11-Day Tanzania Luxury Safari with Balloon Ride and Big Five

• 2:00 PM - Arrival in Arusha: Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). A private driver will transfer you to Gran Melia Arusha, a luxury hotel in the heart of Arusha with views of Mount Meru.

• 3:00 PM - Check-In and Relaxation: Settle into your elegant room at Gran Melia Arusha. Enjoy the hotel's amenities, such as the infinity pool, or a welcome massage at the spa included in your package.

• 7:00 PM - Welcome Dinner: Dine at the hotel's rooftop restaurant, savoring a 3-course meal of Tanzanian and international cuisine with Mount Meru as your backdrop. Overnight at Gran Melia Arusha.

Accommodation : Gran Melia

• 7:00 AM - Breakfast: Have breakfast at Gran Melia Arusha, featuring fresh tropical fruits and made-to-order dishes.

• 8:00 AM - Drive to Tarangire (2.5 Hours): Drive to Tarangire National Park in a luxury 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, with 1 vehicle per 6-7 people and additional vehicles as needed.

• 10:30 AM - Arrival and Check-In: Check into Tarangire Ndovu Tented Lodge, a luxury tented camp with spacious tents, private decks, and views of the park's baobab-dotted landscape.

• 11:00 AM - Morning Game Drive (2 Hours): Start a game drive in Tarangire, known for its large elephant herds of up to 300 and iconic baobab trees. Spot four of the Big Five - lions, elephants, buffaloes, and leopards - along with zebras, giraffes, and over 550 bird species such as the kori bustard.

• 1:00 PM - Gourmet Lunch: Return to Tarangire Ndovu for a gourmet lunch featuring farm-to-table Tanzanian dishes, served on your private deck.

• 3:00 PM - Afternoon Game Drive (3 Hours): Continue your game drive, exploring the Tarangire River, a magnet for wildlife. Look for leopards in trees and rare species like the fringe-eared oryx.

• 6:00 PM - Sundowner Experience: Enjoy a private sundowner in the bush, sipping champagne as the sun sets over the savannah, a luxury touch unique to this tour.

• 7:00 PM - Dinner and Overnight: Return to Tarangire Ndovu for a candlelit dinner, enjoying a 4-course meal with paired wines. Overnight in your luxury tent.

Accommodation: Tarangire Ndovu Tented Lodge

• 7:00 AM - Breakfast: Have breakfast at Tarangire Ndovu, enjoying views of the park.

• 8:00 AM - Drive to Lake Manyara (2 Hours): Drive to Lake Manyara National Park, known for its tree-climbing lions and flamingo-filled lake.

• 10:00 AM - Game Drive (3 Hours): Embark on a game drive in Lake Manyara, spotting four of the Big Five - lions, elephants, buffaloes, and leopards - as well as giraffes, hippos, and over 400 bird species, including pelicans and storks, amid groundwater forests and acacia woodlands.

• 1:00 PM - Check-In and Lunch: Check into Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge, a luxury lodge with panoramic views of the Rift Valley. Enjoy a gourmet lunch overlooking the lake.

• 3:00 PM - Mto wa Mbu Cultural Visit: Visit the nearby town of Mto wa Mbu for a cultural experience. Tour a local banana plantation, interact with the Chaga and other tribes, and join a cooking demonstration to make a traditional dish such as ugali with vegetable stew.

• 5:30 PM - Return to Lodge: Return to Lake Manyara Serena and relax by the infinity pool or enjoy a cocktail at the bar.

• 7:00 PM - Dinner and Overnight: Dine at the lodge's restaurant, savoring a fusion of Tanzanian and international cuisine. Overnight in your luxury room.

Accommodation: Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge

• 7:00 AM - Breakfast and Check-Out: Have breakfast at Lake Manyara Serena, then check out.

• 8:00 AM - Drive to Serengeti (4 Hours): Drive to Serengeti National Park, passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with scenic views. Stop for a packed gourmet lunch en route.

• 12:00 PM - Arrival and Check-In: Check into Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, a luxury lodge in the heart of the park with an infinity pool overlooking a waterhole.

• 1:00 PM - Relaxation: Settle into your luxury suite and relax, perhaps with a dip in the pool or a spa treatment at additional cost.

• 3:00 PM - Afternoon Game Drive (3 Hours): Take a game drive in the Serengeti, known for its endless plains. Spot lions, elephants, giraffes, and, if in season, the Great Migration herds from July to October.

• 6:00 PM - Return to Lodge: Return to Four Seasons as the sun sets, offering breathtaking views.

• 7:00 PM - Dinner and Overnight: Enjoy a gourmet dinner at the lodge with panoramic views of the Serengeti. Overnight in your suite.

Accommodation: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

6:00 AM - Morning Game Drive (3 Hours): Embark on an early game drive in the Seronera Valley, a hotspot for big cats. Look for cheetahs, leopards, and lion prides, along with over 500 bird species such as ostriches and secretary birds.

• 9:00 AM - Breakfast in the Bush: Enjoy a luxury bush breakfast with linen tablecloths, set up in a scenic spot and surrounded by wildlife.

• 10:00 AM - Continue Game Drive: Resume your game drive, visiting areas like the Grumeti River, if in migration season, or the kopjes for leopard sightings.

• 1:00 PM - Picnic Lunch: Break for a gourmet picnic lunch near a waterhole, possibly with elephants drinking nearby, complete with shaded seating and chilled drinks.

• 2:00 PM - Afternoon Game Drive: Continue exploring, spotting hyenas, jackals, and more birdlife.

• 5:00 PM - Return to Lodge: Return to Four Seasons for relaxation, perhaps with a cocktail at the poolside bar.

• 7:00 PM - Dinner and Overnight: Dine at the lodge's restaurant, enjoying a 4-course meal with paired wines. Overnight in your suite.

Accommodation: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

• 5:00 AM - Hot Air Balloon Safari: Experience a luxury hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti, included in the package. Soar above the plains at sunrise, spot wildlife from above, and enjoy a champagne breakfast in the bush upon landing.

• 9:00 AM - Return to Lodge: Return to Four Seasons for relaxation or a brief rest.

• 11:00 AM - Morning Game Drive (2 Hours): Take a shorter game drive to catch any wildlife you may have missed, such as a pride of lions or a herd of wildebeest.

• 1:00 PM - Lunch at the Lodge: Enjoy a gourmet lunch at Four Seasons with views of the waterhole.

• 3:00 PM - Afternoon at Leisure: Spend the afternoon relaxing - opt for a spa treatment at additional cost, swim in the infinity pool, or enjoy a private yoga session included in the package.

• 7:00 PM - Dinner and Overnight: Dine under the stars at a private bush dinner setup, a luxury highlight of your Serengeti stay. Overnight in your suite.

Accommodation: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

• 7:00 AM - Breakfast and Check-Out: Have breakfast at Four Seasons, then check out.

  • 8:00 AM - Drive to Ngorongoro Crater (4 Hours): Drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with scenic views of the Great Rift Valley.

  • 12:00 PM - Arrival and Check-In: Check into The Highlands Ngorongoro, a luxury camp with dome-shaped suites offering panoramic views of the crater rim.

  • 1:00 PM - Gourmet Lunch: Enjoy a gourmet lunch at The Highlands, with views of the surrounding landscape.

  • 2:30 PM - Crater Game Drive (3 Hours): Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a game drive. This 260 km2 caldera hosts the Big Five, including a dense population of lions and rare black rhinos, offering a better chance to see all five compared to parks like Tarangire. Spot flamingos on Lake Magadi and hippos in the pools.

  • 5:30 PM - Return to Camp: Return to The Highlands as the sun sets over the crater.

  • 7:00 PM - Dinner and Overnight: Dine at the camp's restaurant, enjoying a 4-course meal with paired wines. Overnight in your luxury dome suite.

Accommodation: The Highlands Ngorongoro

• 6:00 AM - Morning Game Drive (3 Hours): Return to the Ngorongoro Crater for another game drive, focusing on areas you may have missed, such as the Lerai Forest for leopards or the Gorigor Swamp for waterbucks.

• 9:00 AM - Breakfast in the Crater: Enjoy a luxury bush breakfast in the crater, surrounded by wildlife.

• 10:00 AM - Continue Game Drive: Resume your game drive, capturing more photos of the Big Five and the crater's dramatic landscapes.

• 1:00 PM - Picnic Lunch: Break for a gourmet picnic lunch in the crater, set up with shaded seating and chilled drinks.

• 2:00 PM - Maasai Village Visit: Visit a Maasai village in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Learn how they coexist with wildlife, graze cattle alongside zebras, and maintain traditions such as beadwork and storytelling. Participate in a traditional dance.

• 4:30 PM - Return to Camp: Return to The Highlands for relaxation, perhaps with a hot shower in your dome suite.

• 7:00 PM - Dinner and Overnight: Dine at the camp, enjoying a private dinner setup with crater views. Overnight in your dome suite.

Accommodation: The Highlands Ngorongoro

• 7:00 AM - Breakfast and Check-Out: Have breakfast at The Highlands, then check out.

• 8:00 AM - Drive to Lake Manyara (2 Hours): Drive back to Lake Manyara National Park for a final game drive.

• 10:00 AM - Game Drive (3 Hours): Explore Lake Manyara again, focusing on its tree-climbing lions, the flamingo-filled lake in season, and diverse birdlife. Spot elephants, giraffes, and hippos in the groundwater forests.

• 1:00 PM - Check-In and Lunch: Return to Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge for a gourmet lunch, enjoying the same luxury accommodations as earlier.

• 3:00 PM - Afternoon at Leisure: Spend the afternoon relaxing - lounge by the pool, enjoy a spa treatment at an additional cost, or take a guided nature walk around the lodge, which is included.

• 7:00 PM - Dinner and Overnight: Dinner at the lodge, savoring a farewell dinner with Rift Valley views. Overnight in your luxury room.

Accommodation: Lake Manyara Serena Lodge

• 7:00 AM - Breakfast and Check-Out: Have breakfast at Lake Manyara Serena, then check out.

• 8:00 AM - Drive to Arusha (2 Hours): Drive back to Arusha, stopping en route for a cultural experience.

• 9:30 AM - Coffee Plantation Tour: Visit a coffee plantation near Arusha to learn about Tanzania's coffee production. Tour the farm, participate in a bean-roasting session, and enjoy a fresh cup of coffee while learning about its cultural significance in the region.

• 11:30 AM - Arrival and Check-In: Return to Gran Melia Arusha for your final night, settling back into your luxury room.

• 1:00 PM - Lunch: Enjoy a gourmet lunch at the hotel's rooftop restaurant, with views of Mount Meru.

• 3:00 PM - Afternoon at Leisure: Spend the afternoon relaxing - opt for a spa treatment included in the package, swim in the infinity pool, or explore Arusha's local markets with a guide as an optional activity at additional cost.

• 7:00 PM - Farewell Dinner: Dine at Gran Melia's fine-dining restaurant, enjoying a 5-course meal with paired wines to celebrate your safari journey. Overnight at Gran Melia Arusha.

Accommodation: Gran Melia

• 7:30 AM - Breakfast: Have a final breakfast at Gran Melia Arusha, soaking in the views.

• 9:00 AM - Check-Out and Transfer: Check out and transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), a 1-hour drive, for your onward flight.

• 10:30 AM - Departure: Depart from Kilimanjaro International Airport, concluding your luxury safari.