Tanzania Highlights Small Group Safari

Arrive Kilimanjaro - Arusha

You will be met upon arrival at Kilimanjaro airport by your private driver and then transferred directly to your accommodation in Arusha.

Overnight Accommodation: Arumeru Lodge

Arusha – Tarangire National Park

Early this morning, depart with the rest of your fellow travellers, in your 4x4 safari vehicle to Tarangire National Park. Tarangire is well known for its baobab trees, year-round population of elephants and prolific birdlife. The park comes into its own during the dry season (June-October) when the number of elephants increase along with herds of zebra, wildebeest, antelope and other game which are attracted to the river. During your game drives you will enjoy a picnic lunch and you’ll spend  the night overlooking the flood plain just outside of Tarangire Park.

Overnight Accommodation: Kirurumu Tarangire Lodge

Tarangire National Park - Ngorongoro Crater

You’ll begin your day with an early morning game drive in Tarangire. You’ll drive past the verdant highlands of Karatu, the gateway to the Ngorongoro Crater. Enroute to Ngorongoro you’ll stop to view Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley’s dramatic escarpment below. The silvery soda ash waters attract thousands of pink flamingo. You’ll stay overnight on the ancient crater rim.

Overnight Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Serengeti National Park

Another early start to make your way up the outside of the Crater before making your way down the 600m wall into this 250km² wildlife sanctuary. Proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, this is the biggest intact caldera in the world. Previously a mountain higher than Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro imploded over 2 million years ago, leaving this unique natural wonder of swamps and lakes and plains, teeming with wildlife. The lion population has fluctuated over the years, partly due to the migration in and out of the crater and disease. The spotted hyena, golden and black-backed jackal can also be seen here and it is one of the few places in Tanzania where you may be lucky enough to see rhino in the world. After enjoying a picnic lunch you will ascend out of the Crater and you’ll leave the highlands behind and continue on to the Serengeti for your first night in your wilderness camp.

Overnight Accommodation: Wilderness Camps

Serengeti National Park

Today you will begin to explore the world-famous Serengeti National Park – the name is derived from the Maasai word
serengit, meaning ‘endless plain’. The park is part of the much larger Serengeti eco-system, including the surrounding Grumeti Reserves, the Ngorongoro Conservation area and the Masai Mara in neighbouring Kenya. Huge open grassland plains are dotted with isolated granite hillocks known as Kopjes and acacia woodland. There is limited permanent water apart from a few rivers, hence the wildebeest always migrating in search of fresh grazing as a result of rainfall patterns.

Overnight Accommodation: Wilderness Camps

Serengeti National Park

Another two full days of game viewing. The wildebeest migration draws people to different areas of this vast park throughout the year. Whether you are in the southern Serengeti (Dec – March) for calving season, the western reaches (April to June) as the herds seek out fresh pastures, or the North (July-August) when the herds bunch up gathering the nerve to cross the rivers, your guide will take you to the best areas for encountering wildlife. You also have the option to take an early morning balloon safari (at an additional cost) over the Serengeti before enjoying a bush breakfast.

Overnight Accommodation: Wilderness Camps

Serengeti National Park – Arusha

This morning you will be driven to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight back to Arusha. Soaring above the plains will give you an amazing aerial view of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. On arrival into Arusha you will be met and transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport in time for your departing flight.