants, giraffes, and waterbuck. You will also explore the Serengeti, Tanzania’s most renowned and expansive national park, recognized as one of the most magnificent landscapes globally. The “endless plains” encompass around 14,763 square kilometers, with extensive plains, short grasslands, kopjes, and lakes.
Detailed 10 Days Tanzania Self Drive Safari
Day 1: Depart for Lake Manyara or Tarangire, afternoon game drive (LD)
Drive from Moshi or Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park (perfect from December to May) or Tarangire National Park (perfect from June to November), including a picnic lunch on the safari and an afternoon game drive. Both parks are exceptional, offering several photographic chances. This 10-day Tanzania Self Drive Safari provides the inherent possibility to visit both reserves regardless of the season.
Lake Manyara National Park, bordered by the picturesque 600-meter cliffs of the Rift Valley escarpment, safeguards a substantial alkaline lake and hosts a diverse savannah-forest ecosystem. This serves as an exceptional introduction to Africa’s wildlife, with elephants, wildebeest, giraffes, buffalo, zebra, impala, and waterbuck in substantial populations, alongside the presence of lions.
Tarangire National Park is renowned for its extensive elephant herds and baobab trees. During the arid season, parched antelope and elephants traverse hundreds of kilometers to use the Tarangire River for hydration.
Included meals: Lunch, Dinner
Budget/Mid-Range Lodgings: Endoro Lodge
Mid-Range Lodgings: Escarpment Luxury Lodge
Opulent Lodgings: Tarangire River Camp
Premier Lodgings: Lemala Manyara
Day 2: Game drives, guided walk, or cycling (BLD)
Today, drive further into the region by embarking on a full-day game drive to either Tarangire or Lake Manyara, or engage in an energetic or cultural half-day excursion.
Local activities encompass a zipline, cultural trek, biking along the Lake Manyara beach, Mto wa Mbu village tour, Tinga Tinga art workshop, or a coffee tour. Preferably, these activities are conducted as a half-day morning excursion followed by a leisurely afternoon.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget/Mid-Range Lodgings: Endoro Lodge
Mid-Range Lodgings: Escarpment Luxury Lodge
Luxury Accommodations: Tarangire River Camp; Elite Accommodations: Lemala Manyara
Day 3: Journey to Ngorongoro Crater, half-day wildlife excursion (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Travel to the Ngorongoro Crater for a half-day safari. Ngorongoro Crater is a magnificent locale teeming with wildlife, housing approximately 20,000 huge animals, including Tanzania’s last black rhinos.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is distinctive as it accommodates approximately 40,000 Maasai pastoralists with their cattle, goats, and sheep, coexisting with diverse species in a natural environment.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget/Mid-Range Lodgings: Rhino Lodge
Moderate Lodgings: Ngorongoro Serena Lodge
Opulent Lodgings: Gibbs Farm Premier Lodgings: Lemala Ngorongoro Tented Camp
Day 4: Transfer to Lake Natron or Lake Eyasi (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
After breakfast at the lodge, proceed to the picturesque and surreal Lake Natron, a high-alkaline soda lake encircled by stunning desert landscapes and traditional Maasai villages. Following a period of repose at the campsite, partake in an afternoon activity.
The perfect months for visiting Lake Natron, in terms of temperature, are June-July and December-January; nevertheless, the peak flamingo season, when the region’s flamingo population congregates to nest in extraordinary numbers, is between August and October.
OR
Lake Eyasi is an exceptional destination for cultural aficionados wishing to explore Tanzania’s remarkable living legacy. Here, one can accompany bushpeople during their hunting activities and see a pastoral Datoga community. Although the wildlife is not exceptional, bird-watching may be exceedingly gratifying.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Moderate Lodgings: Tindiga Tented Camp
Opulent Lodgings: Kisima Ngeda Tented Camp
Premier Lodgings: Ziwani Lodge
Day 5: Engagements in Lake Natron or Lake Eyasi (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
ACTIVITIES AT LAKE NATRON:
This is a one-way guided hike lasting 20 to 30 minutes across a picturesque rocky river gorge. While donning your Chaco or Teva-style sandals, you will be navigating and traversing the river, occasionally reaching waist depth. The river offers an exceptional swim beneath the picturesque waterfalls, providing a refreshing respite from the intense heat of the sun.
Observe Flamingos
Lake Natron is exceptionally remarkable for bird watching. You can traverse from your campsite or the roadway across the mud flats to the water’s edge. During the arid season, this may constitute a half-mile trek.
Flamingos reproduce here from August to October, producing a birdwatching phenomenon that competes with nearly any globally. Nonetheless, a number of flamingos will be there throughout the year. Endemic desert avifauna offers an exceptional advantage for the enthusiastic ornithologist.
Picturesque Route
Comprehensive picturesque tour encompassing the southern and western border of Lake Natron. This region permits off-road driving. Although animals may be present near the camp, it remains safe to traverse the vicinity as no perilous species inhabit this area.
Maasai Community
The region boasts numerous genuine Maasai settlements to explore. This is an opportunity to engage with genuine Maasai families and observe the realities of rural life. You may tour residences and accompany them from boma to boma, encountering children en route, and even assist in milking the cows.
Numerous genuine Maasai villages are available for visitation in the region. This is an opportunity to engage with genuine Maasai families and observe the realities of rural life. One may tour residences, observe traditional dances, and get handcrafted jewelry.
Imprints of prehistoric humans
Examine the remarkable prehistoric human footprints located in the adjacent mud flats.
Sundowners
Accompany yourself to a nearby hill for panoramic views of the strange environment and the imposing Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano, Tanzania’s third highest mountain.
Ascend Ol Doinyo Lengai (additional expense)
An exceedingly challenging ascent with significant exposure. Please contact us for further information; we may arrange for a local mountain guide to assist you in navigating the steep, loose scree slopes.
LAKE EYASI:
Morning excursion to the Bushman tribe, followed by a tour of onion fields and a blacksmith workshop.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Moderate Lodgings: Tindiga Tented Camp
Opulent Lodgings: Kisima Ngeda Tented Camp
Premier Lodgings: Ziwani Lodge
Day 6: Journey to Serengeti, wildlife drive along the route (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
If you are at Lake Natron, you will travel to the northern Serengeti region today (Mara/Kogatende). From Lake Eyasi, proceed to the central Serengeti region (Seronera). A game drive will occur along the journey. This will entail an extended day of driving, necessitating a two-night stay at your camp or lodge.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget/Mid-Range Lodgings: Serengeti Halisi Camp
Moderate Lodgings: Serengeti Tortilis Camp
Luxury Accommodations: Kubu Kubu Tented Camp; Elite Accommodations: Lemala Ewanjan Camp (Seronera)
Day 7: Serengeti, comprehensive game drive, optional hot air balloon safari (BLD)
Today, partake in a full-day game drive in the Serengeti or opt for a morning and afternoon game drive with an intermission for relaxation at your safari lodge. An additional payment allows you a picturesque hot air balloon tour this morning.
The remarkable Serengeti is a unique safari locale in Africa. The Serengeti, the oldest and biggest intact terrestrial ecosystem globally, is renowned for its abundance of leopards and lions. Serengeti, signifying ‘endless plains,’ hosts the largest annual terrestrial migration of mammals globally, comprising over a million wildebeest, 200,000 zebras, and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelles, alongside various antelope species, as they embark on an extensive 800-km journey in search of new grazing areas.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget/Mid-Range Lodgings: Serengeti Halisi Camp
Mid-Range Lodgings: Serengeti Tortilis Camp
Luxury Accommodations: Kubu Kubu Tented Camp; Elite Accommodations: Lemala Ewanjan Camp (Seronera)
Day 8: Travel to a different region of the Serengeti for a full-day game drive (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
From the northern region of the Serengeti, one must drive to the middle section, known as Seronera. If you are located in the middle region, you will proceed to drive to the northern area (Mara/Kogatende).
The essential attributes of the Serengeti ecosystem have remained largely unchanged for over a million years. The Serengeti’s expansive plains are interspersed with wooded hills, towering termite mounds, rocky kopjes, and rivers bordered by acacia trees. Large felines and a multitude of herbivorous species traverse the area, among distinctive fauna such as mongooses, hyraxes, warthogs, bat-eared foxes, jackals, bushbabies, monkeys, baboons, and several others.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget/Mid-Range Lodgings: Mara Kati Kati Tented Camp
Moderate Lodgings: Mara Under Canvas (TWC)
Luxury Lodgings: Lemala Camp (Ndutu/Mara)
Super Luxury Lodgings: Lemala Kuria Hills Camp (Mara)
Day 9: Serengeti, comprehensive game drive (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Today, delve deeper into this renowned animal reserve with your safari guide. The Serengeti offers exceptional animal observation throughout the year, highlighted by the “great migration”.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget/Mid-Range Lodgings: Mara Kati Kati Tented Camp
Moderate Lodgings: Mara Under Canvas (TWC)
Opulent Lodgings: Lemala Camp (Ndutu/Mara)
Premier Lodgings: Lemala Kuria Hills Camp (Mara)
Day 10: Drive Back from Serengeti (BL) wp-
Drive Back From Serengeti to Arusha Airport, Kilimanjaro Airport, or Zanzibar
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch