From Tarangire's Elephants to Zanzibar and Stone Town
Day 1: Dar es Salaam - Arusha Town - Tarangire National Park - "Home of Huge Elephants"
Arrive in time at Dar es Salaam Airport for your 07:00 am departure to Arusha Airport, arriving at 09:15 am. Meet and greet your driver-guide, then drive for approximately 2 hours to Tarangire National Park, renowned for its large elephant population. Here, you will have the unique experience of seeing nature combined with the original lifestyle of the Maasai. Tarangire offers unparalleled game viewing, and during the dry season, elephants abound. Families of these pachyderms play around the ancient trunks of baobab trees and strip acacia bark from the thorn trees for their afternoon meal. Breathtaking views of the Maasai Steppe and the mountains to the south make a stop at Tarangire a memorable experience, before continuing to the lodge for evening relaxation.
Dinner and overnight at Sangaiwe Tented Lodge on a full board basis.
Room Category: 2-Twin Tented Lodge Rooms
Day 2: Tarangire National Park - Serengeti National Park - Central
Traveling for approximately 5 hours from Tarangire National Park to the Central Serengeti via the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a journey through some of Tanzania's most spectacular landscapes and cultural heritage. In Tarangire, you'll encounter vast savannahs dotted with ancient baobab trees and large herds of elephants, along with lions, leopards, and abundant birdlife. As you drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the scenery transforms into lush highlands and volcanic craters, where you may spot Maasai herders tending their cattle alongside zebras and wildebeest - a rare coexistence of people and wildlife. The Ngorongoro Crater itself, often called "Africa's Eden," offers breathtaking views and an unmatched density of animals, from black rhinos to prides of lions. Continuing onward, the landscape opens into the sweeping plains of the Serengeti, home to the great migration of wildebeest and zebras, vast prides of lions, cheetahs, giraffes, and countless other species, all set against endless golden horizons. This route perfectly blends raw wilderness, cultural encounters, and iconic wildlife experiences.
Dinner and overnight at Kenzan Central Tented Camp on a full board basis.
Room Category: 2-Twin Tented Lodge Rooms
Day 3: Serengeti National Park - Full-Day Guided Game Drives in the "BIG CATS Headquarters"
Optional hot air balloon safari. Transfer from your lodge at 05:00 am by jeep to the launch site. After a briefing and watching the inflation of the balloon, you will take off at dawn as the sun rises. Your pilot can precisely control the altitude of your balloon, sometimes flying at treetop height and sometimes lower, offering a unique perspective and great photographic opportunities of the wildlife below. At other times, the pilot may ascend to 1,000 ft or more so you can appreciate the enormity and wonderful panorama of the Serengeti. The flight lasts about one hour, depending on conditions. You celebrate traditionally with champagne before enjoying a full English breakfast prepared and served in the bush in "Out of Africa." After breakfast, you receive your Serengeti Balloon certificate.
December in Central Serengeti is an exciting time for a game drive. The "short rains" usually end around late November, so by December the plains are fresh, green, and dotted with wildflowers, attracting large herds of herbivores. This means predators - especially lions, leopards, and cheetahs - are very active, taking advantage of the abundance of prey. You'll often find huge herds of resident wildebeest and zebras in the Seronera Valley, along with elephants, giraffes, and buffalo. Birdlife is spectacular too, with many migratory species arriving from Europe and Asia, so the skies are alive with color and sound. Because the vegetation is not yet too tall, visibility for spotting wildlife remains excellent.
Dinner and overnight at Kenzan Central Tented Camp on a full board basis.
Room Category: 2-Twin Tented Lodge Rooms
Day 4: Serengeti National Park - Ndutu - Following the Great Migration
In December, as the herds push south from Central Serengeti to the Ndutu plains, you'll witness an incredible mix of wildlife. The highlight is, of course, the wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle herds moving in vast numbers, often stretching as far as the eye can see. Predators are highly active - lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and leopards follow the herds, taking advantage of the abundance of prey, so sightings of dramatic hunts are common. Around the Ndutu area, you'll also encounter elephants, giraffes, and buffalo browsing on the fresh vegetation, while smaller animals like jackals, bat-eared foxes, and servals add to the excitement. Birdlife is spectacular too, with migratory species arriving from Europe and Asia, and flamingos shimmering across Ndutu's soda lakes. The mix of large predators, massive herds, and vibrant birdlife makes December a time of nonstop action and variety.
Dinner and overnight at Kenzan Ndutu Migration Camp on a full board basis (inside the crater).
Room Category: 2-Twin Tented Lodge Rooms
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater - "Seventh Wonder of the World"
After breakfast, proceed to Ngorongoro Crater. An optional tour to Olduvai Gorge and a Maasai Boma combines history and culture - discover the "Cradle of Mankind," where early human fossils were found, then experience the vibrant traditions, dances, and lifestyle of the Maasai people. Then descend into the crater, a caldera formed by the great movement of the earth that created the Great Rift Valley. The Ngorongoro Reserve is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including big cats and more than four hundred bird species. You will enjoy wildlife viewing in a place where you may have the chance to see all the BIG FIVE in a single day game drive, enjoy a picnic lunch inside the crater, and then, late in the afternoon, ascend to the crater rim and drive to your lodge near Manyara for evening relaxation.
Dinner and overnight at Bougainvillea Safari Lodge on a full board basis (outside the crater).
Room Category: 2-Twin Standard Lodge Rooms
Day 6: Karatu - Arusha Airport - Zanzibar Island - Matemwe Beach
After an early breakfast, drive straight to Arusha Airport and arrive in time to catch your flight to Zanzibar at 10:00 am, arriving at 11:15 am. On arrival at Zanzibar Airport, meet and greet, then transfer to the beach. Arrive for afternoon relaxation at leisure at the hotel. Optional participation in sea activities is available, such as snorkeling near your hotel, where there are many coral garden reefs around the Zanzibar Sea. Diving is also possible, with many excellent diving sites in the Zanzibar Sea, and you can enjoy scuba diving in the Mnemba Island Conservation Area. Deep-sea fishing is another option, as Zanzibar is considered by experts to offer some of the best fishing grounds in the world, especially in the Pemba Channel between Unguja Island and Pemba Island. There are many recreational possibilities, and all of the above can be booked through us before arriving in Zanzibar.
Stay 8 nights at Zanzibar Queen Unique Hotel on a half board basis.
Room Category: 2-Twin Standard Ocean View Rooms
Day 14: Departure - Zanzibar Stone Town Tour - Dar es Salaam Airport
After breakfast, transfer to Zanzibar City for a historical guided tour together with some final opportunity to explore this UNESCO World Heritage old city and enjoy some souvenir shopping. Thereafter, proceed with your transfer to the airport for the afternoon domestic flight back to Dar es Salaam. This marks the end of your wonderful safari and beach holiday with us.
