Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

Welcome to Tanzania! 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. Depending on your arrival time, you will have time to 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. This morning, you will drive to Tarangire National Park (approximately 2.5 hours on good tarmac roads). The park is named after the Tarangire River which runs through it. This river is the only source of water for wildlife in the region during the dry season.

Tarangire is well known for its elephant families, which can often be seen congregating by the river. You may also see giraffe, bushbuck, and hartebeest. These animals are closely followed by a range of predators, including lions and leopards. There are more breeding species of birds found in Tarangire than anywhere else on the planet. The huge and ancient baobab trees can be seen here – some of them are said to have lived for more than a thousand years.

Enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park. After your game drive, you will transit to your accommodation in Karatu.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drinking water included

Day 3: Karatu to Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, you will drive up into the cooler regions of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. There will be a chance to stop and see the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater from the panoramic viewpoint. You will then transit through the conservation area to the Serengeti National Park, entering at the southern part of the park.

The Serengeti is truly spectacular – famous for its vast open grasslands which allow for excellent sightings of wildlife. The Serengeti boasts an abundance of wildlife such as impala, buffalo, crocodile, and hippo. In addition to the iconic landscapes, you have a good chance of encountering predators and you may see lion, cheetah, and leopard.

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

Another day is set aside for game drives in the Serengeti. You can enjoy a more relaxed pace, with early morning and late afternoon game drives, returning to your accommodation for lunch and some relaxation during the heat of the day.

Every day is different in the Serengeti, and there is always plenty to explore. Your guide will choose the best routes to maximize your wildlife sightings, whether it’s tracking predators, observing herds, or simply enjoying the breathtaking landscapes.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drinking water included

Day 5: Central Serengeti to Southern Serengeti & Ndutu

After breakfast, you will wend your way through the Serengeti towards Ndutu, stopping off to experience more wonder along the way. Ndutu is actually part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Whilst the Serengeti boasts abundant wildlife, it is perhaps best known for the annual Great Migration. Vast numbers of wildebeest, zebra, and antelope move in an annual pattern, constantly seeking fresh grazing. At this time of year (December to April), the migration is normally in the Southern Serengeti and Ndutu area. One of the main features of this area is Lake Ndutu – an alkaline lake and a treasured source of water for the migrating herds.

Your overnight accommodation will be at a seasonal tented camp, perfectly positioned for the migration.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drinking water included

Day 6: Ndutu – Full Day Game Drive

After a hearty breakfast, you will head out to enjoy a full day’s game drive in Ndutu. You will explore the range of different habitats found here – including swamps, woodland, and savannah. With luck, you will see vast crowds of wildebeest, zebra, and antelope, sometimes stretching to the horizon. The sound of the wildebeest gently mooing is hauntingly beautiful.

During a short time frame (normally in February), many of the female wildebeest give birth to their young, dropping over half a million calves in this incredible act of synchronized birthing. The grass provides little cover, and the young are easy pickings for a variety of predators – cheetah, lion, hyena, and leopard. Wildebeest calves can run minutes after they are born, and within three days they are normally strong enough to keep up with the herd.

After a full day’s exploration, you will return to your tented camp in time for dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drinking water included

Day 7: Ndutu to Ngorongoro Crater

This morning, you will gently wend your way through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, seeing more animals along the way (it is common to see a journey of giraffe on the lush slopes). You should reach the crater by lunchtime.

When you first see Ngorongoro Crater, it looks like a forgotten world. Concealed by the steep volcanic walls is a pristine wilderness – including sweeping savannah, pockets of acacia woodland, and glistening lakes and swamps. The crater was created when a large volcano exploded and collapsed in on itself two to three million years ago.

The drive down into the crater is an adventure in itself. When you reach the crater floor, you will quickly find yourself amongst large numbers of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, and more than 500 bird species. The crater provides you with the best chance of seeing the endangered black rhino, which can sometimes be spotted in the open grasslands.

After an afternoon game drive, you will drive to your accommodation in Karatu.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Drinking water included

Day 8: Lake Manyara to Arusha

This morning, you will drive to Lake Manyara National Park – your final destination on this epic safari. Manyara is a small but diverse park, 120 kilometres west of Arusha. It is both compact (one of the narrowest parks in Africa) and epic (the Great Rift Escarpment towers over Lake Manyara’s western boundary).

The park’s namesake is a shallow salt lake that covers a large area, flooding and drying with the seasons. It is home to thousands of wading birds, including flamingos and over 500 other bird species. You may see baboon and elephant in the park’s thick evergreen forest, and watch for the tree-climbing lions that have become famous throughout Africa.

You will enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park. After your game drive, you will be dropped off at a place of your choosing – Arusha, Kilimanjaro Airport, or Arusha Airport. End of services.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch | Drinking water included

End of Safari