Day 1: Arrival in Arusha & Cultural City Tour
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, your professional driver-guide will meet and greet you. Transfer to your lodge for check-in, followed by a relaxed city tour exploring Arusha’s vibrant craft markets and the Arusha National Museum. Take this time to recover from your journey, learn about Tanzania’s rich culture, and enjoy a warm welcome dinner.
Accommodation: Planet Lodge Arusha
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Tarangire National Park – The Land of Giants
After breakfast, depart for Tarangire National Park, a scenic drive that offers glimpses of rural Tanzanian life. Enter the park through its southern gate, and immediately encounter herds of elephants, giraffes, impalas, and possibly lions lounging under the iconic baobab trees. After a check-in and lunch at your lodge, set out for a rewarding afternoon game drive before returning for a hearty dinner.
Accommodation: Mbali Mbali Tarangire Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Wildlife Exploration in Lake Manyara National Park
Enjoy breakfast, then head to Lake Manyara National Park. Check into your lodge and relax before heading out for an afternoon game drive. The park’s unique terrain offers sightings of baboons, hippos, flamingos, giraffes, and the elusive tree-climbing lions. The backdrop of the Rift Valley escarpment adds drama to your photographic moments.
Accommodation: Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Scenic Drive to Serengeti National Park
Fuel up with an early breakfast and set out toward the Serengeti, enjoying a picturesque drive through the Ngorongoro Highlands. As you descend onto the endless plains, the wildlife density increases. Keep your eyes peeled for wildebeests, zebras, hyenas, and ostriches. Arrive at your tented camp in time for dinner and an overnight stay under the starlit Serengeti sky.
Accommodation: Into the Wild Tented Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Days 5 & 6: Full Exploration of Serengeti – Game Drives & Balloon Safari
Spend two full days exploring the vast Serengeti. Begin each morning with a sunrise game drive to spot predators before they retreat from the hunt. Marvel at lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and the Great Migration herds. On one of the days, you may opt for an unforgettable hot air balloon safari — soaring silently above the plains as herds thunder below.
Optional Activity: Hot Air Balloon Safari (extra cost)
Accommodation: Into the Wild Tented Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
After breakfast, enjoy a final morning game drive as you make your way toward the Ngorongoro Highlands. The road winds through Maasai lands, giving you insight into traditional lifestyles. Check into your lodge overlooking the Crater rim and unwind for the evening.
Accommodation: Rhino Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Game Drive in Ngorongoro Crater
Rise early for breakfast and descend into the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater. With over 30,000 animals enclosed in the caldera, you’ll have the chance to see all members of the Big Five. Keep a lookout for the rare black rhino and large prides of lions, along with hippos, flamingos, jackals, and hyenas. Return to the lodge in the afternoon for rest and reflection.
Accommodation: Rhino Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Discover Arusha National Park
After breakfast, travel to Arusha National Park. Enjoy a unique walking safari with an armed ranger or a scenic drive through lush forests and open glades. This park is teeming with giraffes, buffaloes, monkeys, and numerous birds, making it perfect for those seeking a more relaxed final day in the wild.
Accommodation: Planet Lodge Kilimanjaro
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: Departure
Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time to explore Arusha or relax at the lodge. Your driver-guide will then transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight back home, marking the end of your unforgettable Tanzanian safari.
Meals: Breakfast