اليوم 1: Tarangire National Park
SUNDAY: ARUSHA – TARANGIRE
At 14:00 hrs, collected from your Arusha hotel and depart for Tarangire National Park famous for its large population of elephants. (Clients must have eaten before the start of the program, or purchase a picnic lunch to take en route).
On entrance to Tarangire National Park commence game viewing to culminate in TARANGIRE SOPA LODGE for dinner and overnight.
Arusha
Arusha is a vibrant and scenic city in northern Tanzania, often referred to as the “Safari Capital of East Africa.” Nestled at the foot of Mount Meru, Arusha enjoys a cool, pleasant climate and lush green surroundings.
The city serves as the main gateway to Tanzania’s world-famous safari circuit, including Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Park.
Culturally, Arusha reflects a blend of Maasai, Meru and other Tanzanian communities, with lively local markets, craft centers and coffee plantations in the surrounding highlands. Visitors can explore attractions such as the Arusha National Park, Cultural Heritage Centre, Arusha Clock Tower and local coffee tours.
Overall, Arusha combines natural beauty, cultural richness, and strategic importance, making it both a key starting point for safaris and a charming destination in its own right.
Tarangire National Park
Situated in northern Tanzania, Tarangire National Park is a breathtaking safari destination famed for its dramatic landscapes and exceptional wildlife. Dominated by ancient baobab trees and the life-giving Tarangire River, the park provides sanctuary for vast herds of elephants, zebra, and wildebeest, alongside smaller groups of giraffe and impala, especially during the dry season when animals gather in extraordinary numbers. Travellers can look forward to thrilling game drives that reveal lion, leopard, and even cheetah, together with more than 500 bird species that make the skies shimmer with colour and sound. Unlike busier safari parks, Tarangire offers a more tranquil, intimate atmosphere, allowing visitors to truly connect with nature. Its sweeping vistas, rich biodiversity, and sense of untamed wilderness make it an unmissable highlight of any Tanzanian adventure.
اليوم 2: Serengeti National Park
MONDAY: TARANGIRE - SERENGETI
After an early breakfast, a brief game as you exit the Tarangire National Park, heading to Serengeti National Park.
This day will see you traverse the famous Lake Manyara / Mto wa MBU area: a small agriculturally rich area, adjacent to the Lake Manyara National Park, on the foothills of the Great Rift Valley Escarpment.
A dramatic and scenic ascent up the escarpment into the Karatu Highlands, which forms the foothills of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
After an entry clearance (at a bathroom stop) at the gates into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, an equally dramatic ascent to the Crater rim, upon levelling out at the rim, a quick stop at a designated view point, to marvel at the Crater floor below.
Thereafter, continue further north, through the extensive Ngorongoro Conservation Area, past Ol Duvai Gorge to your right, and the famous NDUTU area to your left, to arrive at the NAABI Gate into Serengeti, a distance of approximately 80 kms, taking the better part of 1.5 hours.
NAABI Gate provides for a much-needed bathroom stop, a selection of basic safari shopping essentials and crafts, as well as hot coffee / tea.
This makes for a wonderful picnic lunch stop – as your driver/guide deals with Park entry formalities.
Upon clearance and entry into the Serengeti, commence game viewing drive immediately, as you slowly make your way to central Serengeti (Seronera), 50 kms away!
The day will culminate with dinner and overnight at ENKIRARI WILDERNESS CAMP / ZAWADI TENTED CAMPs.
Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti, together with Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Park, constitute Africa's most famous wildlife park, spread over the enthralling landscapes of northern Tanzania. This is a precious ecosystem, supporting the annual wildebeest migration through the Serengeti and the Masai Mara. The largest mass movement of land mammals on the planet involves more than a million animals following the rains, including more than 1.5 million white-bearded wildebeest and 250 000 zebras. Prides of lions, as well as groups of elephants, giraffes, gazelles, and eland, roam among the photogenic vast grass plains between weird-and-wonderful-looking acacia trees. Aside from traditional vehicle safaris, hot-air ballooning over the Serengeti plains and horse riding safaris are on offer.
اليوم 3: Serengeti National Park
TUESDAY: SERENGETI
Full day of game viewing in the Serengeti.
The Reserve, the Serengeti National Park, is a World Heritage Site teeming with wildlife: over 2 million ungulates, 4000 lions, 1000 leopards, 550 cheetahs and some 500-bird species.
This days' safari is an exploration of the endless plains dotted with trees and kopjes from which majestic lions control their kingdom; gaze upon the Great Migration in awe or find an elusive leopard in a riverine forest.
Or perhaps see everything from a bird’s-eye view…by soaring over the plains at sunrise on a hot air balloon safari?
You have 02 options for the day:
1) Full day game viewing with picnic lunch boxes out in the vast plains, allowing you to reach further and see more of the Serengeti, unbounded by need to return back for lunch.
OR
2) 02 game viewing drives: at Sunrise and sunset, returning to the Lodge / Camp for a hot lunch and relaxation during the mid-day heat (which provides you with an opportunity for a swim and enjoyment of your accommodations’ infrastructures between 10:00 hrs. to 15:30 hrs.)).
In this area you will have the opportunity to sight the big: the lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino….
if you are lucky!
All meals and overnight at ENKIRARI WILDERNESS CAMP / ZAWADI TENTED CAMPs.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES (At an additional cost - payable direct):
* 01 Hour HOT AIR BALLOON SAFARI over the Mara Plains, culminating with a Champaign bush breakfast
اليوم 4: Karatu
WEDNESDAY: SERENGETI – NGORONGORO - KARATU
Early breakfast at the Lodge.
Thereafter depart for Ngorongoro Conservation area to arrive at 10:30 hrs., upon arrival descend to the bottom of the crater for a crater tour, a truly unique wildlife experience.
Lunch for the day will be a picnic box, on the Crater floor, to allow for uninterrupted game viewing experience.
In the late afternoon, ascend the crater and exit the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for dinner and overnight at KARATU SIMBA LODGE / MARERA VALLEY / COUNTRY LODGE.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Situated in the Crater Highlands in Northern Tanzania, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is best known for its archaeological and geological significance, rich wildlife, and beautiful scenery. The conservation area encompasses the famous Crater, the renowned Olduvai Gorge and vast plains of grasslands, forests and mountains extending to the Serengeti. This 8000-square-kilometre protected area is recognized for its natural beauty and has been placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Visitors flock here to soak up the spectacular views of the Ngorongoro Crater, voted as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, it is famed for its natural beauty and abundant wildlife. Popular activities include: mountain biking, hiking, game drives, bush walks, and visiting a local Maasai village.
Karatu
Travellers heading for the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater will pass through the town of Karatu in the green hills of Tanzania’s northern highlands. Presided over by the towering Ol Deani Volcano, this small, colourful town serves as a popular overnight stop for visitors exploring the area’s many game parks. The town offers a variety of activities including browsing the bustling marketplace, sampling beer at a local brewery, visiting a traditional homestead, or taking a guided walk through the Ngorongoro Forest in search of waterfalls and caves. Whether you are looking for cultural tours, hiking and biking opportunities, a chance to enjoy an authentic rural Tanzania experience, or simply a break between safari game drives, this underrated town has plenty to offer.
اليوم 5: Karatu
THURSDAY: KARATU / LAKE MANYARA
Breakfast at the Lodge.
Thereafter, head to Lake Manyara National Park for an extended photographic safari
Dependent on your disposition, lunch could be a picnic box or a hot (late) lunch back at the Lodge with an afternoon at leisure!).
However, unlike other northern Tanzania Parks, this is the only Park that offers opportunity for a TREE-TOP CANOPY WALK (walk on a suspension bridge, rising to 18M off the ground, at a tree-top height, for a closer interaction with primates and birdlife within the forest) ………..not to forget CANOEING! It is the only lake and park that one is able to canoe and get close to the flamingoes! – (Activities available at an extra cost payable directly)
Day will culminate with dinner and overnight at KARATU SIMBA LODGE / MARERA VALLEY / COUNTRY LODGE.
Lake Manyara National Park
Situated in Tanzania’s central-northern region with the Lake Manyara to its east and the Manyara Escarpment to its west, the Lake Manyara National Park offers breathtaking views and a large variety of habitats supporting an array of wildlife. This small park is home to surprising biodiversity and features a magnificent landscape of acacia woodlands, forests, baobab strewn cliffs, algae-streaked hot springs, swamps and the lake itself. The park supports over 400 species of bird and the largest concentration of baboons anywhere in the world. Other species to spot include giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, impala, waterbuck, warthog, the Cape clawless otter, and the Egyptian mongoose. Don’t miss the opportunity to see thousands of flamingos on the lake, the renowned tree-climbing lions, and large families of elephants strolling through the forest.
اليوم 6: Lake Eyasi
FRIDAY: KARATU – LAKE EYASI
Leisurely breakfast at the Lodge.
Thereafter, depart with picnic boxes and head to Lake Eyasi for a visit to the area as well as to the two notable communities: the DATOGA, famous for being Tanzanian Blacksmiths, and the HADZABE, the remaining community of hunters and gatherers, perhaps in all of East Africa.
In the afternoon, enjoy a guided nature walk along the shores of Lake Eyasi.
Dinner and overnight at LAKE EYASI SAFARI LODGE.
Lake Eyasi
Lake Eyasi is a remote and culturally rich destination in northern Tanzania, located southwest of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area along the floor of the Great Rift Valley. The lake is a seasonal soda lake, meaning its size fluctuates dramatically with rainfall—expanding in the wet season and shrinking into wide salt flats during the dry months.
The area is best known for its unique indigenous communities, particularly the Hadzabe and Datoga tribes. The Hadzabe are among the last remaining hunter-gatherers in East Africa, and visitors can experience their traditional way of life, including early-morning hunting excursions using bows and arrows. The Datoga are skilled pastoralists and blacksmiths, renowned for their metalwork and distinctive attire.
Wildlife around Lake Eyasi includes flamingos, pelicans, storks, and other waterbirds, as well as small mammals and antelope adapted to the arid environment. Although it is not a classic “big game” park, the lake offers outstanding birdwatching and a strong sense of wilderness.
The surrounding landscape is dramatic and unspoiled, characterized by rocky escarpments, acacia woodlands, and open plains, offering beautiful views and photographic opportunities. Lake Eyasi is ideal for travelers seeking authentic cultural encounters, scenic tranquility, and off-the-beaten-path experiences, often combined with visits to Ngorongoro or Serengeti.
اليوم 7: Karatu
SATURDAY: LAKE EYASI – KARATU/ LAKE MANYARA
Breakfast at the Lodge.
For those interested in joining the HADZABE on a morning hunt, perhaps they could plan to visit the community at dawn on this day!
(This would be in lieu of the visit on the preceding day)
Thereafter a leisurely drive to Karatu to arrive in time for a late lunch.
In the afternoon, head out for a Maasai village visit in the Lake Manyara Area.
Dinner and overnight at KARATU SIMBA LODGE / MARERA VALLEY / COUNTRY LODGE
اليوم 8:
SUNDAY: LAKE MANYARA – ARUSHA - DEPART
Breakfast at the Lodge.
Thereafter, head to Mto wa Mbu area for a village tour.
After the activities /tour, enjoy an early traditional lunch at the village.
Thereafter commence your return drive to Arusha, where it is expected you will get at around 16:00 hrs., and dropped off at your hotel in the city center.
Arusha
Arusha è una città vivace e pittoresca nel nord della Tanzania, spesso definita la "Capitale del Safari dell'Africa Orientale". Situata ai piedi del Monte Meru, Arusha gode di un clima fresco e piacevole e di un ambiente verdeggiante.
La città è la porta d'accesso principale al circuito safari della Tanzania, famoso in tutto il mondo, che comprende il Parco Nazionale del Serengeti, il Cratere di Ngorongoro, il Lago Manyara e il Parco Nazionale del Tarangire.
Culturalmente, Arusha riflette un mix di comunità Masai, Meru e altre comunità tanzaniane, con vivaci mercati locali, centri artigianali e piantagioni di caffè negli altopiani circostanti. I visitatori possono esplorare attrazioni come il Parco Nazionale di Arusha, il Centro del Patrimonio Culturale, la Torre dell'Orologio di Arusha e tour dedicati alle degustazioni di caffè locali.
Nel complesso, Arusha combina bellezza naturale, ricchezza culturale e importanza strategica, rendendola sia un punto di partenza fondamentale per i safari che una destinazione affascinante a sé stante.
