Tanzania – Serengeti & Beyond Tailormade
What this journey is about
Experience the highlights of northern Tanzania on this compact safari through three of the country’s most celebrated wildlife areas. Beginning in Arusha, journey to Tarangire National Park, where baobab-dotted landscapes provide a dramatic backdrop for game drives in search of the park’s renowned elephant herds and other wildlife.
Continue through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the Serengeti, spending two nights in the central Seronera region. Full-day and en route game drives offer opportunities to search for lions, leopards, cheetahs, wildebeest, zebra and other plains wildlife, while experiencing the immense scale of one of Africa’s most famous landscapes.
The journey concludes in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with an early descent into the spectacular crater for a final game drive. Combining varied landscapes, abundant wildlife and some of Tanzania’s most iconic safari destinations, this six-day journey is ideal for those looking to experience the highlights of the northern safari circuit within a relatively short timeframe.
Planned by Jason van der Wath
Every tailor-made journey is shaped by a single UD specialist from first conversation to homecoming — the same person who plans your route is the one you speak to throughout.
A starting point
Everything below is a template — dates, pace, accommodation level and activities can all be tailored when you speak to your specialist. Tap any day to open it.
01 Arrival in Arusha
Arrive in northern Tanzania, where you will be met by your safari guide and transferred to your hotel in Arusha.
The remainder of the day is free to relax after your journey and prepare for the safari ahead.
02 Arusha to Tarangire National Park and Karatu
Depart Arusha this morning and drive to Tarangire National Park for your first game drive.
Tarangire is particularly associated with its impressive elephant population and distinctive baobab trees. Explore the park with your driver/guide, stopping for a picnic lunch before continuing your wildlife viewing during the afternoon.
Wildlife varies with the season and conditions, but Tarangire supports a rich variety of mammals and birdlife, making it an excellent introduction to Tanzania’s northern safari circuit.
Later in the day, leave the park and continue to Karatu for dinner and your overnight stay.
03 Karatu to Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, leave Karatu and travel towards the Serengeti National Park, passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
The journey provides your first introduction to the immense landscapes for which this part of Tanzania is renowned. Enter the Serengeti and continue into the Seronera area of the central park.
Enjoy an afternoon game drive, searching for the resident wildlife. The central Serengeti supports a particularly rich variety of animals, including big cats, and your guide will look for wildlife as you make your way towards camp.
Arrive at your safari camp in the evening for dinner.
04 Serengeti National Park
Spend a full day exploring the Serengeti.
Take packed lunches with you so that you can maximise your time on safari rather than returning to camp during the middle of the day. Your driver/guide will select the areas to explore according to current wildlife movements and local conditions.
Look for predators including lions, leopards and cheetahs, as well as wildebeest, zebra and other plains wildlife. There will also be opportunities to appreciate the sheer scale of the Serengeti landscape, where open grasslands stretch towards the horizon.
Return to camp later in the day for dinner.
05 Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Enjoy a final morning game drive as you leave the Serengeti and travel towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Wildlife viewing continues along the way, with a packed lunch provided for the journey.
The scenery changes as you approach Ngorongoro, leaving the open Serengeti plains behind and entering the highlands surrounding the conservation area.
Arrive at your camp later in the day, with time to settle in before dinner.
06 Ngorongoro Crater and Departure
Make an early start and descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a half-day game drive.
Explore the crater floor with your driver/guide, looking for its varied wildlife. The supplier specifically identifies the possibility of seeing members of the Big Five, including the endangered black rhino, although as with all wildlife viewing, sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Stop for a picnic lunch near the hippo pool before ascending the crater walls and beginning the journey back towards Arusha.
Continue to Kilimanjaro International Airport, where the safari ends.
Please arrange your onward flight from Kilimanjaro International Airport for no earlier than 20:00. If you are considering an earlier flight, please contact us before booking.
Your trip, your way
This itinerary can be adapted to suit your preferred travel dates, pace and length of stay. Extra nights can be added in the Serengeti or elsewhere on the northern safari circuit to allow more time for wildlife viewing, while the overall itinerary can be extended for a more leisurely journey. The standard and style of accommodation can also be adjusted, from comfortable safari lodges and tented camps to more luxurious properties. As a private journey, it can be arranged for solo travellers, couples, families or groups of friends, with the vehicle and guiding arrangements tailored accordingly. Depending on your interests and travel dates, additional safari experiences or destinations can also be incorporated to create a longer Tanzania itinerary.
Typically included and not
Included
- Arrival transfer to your Arusha hotel
- Accommodation for 5 nights
- Meals as detailed in the itinerary
- Safari transportation
- Professional driver/guide
- National park and conservation area fees
- Game drives and activities detailed in the itinerary
Not included
- International flights
- Additional accommodation before or after the tour
- Meals as detailed in the itinerary
- Safari transportation
- Travel insurance
- Tanzania visa
- Tips
Start planning your Tanzania – Serengeti & Beyond Tailormade
Tell Jason van der Wath when you'd like to go, how long for, and any specifics that matter. Typical reply within 24 hours, no enquiry fee, no pressure.
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