Sample Trip

Tanzania Classic North

“An incredible fly-in-fly-out safari visiting luxury camps in Northern Tanzania”

Budget level: High-End

Country

Tanzania

Duration

7 Nights

Safari Type

Flying, Lodge and Canvas

Location

Northern Tanzania

Kids Min Age

Safari Rating

adventure

wilderness

wildlife

comfort

photographic

guiding

Travel through northern Tanzania’s iconic national parks, home to some of Africa’s best wildlife densities as well as the changing landscapes of The Great Rift Valley and the rich culture of the Maasai. Enjoy game drives in the Ngorongoro Crater looking for rhino, watch herds of elephant in the verdant swamps of Tarangire and explore the vast savannah plains of the Serengeti on this experience-rich safari.

Itinerary in Brief

2 Nights Little Oliver’s Camp

2 Nights The Highlands

3 Nights Dunia Camp

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A truly classical safari that has you flying between some luxurious and unique lodges in Northern Tanzania’s most iconic national parks. Perfect for those travellers wanting to minimize the long road transfers and maximize their comfort.

This safari starts at Kilimanjaro International Airport where you will catch a flight to Tarangire National Park. You’ll spend 2 nights in the more remote southern Tarangire where you can enjoy game drives, night drives and fascinating walking safaris in the baobab filled landscape. During the dry season Tarangire is also host to an incredible density of wildlife, particularly elephants and buffaloes! During the summer months Tarangire is home to an incredible 550 bird species making it a fantastic stay for the avid birders. After Tarangire you’ll catch a flight over Lake Manyara to the airstrip, where your guide will collect and transfer you to the lodge. Spend 2 nights in the famous Ngorongoro highlands with an included full daytrip in the Ngorongoro Crater for chances of viewing the Big 5 and a traditional Maasai experience around the luxurious lodge. After the Ngorongoro highlands, you’ll head back to Manyara airstrip for another flight to central Serengeti. Spending a full 3 nights in the Serengeti ensures an incredible wildlife experience as you go in search of the famous predators in the region. You’re also within close proximity of the iconic granite Moru kopjies where the rare black rhinos can be found making this a true Big 5 destination. After your time in the Serengeti, a final flight will take you back to the international airport for onward connections.

The Tanzania Classic North safari is for high-end travellers or honeymooners looking for a fly-in-fly-out safari experience that visits all the iconic national parks of northern Tanzania. For an extension consider adding a few nights on Zanzibar Island. It is important to note that Dunia camp is a fixed camp in central Serengeti so access to the annual wildebeest migration is not always guaranteed.

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Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival Day 2: Tarangire National Park Day 3: Ngorongoro Highlands Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater Day 5: Central Serengeti Day 6 & 7: Central Serengeti Day 8: Departure

Day 1: Arrival

On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will proceed to the Coastal Aviation desk for your light-aircraft flight to Tarangire National Park, just 20-minutes away (15 kg luggage limit per person; soft bags required for all flights on this itinerary). Your guide from Little Oliver’s will meet you here and game drive you back to camp, where you can settle in and enjoy some lunch. Relax during the heat of the day before afternoon tea is served, and then go out on an afternoon game drive to explore this varied and wildlife-rich park. The large elephant herds in the drier months are a real highlight here, but the wildlife and birdlife are excellent year-round.

Day 2: Tarangire National Park

Set off this morning on a guided walking safari, learning to look for signs of wildlife nearby, from bird calls to tracks in the earth. You can approach smaller creatures such as warthogs, small antelope species and birdlife, all of which are less skittish when approached on foot compared to a vehicle. Return to camp for lunch and a rest during the heat of the day. After tea and cake, head out on a late-afternoon game drive, stopping for sundowner drinks in a scenic spot. The adventure continues with a night game drive, seeking out nocturnal species such as mongoose and nightjars, as well as predators such as lions on the move. Return to camp for a late dinner.

Day 3: Ngorongoro Highlands

Depart after a leisurely breakfast for the airstrip. From here, you will fly over Lake Manyara to the Manyara Airstrip. A guide from The Highlands will drive you through coffee plantations towards the Ngorongoro Crater, a journey of 3 hours to reach the property, enjoying a packed lunch on the way. Stop at the viewpoint overlooking the crater to soak in the spectacular landscape and continue your drive around the rim until you reach the Olmoti Crater, where you will stay for the next two nights. If you feel like stretching your legs, you can opt for a guided walk from the camp up to the rim of Olmoti Crater, passing through dense forest and waterfalls on the way.

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater

After an early breakfast, depart with your guide for the Ngorongoro Crater, a drive of around an hour until you reach the descent road. Spend the morning game-driving on the crater floor in search of the varied wildlife that lives here. You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch during the heat of the day in a shady spot before driving back to The Highlands, where you can relax a little. In the late afternoon, a guide will take you to one of the nearby Maasai villages, where you can learn more about this rich culture and take part in their afternoon activities, which often include rounding up cattle into the boma for the night.

Day 5: Central Serengeti

Depart by road for the Manyara Airstrip, 3 hours away, where you will catch a flight to the central Serengeti, just 45-minutes away. A guide from Dunia will meet you at the airstrip and game drive you back to camp, stopping at any wildlife sightings along the way. Settle into your tent before going on an afternoon game drive to fully explore your final national park. The Serengeti is impressive in terms of both the diversity and density of wildlife found here, so there is plenty to discover each day. Return to camp in the early evening for drinks around the campfire and dinner.

Day 6 & 7: Central Serengeti

Safari activities at Dunia take place in the early morning and late afternoon, when the wildlife is most active. You will explore with expert guides on game drives, looking for the big cats that have made the Serengeti famous as well as hippos wallowing in muddy pools and giraffe browsing the fresh shoots of an acacia tree. In between, you will return to camp for a delicious lunch, and to have a siesta or catch up on a good book. Evenings are spent sharing stories of your day’s adventures with other guests around the dinner table.

Day 8: Departure

Enjoy a final breakfast in camp before a short drive to the airstrip for your late-morning flight back to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha. The flight will likely stop a couple of times on the way to drop off/pick up passengers, and the total journey will be approximately two and a half hours. You will land at the international airport so you can simply collect your luggage and check-in for your international flight home.