Day 1: Welcome to Tanzania – Arusha Arrival

Your Tanzanian adventure begins the moment you touch down. Our professional team will be waiting at the airport with a warm welcome, handling all arrival logistics so you can start relaxing immediately.

After a comfortable transfer to your Arusha accommodation, take time to recover from your journey. Arusha, nestled at the foot of Mount Meru, serves as the gateway to Tanzania’s northern safari circuit. The town buzzes with safari energy while offering modern amenities and African charm.

Accommodation: Arusha hotel
Meals: Dinner included

Day 2: Tarangire National Park – Giants Among Baobabs

The adventure truly begins as you depart Arusha after breakfast. Your first wildlife destination showcases some of Tanzania’s most dramatic scenery.

Tarangire National Park (alternatively Lake Manyara, depending on optimal seasonal conditions) is renowned for hosting Africa’s largest elephant population outside Amboseli. Watch family groups dust-bathe beneath ancient baobab trees—some over 1,000 years old—that dominate the landscape like natural skyscrapers.

The Tarangire River draws wildlife year-round, but particularly during dry season (June-October) when vast herds converge for water. Beyond elephants, expect encounters with lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and over 550 bird species.

Your experienced guide will navigate prime viewing areas while sharing fascinating ecological insights and behavior patterns that bring each sighting to life.

Accommodation: Safari lodge/tented camp near Tarangire
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner included

Days 3-4: Serengeti National Park – The Endless Plains

These two full days immerse you in arguably Africa’s most famous wilderness. The name “Serengeti” derives from the Maasai word “Siringitu”—meaning “endless plains”—and the landscape truly lives up to this description.

What Makes Serengeti Extraordinary

Spanning nearly 15,000 square kilometers, this UNESCO World Heritage Site supports the greatest concentration of large mammals on Earth. The park harbors exceptional populations of big cats, making it one of the planet’s premier destinations for predator viewing.

Your game drives target areas based on recent wildlife movements and seasonal patterns. Morning departures capture animals at their most active, while afternoon sessions often yield dramatic golden-hour photography opportunities. Full-day excursions with packed lunches allow deeper exploration of remote regions.

Wildlife Encounters

Serengeti offers unparalleled opportunities to observe:

• Large lion prides coordinating hunts across open grasslands
• Leopards lounging in acacia trees with recent kills
• Cheetahs racing across plains in explosive pursuit
• Massive hippo pods in permanent water sources
• Crocodiles patrolling riverbanks
• The Great Migration (timing dependent) with millions of wildebeest and zebras

Pro Tip: Serengeti’s vastness means wildlife is never guaranteed in specific locations, but the overall abundance ensures memorable encounters throughout your stay.

Accommodation: Serengeti tented camp (2 nights)
Meals: All meals included daily

Day 5: Serengeti to Karatu – Scenic Transition

Your morning offers one final Serengeti game drive as you gradually make your way toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This route showcases the transition between ecosystems and often produces excellent wildlife sightings as you travel.

Karatu, situated in Tanzania’s fertile highlands, offers pleasant evening temperatures and serves as the perfect base for your upcoming crater adventure. The surrounding farmland produces much of Tanzania’s wheat and coffee, creating a patchwork landscape quite different from the plains you’ve explored.

Accommodation: Karatu lodge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner included

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater – Africa’s Garden of Eden

Today brings one of Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife experiences. After an early breakfast, you’ll descend 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater—the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera.

The Crater’s Unique Ecosystem

Formed approximately two million years ago when a massive volcano collapsed inward, Ngorongoro creates a 260-square-kilometer natural amphitheater. The crater floor supports roughly 25,000 large animals in a self-contained ecosystem unlike anywhere else on Earth.

The permanent water sources, grazing lands, and forested areas provide everything wildlife needs, resulting in extraordinary density and diversity. You’ll spend the day exploring different habitats within the crater walls.

Wildlife Highlights

Ngorongoro ranks among the world’s best locations to observe:

• Endangered black rhinoceros (one of the few remaining Tanzanian populations)
• Lions with distinctive black manes (unique to this population)
• Large buffalo herds often numbering hundreds
• Flamingos congregating on soda lakes
• Elephants, though notably fewer than other parks
• Hippos in the permanent swamps

The crater rim rises dramatically on all sides, creating a stunning backdrop for photography and wildlife observation.

Accommodation: Return to Karatu lodge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner included

Days 7-11: Mafia Island – Indian Ocean Paradise

After breakfast, your safari guide transfers you to Arusha airport for your scheduled flight to Mafia Island. This marks your transition from wildlife adventures to tropical beach relaxation.

Discovering Mafia Island

Unlike its more famous neighbors Zanzibar and Pemba, Mafia Island remains blissfully undeveloped and authentic. The island offers a rare combination of world-class marine environments and genuine local culture.

Protected within the Mafia Island Marine Park, the surrounding coral reefs burst with colorful marine life. Visibility often exceeds 20 meters, making this a snorkeler’s and diver’s dream destination.

Marine Activities & Experiences

Your island days offer incredible variety:

Whale Shark Encounters (October-March): Swim alongside these gentle giants—the world’s largest fish—in their natural environment. Despite reaching lengths of 12 meters, whale sharks are completely harmless plankton feeders.

Snorkeling Adventures: Explore pristine coral gardens teeming with tropical fish, sea turtles, rays, and countless invertebrates. Multiple reef systems offer different underwater landscapes.

Sandbank Picnics: Boat to remote sandbanks that appear at low tide, creating temporary desert islands perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and beach picnics.

Diving Expeditions: (Optional extra) Advanced divers can explore walls, channels, and coral gardens that rival anywhere in the Indian Ocean.

Cultural Exploration: Visit local villages, interact with fishermen using traditional methods, and learn about Swahili coastal culture.

Pure Relaxation: Sometimes the best activity is simply swaying in a beach hammock with a good book, punctuated by swims in crystal-clear waters.

Pro Tip: October through March offers optimal conditions for whale shark sightings, while April-May experiences heavier rains. June-September brings cooler, drier weather ideal for diving.

Accommodation: Mafia Island beach lodge (5 nights)
Meals: Breakfast and dinner included daily

Day 12: Departure – Journey Home

Your final morning on Mafia Island allows one last sunrise beach walk or morning swim before preparing for departure.

A short flight returns you to Dar es Salaam, where you’ll connect with your international departure. Our team ensures smooth transfers and coordination, handling all logistics so your journey home begins stress-free.

Take with you not just photographs and souvenirs, but memories of extraordinary wildlife encounters, starlit African nights, and the gentle rhythm of island life that will call you back to Tanzania.