Day by day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport and Transfer to the Hotel in Arusha
When you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, our corporate representative will greet you and welcome you to Tanzania. Then you’ll be transferred to Arusha, a calm, lush, verdant city less than an hour away.
Arusha is Tanzania’s safari hub, located in the shadow of Mount Meru and near to Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. You’ll be briefed on this exciting 11-day Tanzania safari tour before being dropped off at a city hotel for dinner and overnight. You have the rest of the day to do whatever you wish.
Meal plan: Dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Tarangire National Park for a game drive
After breakfast, you will be taken on a three-hour drive to Tarangire National Park. Check into your hotel or lodge upon arrival for lunch and leisure. Tarangire National Park is a peaceful and scenic park in Northern Tanzania.
In the afternoon, embark on a game drive to learn more about this amazing park while looking for wildlife. Tarangire National Park is recognized for its exclusivity away from tourists and massive elephant herds. It is called for the Tarangire River, which provides wildlife with the only constant source of water. Its grassy plains are peppered with tall baobabs, sometimes known as “upside-down trees.”
Tarangire has some of Tanzania’s highest concentrations of wildlife, especially in the drier months from June to September, when massive herds of elephants, wildebeest, hartebeest, zebra, giraffe, buffalo, gazelles, and impala congregate on the river’s banks. Predators such as lions, hyenas, and leopards are lured to this feast of concentrated prey like a magnet. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight after this fantastic game drive.
Meal plan: All meals are included
On Day 3, enjoy a full day wildlife viewing drive to explore Tarangire National Park after breakfast. You will have the opportunity to look for the “Giants of Tarangire” – African elephants and baobab trees. The Silale Swamp, an integral part of the park’s ecology, will be your next stop. During the wet season, the swamp functions as a giant sponge, attracting thousands of species. During the dry season, it releases water slowly, resulting in huge herds of thirsty herbivores that overrun the park and attract predators like lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, and the critically endangered African wild dogs/painted wolves. After lunch and relaxation at the lodge, you’ll head out on a guided walking safari in the late afternoon. You’ll get to view elephants, buffalo, waterbuck, antelope, eland, impala, giraffe, and other animal tracks up close and personal. Over 600 different bird species can be observed on this escorted walking safari, including the Yellow-collared Lovebird, the heaviest flying bird in the world – Kori Bustard, and various raptors such as the Bateleur Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Long-Crested Eagle, Martial Eagle, Fish Eagle, and Spotted Eagle Owl. Return to the resort for dinner and a night’s rest after the game drive. All meals are included on Day 3
On Day 4, set off on a six-hour drive northwest to Serengeti National Park – a World Heritage Site and one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders after an early breakfast. It is home to the largest density of large predators in the world, including lions, leopards, hyenas, and cheetahs. The park is famous for its yearly Great Migration of up to two million animals, which has been featured in nature documentaries for decades, making it a must-see experience. Do a game drive on arrival before proceeding to your accommodation. The Seronera River Valley, part of “the Great Migration,” is one of the best spots in Africa to witness Big Cats (lions, leopards, and cheetahs) on spectacular hunts. Arrive at your lodge in the evening to freshen up, relax, have dinner, and sleep. All meals are included on Day 4
On Day 5, enjoy an early breakfast before embarking on a morning game drive. After lunch, unwind before heading out on an afternoon wildlife drive in search of additional animals and birds. See herds of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, topis, buffalos, elephants, giraffe, elands, impalas, and waterbucks, as well as their predators: lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas, as you explore the beautiful Seronera Valley, with its endless stretches of savannah-covered open plains. Although it is often difficult to locate, this is one of the greatest spots in East Africa to see leopards. Return to the lodge for some relaxation time, dinner, and overnight. All meals are included on Day 5
On Day 6, have another full-day safari in Serengeti National Park, with a morning and afternoon game drive included. Serengeti means “endless plains” in Maasai. The plains have the world’s highest remaining concentration of plains animals. African Wild Dog packs, prides of Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, and Spotted Hyaena are frequently seen tailing herds of Buffalo, Wildebeest, Zebra, Gazelle, Topi, Elephant, and Impala. Over 500 bird species live in the Serengeti, including the Ostrich, Kori Bustard, Ground Hornbill, and Secretary bird. After another exciting day in the Serengeti, return to the lodge for one more dinner before retiring to bed for a good night’s rest. All meals are included on Day 6.
On Day 7, depart on an en-route wildlife drive from the Serengeti plains to the rocky forested slopes of Ngorongoro after breakfast. Pass through lovely Masai villages and arrive at your resort in plenty of time for lunch. After lunch, descend 2,000 feet to the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive. The Ngorongoro Crater is a location of peculiar wonders. It is the world’s biggest continuous volcanic crater, produced by a catastrophic volcanic explosion 1.5 million years ago. The crater is home to about 25,000 large mammals, including rare black rhinos, wildebeests, and zebras, as well as some of Africa’s densest populations of lions. The crater’s woodlands are home to African elephants and buffalo, and the wetlands are home to Hippos and Flamingos, as well as spotted hyenas, African wild dogs, Leopards, and Cheetahs. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight after a game drive. All meals are included on Day 7
On Day 8, enjoy a full day game drive to Ngorongoro crater.den-Winged Sunbirds, Jackson’s Widowbirds, Flamingos, Common Ostriches, Secretary Birds, Kori Bustards, Crowned Cranes, Bateleur, Martial Eagles, and Long-crested Eagles. Return to the hotel for dinner and a night’s rest
Begin Day 9 with a relaxed breakfast at the resort before going on a guided nature walk around the crater rim. Take breathtaking photographs of the stunning crater and explore the vibrant environment filled with colorful birds, wildflowers, and trees. Gain knowledge about the historical medicinal uses of diverse plants and find animal footprints and scat. After the walk, head back to the lodge for some downtime and lunch. In the afternoon, visit a Maasai community in the Ngorongoro highlands to learn about their culture, participate in their lively singing and dancing, and discover their traditional practices like fire-making and beading. End the day by returning to the lodge for some rest and food. All meals are included.
On Day 10, enjoy a leisurely breakfast before checking out of the resort and heading towards Lake Manyara National Park, which is about a three to four hour drive away. The park is a magnificent part of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, with a diverse range of natural habitats surrounding the soda lake, which is home to clouds of flamingos and other waterbirds. Bird enthusiasts will be in awe! The forested slopes and vast savannah plains are home to elephants, giraffes, buffalo, and several antelope species. Although there are fewer predators, the tree-climbing lions of Lake Manyara are a highlight. After lunch, embark on an exceptional wildlife drive to view an array of animals and enormous groups of pink flamingos. End the day with dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 11: Morning game drive and transfer back to Arusha
After breakfast, go on a morning game drive in the stunning Lake Manyara National Park. After the wildlife drive, drive for 3 hours back to Arusha. This culture and wildlife viewing safari will come to a conclusion when you are dropped off at Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight or at your hotel of choice. Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch
Experience the ultimate safari adventure in Northern Tanzania on culture and wildlife viewing with a flexible itinerary that grants you an authentic Maasai culture experience and breathtaking wildlife sightings. You will explore Tanzania’s top safari destinations, including Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara National Park, during this 11-day culture and wildlife viewing journey that starts and ends in Arusha. You can choose to stay in luxurious lodges or permanent tented camps while marvelling at Tanzania’s natural wonders and magnificent wildlife. Witness vast herds of elephants at Tarangire National Park and take exhilarating game drives through the Serengeti, home to millions of wild creatures.