Day 1: Arrival in Arusha – Your Safari Begins

Touch down in Tanzania and feel the adventure beginning! Our professional driver meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport, providing seamless transfer to your comfortable accommodation in Moshi or Arusha. Settle in, relax after your journey, and receive a comprehensive safari briefing about the incredible experiences awaiting you.

Overnight: Arusha/Moshi | Meals: Dinner included

Day 2: Tarangire National Park – Kingdom of Elephants

Your classic Tanzania safari truly begins as you venture into Tarangire National Park, a hidden gem characterized by rolling landscapes, dramatic gorges, seasonal swamps, and iconic baobab trees that seem to defy gravity.

Tarangire harbors one of Tanzania’s largest elephant populations. Watch family herds moving majestically across the landscape, young calves staying close to protective mothers. 

The permanent Tarangire River creates a wildlife magnet during dry months, drawing buffalo herds, graceful giraffes, various antelope species, and predators including lions, leopards, and cheetahs.

The park’s diverse habitats support incredible biodiversity—over 550 bird species call Tarangire home, making it a paradise for bird enthusiasts. Photograph massive baobabs silhouetted against African skies, some estimated at over 1,000 years old.

Overnight: Lodge/Camp near Tarangire | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Alternative Day 2: Maasai Homestead Cultural Experience

Perfect for Families and Cultural Enthusiasts

Exchange your second night for an authentic Maasai homestead stay—an unforgettable experience especially meaningful for children. After breakfast, your guide escorts you to a traditional Maasai village where you’ll be welcomed into pastoral life unchanged for centuries.

Discover the secrets of Maasai natural medicine as knowledgeable guides reveal medicinal plants used for generations. Gain profound insights into daily life, from cattle herding to traditional ceremonies. Learn about boma construction, understand the importance of age-set systems, and participate in daily activities.

Evening brings traditional songs, stories around the fire, and the rare privilege of sleeping in an authentic boma structure. This immersive experience creates lasting memories and deepens appreciation for Tanzania’s rich cultural tapestry.

Overnight: Maasai Lodge/Traditional Accommodation | Meals: All meals included

Day 3: Lake Manyara National Park – Rift Valley Jewel

Journey to Lake Manyara National Park, a compact gem nestled between the Great Rift Valley’s towering escarpment and the shimmering alkaline lake. Despite its relatively small size, Manyara packs extraordinary wildlife diversity into every square kilometer.

The park’s claim to fame includes tree-climbing lions—a rare behavior observed in few locations worldwide. Watch for these majestic cats lounging on acacia branches, escaping ground heat and biting insects while surveying their territory.

The lake itself hosts thousands of flamingos creating pink ribbons along the shoreline, alongside pelicans, storks, and cormorants. Groundwater forests provide habitat for blue monkeys, baboons, and elephants that navigate the dense vegetation with surprising grace.

Hippos wallow in pools, buffalo herds graze open grasslands, and if fortune smiles, you might spot elusive leopards in riverine forest shadows. The varied landscapes—from dense woodlands to open plains to the lake’s edge—ensure every moment delivers new discoveries.

Overnight: Karatu area lodge | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 4-6: Serengeti National Park – Africa’s Greatest Wildlife Theater

Welcome to the legendary Serengeti, where three full days and nights immerse you in arguably the planet’s finest wildlife destination. The name derives from the Maasai word “Siringitu,” meaning “endless plains”—a description that proves remarkably accurate as golden grasslands stretch to every horizon.

Day 4: Travel to the Serengeti, with game viewing beginning the moment you enter the park. The journey itself becomes an adventure as wildlife appears around every bend. Arrive at your comfortable tented camp positioned in prime wildlife territory, where canvas walls separate you from the African wilderness by mere fabric—thrilling yet perfectly safe.

Days 5-6: Dedicate two full days to exploring the Serengeti’s varied ecosystems. Your expert guide navigates different regions based on seasonal wildlife movements, ensuring optimal sightings.

The Serengeti offers East Africa’s best opportunities for viewing the Big Five and witnessing dramatic predator-prey interactions. Lions patrol vast territories, cheetahs sprint across open plains in explosive hunting displays, and leopards haul prey into acacia trees. Elephants, buffalos, giraffes, zebras, and countless antelope species create constant motion across the landscape.

If you visit during migration season (typically December-July in various regions), witness over 1.5 million wildebeest accompanied by hundreds of thousands of zebras undertaking their ancient circular journey. River crossings provide heart-stopping drama as herds brave crocodile-infested waters.

Evening game drives capture golden hour magic when predators become active and the landscape glows in warm light. Return to camp for dinner under star-studded skies, falling asleep to nature’s symphony—lion roars, hyena calls, and nocturnal rustlings.

Overnight: Serengeti Tented Camp (3 nights) | Meals: All meals included

Day 7: Serengeti to Karatu via Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Savor a leisurely final morning in the Serengeti with one last game drive as you begin your journey toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Every mile offers potential wildlife encounters—the Serengeti never disappoints.

Optional Cultural Activities:

Maasai Village Visit: Stop at a traditional Maasai village to learn about pastoral lifestyles, witness traditional dancing, and purchase authentic beadwork directly from artisans.

Karatu Village Walks: Upon arrival in Karatu, explore this highland town on foot. Visit bustling local markets bursting with fresh produce, tour coffee farms to understand bean-to-cup processes, or visit schools and community projects gaining insights into rural Tanzanian life.

Overnight: Karatu Lodge | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater – The Eighth Wonder of the World

Today delivers one of Africa’s most spectacular wildlife experiences. Rise early and descend 600 meters down the crater’s steep inner walls, entering what feels like a lost world where time stands still.

The Ngorongoro Crater, formed by massive volcanic collapse approximately two million years ago, measures roughly 18 kilometers in diameter with walls rising 600-700 meters above the floor. This unique caldera creates a self-contained ecosystem supporting around 25,000 large mammals in remarkable density.

The crater floor’s varied habitats—grasslands, swamps, forests, and Lake Magadi—support incredible diversity. This represents Tanzania’s premier location for observing the critically endangered black rhinoceros, whose prehistoric appearance and solitary nature make sightings truly special.

Large prides of lions patrol the crater, including impressive black-maned males. Massive buffalo herds graze open plains, hippos wallow in pools and streams, elephants (usually lone bulls) move between habitats, and countless zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, and eland populate the grasslands.

Lake Magadi’s alkaline waters attract thousands of flamingos creating pink patches against the crater’s green floor. The swamps support crowned cranes, sacred ibises, and other water birds.

Spend 5-6 hours exploring the crater floor before ascending back to the rim as afternoon approaches. The experience leaves visitors speechless—few places on Earth concentrate such wildlife abundance in such a dramatic natural amphitheater.

Overnight: Karatu area lodge | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Departure – Journey’s End

Your classic Tanzania safari concludes with transfer back to Kilimanjaro International Airport or your Arusha hotel. The journey provides final opportunities for African experiences—stop at roadside curio markets for last-minute shopping, browse local handicrafts, or simply reflect on the incredible wildlife encounters and landscapes you’ve experienced.

Depart with memory cards full of spectacular photographs, hearts full of unforgettable moments, and perhaps plans already forming for your return to Tanzania’s wild spaces.

Meals: Breakfast included