OVERVIEW
The most beautiful event to witness is at Northern Serengeti when big herds of wildebeests and zebras gather to cross river Mara bordering Kenya and Tanzania.
ARRIVAL DAY
On arrival and after border formalities, you will be welcomed by our guide, who will transfer you to your Hotel in Arusha town (HB). Depending on your arrival time, it is possible to be transferred directly to Tarangire National Park. However, we highly recommend you overnight in Arusha at a lodge/hotel, this will save hotel costs and avoid rushing.
On your way to Arusha town, you will be welcomed by great views of Mount Kilimanjaro (when the sky is clear), the highest in Africa covering 5895m, and the second highest Mount Meru covering 4563m above sea level. You will encounter different ways of living practiced by locals and plenty of banana and coffee farms. Your 7 days tour is as good as started on this first day
Tour Program
Day 1, Arusha – Tarangire National Park
You will be picked up from your hotel at 8 am and drive alongside the great rift valley to the iconic Tarangire National Park for a full-day game drive. Your day ends at a lodge/tented camp where you will retreat overnight.
Tarangire is a breathtaking and fascinating wildlife destination, you will only realize how beautiful the park is once you get in. With high encounters of big herds of elephants (bigger than anywhere else in the northern parks of Tanzania), the biggest baobab trees, thousands of wildebeests and zebras as they turn from their calving grounds of Lokisale and Simanjiro plains bringing calves home to get permanent water from Tarangire river and other sources like Silalei swamps and prominent ponds. Tarangire is endowed with such a good habitat and vegetation giving it a good cover enough to offer 4 out of the big five namely Lions, Leopards, Buffalo, and Elephants. Tarangire is unique in many ways but the frequency of witnessing lions on trees is second to Manyara National Park. For birdlife lovers, this is home of birds, get stunned by the high concentration and diverse bird species here.
Day 2, Tarangire – Lake Manyara National Park
You will be picked up from your hotel at 8 am and drive deep into the great rift valley to Manyara National Park for a full-day tour with packed lunch and overnight at a lodge/tented camp.
As you enter Manyara National Park get ready to explore the diversity of wildlife in this natural evergreen area. The secret to lowish life of abundant flora and fauna here is the everlasting underground water sources. Manyara park is famous for high encounters of tree climbing lions, big elephant herds, large troops of baboons, hippos, and home for flamingos enjoying the soda ash lake Manyara.
Regardless of its small size compared to other parks in northern Tanzania, this is home to over 350 species of bird, truly magnificent for birdlife. Yet the park stands uniquely for its varied aquatic bird life, flocks of pelicans, flamingoes, herons, egrets, stalks, and spoonbills. No wonder the water body covers 230km2 which is almost 71% of the total size of the park. Although lions are all over Manyara it’s not the case for other big cats like leopards which are rarely viewed.
Day 3, Manyara – Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, you will start your journey up the great rift-valley escarpment. You will be enjoying the fascinating view of Lake Manyara woodland forest as you drive up from Manyara to Serengeti National Park.
As you approach Serengeti you will be amazed by the endless plains with the highest concentration of wildlife in the world. Not only that but this is the park with the highest number of big cats in the universe. The park stands uniquely for hosting the world’s largest migration of wildebeest and zebras across river mara. This vast and beautiful short grassland makes a perfect cover and habitat for antelopes and big cats’ ecosystems. Kopjes are perfect hide and spotting points for predators here.
With more time here, you can witness predators hunting impalas, gazelles, hartebeest, elands, zebras, wildebeests, buffalo, and on very few occasions giraffes. Hyenas and vultures are highly populated in Serengeti. This is not all but Serengeti National Park provides a perfect habitat for well over 480 species of birds. Game drive on your way and a half day in central Serengeti before heading to a lodge/tented camp for dinner and overnight where you can also enjoy a beautiful sunset.
Day 4, Pursuit of WIldebeest Migration in Northern Serengeti
After early morning breakfast, you will depart to the north in pursuit of the great wildebeest migration.
The great migration starts from the southern plains of Maswa and Ndutu. This is where wildebeest give birth and wait until their calves are strong enough to shift elsewhere. This is when the migration begins through the western corridors of Nyamura, Musabi, Kirawira, and Nyasirori plains where they risk their lives by crossing the Grumet river which is famous for its Nile Crocodiles. Sometimes movement from Ndutu will pass central Serengeti, Seronera. Meeting at central (regarded as migration junction) before heading to Kogatende.
The most beautiful event to witness is at Northern Serengeti when big herds of wildebeests and zebras gather to cross river Mara bordering Kenya and Tanzania. And the cycle continues, the main reasons being the search for a secure place for calving, water, and perfect grazing areas.
Day 5, Northen Serengeti
On this early morning day, you are advised to go out with your packed hot lunch instead of returning back to camp or lodge for lunch. This will save you a lot of time due to the proximity of the area.
Our experience shows that during migration season there is a large number of big cats in northern Serengeti, lions, cheetahs, and leopards due to the availability of easy spots and catch prays. Zebras, Wildebeest and Elands are some of the perfect hunts by predators in this area. You might be lucky to witness hunting and killing especially during the large crossings. You still can spend the entire half-day along the banks of the river pursuing crossing or go to other areas for a game drive.
After lunch, you will hit the way back to central Serengeti. On your way and central of the park you will have a very rewarding game before heading to your lodge for a comfortable overnight.
Day 6, North – Central Serengeti
This day we suggest that you wake up early in the morning and get the chance to witness a wonderful sunrise. You will have a full-day game drive in Serengeti with dinner and return for overnight at a lodge/tented camp.
Your full day in central Serengeti will leave you with an incomparable experience due to its rich wildlife ecosystem. We are flexible with the schedule for this day, depending on your preferences including the wake-up time. We can arrange to go out with packed lunch or return to the lodge for lunch after a morning game drive. You will be driven deep into the remote areas of the stunning Serengeti plains.
Day 7, Serengeti – Ngorongoro Conservation Area
We suggest a very early wake-up on this day with an early breakfast before departing to Ngorongoro Conservation Area for a game drive in the crater. You will do a short game drive until lunchtime with packed hot lunch at the Ngoitoktok public picnic site. After lunch continues with the game drive before exiting the crater to Arusha for departure.
Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s most famous and biggest caldera. The caldera has a 19km of diameter and 260km circumference offering one of the largest concentrations of wildlife due to the availability of water and food almost all year round. The crater has a river, several swamps, a soda lake with a great concentration of flamingos, a forest, and open plains. Gorgor and Mwanduzi swamps are home to the oldest male elephants with the longest tusks ever, buffalos, and hippos all year round. The crater is a very important hide and habitat for endangered species of wildlife. One of few places with a high population density of black rhinos in the world.
Extra Day (Optional)
This is a genuine wildlife adventure experience; however, we recommend an extra day at Lake Eyasi Cultural tour to blend your experience for a perfect combination of wildlife safari and cultural experiences. Visiting Hadzabe land is truly a tour to remember and will leave you knowledgeable of the history of mankind.
Learn more about Lake Eyasi
Located southwest of the Ngorongoro crater and southern of Serengeti is the famous soda/salty lake of Eyasi. The lake lies in the east African great rift valley similar to lake Manyara. This is a shallow terminal basin (endorheic) lake, very shallow receiving most of its water from the volcanic flanks of Ngorongoro Crater. Apart from being a stop to seasonal migrating flamingos, this is the home to some of the oldest traditional hunter and gatherer tribes of Hadzabe.
The Hadzabe or commonly known as Hadza will give you a glimpse at how most indigenous tribes of Africa lived before civilization. Hadza are very close to nature, traces show that the bushmen inhabit the same area for thousands of years. They get their food by hunting and if you have a full day here you will have a chance to hunt with Hadza.
For a day visit, the bushmen will demonstrate and explain their hunting techniques which have lasted for generations. These bushmen hunt using bows and arrows which are self-made. Hadza is holding to their traditional way of life even in the modern world of the 21st century. To date majority of Hadzabe still start a fire by friction and smoke to get their favorite food, honey.
Package Available In
Premium
High-end service, Dedicated expert, Hot Lunch, Park Fly-in- Private Tours
Luxury
Luxury Accommodation, Low Mileage Luxury 4×4 Jeep, Hot Lunch- Private & Group
Mid-Range
Best mid-priced lodges, Luxury 4×4 Jeep, Hot Lunch- Private & Group
Package
Includes
Excludes
- All
- Full board accommodations
- Hotel lunch during the safari
- Service of professional English Speaking Guide (Other Language on request)
- 4 x 4 Safari Jeep with pop-up roof, charging unit, in-car fridge, large windows
- Unlimited Mileage
- Unlimited drinking water while on safari
- All park, conservation, and concession fees plus Taxes
- Detailed Itinerary
- Airport drop-off and pickup
- All
- Traveler’s insurance
- VISA
- Drinks outside safari
- Tipping (we recommend from $10 per person per day)
- Personal spending
- International flights
Tour Gallery
