• Pickup from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).
• Transfer to a comfortable lodge in Arusha for rest and safari briefing.
• Overnight stay in Arusha.
• Accommodation: Arusha Planet Lodge

n the morning, you will be picked up from your lodgings in Arusha by our personal safari guide. We'll set out for Tarangire National Park across gently rolling Masai plains with scattered acacia trees. As we zip along, we'll pass many Maasais in their colourful dresses walking on the roadside, riding bicycles, herding cattle and driving donkeys carts. Tarangire is well known for its large elephant herds, is also host to a multitude of other creatures. From the open roof of our safari jeep, we'll experience the seasonal swamps, savanna and life-giving Tarangire River endeavouring to encounter a multitude of creatures from zebra to wildebeest, buffalo, elephant, and giraffe, to name but a few. It is possible we will glimpse lions stalking prey or leopards relaxing in the trees above.
After our extensive game drive, we depart to drive to one of our mid-range partner lodges for dinner in a tasteful restaurant and a most capacious room to harbour our ease and dreams of wild cats!

Accommodation: Eileen's Trees Inn

After breakfast, we embark on our journey toward the fertile highlands, where the Iraqw people cultivate wheat, coffee, and corn. As we pass through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, we will be treated to a breathtaking view of the Ngorongoro Crater before continuing our journey to Serengeti National Park, arriving by midday.

Spanning an impressive 15,000 square kilometers, Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s largest and most diverse wildlife reserve, featuring vast grassy plains, swamps, lakes, savannahs, and mountains. This iconic park is home to the Great Migration, where thousands of wildebeest, zebras, and antelopes traverse the landscape in search of food and water. Depending on the season, we may witness this extraordinary natural spectacle firsthand.

Following an extensive game drive, we will proceed to the Seronera Valley for an evening meal and an overnight stay at the Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp. Recently renovated, the camp features elevated tents on wooden platforms, a beautifully appointed buffet dining tent, live musical performances, and a warm campfire under the starlit sky—offering an unforgettable safari experience.

Accommodation: Nyota Luxury Camp

• Full-day game drive in the Serengeti, following the Great Migration (seasonal).
• Encounter lions, cheetahs, elephants, and hippos.
• Evening at the lodge, with stunning sunset views over the plains.
• Accommodation: Nyota Luxury Camp

After an early breakfast, we'll head out for another game drive upon the Serengeti. We may have the opportunity to spot the “Big Five” – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard – before embarking on our journey to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. On the way to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will pass by a Maasai village where you will get a unique opportunity to learn about some of the customary practices such as fire-making and beadwork. You may also get the chance to meet and speak to villagers in their homes and your guide will happily interpret if needed. This activity takes approximately 1 hour and after that, you will drive straight to the rim of the crater for the walking safari at sunset with an armed ranger. During the walking safari, you will explore extinct volcanoes, landscapes and wildlife in these beautiful highlands. The views and scenery are truly breathtaking and after about 2-2.5 hours, you will drive straight to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Rhino Lodge

Early risers are rewarded with breathtaking views of the rising sun over the crater’s edge and, after a hearty breakfast, we rumble down the adventurous track into the crater. This UNESCO world heritage site, one of the seven wonders of Africa, formed about three million years ago, is 610 m deep and covers roughly 260 square kilometres. Due to its dense animal population of approximately 25,000 ungulates, the crater offers the best game viewing of all the parks in Tanzania. In a matter of minutes we will be able to see wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, elephant, and some of the more than 500 bird species here inhabiting. With a little bit of luck we may catch a glimpse of the endangered black rhino through the grass. After an extensive game drive and a picnic lunch, we leave the crater in the afternoon to travel back to Karatu, again staying at one of our, hand-picked for quality, mid-range partner lodges.

Accommodation: Eileen's Trees Inn

After breakfast, we drive to our final destination on this epic safari - Lake Manyara National Park. This relatively small but diverse park, 120km west of Arusha, is so named for the shallow salt lake which covers a good seventy percent of the parks surface area. Flooding and drying with the seasons the soda lake is home to thousands of flamingos as well as over 500 other bird species. On our exploration of the park, we will see monkeys, giraffes, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, elephants and, with some luck, lions lounging in the trees. The park is known for its diverse landscapes; not only open grassy plains, but also primate-filled woodlands and baobab dotted cliffs. After another memorable game drive we, with our adventure at an end, return to Arusha in the late afternoon, replete with images of the African wilds to last a lifetime.

Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)