Tanzania · Safari

8-Day Tanzania Safari from Arusha with Serengeti and Ngorongoro

8 Days Round trip from Arusha Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Witness the majesty of Tarangire and the Serengeti, home to Africa's spectacular wildlife
  • 02 Encounter the Big Five on game drives and marvel at the spectacle of flamingos in flight
  • 03 Explore the Ngorongoro volcanic crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • 04 Immerse yourself in the wonders of Lake Manyara National Park, a haven for birdwatchers
  • 05 Experience a hot-air balloon ride over the Serengeti Plains

Embark on an unforgettable Tanzanian adventure from Arusha through some of the country's most iconic safari landscapes. Encounter elephants, lions, giraffes, and abundant birdlife in Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti National Park, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Marvel at the flamingos of Lake Manyara, explore the endless plains of the Serengeti, and descend into the majestic Ngorongoro Crater, a haven for diverse wildlife. This journey also includes a stop at Olduvai Gorge before concluding with your transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Marvel at the flamingos of Lake Manyara, explore the endless plains of the Serengeti, and descend into the majestic Ngorongoro Crater, a haven for diverse wildlife.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 8 Days
Tour type Private
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Included · Standard
Transport Included
Wheelchair access Yes
Cities Arusha, Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park
Languages English, German

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Arrival at Kilimanjaro and Transfer to Arusha

  • Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you will meet our representative from Matukio Adventures, who will assist you with your luggage, escort you to the car, and drive you to Arusha town for an overnight stay.

Accommodation: Mount Meru Hotel, Arusha town

Meals: Bed and Breakfast

2
Day 02

Safari in Tarangire National Park

  • After breakfast, ride in a specially designed open-top safari vehicle to Tarangire National Park, which boasts one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. You may see large herds of wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, and buffalo. Tarangire National Park is one of the best parks for elephant watching and is home to hundreds of bird and game species. Enjoy lunch and dinner at your lodge in Tarangire National Park.

Accommodation: Lake Burunge Tented Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

3
Day 03

Game Drive in Lake Manyara National Park

  • After breakfast, we depart for Lake Manyara National Park. We arrive in time for lunch at the lodge, and after lunch, we head into the park for an afternoon game drive.
  • This national park is one of Tanzania's most dramatically located wildlife areas, consisting of a massive but shallow soda lake, covering two-thirds of the park, at the foot of the Great Rift Valley's western escarpment.
  • The park's varied habitat attracts a wide variety of animals, including one of Africa's largest concentrations of elephants, Lake Manyara's unique tree-climbing lions, as well as large flocks of flamingos attracted by the algae in the lake.

Accommodation: Lake Manyara Serena Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

4
Day 04

Into the Serengeti via Karatu and Ngorongoro

  • After breakfast, we head towards Serengeti National Park via the beautiful, high-lying farmland of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
  • Leaving the highlands behind, we descend into the heart of wild Africa - Serengeti National Park - with its endless plains rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see.
  • We head to the central park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park. It features the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti's species. We arrive in time for lunch and enjoy an afternoon game drive in Serengeti National Park.

Accommodation: Shuhudia Adventure Camp (Tented Camp Experience in Serengeti)

Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch & Dinner

5
Day 05

Full-Day Serengeti Game Viewing

  • Be one of only a few fortunate people to glide in a hot air balloon over the Serengeti Plains (available at supplementary cost by pre-arrangement). Float silently above the awakening bush while spotting wildlife and enjoying the amazing scenery of Africa across rivers and over numerous small villages.
  • After breakfast, enjoy a game-viewing drive along the Sogore River Circuit, which loops into the plains south of the Seronera River and is good for possible lion, Thomson gazelle, topi, ostrich, and cheetah sightings. The visitor's centre is well worth a visit after the morning's game drive. This nicely designed centre offers interesting wildlife displays as well as a gift shop selling information leaflets and maps of the area. The centre also has a shop where cold drinks and snacks can be purchased, as well as a picnic area and an information trail up and around a nearby kopje. We will enjoy a relaxed picnic lunch at the centre in the shade of the giant acacia trees.
  • In the afternoon, we will follow the Kopjes Circuit, which goes anti-clockwise around the Maasai Kopjes, which usually attract a number of lions and some formidably large cobras. Kopjes are weathered granite outcrops scattered around the plains, most of which are miniature ecosystems, providing shade and drinking water in pools left in the rock after the rains. This makes the kopjes particularly good for spotting wildlife in the dry seasons - including lions, which like to lie in wait for animals coming to drink.

Accommodation: Shuhudia Adventure Camp (Tented Camp Experience in Serengeti)

Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch & Dinner

6
Day 06

Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Olduvai Gorge

  • After breakfast, depart for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with a picnic lunch and game viewing on the way. We will stop at Olduvai Gorge, which boasts a history dating back to the dawn of time. It was here that the anthropologists Dr Lois and Mary Leakey discovered the skulls of 'Nutcracker Man' and 'Handy Man', both very significant links in the chain of human evolution. Optional: you also have the possibility of visiting a Masai village.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch & Dinner

7
Day 07

Ngorongoro Crater Safari and Return to Arusha

  • After breakfast, we descend 600 m into this magnificent crater for a full-day game drive. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most densely crowded African wildlife areas in the world and is home to an estimated 30,000 animals, including some of Tanzania's last remaining black rhinos. Supported by a year-round water supply and fodder, Ngorongoro National Park supports a wide variety of animals, including herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants.
  • Another big drawcard to this picturesque national park is its huge population of predators, which include lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, and the ever-elusive leopard.
  • We will enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor and then drive back to Arusha City for an overnight stay.

Accommodation: The African Tulip Hotel

Meals: Breakfast & Picnic Lunch

8
Day 08

Departure from Kilimanjaro International Airport

  • Today, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight back home. The tour ends at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).

Meals: Breakfast

Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti Plains, Ngorongoro Crater

Where this trip takes you

Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti Plains, Ngorongoro Crater

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Arusha 6 cities · 8 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • All accommodation as specified in the itinerary
  • All accommodation in Arusha is based on bed and breakfast
  • Meet and greet services with assistance
  • All transfers with assistance
  • Transport in a private 4-wheel-drive car with a pop-up roof, specially designed for safari
  • All booked safaris are window-seat guaranteed
  • 3 meals a day, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, on safari
  • All park entry fees
  • Complimentary bottled mineral water on safari
  • Unlimited game-viewing drives per day whilst on safari
  • Services of an English-speaking safari driver/guide throughout your journey

What's Not Included

  • International airfares and airport taxes
  • Tourism entry visa to Tanzania: US$ 50 per person, and for American citizens US$ 100
  • Travel insurance (recommended)
  • Optional excursions not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Personal expenses such as telephone calls, faxes, emails, laundry, etc.
  • All alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, wines, and spirits
  • Tips and gratuities to driver guides, lodges, hotels, and tented camp staff
  • Balloon safari is optional and costs US$ 540 per person
  • All other extras not mentioned in the inclusions

What to bring

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

  • Valid passport and visa
  • Photocopy of passport
  • Airline ticket
  • International health card with immunisations (yellow fever)
  • Travel insurance
  • Medical insurance
  • US$ cash/credit card
  • Small lock to secure zippers together
  • Small diary and pen

CLOTHING

  • Neutrally coloured clothing
  • 4 - 5 short-sleeve T-shirts
  • 2 - 3 pairs of shorts
  • 2 sweaters or sweatshirts
  • Socks
  • Underwear
  • Hankies
  • 2 pairs of casual trousers
  • 2 long-sleeve shirts
  • Lightweight rain jacket
  • Fleece jacket
  • Walking shoes
  • Lightweight shoes
  • Swimsuit
  • Warm sleeping outfit
  • Wide-brimmed hat

Know before you go

  • On this tour, you will be staying in luxury lodges and semi-luxury tented lodges. They are located inside the parks, the best way to spend time in nature while experiencing the wildlife up close and personal.
  • Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars per person sharing a room.
  • The departure dates for all our safaris and tours are totally flexible according to your own personal needs, subject to availability.
  • We may have to reroute the itinerary or accommodate you in similar lodges, hotels, or bush tented camps in case of non-availability.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Arusha, Tanzania
Tour start
Arusha, Tanzania
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 8 days finish where they began, in Arusha.

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USD 3,452 /person
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