Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arusha to Tarangire to Karatu (152.7 Km/2.45 Hrs. Drive)

   • Accommodations: Client’s selection of public campsite/ tented campsite/ Lodges
   • This takes place in the morning after breakfast. We'll provide you with all the essential information before heading west to our first safari destination, Tarangire National Park. Tarangire National Park is best known for its large herds of elephants, savannah, baobab trees, seasonal swamps and the life-giving Tarangire River. Animals such as giraffes, bushbuck and red hartebeest congregate in the river. The park is also home to buffalo, zebra and wildebeest, which are always closely watched by predators like lions. Leopards are seen from time to time, but cheetahs are rarely seen. From the open roof of the vehicle, you can overlook the landscape and observe the variety of animals. In the late afternoon, drive to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.

2. Day 2: Tarangire to Karatu Town (135 Km/2.30 Hrs. Drive)

   • Accommodations: Client’s selection of public campsite/ tented campsite/ Lodges
   • After morning breakfast, embark on another game drive in Tarangire National Park. During the dry season between June and October, the Tarangire River is the only permanent water source, and wildlife tends to be concentrated in its immediate vicinity. Stop for lunch at one of the picnic spots. In the afternoon, leave this beautiful park behind. Driving through the multicultural town of Mto wa Mbu, you will soon reach the top and beautiful views of the Maasai Plains and Lake Manyara open before you. After the obligatory photo stop, head to the town of Karatu in the highlands of the crater, rich in vegetation, accommodation and little movement.

3. Day 3: Karatu to Ngorongoro Crater - Serengeti Drive

   • Accommodations: Client’s selection of public campsite/ tented campsite/ Lodges
   • After breakfast, drive to Serengeti National Park through the beautiful highland farmland of Karatu and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and to Ngorongoro Crater. The grassy steppes and acacia forests are home to almost all East African savannah animal species. You can see the "BIG FIVE" (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard) in just a few hours. After extensive game viewing and a picnic in the crater, you leave the Ngorongoro highlands in the afternoon and continue towards the Serengeti. You will soon see the seemingly endless plains of the southern Serengeti and eventually reach the Seronera Valley in the central Serengeti. Then, head straight to your accommodation for overnight and dinner.

4. Day 4: Central Serengeti to Northern Serengeti Drive

   • Accommodations: Client’s selection of public campsite/ tented campsite/ Lodges
   • After breakfast, we embark on our game drive en route to the Northern Serengeti region. From Seronera, it is about 100 km into the northern Serengeti, a gently rolling landscape punctuated by small rivers, the occasional hill and kopjes. A vast permanent population of wild animals lives here, with striking geological phenomena such as the beautiful Kopje wolf. The Northern Serengeti is an exciting and varied destination far from the park's main access point to the south and therefore sees fewer visitors. The migration occurs in this area in August and witnesses the most spectacular river crossings when the herd tries to cross the Mara River, avoiding the strong currents and hungry crocodiles. After a full day, we drive to your accommodation to enjoy our dinner and spend the night under the glorious African sky on the Endless Plain.

5. Day 5: Northern Serengeti / River Crossing

   • Accommodations: Client’s selection of public campsite/ tented campsite/ Lodges
   • After an early breakfast, make the most of the day in the Northern Serengeti. There are many opportunities to see the animals while crossing the Mara River. Hundreds of wildebeest gather on the banks of the river and gaze longingly across the turbulent water to the green grass on the other side, but no animal moves. It only takes one brave wildebeest to take the literal step, and everyone will follow! Those animals that dodge the jaws of the waiting Crocodile and make it across the river will be rewarded with the lush green grass of the Masai Mara. Return to your accommodation for overnight and dinner.

6. Day 6: Northern Serengeti to Central Serengeti

   • Accommodations: Client’s selection of public campsite/ tented campsite/ Lodges
   • After breakfast, return to Seronera with more opportunities to experience the incredible wildlife and natural beauty of Serengeti National Park. In addition to the migrating herds, we may have the opportunity to see the resident predators, leopard, cheetah and lion, fulfilling their role in the life cycle. After an extensive game drive, we head to our lodge for a hearty dinner and another fireside night of relaxation and entertainment under the rousing majesty of the star-glittering African night on the Endless Plain.

7. Day 7: Central Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater

   • Accommodations: Client’s selection of public campsite/ tented campsite/ Lodges
   • After breakfast, embarks on another amazing safari in Serengeti National Park before travelling to Ngorongoro Crater. Arriving at the rim of the crater in the afternoon gives you a first glimpse of what awaits you the next day: sparkling streams, open grasslands and various wildlife. Spend the night in accommodation near the crater rim.

8. Day 8: Full Game Drive in Ngorongoro Conservation Area

   • Accommodations: Client’s selection of public campsite/ tented campsite/ Lodges
   • Very early in the morning, after an early breakfast, we descend to the crater floor to spend a day spotting wildlife in one of the most incredible places on earth. The caldera was formed about three million years ago by the massive volcano explosion that rivalled Mount Kilimanjaro in height. It is 610 m deep and covers about 260 square kilometres. It is one of the best places in Africa to see the BIG FIVE, wildebeest, gazelle, reedbuck, and many others, along with around 500 bird species. You'll stop for a picnic near Hippo Lake and hike up the steep road out of the crater in the afternoon. You will spend the night and have dinner in the nearby town of Karatu.

9. Day 9: Karatu to Lake Manyara - Arusha

   • After breakfast, drive to our final destination on this private safari. Lake Manyara National Park is a relatively small but diverse park 120km west of Arusha. Named for the shallow Salt Lake that covers about seventy percent of the surface, floods and dries up with the seasons and is home to thousands of flamingos and the remarkable region's 500 other bird species. As you explore the park, you'll see monkeys, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, elephants and, with a bit of luck, lions climbing trees. The park is known for its diverse landscapes, including grassy plains and primate-filled forests and baobab-studded cliffs. After lunch, we return to Arusha/Moshi, arriving late afternoon.