Safari Summary
Overview
Wildlife, people and three very different landscapes
This seven-day private safari is designed to show you more than one side of Tanzania.
You’ll begin in Tarangire National Park, where elephants move through baobab country and the Tarangire River shapes much of the wildlife activity.
In Mto wa Mbu, you’ll step out of the safari vehicle to spend time with people, visiting a Maasai community, walking through the local market and sharing a home-hosted lunch.
From there, the landscape opens into the Serengeti.
Two nights in Central Serengeti give you time to explore properly. This is strong country for resident wildlife and predators, including lions, cheetahs and leopards. Your guide has time to follow what’s happening on the ground and stay with a sighting when it’s worth staying.
The journey then continues to the Ngorongoro Crater for a very different wildlife experience.
On the way back to Arusha, there’s another chance to see Tanzania beyond the parks, with a community visit, lunch at Arusha Coffee Lodge and time at Shanga.
Throughout the journey, you’ll travel privately with your Nature in Spirit guide, who will help you understand what you’re seeing, adapt the day when needed and know when it’s worth slowing down.
We designed this journey to balance wildlife with people, and movement with enough time to experience each place properly.
Why This Journey
Tarangire first
A strong introduction to safari, with elephants, baobabs and the Tarangire River.
Time with people
Mto wa Mbu and the Maasai community give you a chance to experience Tanzania away from the national parks.
Two nights in Serengeti
Enough time to explore Central Serengeti without simply passing through.
A different wildlife experience in Ngorongoro
The enclosed crater landscape feels very different from the open Serengeti plains.
A private guide throughout
Your guide can adjust the pace and direction of the day according to what you’re seeing.
This isn’t a journey built around ticking animals off a list.
It’s designed to help you experience the wildlife, landscapes and people of Tanzania as parts of the same story.
Important Facts
Tour Features
Private Tour
This safari is arranged privately for your group.
Solo Travelers
Suitable for solo travelers.
Customizable
This itinerary can be customized.
Start Date
This safari can start on any day.
Safari Overview
Highlights
Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport – A Warm Tanzanian Welcome
Tarangire National Park – In the Realm of Elephants
Maasai Visit, Mto wa Mbu Market Visit & Home-Hosted Lunch
Journey to the Serengeti – From Highlands to Endless Plains
Full-Day Safari in the Serengeti – Life on the Great Plain
Ngorongoro Crater – A World Within a World
Karatu – Arusha – Community Encounters & Farewell – Extension to Zanzibar
Route Overview
Your Safari Map
Day 1
Kilimanjaro International Airport
Day 2
Tarangire National Park
Day 3
Mto wa Mbu
Day 4
Serengeti National Park
Day 5
Central Serengeti
Day 6
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Day 7
Arusha City
Day by Day
Safari Itinerary
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you’ll be warmly welcomed by your private, professional driver-guide, who will be your personal host and storyteller throughout the safari.
After introductions, begin a scenic drive toward Arusha, passing local villages, open landscapes, and coffee plantations, with Mount Meru often rising majestically in the distance.
Your guide will introduce you to Tanzanian life, culture, and wildlife, answer your questions, and stop whenever something catches your interest. This relaxed transfer allows you to gently settle into Africa’s rhythm.
Upon arrival at your boutique hotel, enjoy time to rest, refresh, and reflect on the beginning of your adventure before sitting down to a comforting dinner.
Arusha
We will pick you up from Kilimanjaro International Airport this evening and take you to the next stage of your journey.
Accommodation
The African Tulip Hotel
After breakfast, depart Arusha and travel toward Tarangire National Park, a landscape famous for its towering baobab trees and some of the largest elephant herds in East Africa. As you approach the park, the scenery transitions from farmland to open savannah, signaling your first true safari experience.
Arrive at camp for lunch and a short rest before heading out on an afternoon game drive. The Tarangire River acts as a magnet for wildlife, drawing elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, and antelope.
Lions are often spotted resting in the shade or watching herds from a distance, while leopards may hide among the trees. Bird enthusiasts will also be delighted by the park’s rich avian diversity.
As the sun sets, the park glows in warm golden hues—an unforgettable moment for photography and quiet reflection—before returning to camp for dinner and stories around the fire.
Tarangire National Park
Come with us as we look for lions, elephants, and so much more amid the baobab trees and classic safari scenery of Tarangire National Park.
Accommodation
Tarangire Conserve Camp
Begin the day with a respectful visit to a traditional Maasai village, where you’ll be welcomed by elders and community members. This morning offers a deep cultural immersion and an opportunity to gain insight into the Maasai way of life.
Learn about their semi-nomadic lifestyle, their close relationship with cattle, and how their traditions have been preserved through generations. Participate in everyday activities such as milking cows, learn about traditional dress and beadwork, and listen to stories that reveal Maasai values and beliefs.
Continue to the lively village of Mto wa Mbu, a melting pot of cultures and traditions. Accompanied by a local guide, walk through the colorful market, where stalls overflow with fresh produce, spices, and handmade goods. Meet local artisans, sample tropical fruits, and learn about traditional crafts and farming practices.
A truly special moment follows with a home-hosted lunch. Join a local family to prepare and share a traditional Tanzanian meal, offering a rare and heartfelt glimpse into daily life. This intimate experience often becomes one of the most cherished memories of the trip.
Activities
Maasai Village Visit
Mto wa Mbu Market Visit
Home-Hosted Lunch
Accommodation
Kudu Lodge
After an early breakfast, depart for the legendary Serengeti National Park. Travel through the scenic Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where Maasai herders, wildlife, and cattle share the landscape. The route offers breathtaking views of rolling hills, volcanic highlands, and dramatic escarpments.
As you descend toward the Serengeti, the landscape opens dramatically into vast, seemingly endless plains. Enjoy a game drive route, spotting wildlife as you journey deeper into the park.
Arrive at camp for lunch, followed by time to relax and take in the sweeping views before heading out on an afternoon game drive through the Central Serengeti. This is a fantastic opportunity to look for elephants, big cats, and other wildlife, with your guide helping you make the most of every sighting.
The day ends with dinner under a star-filled sky, accompanied by the distant sounds of the African night.
Central Serengeti National Park
Discover the many wildlife possibilities of the Central Serengeti on a guided game drive. With its abundant wildlife and open landscapes, the area offers excellent opportunities to encounter elephants, big cats, and many other species.
Accommodation
Matawi Serengeti Camp
Wake early for a sunrise safari, when the Serengeti is at its most active. The cool morning hours offer some of the best opportunities to encounter predators such as lions, cheetahs, and leopards, as well as elephants, giraffes, and vast herds of wildebeest and zebra, depending on the season.
Your guide will expertly follow tracks and observe animal behavior, tailoring the experience to maximize your chances of memorable sightings.
Return to camp for a late breakfast and enjoy some time at leisure perhaps sitting on your veranda, listening to birds, or simply absorbing the serenity of the bush.
After lunch, head out again for an afternoon game drive through the Central Serengeti, focusing on the iconic kopjes ancient granite outcrops that provide shelter and vantage points for wildlife.
Optional Extraordinary Experience
A sunrise hot-air balloon safari offers a magical aerial perspective of the Serengeti, followed by a champagne breakfast in the bush.
Central Serengeti National Park
Continue exploring Central Serengeti National Park on a guided game drive. It’s a fantastic opportunity to encounter some of the wildlife you’ve come so far to see, with your guide helping you make the most of the landscape and wildlife activity.
Accommodation
Matawi Serengeti Camp
After breakfast, depart the Serengeti with a gourmet picnic hamper and travel toward the Ngorongoro highlands. Descend into the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater, one of Africa’s most extraordinary natural wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The descent into the crater is an exhilarating approach, with the dramatic landscape unfolding below as you make your way down to the crater floor.
Spend the morning on a guided game drive through this remarkable natural amphitheater. The crater floor forms a self-contained ecosystem, supporting an astonishing concentration of wildlife.
Search for the endangered black rhino, large prides of lions, elephants, hippos, hyenas, and thousands of grazing animals. Flamingos often gather along the shores of Lake Magadi, adding a splash of color to the dramatic scenery.
Enjoy your picnic lunch inside the crater, surrounded by towering crater walls and abundant wildlife. Continue exploring through the afternoon before ascending from the crater and returning to your lodge for a well-deserved rest.
Ngorongoro Crater
On your morning guided game drive, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a full day of wildlife viewing. The drive down is one of the most thrilling approaches to a safari experience, with the crater floor offering exceptional opportunities to look for lions, hyenas, black rhinos, and many other species.
Accommodation
Kudu Lodge
After breakfast, begin your scenic drive back to Arusha. on route, enjoy a meaningful visit to a local school, where you’ll meet teachers and students and gain insight into Tanzania’s education system and everyday community life. This respectful encounter offers a different perspective on Tanzania and creates a sense of connection beyond the safari experience.
Continue to Arusha for lunch at Arusha Coffee Lodge, set among lush coffee plantations. After lunch, visit Shanga, an inspiring initiative that empowers people with disabilities through creative work and beautifully crafted handmade products made from recycled materials.
Later, transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward journey. Alternatively, continue your adventure with a relaxing beach extension to Zanzibar.
Accommodation details are available on request for this part of the itinerary.
What is Covered
Includes & Excludes
All park fees
All meals and accommodation during the entire tour
A high-quality safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
Arrival and departure transfers
Unlimited mineral water on safari
All government taxes
AMREF Flying Doctors emergency rescue
Highly experienced safari guide
International flights
Travel insurance
Visa
Gratuities
Drinks at the lodges
Any other services or items not mentioned in the itinerary
Travelers Feedback
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