Detailed 11 days Tanzania wildlife safari with culture
Day 1 of Northern Tanzania safari: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport and Transfer to the Hotel in Arusha
When you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, our corporate representative will greet you and welcome you to Tanzania. Then you’ll be transferred to Arusha, a calm, lush, verdant city less than an hour away.
Arusha is Tanzania’s safari hub, located in the shadow of Mount Meru and near to Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. You’ll be briefed on this exciting 11-day Tanzania safari tour before being dropped off at a city hotel for dinner and overnight. You have the rest of the day to do whatever you wish.
Meal plan: Dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Tarangire National Park for a game drive
After breakfast, you will be taken on a three-hour drive to Tarangire National Park. Check into your hotel or lodge upon arrival for lunch and leisure. Tarangire National Park is a peaceful and scenic park in Northern Tanzania.
In the afternoon, embark on a game drive to learn more about this amazing park while looking for wildlife. Tarangire National Park is recognized for its exclusivity away from tourists and massive elephant herds. It is called for the Tarangire River, which provides wildlife with the only constant source of water. Its grassy plains are peppered with tall baobabs, sometimes known as “upside-down trees.”
Tarangire has some of Tanzania’s highest concentrations of wildlife, especially in the drier months from June to September, when massive herds of elephants, wildebeest, hartebeest, zebra, giraffe, buffalo, gazelles, and impala congregate on the river’s banks. Predators such as lions, hyenas, and leopards are lured to this feast of concentrated prey like a magnet. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight after this fantastic game drive.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 3 of Northern Tanzania safari: Full day wildlife viewing at Tarangire National park
After breakfast, go on a wildlife viewing drive to explore the park and look for the “Giants of Tarangire” African elephants and baobab trees. Drive towards the Silale Swamp, an important part of the Tarangire ecology. Thousands of species flock to the swamp because it serves as a giant sponge during the wet season and slowly releases water during the dry season. Huge herds of thirsty herbivores overrun the park, attracting lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, and the critically endangered African wild dogs/painted wolves. Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.
In the late afternoon, travel on a guided walking safari in Tarangire National Park, where you can view elephant, buffalo, waterbuck, antelope, eland, impala, giraffe, and other animal tracks. Meet animals up close and personal. More than 600 different bird species can be observed on this escorted walking safari, including the brilliant Yellow-collared Lovebird, the largest bird in the world, and the Kori Bustard, the heaviest flying bird in the world. Raptors can be found in the Park as well. Raptors that are regularly seen include the Bateleur Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Long-Crested Eagle, Martial Eagle, Fish Eagle, and Spotted Eagle Owl. Return to the resort for dinner and the night after the game drive.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 4: Transfer to Serengeti National park
After an early breakfast, depart for a beautiful 6-hour drive northwest to Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti is a World Heritage Site and one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders. It is one of the Earth’s oldest and most scientifically significant ecosystems. It has the largest density of large predators in the world, including lions, leopards, hyenas, and cheetahs! The park is famous for its yearly Great Migration of up to two million animals, which has been featured in nature documentaries for decades and is a must-see experience. When you arrive, do a game drive before proceeding to your accommodation.
This region is part of “the Great Migration” and is home to the Seronera River Valley, which is one of the best spots in Africa to witness Big Cats (lions, leopards, and cheetahs) on spectacular hunts. Arrive at your lodge in the evening to freshen up, then relax, have dinner, and sleep.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 5: Full day game drive at Serengeti plains
Enjoy an early breakfast before departing on a morning game drive. After lunch, have some time to unwind before heading out on an afternoon wildlife drive in search of additional animals and birds.
You’ll see herds of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, topis, buffalos, elephants, giraffe, elands, impalas, and waterbucks, as well as their predators: lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas, as you explore the beautiful Seronera Valley, with its endless stretches of savannah-covered open plains. Although it is often difficult to locate, this is one of the greatest spots in East Africa to see leopards.
You’ll return to lodge for some relaxation time, dinner, and overnight.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 6: Another full day in Serengeti Park
Another full-day safari in Serengeti National Park. With a morning and afternoon game drive included. Serengeti means “endless plains” in Maasai. The plains have the world’s highest remaining concentration of plains animals. African Wild Dog packs, prides of Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, and Spotted Hyaena are frequently seen tailing herds of Buffalo, Wildebeest, Zebra, Gazelle, Topi, Elephant, and Impala.
Over 500 bird species live in the Serengeti, including the Ostrich, Kori Bustard, Ground Hornbill, and Secretary bird. After another exciting day in the Serengeti, you will return to the lodge for one more dinner before retiring to bed for a good night’s rest.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 7: Transfer to Ngorongoro crater with en-route game drive
After breakfast, depart on an en-route wildlife drive from the Serengeti plains to the rocky forested slopes of Ngorongoro. Pass through lovely Masai villages. Arrive at your resort in plenty of time for lunch. After lunch, descend 2,000 feet to the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater for game drive.
On Northern Tanzania, safari travel to The Ngorongoro Crater is a location of peculiar wonders. It is the world’s biggest continuous volcanic crater, produced by a catastrophic volcanic explosion 1.5 million years ago. The crater is home to about 25,000 large mammals, including rare black rhinos, wildebeests, and zebras, as well as some of Africa’s densest populations of lions.
The crater’s woodlands are home to African elephants and buffalo, and the wetlands are home to Hippos and Flamingos, as well as spotted hyenas, African wild dogs, Leopards, and Cheetahs. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight after a game drive.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 8: Full day game drive to Ngorongoro crater
After breakfast, proceed on a full-day game drive inside the crater, which is known as “the eighth wonder of the world” because of its wealth of wildlife and natural beauty. It is one of the few places in Africa where you can go on a game drive and see all five of Africa’s Big Five: Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhinoceros, and Buffalo.
Ngorongoro Crater is home to about 500 distinct bird species, including Golden-Winged Sunbirds, Jackson’s Widowbirds, Flamingos, Common Ostriches, Secretary Birds, Kori Bustards, Crowned Cranes, Bateleur, Martial Eagles, and Long-crested Eagles. Return to the hotel for dinner and a night’s rest.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 9: Crater Rim Hike and Maasai Village tour
After a leisurely breakfast at the resort, go on a guided nature walk around the crater rim to photograph the stunning crater. Hike through beautiful environment teeming with colorful birds, wildflowers, and trees. Learn about the diverse plants’ historic medical uses, as well as animal footprints and scat.
Return to the lodge for some downtime and lunch. Visit a Maasai community in the Ngorongoro highlands in the afternoon. Spend time with the villagers, learn about their culture, and participate in their colorful singing and dancing. Discover some of the traditional practices, such as fire-making and beading. Then return to your lodge for some rest, food, and sleep.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 10: Transfer from Ngongoro to Lake Manyara National Park
Today, after a leisurely breakfast, check out of the resort and depart towards Lake Manyara National Park. It is a three to four hour drive.
Lake Manyara is a magnificent section of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, with a diverse diversity of natural habitats centered on the soda lake, which is home to clouds of flamingos and other waterbirds. This is a birding enthusiast’s dream! Elephants, giraffes, buffalo, and several antelope species live in the forested slopes and vast savannah plains. There are fewer predators, but the tree-climbing lions of Lake Manyara top the list. After lunch embark on an incredible wildlife drive to view different type of animals and enormous groups of pink flamingos. Dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 11: Morning game drive and transfer back to Arusha
To the day of Northern Tanzania safari, After breakfast, go on a morning game drive in the stunning Lake Manyara National Park. After the wildlife drive, drive for 3 hours back to Arusha. This 11-day Northern Tanzania safari will come to a conclusion when you are dropped off at Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight or at your hotel of choice.
Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch
