Itinerary
Overview
Explore Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater
This 8-day luxury lodge safari takes you through Tanzania’s most iconic national parks, offering an unforgettable wildlife experience in the heart of East Africa. Explore the elephant-filled plains of Tarangire, the breathtaking landscapes of the Ngorongoro Crater, and the endless savannas of the Serengeti, home to the world-famous Great Migration. Staying at some of Tanzania’s top lodges, including Serengeti Serena Lodge and Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, you’ll enjoy comfort and style while experiencing the best game viewing in Africa.
This 8-Day Tanzania Lodge Safari combines luxury accommodations with unparalleled wildlife experiences in Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater. Whether you’re tracking the Big Five or visiting Tanzania’s rich cultural sites, this itinerary offers the perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and cultural immersion in some of Africa’s most famous parks.
Highlights & Activities
What's on offer during this trip?
- Tarangire National Park: Witness large herds of elephants and other wildlife along the Tarangire River.
- Serengeti Safari: Spend two full days exploring the Seronera area, rich in predators and plains game.
- Ngorongoro Crater: Descend into the world’s largest unbroken caldera, home to the Big Five and a dense population of wildlife.
- Cultural Experience: Visit the Hadzabe Bushmen for a unique opportunity to learn about their traditional ways of life.
- Luxury Lodges: Stay in top lodges such as Serengeti Serena Lodge and Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, offering stunning views and excellent amenities.
- Optional Cultural Visit: Explore Olduvai Gorge, one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world.
Itinerary
Day to day
Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Depart from Arusha and drive to Tarangire National Park. Famous for its large elephant herds and iconic baobab trees, Tarangire is a wildlife-rich park where you can spot lions, giraffes, and a variety of plains game. Enjoy a game drive along the Tarangire River before heading to the lodge for dinner.
Day 2: Lake Eyasi Tour
After breakfast, travel to Lake Eyasi, with a stop at Mto wa Mbu for a cultural tour and local lunch. Lake Eyasi is home to the Datoga and Hadzabe Bushmen. You’ll have the chance to learn about their ancient culture and way of life before settling in for the evening.
Day 3: Lake Eyasi to Central Serengeti
Begin your day with a visit to the Hadzabe tribe for a morning of traditional hunting and gathering. Later, drive to Serengeti National Park for an afternoon game drive in the central Seronera area, where you’ll encounter some of the Serengeti’s resident wildlife, including lions, cheetahs, and leopards.
Days 4-5: Full Days in Central Serengeti
Spend two full days exploring the Seronera region of the Serengeti, home to some of the greatest concentrations of wildlife in the park. With a variety of predators and plains game, the area offers excellent opportunities to witness the Great Migration (seasonal), as well as large resident populations of giraffes, elephants, and buffaloes.
Day 6: Central Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater
After a morning game drive in Serengeti, drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with a visit to Olduvai Gorge and a local Maasai village. In the afternoon, arrive at your lodge on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, where you’ll enjoy dinner with a view.
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater Tour – Return to Arusha
Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a full day of game viewing. The crater is home to a vast array of wildlife, including lions, rhinos, and hippos, all within the stunning backdrop of the caldera. In the afternoon, return to Arusha for a final night at The African Tulip Hotel.
Day 8: Departure from Arusha
After breakfast, enjoy some leisure time and shopping in Arusha before being transferred to the airport for your flight home.
What's Included?
- Accommodation: 6 nights in luxury tented camps and lodges.
- Meals: Full-board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) throughout the safari.
- Transport: 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for game viewing, including airport transfers.
- Professional Guide: Services of an experienced, English-speaking safari guide.
- Park Fees: All national park entrance fees, including the Ngorongoro Crater.
- Game Drives: Daily game drives as per the itinerary.
Drinking Water: Bottled water during game drives. - Maasai Village Visit: A cultural visit to a Maasai village (if time permits on Day 7).
- Internal Flights: Domestic flight from Arusha to Serengeti (if applicable).
- Emergency Evacuation: AMREF Flying Doctors emergency evacuation insurance.
What's Excluded?
- International Flights: Flights to and from Kilimanjaro International Airport.
- Visas: Entry visas for Tanzania.
- Travel Insurance: Comprehensive travel and medical insurance.
- Gratuities: Tips for guides, drivers, and lodge staff.
- Personal Expenses: Items of a personal nature such as souvenirs, additional beverages, and laundry services.
- Optional Activities: Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary (e.g., hot air balloon safari).
- Alcoholic Beverages: Alcoholic drinks at lodges and camps unless otherwise stated.
- Covid-19 Related Expenses: Any testing or quarantine costs related to Covid-19 regulations.
Insider Insight
We know because we've been there.
Discover the perfect blend of luxury and adventure on this bucket list African safari, featuring breathtaking highlights and serene sanctuaries.
Hamisi Mnaro
Africa Safari Specialist
