Day 1: Arusha – Tarangire National Park

Non game-viewing Travel time: 2½ hours Distance: 120 kms. After breakfast we depart for the Tarangire National Park. The park runs along the line of the Tarangire River and is mainly made up of low-lying hills on the Great Rift Valley floor. Its natural vegetation mainly consists of Acacia woodland and giant African Baobab trees, with huge swamp areas in the south. 

Both the river and the swamps act like a magnet for wild animals, during Tanzania’s dry season. The Tarangire National Park is reputed to contain some of the largest elephant herds in Africa. This African National Park is also home to three rare species of animals – the Greater Kudu, the Fringed-eared Oryx, as well as a few Ashy Starlings. Dinner and overnight: Mid-range safaris or luxury safaris accommodation.

Day 2: Tarangire – Lake Manyara National Park

Non game-viewing Travel time: ½ hours Distance: 30 kms. Breakfast then drive to Lake Manyara National Park for a full day game drive. This national park is one of Tanzania’s most dramatically located wildlife areas, consisting of a massive but shallow soda lake (covering two-thirds of the park), located at the foot of the Great Rift Valley’s western escarpment. 

The park’s varied habitat attracts a wide variety of animals, including one of Africa’s largest concentrations of elephants, Lake Manyara’s unique tree-climbing lions (rare), as well as large flocks of flamingos attracted by the algae in the lake. Dinner and overnight: Mid-range safaris or luxury safaris accommodation.

Day 3: Cultural Experience with Hadzabe Bushemen

Non game-viewing Travel time: 1½ hours Distance: 68 kms. After breakfast, embark for a morning hunt, a haunting experience that reveals the phenomenal skills of these ancient people and the Tanzania’s remarkable residents. Indigenous hunters and gatherer tribes still exist in East Africa (just) and you’ll enjoy a full day of memorable cultural immersion. 

The nimble Hadzabe Bushmen sidestep through the trees, picking up on every clue as they stalk a small antelope. You can also see the clues; an upturned stone, a line of animal droppings, a slight indent in the grass. But the bushman spots them without breaking stride, eyes always scanning ahead, the path of the prey continually visualized; they do still use a homemade bow and arrow. 

This is a place of tranquility, harmony, and getting involved with local tribes. The Hadzabe Hunter and gatherers use an ancient click dialect, while the waDatonga villages remain unchanged for millennia. Dinner and overnight: Mid-range safaris or luxury safaris accommodation.

Day 4: Lake Manyara – Serengeti National Park

Non game-viewing Travel time: 6 hours Distance: 205 kms.

After breakfast we head towards the Serengeti National Park, via the beautiful high lying farmland of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Leaving the highlands behind, we descend into the heart of wild Africa – the Serengeti National Park – with its endless plains, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. 

We head to the central park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti’s species. We arrive in time for lunch and enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Serengeti National Park. Dinner and overnight: Mid-range safaris or luxury safaris accommodation.

Day 5: Northern Area of Serengeti National Park

Optioin 1: Be one of only a few fortunate people to glide in a Hot Air Balloon over the Serengeti Plains (available at supplementary cost by pre-arrangement). Floating silently above the awakening bush, while spotting wildlife and enjoying the amazing scenery of Africa, across rivers and over numerous small villages.

Option 2: We do an after breakfast full day en-route game drive to northern Serengeti National park. Arrive at Northern Serengeti for the evening game drive. Dinner and overnight: Mid-range safaris or luxury safaris accommodation.

Day 6 & 7: Northern Serengeti National Park

Early breakfast, depart for morning game drive along the Mara river. You will be waiting for crossing along the river, but you will also do game drive, the Mara River is the last major obstacle standing between the Wildebeest Migration and the relative safety of the Masai Mara. If you’re patient and a little lucky, you may even get to witness the death-defying crossing itself where wildebeest and zebras brave the river’s currents and crocodiles in an attempt to reach safety on the opposite bank. Dinner and overnight: Mid-range safaris or luxury safaris accommodation.

Day 8: Northern Serengeti to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Zanzibar

Breakfast, embark for game drive until the flight time then drive to Kogatende airstrip for your flight to Arusha airport/Kilimanjaro International airport/Zanzibar International airport.