12-Day Tanzania Big Five private experience

Detailed Itinerary

Day  1:  Arrival   in  Arusha

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be met by your driver and transferred to the Mount   meru  hotel   Arusha , Settle into your accommodation, ready to start your safari journey proper in the morning.

Day 2: Arusha – Tarangire National Park

After breakfast at your hotel the tour will depart to Tarangire National Park. Tarangire National Park is famous for its massive baobabs and large herds of elephants. Tarangire National Park is small but still home to a significant wildlife population with a density of wildlife matched only by Ngorongoro. You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch during your safari drive and have plenty of time to explore the national park, stop to observe the wildlife and take photos. Dinner and overnight at Maromboi tented Lodge.

Day 3 : Lake Manyara National Park

Following breakfast game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. There is a profusion of wildlife in this small national park, and the amazing bird watching experience will certainly be rewarding to both a devote and first-time bird watcher. It is as well among the few places on the African continent to see the tree-climbing lions that will be your main quest for the day. Manyara in addition prides in a large flock of beautiful pink flamingos found near the lake. You will have lunch at picnic site. Dinner at the Lodge, then return for night game drive into the park again. Dinner and overnight at Escarpment Luxury Lodge.

Day 4: Manyara – Lake Natron

After breakfast you are heading to Lake Natron. Just past Mto wa Mbu you leave the asphalted road, along the East African Rift Valley the drive continues on adventurous slopes. The drive leads past Maasai villages and the holy mountain of the Maasai, the Ol Doinyo Lengai. As soon as the Maasai village Ngare Sero comes into sight, it is not far to the lake. The outlet Lake Natron is the home of a remarkable variety of birds, in particular about 2.5 million dwarf flamingos, the lake serves them as a regular breeding ground. The water is strongly saline and the basis of life for unicellular algae and bacteria, which are responsible for the planar red-brown to purple-violet coloring of the lake. The area around Lake Natron is one of the most beautiful and unspoilt regions in Africa. You will make a hike to the lake and then you will visit the nearby waterfalls, a true oasis with awesome waters to swim. You’ll stay overnight at a African Safari Camp Lake Natron.

Day 5: Natron – Serengeti North

After an early breakfast you head towards the Serengeti. On adventurous slopes it goes the Rift Valley up into the wide plains of the Serengeti. The park was already founded in 1951 and is thus the oldest one in Tanzania. He is the heart of a vast ecosystem, whose species-rich animal world is unique in the world. Together with the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, the Serengeti National Park is one of the largest natural migration systems for wild animals. Annualy between the three mentioned conservation areas migrate over 1.4 million gnus, almost 300,000 Thomson’s gazelles, about 200,000 zebras and several thousands topis with the rainy seasons to the areas with the greener and lush meadows. With about 3 million larger mammals, the Serengeti is the national park with the richest wildlife worldwide. Game en route to your accommodation for Dinner and overnight at Lobo wildlife lodge.

Day 6: Serengeti National Park North

After breakfast, we will proceed for a full day game drive viewing the great migration at Mara area. Resident wildlife numbers are exceptionally high in the Wagakuria area. The key feature is the Mara River and there is a great chance to see the herds cross the Mara River to the north on one day and back south a few days later. Please note that it can be very difficult to witness crossing and is sometimes a matter of luck. A herd can be seen next to river and only decide to cross a couple of days later. This area is a stunning region with kopjes, woodland, riverine vegetation and open plains, similar to Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Reserve.

Day 7: Serengeti North – Serengeti Central

After breakfast you will depart the camp with your picnic lunch and proceed with your game drive along the lobo, mbuzi mawe and the central Serengeti for more game viewing to day you will be looking for lions, cheetah leopard, elephants and giraffes, stop for lunch at the picnic site and then continue to Serengeti Kati kati tented for Dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Central Serengeti National Park Full Day

A full day of game driving around the Serengeti. Depending on the time of year and the location of the great migration herds, you may see huge numbers of wildebeest, and big cats, hyenas and other predators near to them – looking to hunt an easy meal. All year round you can see elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, monkeys, baboons, hippos, rhinos, antelopes and many birds and other species of animals. Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Katikati tented lodge.

Day 9 : Serengeti – Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Today you will be led for a walking safari in the heart of Serengeti, you will be escorted with an armed park ranger and trend in the same land as lions, elephants and giraffes. The walking is a way to experience the bush while out of the jeep here you will be looking for small things like animal’s truck, animals dropping, insects, plants and their medicinal uses, return to the lodge for brunch and continue with your game drive en route to Ngorongoro. Dinner and overnight at Rhino lodge.

Day 10: Ngorongoro crater

fter an early breakfast descend to the crater for a full day of game viewing, the crater teems with zebras, buffaloes, lions, wildebeest, baboons, elephants, flamingos, ostriches, hippos, and also the rare black rhino. The beautiful colors and dancing clouds make the crater almost surreal. Because of its natural beauty the Ngorongoro Crater is chosen as one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders. In the late afternoon you drive back your accommodation for Dinner and overnight.

Day  11: Mto wa Mbu – Arusha

After breakfast, drive to Mto wa mbu for a cultural tour. Mto Wa Mbu Village has a very active cultural programme that seeks to show visitors the traditional way of life of the villagers through various activities and also a range of community projects that are in place. You can visit top spots in the area, taste Tanzanian foods and experience authentic cultural interaction. There are a number of excellent walking, hiking and biking tours offered in the village ranging in length from a couple of hours to a full day. In the afternoon, we drive back to Arusha for  dinner and overnight.

Day 12:   Arusha to Airport.

You will drive to Kilimanjaro International Airport or  Arusha  airport  for your departure.

• Transfers in both directions between the International Airport and Arusha
• Two  nights’   accommodation in Arusha town which is night before your tour and after your tour.
• Extended 4 x 4 luxury safari jeep with pop up roof for game viewing
• Professional safari guide and well speaking English.
• Professional safari cook Entrance fee for all national parks.
• Accommodation at basic camping during the safari full board
• Camping fees at all national parks.
• Ngorongoro Crater fees
• 18% VAT to our entrance fees.
• All Government taxes,
• Free WIFI  in  safari  jeep
• Unlimited  drinking water.
• Flying  doctor  Services.

Safari Package EXCLUDES

• Tanzania Visa
• Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
• Optional Tours (balloon rides USD. 550 per person), should be booked in advance
• Tips and gratuities to your safari guide and cook