7 Days The Northern Safari Trails & Cultural Experience
Tour Overview
This seven-day safari explores the safari trails of the northern Tanzania’s key highlights with a balance of wildlife and cultural experiences. Visit Tarangire National Park, then head into Serengeti for a wildlife safari experience of a lifetime. From there, head to Ngorongoro Crater with the aim to spot some if not all of the Big Five. Afterward, slow things down at Lake Eyasi, spending time with Hadzabe and Datoga tribes. On the final day, we visit Lake Manyara for one last game drive before returning to Arusha and transferring to Kilimanjaro Int’l Airport.
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival / Kilimanjaro International Airport
Once you’ve arrived in Kilimanjaro International Airport and have cleared customs and immigration, a safari guide will be waiting for you as you enter the arrival’s lounge. First, we’ll take care of a few formalities. Our representative will also gladly answer any questions you may have.
Once formalities are completed, you’ll be escorted to the appropriate departure terminal where you’ll be assisted in boarding a special SUV van, from where a short overland transfer will bring you to your lodge or hotel in Arusha for dinner and a restful night.
Meal Plan: Half Board
Day 2: Arusha - Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, we leave for Tarangire National Park. Famous for its baobab trees, massive elephant herds and quality predator sightings, the park makes a perfect launch for your Tanzania Safari Adventure. Known for its unique character, second only to the Serengeti in its distinct landscape and atmosphere, all of the Big Five can be found here, except for rhino.
During dry season, animals gather around the Tarangire River, making game viewing especially rewarding. The park’s elephant herds are a remarkable sight, often numbering in the hundreds. Among the stars are lions, leopards, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, and a huge number of avian species. After a picnic lunch in the afternoon, you’ll continue with a game drive until early evening, then head to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 3: Tarangire - Serengeti National Park via Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Today will feel like you’re officially going in the heart of an African safari, as you’re first induced to the remarkable anthropological history of the Serengeti area. Delve into the story of human origins at the Olduvai Gorge Museum and Visitor’s Center, located near the site where National Geographic archaeologists Louis and Mary Leakey discovered early hominid fossils and stone tools.
Entering the Serengeti via Naabi Gate we continue with game viewing in the afternoon. After a picnic lunch, we proceed further into the world-famous Serengeti National Park and enjoy some incredible game drive enroute to the lodge. Keep an eye out for galloping giraffes and lounging lions. Arrive at the lodge in evening for dinner before settling in for a good night’s sleep.
Meal Plan: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 4: Serengeti National Park - Full Day
After breakfast, you begin your day with the morning section of your wildlife viewing drive, appreciating stunning sceneries and abundant wildlife, all explained to you by your safari-guide.On this package, your game drive will be centered around central Serengeti (Seronera) where the Seronera River weaves its way through, providing waters for all species of wildlife. Lunch will be enjoyed in the middle of the bush.
After lunch, you set off again, searching for wildlife. Serengeti’s wonders evolve subtly as the day progresses. The myriad animals and birds are the ‘stars of the show’ and Nature’s dramas can unfold at any time. Of course, the animals don’t work to a schedule, so you may find lion or leopard, elephant and zebra, cheetah and antelope at any time during your game drives. Look out for the amazing sights of the Serengeti’s avian species too. At the end of the afternoon, you return to the lodge or camp for dinner and a relaxing evening.
Meal Plan: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 5: Serengeti - Ngorongoro Crater
Following a very early morning breakfast, we leave for Ngorongoro Crater while enjoying a final game drive en route. On arrival, we descend into the crater for a full day of game drives.
Ngorongoro Crater, also known as the “Eden of Africa”, is the only place where you can spot the Big Five in a single game drive with just a bit of luck. Covering about 21 kilometres across, it is the largest unbroken caldera in the world, and the sheer number of animals you may see up close during a single day of game drives is remarkable. Expect sightings of elephants, lions, zebras, hyenas, jackals, rhinos, leopards, cheetahs – you name it.
Picnic lunch will be served at a designated site within the crater, but be mindful of the kites as they are known to snatch food. Drive to your lodge in Ngorongoro Highlands for dinner and overnight in the late afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 6: Ngorongoro Highlands – Lake Eyasi / Hadzabe
We’ll leave early in the morning and meet one of the world’s last tribes that still live the way our great, great, great grandfathers did. The Hadzabe have preserved the traditional hunter and gatherer way of life and are known for their click language. They may appear intimidating, dressed in animal pelts and holding a bow and arrow, yet they are a very friendly people. Spend time with the Hadzabe and learn about their culture, customs, rituals, and daily lives.
We will also have the opportunity to participate in some of their everyday duties and hunt with them. To further deepen our experience, we will visit the Datoga tribe. A pastoralist community residing in the same region and offer a unique insight into their traditional way of life. The Datoga, skilled in blacksmithing, produce metal arrows using their ancient craftsmanship. These arrows are said to be highly valued by the Hadza people. In this exchange, the Datoga trade their arrows to the Hadza in return for meat. Overnight in Karatu
Meal Plan: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 7: Karatu - Lake Manyara National Park - Arusha / Airport
Early morning breakfast at your lodge in Karatu, then your guide will pick you up and drive down the wall of the Great Rift Valley Escarpment toward the entrance gate of Lake Manyara, where you will register for park access. Lake Manyara is a compact park made up of groundwater forests, woodlands, open savannah, and the lake itself, which is home to hippos, flamingos, egrets, cormorants, and Egyptian geese.
The park is inhabited by herds of buffalo, elephants, impalas, duikers, giraffes, zebras, and large troops of baboons and monkeys, among other animals. The game drive will go on till later in the afternoon with a small break for picnic lunch.
During the game drive watch out for buffaloes, giraffes, impalas, baboons and the blue monkeys. Another spectacle of Lake Manyara National park is the tree climbing lions, however spotting them is a game of luck. Following a satisfying game viewing, we will drive back to Arusha town, and transfer to Kilimanjaro Int’l Airport for your homeward flight or onward destinations.
Meal Plan: Breakfast / Lunch
Tour Includes
- Transport (4x4 Land Cruiser) with pop-up roof
- All Park fees
- Ngorongoro Crater fees
- Professional English-speaking safari guide
- Accommodation & Dining
- Purified Drinking water
Tour Excludes
- International flight
- Regional flight
- Tanzanian visa
- Travel insurance
- Drinks at the lodge / hotel
- Gratuity for the safari guide
- Single supplement
- Personal items
- Laundry service at the hotel / lodge
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