Day 1: Arrival in Arusha – Gateway to the Wild
Arrive in Arusha, Tanzania’s safari capital, nestled beneath the shadow of Mount Meru. You’ll be welcomed by your guide and transferred to your lodge for a restful evening. Depending on your arrival time, explore a local market, visit the Cultural Heritage Centre, or simply relax in the tropical gardens before your adventure begins.
Overnight: Arusha planet lodge| alternative
Optional: Coffee estate visit or local village walk
Day 2–3: Tarangire National Park – Giants of the Savannah
Head into Tarangire National Park, famous for its vast elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, and stunning landscapes. Spend the next two days exploring this underrated gem on game drives across golden savannahs and riverine forests.
Look out for lions lounging in the shade, giraffes towering over the acacia trees, and leopards stealthily moving through the bush. During the dry season, the Tarangire River attracts an astonishing concentration of wildlife.
Meals and accommodation: Tarangire simba lodge
Day 4: Lake Manyara National Park – Tree-Climbing Lions & Rift Valley Views
Drive to Lake Manyara National Park, a compact but biodiverse jewel tucked beneath the Great Rift Valley escarpment. Explore its lush groundwater forests, acacia woodlands, and flamingo-dotted lakeshore. This park is famous for its tree-climbing lions, troops of baboons, and vibrant birdlife.
You’ll also pass through lively towns and Maasai villages, offering a glimpse into local life en route.
Meals and accommodation: Ngorongoro coffee lodge
Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater – Africa’s Natural Wildlife Sanctuary
Descend into the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best places in Africa to spot the Big 5 in a single day. This massive caldera shelters an incredible diversity of wildlife, from black rhinos tohyenas, lions, and thousands of grazing herbivores.
Enjoy a full-day game drive on the crater floor with a picnic lunch beside a hippo pool. Marvel at the unique volcanic landscape and its thriving ecosystem.
Meals and accommodation: Into wild tented lodge
Day 6–8: Serengeti National Park – Endless Plains & the Great Migration
Next, journey into the legendary Serengeti, home to Africa’s greatest wildlife spectacle: the Great Migration. Depending on the time of year, you’ll track vast herds of wildebeest and zebra as they move across the plains—followed closely by predators like lions, cheetahs, and hyenas.
Enjoy game drives at dawn and dusk, explore remote corners of the Serengeti, and relax under starlit skies at your safari camp.
Meals and accommodation: Into wild tented lodge
Day 9–10: West Kilimanjaro – Off-the-Beaten-Path Wilderness
Escape the crowds with two peaceful days in West Kilimanjaro, a lesser-known conservation area between Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro. Here, open plains blend with acacia woodland and Maasai community lands. Enjoy guided walking safaris, cultural visits, and scenic game drives with views of Mount Kilimanjaro on clear days.
This is your chance to connect with nature and culture at a slower pace while staying in intimate eco-lodges or tented camps.
Meals and accommodation: lodge to be decided
Day 11: Departure – Farewell to Tanzania
After a relaxed breakfast, transfer back to Arusha for your outbound flight or onward travel. For those with late departures, a day room or cultural tour can be arranged.
Optional Extensions:
Fly to Zanzibar for a beach holiday
Add gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda
Visit Amboseli or Masai Mara in neighboring Kenya
Why Book This Safari with Wild Compass Africa?
- Handpicked lodges and tented camps in prime locations
- Expert local guides with in-depth knowledge of Tanzania’s wildlife and culture
- Seamless logistics from arrival to departure
- Flexible extensions to Zanzibar, Uganda, or Kenya
