Price
4,269 USD
* (See price tab)
Country
Tanzania
Duration
6 Nights
Safari Type
Lodge and Canvas
Location
Northern Tanzania
Kids Min Age
16
Safari Rating
From untouched Tarangire, to the world famous Serengeti and Ngorongoro National Parks, this safari is run at a leisurely pace, allowing one ample time to discover the wild spirit of Tanzania.
A set departure safari that is designed to showcase the highlights of Northern Tanzania. Travelling on group departures allows for couples or single travellers to make the most of group travel rates!
The safari starts from Arusha and heads to Tarangire National Park for two day’s worth of game drives in Elephant heaven! Tarangire is well known for its diversity of wildlife, its huge elephant population and scenic landscape. The next day you will explore the Ngorongoro Crater on a full day game drive, which is guaranteed to be full of wildlife and even likely to see 4 of the Big 5! After Ngorongoro, it’s time to head to the Serengeti! Depending on the time of the year it will determine the camp you will be staying in, so as to coincide with the annual wildebeest migration! Spending three nights in the Serengeti will ensure you make of the most of this wildlife heaven. Witnessing the annual Wildebeest migration is the core of this safari and is a sure to be the highlight of this trip.
highlights
- Join a small group of like-minded travellers and enjoy group rates!
- Explore Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti!
- High standard of English-speaking safari guides!
- Accommodation in a classic luxury tented camp!
- Outstanding wildlife sightings, especially predators!
- Camps located close to the annual Wildebeest migration!
map and overview
Day 1: Depart from your Arusha Hotel to Tarangire National Park. Balance of day enjoying game drives in the area, with picnic lunch included. Overnight at Tarangire Ndovu Tented Lodge or similar.
Day 2: Full day exploring Tarangire. Overnight Tarangire Ndovu Tented Lodge or similar.
Day 3: Morning depart Tarangire. Continue to the highlands of Karatu, stopping on the way to view Manyara and the escarpment below. Crater tour. Overnight at a lodge either crater rim or Karatu.
Day 4: Continue onto the Serengeti eco-system. Overnight at Serengeti/Ndutu Wilderness camp.
Day 5: Full day exploring the Serengeti. Overnight at a Serengeti Wilderness Camp, or similar.
Day 6: A full day exploring the Serengeti. Overnight at a Serengeti Wilderness Camp, or similar.
Day 7: From Serengeti Central/Ndutu camp either drive or fly back to Arusha. From Serengeti North, compulsory flight to Arusha/Kilimanjaro.
start dates
14 December 2024 - 21 December 2024
4 January 2025 - 10 January 2025
15 February 2025 - 21 February 2025
24 February 2025 - 2 March 2025
22 March 2025 - 28 March 2025
17 April 2025 - 23 April 2025
21 June 2025 - 27 June 2025
19 July 2025 - 25 July 2025
9 August 2025 - 15 August 2025
6 September 2025 - 12 September 2025
27 September 2025 - 3 October 2025
25 October 2025 - 31 October 2025
20 December 2025 - 26 December 2025
detailed itinerary
Day 1: Tarangire National Park
An early morning briefing at your Arusha hotel kick starts your safari, before you head off away from the main safari route of the northern circuit, to Tarangire National Park, a true wildlife gem known primarily for its vast elephant population and impressive baobab trees. (Driving time 90 mins – 2 hours)
Highly underrated, yet bursting with a dense wildlife population, it won’t take you long to appreciate just why we love Tarangire.
During the dry season (June to September) thousands of animals including elephant, buffalo, giraffe, wildebeest, kudu, and the rarely seen oryx migrate from the dry Maasai steppe to the Tarangire River in search of water.
Lion, leopard and other predators follow, so be sure to charge your camera battery and empty your memory stick as some unique memories are waiting to be made. With impressive landscapes dominated by baobab trees, an enormous elephant population and over 550 varieties of bird, Tarangire offers secluded game viewing and loads of game – a winning combination in anyone’s book! Spend the day enjoying game drives, with picnic lunch included.
Overnight: Tarangire Ndovu Tented Lodge or Honeyguide, or similar.
Tarangire Ndovu Tented Lodge is located in the heart of Tarangire, 45 minutes from Kuro airstrip. This delightful permanent tented camp offers ten standard suites, and 2 x two bedroom inter-connected family suites. The entrance to the spacious tents comprises double sliding doors with mosquito netting, while the netted windows with roll up canvas allow the breeze to flow through the tent.
With polished concrete floors, elegant furnishing in natural tones and great views out over the plains, it may be hard to believe you are in a safari tent. Enjoy simple but wholesome meals in the thatched main area, or beside the swimming pool – and wind down the day around the campfire, sundowner in hand of course! The camp operates on solar and generator power, and free Wifi is available.
Day 2: Tarangire National Park
Enjoy a leisurely day on game drives exploring Tarangire National Park.
Overnight: Tarangire Ndovu Tented Lodge or Honeyguide, or similar.
Day 3 : Ngorongoro
Morning game drive in Tarangire. Head to the highlands of Karatu, stopping on the way to view Manyara and the escarpment below.
Overnight: Retreat at Ngorongoro, or similar (Lodge at Karatu / Ngorongoro area).
The Retreat at Ngorongoro is an oasis in rural Karatu, bordering the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. When creating this lodge, a serious tree planting project that would serve to off-set its our carbon footprint was embarked on. Planting over 40,000 indigenous trees wasn’t an easy task, but with persistence, success followed. This tree planting brought in numerous bird species(hence the bird-themed concept of the lodge), insects and other small animals. Indigenous flowers blossom here, while the vegetable garden & orchard produce fresh food served at the Kipepeo Restaurant. The Retreat proudly harvests their own honey, roasts their own coffee, makes their own jams and juices, and uses firewood from the pruned branches of the trees they planted. Solar panels are used to heat water.
The 25 cottages are tastefully decorated and spacious – offering a generous 90 square meters, as well as a deck overlooking the Ngorongoro forest. Guests can relax in The Nest Lounge, or get active in the fitness room. There is also a lovely swimming pool in which to cool off and soak up the tranquil surroundings of this delightful property.
Days 4 - 6: Ngorongoro Crater - Serengeti
An early start today, but one we’re sure you’ve been itching to tick off your African travel bucket list. Enjoy a full morning and picnic lunch in the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the natural wonders of the world. The volcanic caldera of Ngorongoro offers spectacular game viewing in the crater. We can almost guarantee you four of the Big Five will show up, as well as a rich variety of birds, all viewed against the backdrop of the thickly forested crater walls. Varied terrains and dramatic landscapes consisting of forest, grasslands and both freshwater and soda lakes make the Ngorongoro Crater a true marvel of creation.
(On some Essence of Tanzania itineraries, your crater visit may take place on Day 2, in the afternoon. The timing of this activity will be confirmed by your guide when commencing this safari.)
Continue onto the Serengeti, home to more than three million large mammals spread over vast endless plains. It is here that we may encounter the fascinating spectacle of the annual wildebeest migration, where one and quarter million wildebeest trek in columns of up to forty kilometres long in search of grazing, drawing with them plenty predators and numerous other species of game.
From January to March the herds can largely be found birthing their young in the southern area around Ndutu, before proceeding north through the centre and Western Corridor during June and July, eventually splitting to the west and north as they continue their way toward the Mara River. August to October sees dramatic river crossings which can only be considered Africa’s “greatest le3ap of faith”, before the herds return south in November to repeat this amazing instinctive procession all over again.
Overnight: for 3 nights at one, or a combination of, the Serengeti Wilderness Camps, Ndutu Wilderness Camp or Serengeti North Wilderness Camp (or similar) depending on the time of year.
Spend the following few days enjoying half or full day game drives in the Serengeti.
We highly recommend booking a Hot Air Balloon trip (optional extra). A hot air balloon safari over one of Africa’s most famous and majestic national parks is not easily captured in words. The quiet of floating over plains, the exhilaration of climbing into the pink-blue of the early dawn on invisible currents, the breathless awe of peering over the basket’s edge at this vast swathe of wild Africa. Take off is at dawn and a champagne bush breakfast completes this must-do adventure.
Day 7: Arusha
After breakfast, return by road to Arusha (driving time +/- 6 to 8 hours depending on which camp you are staying at and game viewing en route). Or, transfer to airstrip for your optional return flight back to Arusha/ Kilimanjaro airport. It is an exceptionally scenic flight across the vast expanse of the Rift Valley escarpments and the highlands of Ngorongoro.
If you are staying in NORTHERN Serengeti, the flight back is COMPULSORY as the distance back to Arusha/ Kilimanjaro is too far to cover in one day.
price
Prices 2024
January – mid March and mid December 2024 (High Season):
USD 4,269 per person (including park/camp fees of USD 804)
USD 550 single supplement
Mid March, May, June & November (Low Season):
USD 3,407 per person (including park/camp fees of USD 826)
USD 40 single supplement
Mid June – October (Peak Season):
USD 4,667 per person (including park/camp fees of USD 862; flight +/- USD 405)
USD 750 single supplement
One way flight:
(Prices depend on airline used and should be used as as a guideline only; Airfare is based on a seat on plane basis, and not a private charter)
SER-ARS/JRO: USD 265 / 330 per person
KOGA-ARS/JRO: USD 370 / 405 per person
NDUTU-ARS/JRO: USD 345 / 415 per person
Prices 2025
January – February, June and December (High Season):
USD 4.875,00 per person (including park/camp fees of USD 875)
USD 737,50 single supplement
March and April (Low Season):
USD 4.025,00 per person (including park/camp fees of USD 826)
USD 50,00 single supplement
July – October (Peak Season):
USD 5.375,00 per person (including park/camp fees of USD 933 and compulsory flight +/- USD 380/425)
USD 737,50 single supplement
One way flight:
(Prices depend on airline used and should be used as as a guideline only; Airfare is based on a seat on plane basis, and not a private charter)
SER-ARS/JRO: USD 290 / 350 per person
KOGA-ARS/JRO: USD 380 / 425 per person
NDUTU-ARS/JRO: USD 365 / 420 per person
Package includes:
- Pick up from Arusha hotel
- Services of a professional safari guide
- Game drives in Tarangire National Park (including picnic lunch), Serengeti National Park & Ngorongoro
- 2 night accommodation at Tarangire Ndovu Tented Lodge or similar including dinner and breakfast
- 1 night accommodation at The Retreat at Ngorongoro or similar on a full board basis
- Ngorongoro Crater Visit
- 3 nights accommodation at Ndutu Wilderness Camp/ Serengeti Wilderness Camp/ Serengeti North Wilderness Camp including all meals, local beer, house wine and soft drinks
- Flight from Kogatende to Arusha if staying in northern Serengeti
- Park and camp/concession fees
- Bottled water in safari vehicle
- Full liability insurance cover and 24-hour emergency contact
Package excludes:
All flights, Visas, health requirements, tips, drinks, items of a personal nature, accommodation & transfers pre/post safari. Additional accommodation, flights, transfers, shuttle service, balloon safari and extensions to above safari may be organised on request. One way flight optional extra recommended when staying at Serengeti Central/ Ndutu.
additional information
Charging facilities while on safari:
There are charging facilities at the lodges/camps as well as in the safari vehicles for camera batteries, mobile phones etc. Two-pin plugs as well as the round three-square pin plug points.
Weather:
Tanzania is a land without winter. Temperatures in northern Tanzania range between 15-21C during the day and 4-10C at night, from May to October. From November to March the daytime temperature varies from 21-32C and from 15-23C at night. However, if you are travelling to high altitude areas like Ngorongoro Crater and Kilimanjaro, the temperature drops substantially.
The Migration explained:
The following should be used as a guideline when planning your safari to East Africa – movement of wildlife depends on a great many aspects. The following migration calendar helps to explain the seasonality of game viewing. Remember there is resident game throughout the year in the Serengeti/Ngorongoro eco-systems.
JAN/FEB/MARCH
The large herds of wildebeest are generally in the southern plains of the Serengeti eco-system, calving takes place over approximately two weeks. An abundance of predators, good visibility of game, mix of open plains and some woodland.
APRIL / MAY
The herds start moving toward central Serengeti. This is typically the rainy season, however, game viewing is still excellent and there are some great discounts available at lodges and camps. It generally doesn’t rain all day. Conditions for photography are generally superb with moody skies and good depth of colour.
JUNE / JULY / AUGUST
The wildebeest move from the central area and split to the west and north, continuing their trek toward the Mara River. River crossings may be seen in both the western corridor (Grumeti area) and north (Mara River) within the Serengeti.
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER
Whilst some of the wildebeest successfully reach the Masai Mara, there are still hundreds of thousands remaining in the northern region of Serengeti, offering those with guests with loads of patience the chance to see exciting river crossings (the Mara River runs through the Serengeti).
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER
The massive herds start to return from the north, to the southern plains, before the cycle repeats again!
The Accommodation
Ready for an adventure? Lets Talk!
Contact SAFARI FRANK to get started on your safari of a lifetime!
Safaris
Related Safaris
Lodge and Canvas
7 Nights
Budget level:
High-End
