In this tour we will cover the 6 most popular destinations in Tanzania - Arusha National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Lake Natron, Central Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Tour starts and ends at Arusha. With our experienced driver guides, it will be a trip of a lifetime!
Short Itinerary
Day 1 (Dec 11, 2024) - Arusha to Arusha National Park. Game drives and walking tour in the park. Overnight at Mvuli hotel, Arusha or similar
Day 2 (Dec 12, 2024) - Transfer from Arusha to Tarangire. Game drives in Tarangire for rest of the day. Overnight at Nsya lodge (Safari Bungalow) or similar
Day 3 (Dec 13, 2024) - Transfer to Lake Manyara (Game drives - full day). Overnight at Nysa lodge (Safari Bungalow) or similar
Day 4 (Dec 14, 2024) - Transfer to Lake Natron for Bird Watching/Flamingo Walk. Overnight at Africa Safari Lake Natron (Safari comfort)
Day 5 (Dec 15, 2024) - Lake Natron (Ngare Sero waterfalls visit) and transfer to Northern Serengeti. Overnight stay at Tanzania Bush camps, North Serengeti
Day 6 (Dec 16, 2024) - North Serengeti - Full day game drives. Overnight stay at Tanzania Bush camps, North Serengeti
Day 7 (Dec 17, 2024) - Mornning game drives in North Serengeti and transfer to Central Serengeti. Overnight stay at Tukaone camps
Day 8 (Dec 18, 2024) - Central Serengeti - full day game drives. Overnight stay at Tukaone camps
Day 9 (Dec 19, 2024) - Morning game drives in Serengeti and afternoon transfer to accommodation at Karatu. Overnight at at Omega view hotel
Day 10 (Dec 20, 2024) - Ngorongoro crater tour (5 hours) in the morning and afternoon transfer to Arusha. End of Tour
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arusha to Arusha National Park. Game drives and walking tour in the park. Overnight at Mvuli hotel, Arusha or similar
Today our safari begins! Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in or around Arusha between 8 to 8:30 AM and take you to Arusha National Park. This is a scenic park with a decent number of animals. The park is at the base of Mount Meru and has a range of habitats including forest – home to the black-and-white colobus monkey – and is excellent for birding. Lakes here often host flocks of flamingo. The park's appeal is mainly its scenery. After short game drives, we explore the park on foot where you might come across giraffes, buffalos and other animals from a distance. At the end of the day, we will take you to Mvuli hotel, Arusha or similar where you can relax by the pool.
Day 2 - Transfer from Arusha to Tarangire. Game drives in Tarangire for rest of the day. Overnight at Nsya lodge (Safari Bungalow) or similar
We start at around 6:30 AM from Arusha and drive to Tarangire National park with packed lunch boxes. Tarangire gate will be about 2.5 hours drive away. Once we reach the park, we start game drives here. Tarangire National park is known for its majestic baobab trees that dot the landscape, dwarfing the animals that feed beneath them. The Tarangire River is the centerpiece of this park which is famous for some of the largest herds of elephants in Africa. Here you may see lion, leopard, cheetah, lesser kudu, buffalo, Oryx, eland, giraffe and zebra. We will have a lunch break at a picnic scenic picnic spot. Post lunch, we will continue with game drives till around 5:00 PM or so and after the game drive, we will drive to our accommodation - Nsya lodge (Safari Bungalow) at Mto Wa Mbu or similar. This drive can take 45-60 min. Dinner and overnight at this lodge.
Day 3 - Transfer to Lake Manyara (Game drives - full day). Overnight at Nysa lodge (Safari Bungalow) or similar
We start at around 8:30 AM from hotel after breakfast and drive to Manyara National park with packed lunch boxes. Manyara gate will be about 30 min drive away. Once we reach the park, we start game drives here. As you enter the national park, lush forests of Acacia and Mahogany trees begin to set the mood for what is waiting ahead and with a small break for picnic lunch. During the game drive in Lake Manyara watch out for buffaloes, giraffes, impalas, baboons and the blue monkey, tree climbing lions, however spotting them is a game of luck. In the right season, you can see the shoreline turning pink with millions of flamingos flocking there. And you will head to your hotel, have dinner and rest.
Optional add-on tours this day: Hiking at Rift valley for 1.5 hours in morning ($35 per client), Canoeing at Lake Manyara for about 2.5 hours ($76 per person)
Day 4 - Transfer to Lake Natron for Bird Watching/Flamingo Walk. Overnight at Africa Safari Lake Natron (Safari comfort)
Your day will begin after breakfast by about 8:00 AM. We depart with packed lunch boxes towards Lake Natron. Located about 3.5 hours drive away from Mto Wa Mbu/Manyara, Lake Natron is a surreal destination and unique natural spectacle. Its waters are highly alkaline and are unusually shallow, averaging just one meter in depth. After checking into your lodge and a short break, put your walking shoes on as a Maasai tribesman takes you on a walk around the shores of Lake Natron on the lookout for birds, especially the lesser flamingos. Lake Natron is the most important and regular breeding site for lesser flamingos in East Africa hosting up to 2 million of them during the breeding season. The majority of egg-laying and hatching takes place from September to January. After the hike, you will head back to your camp/lodge for a well deserved dinner and rest.
Day 5 -Lake Natron (Ngare Sero waterfalls visit) and transfer to Northern Serengeti. Overnight stay at Tanzania Bush camps, North Serengeti
Your day starts early. Around 6:00 AM, accompanied by a Maasai guide, enjoy some light hiking to the nearby Ngare Sero waterfalls and relax in the cool spray of water cascading down the rocks of this scenic ravine. Make sure to bring your shoes! We return to accommodation by 8:30 AM and finishing up a good breakfast, will head out towards the Serengeti National Park. This road trip takes through variety of sites: towns and villages, savannah and forest, and you’ll be able to spot animals like antelope, wildebeest and zebra. We enter Serengeti in the afternoon and drive towards North Serengeti. You will have an afternoon game drive in the endless plains of the Serengeti for a chance to see the great herds of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles or a pride of lions lounging in the shade. A picnic lunch will be done during the day long game drive itself. The eventful day comes to an end with dinner and a good night’s rest in your accommodation.
Day 6 - North Serengeti - Full day game drives. Overnight stay at Tanzania Bush camps, North Serengeti
We depart for full day game drives around 8:00 AM with packed lunch and return back to lodge late afternoon around 6:00 PM. Or you can depart at 6:00 AM on an early morning game drive. Later return to accommodation for breakfast and relax for a bit and depart on an afternoon game drive with packed lunch. In the months between mid june to september the migration can be found in this region. From mid June to September, the Mara River in this region offers the most dramatic river crossing of the great migration. Fierce,deep and heavily rain fed the river takes an enormous toll on the migrating wildebeest. Watching the wildebeest surging through the torrential flow, some drowning and a few falling prey to lurking crocodiles is an unforgettable sight. If it’s your lucky day you will be able to witness this natural wonder and watch nature take its course. Tracing the great migration you might even move towards the Lobo valley. The pristine lobo valley is scattered with woodlands, plains, hills and famous granite Kopjes.It offers an enormous amount of bigcat game with lions, leopards and cheetah in plenty. During the dry season the permanent water sources in the valley attract plenty of resident and migratory animals, resulting in excellent game viewing. During the full day game drive, you will have a stop where you can have your picnic lunch. The day comes to an end with a tasty dinner and a good rest in your choice of accommodation.
Day 7 - Mornning game drives in North Serengeti and transfer to Central Serengeti. Overnight stay at Tukaone camps
We start after the breakfast and depart for game drives around 9:00 AM with packed lunch or depart at 6:00 AM on an early morning game drive. Later return to accommodation for breakfast and relax for a bit and depart to Central Serengeti with packed lunch. The four hour drive to the centre will offer mild enroute game.The drive south from the Mara river valley takes you through hill country, the Lobo area, woodlands and then back into Seronera terrain.The central portion of the Serengeti - known as Seronera area is one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park. It features the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengetis' species. As you make your way into the Seronera region, you will begin to notice the hilly and broken terrain altering into plain grasslands. In Seronera one must really look out for the many lion prides that thrive in this region.The interactions and survival of these lion prides provide an excellent game viewing experience all year round. A picnic lunch will be done during the day long drive itself. The eventful day comes to an end with a dinner and a good night’s rest in your accommodation.
Day 8 - Central Serengeti - full day game drives. Overnight stay at Tukaone camps
We depart around 8:00 AM after breakfast, with packed lunch boxes for full day game drives that last for about 8-9 hours in Central Serengeti. We return to camp around 5:30 PM. Overnight at Tukaone camps or similar.
Optional add-on tours this day: Balloon Safari in the morning ($540 per person) or Walking safari for 3-4 hours ($45 per person sharing or $60 for solo client) in Central Serengeti
Day 9 - Morning game drives in Serengeti and afternoon transfer to accommodation at Karatu. Overnight at at Omega view hotel
After early breakfast, we depart at around 6:30 AM and will have game drives till around noon in Central Serengeti. Later depart for accommodation in Karatu, crossing Ngorongoro conservation area. Overnight at Omega view hotel.
Day 10 - Ngorongoro crater tour (5 hours) in the morning and afternoon transfer to Arusha. End of Tour
After an early breakfast, descend to the crater floor for game drive(5 hours). You can expect to see lions, elephants, zebras, hippos, hyenas, Jackals, rhinos and many birds. The birds seen here include eagle, vulture, flamingos in the Crater Lake, storks, giant vulture,and many more. Post the picnic lunch at the beautiful Hippo pool, you will begin a steep ascend to the top exit of the crater. With a 3.5 hr drive left, you will be dropped off at Arusha to end this beautiful safari before 06:00 PM.
Stay Locations
Day 1 - Arusha
Day 2 - Lake Manyara (Outside the Park)
Day 3 - Lake Manyara (Outside the Park)
Day 4 - Lake Natron
Day 5 - Northern Serengeti
Day 6 - Northern Serengeti
Day 7 - Central Serengeti
Day 8 - Central Serengeti
Day 9 - Karatu
Maps
Transfers
This tour starts from Arusha. Kilimanjaro airport is the nearest international airport and Arusha airport is the nearest domestic airport. Please check our page on how to get to Arusha
Airport Pickup/Drop
Pickup or drop off at Arusha airport on the day of safari: No extra charge
Pickup or drop off at Kilimanjaro airport on the day of safari: USD 30 per vehicle
Airport to Hotel transfers
Transfer from Arusha airport to Arusha hotel or vice versa: USD 25 per vehicle
Transfer from Kilimanjaro airport to Arusha hotel or vice versa: USD 50 per vehicle
InterCity transfers
Transfer from Moshi to Arusha or vice versa: USD 100 per vehicle
Transfer from Nairobi to Arusha or vice versa: USD 275 per vehicle
Flights
We do not book International Flights.
We can book local flights based on availability. Below are indicative additional costs for local flights.
Intercity Flights
From Zanzibar to Arusha: From USD 100 per person (Morning flight)
From Dar es salaam to Arusha: From USD 90 per person (Morning flight)
From Arusha to Zanzibar: From USD 170 per person (Late Afternoon flight)
From Arusha to Dar es salaam: From USD 110 per person (Late Afternoon flight)
This tour starts & ends at Arusha with road transfers between all locations. North Serengeti is the farthest location you will be visiting and it is 11 hours from Arusha, each way. You can check about driving and flying to Serengeti here. To save drive time, you can directly fly into North Serengeti where your safari vehicle with guide will be waiting to directly start the safari and cover other parks over the next few days making your way to Arusha by road on the last day. We will reroute the itinerary such that you cover all the parks included in the original itinerary with the same choice of accommodations & same number of nights as included in the original itinerary. This is called a Fly-in Safari
We can also reroute the itinerary such that you start with driving from Arusha on day 1 and cover other parks before you reach North Serengeti. We end the safari tour at North Serengeti on the last day from where you can fly out to Ausha (or other cities). We will reroute the itinerary such that you cover all the parks included in the original itinerary with the same choice of accommodations & same number of nights as included in the original itinerary. This is called a Fly-out Safari.
__Fly Into Serengeti
From Arusha to North Serengeti: From USD 320 per person
From Zanzibar to North Serengeti: From USD 380 per person
From Dar es Salaam to North Serengeti: From USD 380 per person
Fly out of Serengeti
From North Serengeti to Arusha: From USD 300 per person
From North Serengeti to Zanzibar: From USD 500 per person
From North Serengeti to Dar es salaam: From USD 500 per person
Note 1: Rates mentioned above are indicative and subject to change based on exact dates, airlines and party(group) size
Note 2: In the Fly into Serengeti rates mentioned above, in addition to airfare, above rates also include cost to send the safari landcruiser with guide a day in advance to Serengeti, in time for your arrival & additional park fees that results due to rerouting of itinerary.
Note 3: Flights into Serengeti land at around 10:30 AM and game drives can start soon after landing while flights out of Serengeti depart around 11:00 AM and game drives can be done till about 45 min before flight departure.
Meals
Day 1 (Dec 11, 2024) - Lunch & Dinner
Day 2 (Dec 12, 2024) - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3 (Dec 13, 2024) - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4 (Dec 14, 2024) - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5 (Dec 15, 2024) - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6 (Dec 16, 2024) - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 7 (Dec 17, 2024) - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 8 (Dec 18, 2024) - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 9 (Dec 19, 2024) - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 10 (Dec 20, 2024) - Breakfast & Lunch
Drive Times
Day 1 - Arusha to Arusha National Park takes about 1 to 1.5 hours (40 km)
Day 2 - Arusha to Tarangire takes about 2.5 to 3 hours (106 km)
Day 3 - Tarangire to Lake Manyara takes about 1.5 to 2 hours (88 km)
Day 4 - Lake Manyara to Lake Natron takes about 3 to 3.5 hours (120 km)
Day 5 - Lake Natron to North Serengeti takes about 6.5 to 7 hours (270 km)
Day 7 - North Serebgeti to Central Serengeti takes about 4.5 to 5 hours (103 km)
Day 9 - Central Serengeti to NCA takes about 3 to 3.5 hours (151 km)
Day 10 - NCA to Arusha takes about 4 to 4.5 hours (154 km)
Note: These are estimated drive times. Because of the traffic, location of the accommodations, and several other factors, actual drive times may vary. Driving distances are approximate and do not account for exact places.
Inclusions
Drinking water while on safari (2 litres per person per day).
Park Fees (for Non-Residents).
Daily game drives while on Safari.
All Taxes and VAT.
A professional English speaking driver/ guide.
Concession/ Camping Fees.
4x4 Land Cruiser.
Meals as per itinerary.
Exclusions
Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary.
Airport Transfers (Unless mentioned otherwise).
International flights.
Personal Items (Souvenirs, Travel Insurance, Visa Fees, etc.).
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour (Unless mentioned otherwise).
Tips (Tipping guidelines).
Government imposed increase of Taxes and or Park Fees.
In this tour we will cover the 6 most popular destinations in Tanzania - Arusha National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Lake Natron, Central Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Tour starts and ends at Arusha. With our experienced driver guides, it will be a trip of a lifetime!
We use equipment of international standards & our guides are trained in First aid & personal protection equipment
We reward our staff based on your feedback & that results in all of us working towards making your trip memorable
Our guides are trained to pay attention to each clients requirements & situation & customize the program accordingly
Once a tour is booked, its guaranteed to go, even if there is only single client for the entire trip
Book by paying advance by card on our website. Balance can be paid upon arrival, before the tour
Our minimum requirement for operation is only one client. So we can offer the tour any day of the year for you