8-Day Tanzania Lodge Safari - Mid-range

In the morning you will be collected from your lodgings in Arusha and drive to Tarangire National Park on a good tarmac road across gently rolling Masai plains with scattered acacia trees. As we zip along we pass many Masai in their colorful dress walking on the roadside, riding bicycles, herding cattle and driving donkey’s carts. Tarangire National Park, well known for its large elephant herds, is also host to a multitude of other creatures. From the open roof of our state of the art safari jeep we experience the seasonal swamps, savanna and life giving Tarangire River endeavoring to encounter a multitude of creatures from zebra to wildebeest, buffalo, elephant, and giraffe, to name but a few. It is possible we will glimpse lion stalking prey or leopards watching, relaxing in the trees above. After our extensive game drive, we depart to drive to one of our carefully selected accommodation for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, you will continue towards the fertile highlands where wheat and corn are grown by the Iraqw people. Along the way we’ll pass through the mist-shrouded rainforests of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where you might be lucky enough to see baboons, or even leopards and elephants in the dense undergrowth. Passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will be able to see the breath-taking Ngorongoro Crater before traveling onwards to the Serengeti National Park, which you will reach by midday. The Serengeti National Park is the largest park in Tanzania with diverse landscapes and habitats, such as grassy plains, swamps, lakes, savannah, and mountains. After an extensive game drive, you will drive to your accommodation, where you will enjoy dinner and an overnight stay.

The entire day is set aside for more game drives in the Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti is the habitat for an abundance of wildlife, such as impalas, buffalos, crocodiles and hippos, but is more well-known for its great migrating herds of zebras and wildebeest. The animals’ trek is determined by the rainfall and varies from year to year. In November and December, the animals move from the northern region, dominated by woodlands and hills, to the grassy plains of the south. During the longer rainy season from April to June, they return to the north. Apart from the migrating herds, you may have the chance to see predators, such as leopards, cheetahs and lions, always lurking close by.

This will be your final day spent in the Serengeti, the ‘endless plain’ in Maa, the tongue of the Maasai, truly one of the most spectacular places on earth. Continue to enjoy the wide range of animals and birds. By now, you will be an expert. Our guide will make sure to take you to all the best locations.

After an early breakfast, you will head out for another game drive in the Serengeti. You may spot the “Big Five” – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard – before embarking on your journey to the Ngorongoro Crater. The animals roam freely through the unfenced reserves offering you an uninterrupted game viewing experience. Arriving at the edge of the crater, you will have your first glimpse of what awaits you the following day – glistening streams, open grassland, and an infinite amount of animals. You will spend the night at our selected partner lodges for dinner and an overnight stay.

Early risers are rewarded with breathtaking views of the rising sun over the crater’s edge. After a hearty breakfast, you will drive down the adventurous track into the crater. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, formed millions of years ago, is 610 meters deep and covers roughly 260 square kilometers. Due to its dense animal population of approximately 25,000, the crater offers the best game viewing of all the parks in Tanzania. In a matter of minutes, you will be able to see wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, elephants and some of the more than 500 bird species in the area. With a little bit of luck, you might catch a glimpse of the endangered black rhino through the grass.

After lunch, you will ascend the steep walls of the crater and head to the accommodation in Karatu. Arrive at one of our carefully selected luxury partner lodges for dinner in the expansive and tasteful restaurant, a pool at hand to soothe you and a most spacious room to harbor your ease and dreams of wild cats.