The price is based on 4 people travelling. Surcharge when 1, 2 or 3 travelling.
If you love safari and nature, you should consider this tour, where you experience nature and safari in Northern Tanzania.
The tour is fine-tuned so that you get as much time as possible for safari and nature experiences in some of Tanzania’s most famous parks and natural areas.
The places of overnight accommodation have been carefully selected so that you spend your time optimally experiencing nature and wildlife in the beautiful surroundings, rather than on the roads.
You experience Northern Tanzania’s most famous national parks, and you drive along unknown back roads between some of the parks and see local villages that almost no outside travellers visit.
You have as many as three nights in Serengeti in two different camps, so you get the opportunity to experience different areas of the world-renowned ecosystem.
We have included a flight from Serengeti back to civilisation, thus saving you the long drive back. At the end of the safari, you have several options to extend the tour if you wish.
Today, there is departure from your chosen airport, and you head for Tanzania in East Africa with connecting flight(s) en route.
The heat will probably hit you already when you leave the airplane, as, at Kilimanjaro Airport, you get off the airplane and cross the runway to get to the terminal. You may hear your first “Jambo”, which means hello in Swahili – often followed by “karibu”, which means welcome. If you want to get into the local lingo from the start, you answer “asante sana” – thank you very much.
The immigration process is simple, but it may still take a little time. Hakuna matata. Welcome to Tanzania!
Your local guide will be waiting for you outside the airport to take you to your place of overnight accommodation. You sleep near Arusha, which is both a tourist and administrative centre here in the northern part of Tanzania.
The day is at your own disposal to relax after the flight.
After a good night’s sleep, you are ready to get on with today’s adventure. From Arusha, the tour heads south to Tanzania’s sixth largest national park – Tarangire National Park. The drive to the national park takes about three hours, and you have your packed lunch with you to optimise the time. You typically eat your packed lunch on arrival at the national park.
The day offers a safari in Tarangire National Park. As you are spending the night right outside the park, you have the whole day to go on safari here. And, among the attractions, you can look forward to experiencing elephants in abundance! The park is home to the largest number of elephants in all of Northern Tanzania. There are several reasons why elephants like to be here. One of the reasons is that they can always find water in Tarangire. Even during the driest period of the year, when the river is almost dried out, the elephants know where to dig for water.
In addition to elephants, the park offers giraffes, zebras, antelopes, buffaloes, gnus – and of course also the big cats.
Tarangire National Park is also known for its many baobab trees. You have to be unlucky not to get a picture of an elephant under a baobab tree, which perfectly illustrates just how big some of these trees are. The baobab tree is one of the world’s oldest tree genera, and, according to some estimates, the tree can become up to 3,000 years old. It is said that a baobab tree is only fully grown when it is 1,000 years old!
From Tarangire, the tour now heads towards Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The drive will certainly not be boring, as the route goes via Lake Manyara National Park.
Most visitors to Lake Manyara National Park enter via the north entrance. What many people do not know is that the park also has a south entrance, which is the one you will use today.
To get here from Tarangire, you drive through small, local villages, rarely visited by foreign travellers. Make yourself comfortable in the car and look forward to experiencing a unique area of the country.
Lake Manyara National Park is one of Tanzania’s smallest national parks. For years, the park has marketed itself as “the park with the tree climbing lions”, but, in our opinion, the greatest attraction is the completely unique ecosystem you will find here.
The National Park, which is narrow and long, is bounded to the east by the lake itself, Lake Manyara, and to the west by the up to 600-metre high slopes of the Rift Valley. In between lie open grassy plains, a jungle-like forest, mangroves, hot springs and swamps. The diversity is unmatched, and it is impressive to see how drastically the natural surroundings change in a relatively small area.
From Lake Manyara, you drive into the spectacular Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where you will spend one night.
From the early morning, you drive down into the mighty Ngorongoro Crater. The crater is the world’s largest intact caldera. The volcano exploded 2-3 million years ago and collapsed on top of itself, leaving behind a giant hole that is today home to more than 25,000 animals and 500 different species of birds.
The drive down into the actual crater is a highlight in itself. With the safari vehicle’s roof up, you drive down, down, down. You can feel the temperature change and smell the many different trees and flowers until you finally reach the microcosm at the bottom.
The crater floor itself is flat with an area of 260 km2 in size, and the crater rim towers just over 600 metres above you. It feels a bit like you are at the bottom of the world, but, in fact, the crater floor is 2,000 metres above sea level.
The only species of the classic safari animals you will not find here is the giraffe. You can think about why this is on your way down into the crater. Otherwise, you can find all safari animals here – and in large numbers! Elephants, zebras, gnus, buffaloes, lions, flamingos, hippos, antelopes, storks, hyenas, jackals – why, you may be fortunate enough even to see the endangered black rhinoceros.
After a few wonderful hours in the crater, you drive back up and head for Serengeti National Park. This is probably among the most beautiful drives in the world. From the lush area here on the slopes of the volcano, you drive towards the endless plains of Serengeti, where only small bushes – and the infinite number of animals – disturb the gaze that is drawn towards the horizon.
The afternoon is spent on safari as you venture further and further out into the plains. You will spend the night in central Serengeti.
If you want a change of perspective, we highly recommend starting the day with a balloon safari while the sun rises above Serengeti.
The day is spent on a full-day safari in Serengeti looking for “The Big Five”: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffaloes. You have the whole day to enjoy the wildlife and nature in stunning Serengeti.
The ecosystem in the park is considered to be among the oldest in the world, and it is hard not to feel both humble and deeply amazed when you sit in the land cruiser and soak up all the impressions. Outside the dry season, in addition to the above animals, there are also large numbers of Thomson’s gazelles, buffaloes, Topi antelopes, Grant’s gazelles, elk antelopes, warthogs, eagles, ostriches etc. Today, you will probably also see and smell hippos wallowing in the so-called hippo pools.
The next two nights are spent in Ikoma Wildcamp. Ikoma is located just outside the northwestern part of Serengeti National Park – in a so-called Wildlife Management Area. Here, there are phenomenal views of the Serengeti plain as well as the opportunity for some completely unique experiences you cannot get inside the national park itself.
In Serengeti, you rise together with the sun, and it is always exciting to hear if the camp has had any visitors during the night.
After a hearty breakfast, you can look forward to another safari drive on the mighty plains. Perhaps today is the day that you are lucky enough to get a good look at the otherwise very shy leopard?
If you are here during the months of the great migration, the guide may suggest driving north towards the Mara River, located on the border to Masai Mara in Kenya. Every year, the Mara River sets the stage for the dramatic images you may have seen on TV. Thousands of gnus cross the river, while the crocodiles lie in waiting for a meal to be served. The herds of gnus are in constant motion, and your guide will assess only on the day itself whether it is a good idea to move north, or whether the time is better spent with a game drive elsewhere in Serengeti. The crossing of the Mara River typically takes place between July and October.
Either way, you must also remember to just enjoy the view of the endless plains.
It is time to say goodbye to Serengeti and Tanzania. You are driven to central Serengeti, from where you fly towards Arusha. Here you are met by a guide and driven to Kilimanjaro International Airport, from where your journey home begins.
If you like, you can choose to extend your stay a little. How about a few days in Arusha to digest the experiences? Or maybe you would like to get closer to the Maasai culture and stay a few nights in a genuine Maasai lodge? Of course, you can also choose to conclude your tour on the tropical paradise island of Zanzibar.
You land at your chosen airport after an outstanding safari experience.
From £749 pp including flights
Children under 12 years from £499
Single room supplement from £19
Surrounded by the waters of the Indian Ocean, Zanzibar consists of the main islands of Unguja (also called ‘Zanzibar’) and Pemba, as well as a number of smaller islands. The island of Zanzibar is a treasure trove of natural and cultural treats. Brilliant white sandy beaches, azure seas and a truly amazing coral reef. A warm and sunny climate all year round. A dramatic history, liberally sprinkled with Arabian sultans, Portuguese seafarers, unscrupulous slavers and European explorers who have all left their mark on the island. And one of the most fascinating towns in Africa, dotted with fine examples of beautiful Arabian architecture. Not forgetting the delicious Swahili cuisine and the accommodating population ...
From £449 pp including flights
Children under 12 years from £189
Single room supplement from £249
Feel like relaxing after climbing Kilimanjaro or many hours in a safari car? Or dreaming of becoming acquainted with the Maasai culture and experiencing the Maasai customs and traditions – without compromising too much on comfort? And would you like to wake up to the sun rising over Kilimanjaro, and lie by a pool overlooking Africa’s highest mountain? Then extend your trip by two nights at Osiligilai Maasai Lodge.
You will find this authentic and charming lodge a just over two-hour drive away from Moshi, and we are almost ready to guarantee that both the nature and the cultural experiences here will take your breath away.
The lodge is located in a typical Maasai grassland area with vast open spaces. Here, you will find plains stretching as far as the eye can see and views of both Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro. It is owned by local Maasai, who throw themeselves into running the place in the best possible way. You will feel both welcome and pampered, and you will have plenty of opportunity to become acquainted with these semi-nomadic people.
You will spend the night in a traditional Maasai hut with a toilet, electricity and a hot water shower – and a bed strategically placed so you can watch the sun rise over Kilimanjaro in the early hours of the morning.
The stay at the lodge includes all meals and a wide range of activities such as javelin throwing and traditional Maasai dancing and singing as the sun sets behind Mount Meru. In addition, it is possible to purchase various excursions or additional activities, but you can also choose to just lie by the pool and be absorbed by the view of Kilimanjaro while enjoying a cold beer and reading a good book.
Want to know more about what it’s like to stay at Osiligilai Maasai Lodge? Then read our Africa expert’s travelogue.
From £1289 pp including flights
Children under 12 years from £0
Single room supplement from £169
Mkomazi National Park is one of Tanzania’s lesser-known parks, which is a pity, because the nature here is absolutely unique!
The park borders Tsavo in Kenya, and together they form one of Africa’s most important ecosystems, and which in East Africa is only surpassed by the Serengeti-Masai Mara.
The scenery is amazing. Here, you will find a fascinating combination of bone-dry savannah, lush mountainsides and large forests. There are lots of animals here – but on the other hand not many tourists. Mkomazi is indeed an overlooked gem!
The national park is located just over two hours’ drive east of Moshi, and is thus a perfect place to relax for a couple of days after a successful trip to the top of Kilimanjaro – without having to drive very far.
On this extension, you will spend two nights in a wonderful tented camp in a perfect location. You will have a driver-guide and land cruiser at your disposal, and you can either go on safari or relax in the camp – it’s entirely up to you. All meals are also included.
As the tent camp only has seven tents – and there are no other alternative hotels or camps in the park – we recommend that you book well in advance if you want this extension.
Children under 12 years from £2699
Single room supplement from £629
Catriona is passionate about helping other people fulfill their travel dreams, as she knows how much travel has only improved her life for the better!
