Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by a representative from Serengeti Wildlife Safari. You will be transferred to your accommodation in Arusha, where you can relax and prepare for the adventure ahead. Enjoy the serene atmosphere, take in the views of Mount Meru, and rest after your international flight.

Meals: At your own expense | Drinking water included

Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, your safari guide will collect you from your accommodation and drive you to Tarangire National Park (approximately 2 hours). Tarangire is best known for its elephant families, savannah, iconic baobab trees, seasonal swamps, and the life-giving Tarangire River. Animals gather at the river, and giraffe, bushbuck, and hartebeest are often seen. The park is also home to buffalo, zebra, and wildebeest. These animals are closely followed by a range of predators such as lions and leopards.

From the open roof of your safari vehicle, you will be able to absorb the landscape and watch the wildlife. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the park, which includes a delicious meal, coffee, and soft drinks.

After a full day in the park, you will drive to your accommodation, where you will be able to relax, enjoy dinner, and spend the night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drinking water included

Day 3: Serengeti National Park (Central)

After breakfast, you will continue toward the fertile highlands where wheat, coffee, and corn are grown by the Iraqw people. Passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will be able to see the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater before traveling onward to the Serengeti National Park, which you will reach by midday.

The Serengeti is Tanzania’s largest park, with diverse landscapes and habitats – grassy plains, swamps, lakes, savannah, and mountains. After an extensive game drive, you will arrive at your accommodation for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drinking water included

Day 4: Serengeti National Park

This entire day is set aside for game drives upon the Serengeti. The park is home to an abundance of wildlife – impala, buffalo, crocodile, and hippo – but is best known for the great migrating herds of zebra, antelope, and wildebeest.

The animals’ trek is determined by rainfall and varies from year to year:

• November to December – The herds move from the northern woodlands to the grassy plains of the south

• April to June – The herds return north during the longer rainy season

• August to September – The herds gather at the Mara River for dramatic crossings

Apart from the migrating herds, you will have the opportunity to see resident predators – leopard, cheetah, and lion – fulfilling their role in the circle of life.

After an extensive game drive, you will return to your accommodation for a hearty dinner and another night by the fire, under the sweeping majesty of the star-bright African night upon the endless plains.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drinking water included

Day 5: Serengeti National Park

Start your day early by getting up before dawn to embark on a sunrise game drive. See the sun set fire to the savannah as predators such as leopards and lions hunt for their morning meal.

Optional activity: You may wish to add a sunrise hot air balloon safari and champagne breakfast to your safari. This unforgettable experience offers a unique perspective of the Serengeti from above. Speak with your safari expert about how you can add this to your itinerary.

After the sunrise drive, you will return to your accommodation for breakfast before departing with a packed lunch for a day-long exploration of the park. Your guide will choose the best route to maximize your chances of seeing both the Wildebeest Migration and the Big Five.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drinking water included

Day 6: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater

After breakfast, you will embark upon another incredible game drive in the Serengeti before traveling to the Ngorongoro Crater. Arriving at the edge of the crater in the afternoon, you will have your first glimpse of what awaits you the following day – glistening streams, open grassland, and an infinite number of animals.

You will spend the night at a nearby lodge, perched on the crater rim with breathtaking views.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drinking water included

Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater to Karatu

After breakfast, you will depart for Ngorongoro Crater – considered by some to be the Eighth Wonder of the World. When you get your first glimpse of this vast, verdant caldera from the panoramic viewpoint, you will soon understand why it has earned such a lofty reputation.

Home to over 120 species of mammal, including the fabled Big Five, the Ngorongoro Area is one of the most sought-after safari destinations in the world. It is a particularly good place to see the endangered black rhinoceros enjoying a lonely meal out on the grass plains, as well as large numbers of hippopotamus enjoying the cool water.

From the comfort of your open-top vehicle, you will be able to observe and photograph predators including lions, leopards, cheetahs, jackals, and hyenas, as well as large populations of wildebeest, zebras, antelope, and Cape buffalo. It is truly one of Africa’s premier safari destinations.

After the thrills and excitement of the day, you will return to Karatu for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drinking water included

Day 8: Lake Manyara National Park to Arusha

After breakfast, you will drive to your final safari destination – Lake Manyara National Park. This relatively small but remarkably diverse park, approximately 120 kilometres west of Arusha, is named for the shallow salt lake that covers about seventy percent of its surface area. The lake expands and contracts with the seasons and is home to thousands of flamingos, along with over 500 other bird species.

On your exploration of the park, you will encounter monkeys, giraffes, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, and elephants. With some luck, you may spot lions lounging in the trees – a behavior for which Lake Manyara is famous. The park’s diverse landscapes include open grassy plains, primate-filled woodlands, and baobab-dotted cliffs.

After a memorable game drive and lunch, you will head back to Arusha, arriving in the late afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch | Drinking water included

Day 9: Kilimanjaro & Cultural Activity – Coffee Tour

In the early morning, you will leave your accommodation in Arusha and drive to Materuni Village at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro for a coffee tour. This immersive cultural experience will introduce you to the traditions of the Chagga people.

You will learn how coffee is cultivated, dried, roasted, and further processed. You will also be invited to help with the grinding of the coffee, which is traditionally accompanied by Chagga songs and dances – a fun way to immerse yourself in the local culture. With some luck, you will see the summit of Kilimanjaro through the clear morning skies.

Before you say goodbye and return to Arusha in the late afternoon, you can savour the coffee you made and appreciate the views of the surrounding montane rainforest.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch | Drinking water included

Day 10: Onwards Travel

At the appropriate time, you will be collected from your accommodation and transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight. 

Meals: Breakfast | Drinking water included

End of Safari