Visit some of Africa’s grandest safari destinations with this twelve-day adventure across the savannah. At Tarangire National Park, admire magnificent baobabs, huge old acacias and the statuesque doum palms rustling in the breeze and witness wild oryx and gerenuk frolick in their natural habitat. Rich wildlife and spectacular scenery await at the Ngorongoro Crater, an unmatched wildlife amphitheater that is home to 30,000 protected animals. For your grand finale, roam the renowned Serengeti and spot the Big Five and witness the glorious spectacle of the Great Migration. Heed the call of the Wild and immerse yourself in the primordial beauty of the African plains.
This journey outline is by no means fixed. As the traveller takes centre stage in our planning – from the type of lodging to daily activities – your journey will be crafted to suit you.
Day by Day Highlights
Day 1 Arusha, Tanzania
Arusha is the gateway to Tanzania’s northern safari circuit. For centuries a trading town and watering hole for explorers, this bustling rather scruffy town still exudes a great sense of anticipation and excitement. Land Rovers laden with supplies or sprayed with the mud of a recent excursion grumble their way up the streets, and the local airport buzzes with light aircraft heading in and out of the bush. Arusha sprawls beneath the massive bulk of Mount Meru, which when not shrouded in cloud, stands like a mighty sentinel against the vivid blue sky.
Day 2 to 4 Arusha – Tarangire National Park
Tanzania’s Tarangire National Park is second only to Ngorongoro Conservation area in terms of concentrations of wildlife. The Park boasts northern Tanzania’s biggest population of elephants, which can be seen crossing the grasslands in great herds at certain times of year. It is also distinctive for its stunning trees; magnificent baobabs, huge old acacias, which provide much needed shade for many animals, and the statuesque doum palms which rustle and clatter in the breezes. The most productive game driving is often along the banks of the river, where most of the mammals come down for their daily drink.
Day 5 and 6 Tarangire National Park – Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro crater floor is fundamentally the world’s most famous wildlife amphitheater, rearing more than 3,000 feet out of the surrounding plains 180km to the north west of Arusha in the north of Tanzania. At the centre of this vast elevated highland is Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest unbroken ancient caldera, and surely the most dramatic section of the famous East African Great Rift Valley. A World Heritage Site and dubbed the Eighth Wonder of the World, it is a veritable microcosm of African ecology, and appears like a lost world in the middle of the forest.
Day 7 to 9 Ngorongoro Crater – Serengeti National Park
The Mara-Serengeti eco-system is perhaps the only region left in Africa where visitors may see animals in excess of the super-abundance as existed a century ago. The subject of a Disney block-buster, the National park has become the signature-tune for Africa’s wild places. In terms of viewing nature at its prettiest and most ugly, the Serengeti is second to none, capturing the sorts of images that documentaries are made of.
Day 10 to 12 Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Head southwards into short grass plains bordering the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and enjoy full day game drive with picnic en-route before heading northwards into the Mara River Region. Anticipate density of wildlife inhabiting the area, coexisting with semi-nomadic Maasai pastoralists practicing traditional livestock grazing. Behold globally threatened species and the annual migration of wildebeest, zebra, gazelles and other animals.
Arusha, Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park
Recommended months to travel
The dry season is from June to October, and again from December to February. Peak tourist season is in July and August. March sees intermittent rains, peaking in April and May. Expect short rains in November but also smaller crowds. Click here for a useful interactive map of the migration.
Altitude range
1,400m – 2,300m
Level of difficulty
Easy.
Indicative price
From US$12,100/person for a group of 2 on a private basis, including double-sharing rooms. Excludes flights.
As we’ll customise your journey based on your preferences and needs, please note that this indicative price is just a rough estimate. Prices can fluctuate depending on season, type of accommodation and activities/experiences chosen (private vs. shared) etc.
This journey outline is by no means conclusive. It is just a guideline and can be tailored according to your comfort level, interests and preferences for every detail from accommodation to activities.
This journey outline is by no means conclusive. It is just a guideline and can be tailored according to your comfort level, interests and preferences for every detail from accommodation to activities.
