Overview
This itinerary takes you to the north of Serengeti for a chance to witness the Great Migration. While the sight of hundred thousands of wildebeest and zebras thunder across the plains is spectacular, the Mara River crossing is absolutely one of the most breathtaking natural wonders in Africa. Dust exploding, lions stalking a moveable feast, gigantic crocodiles and fast flowing wild rivers await. It is sensational, impressive and dramatic at the same time.
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro airport, you will be met by your driver and transferred to Kibo Palace Hotel in Arusha for dinner and overnight. Settle into your accommodation, ready to start your safari proper in the morning.
After breakfast, you drive to Tarangire National Park where your safari starts. This lovely park boasts the largest concentrations of elephants in the world and the highest number of breeding bird species. Especially during the dry season, Tarangire National park is packed with wildlife. Big cats like lions, cheetahs and leopards, but also the seldom seen Kudu, Oryx and Gerenuk. If you are lucky you can even spot the tree-climbing python. After dinner at the Tarangire Safari Lodge you will depart for 2 hours of night game drive to look for nocturnal animals that are never seen in day time, like aardvarks, porcupines’ bush babies and others. Return to Tarangire Safari Lodge for overnight. Read more about Tarangire National Park.
Today starts, after breakfast, with a walking tour in farming town Mto wa Mbu. This village is unique in Tanzania since it is home to over 120 different tribes from across Africa and forms a colourful mix of languages and customs. Your walking guide will take you to rice and banana plantations, a local beer factory, a school and a carving factory. Discover the traditional way of life of the villagers. Continue to Lake Manyara National park, which is only a few minutes drives from Mto wa Mbu. Lake Manyara is known for its huge soda lake filled with pink-hued flamingos, large population of baboons, incredible birdlife and breathtaking views. You can see giraffes, elephants, hippos, buffaloes, zebras, flamingos and if you are lucky you spot a tree-climbing lion. In the late afternoon continue to Lake Manyara Serena Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Today you set off towards the Ngorongoro Crater for a beautiful game drive. It shelters close to 30.000 animals including the Big Five. The crater teems with zebras, buffaloes, lions, wildebeest, warthogs, baboons, elephants, flamingos, ostriches, hippos, cheetahs and a small population of the rare black rhino. The beautiful colours and dancing clouds make the crater almost surreal. Because of its natural beauty the Ngorongoro Crater is chosen as one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders. In the late afternoon continue to Ngorongoro Serena Lodge for dinner and overnight. Read more about the Ngorongoro Crater.
Explore today one of the areas with the best wildlife viewing during the green season. Ndutu is the zone between South Serengeti and North West Ngorongoro where the Great Migration will come to graze and calve between December to April. This short grassland area has highly nutritious grass due to the minerals found in the area. An amazing experience to see all those hoofed mammals, followed by iconic predators, migrate in a clockwise circle every year. The forests around Lake Ndutu is home to beautiful resident wildlife. In the evening you return to Tanzania Bush Camp for dinner and overnight.
Rise up early so that you can depart your camp for a morning drive, moving with the herds across the plains exploring the Great Migration. Ndutu is one of the very few places in the parks where off-road game drive is permitted and the best place to see hunting lions and cheetahs. All six cat species reside here year round – leopard, lion, cheetah, caracal, serval and African wildcat. Other animals you can spot include hyenas, warthogs, elephants, giraffes and many more. After the afternoon game drive you return Tanzania Bush Camp for dinner and overnight.
Enjoy the views of endless plains and stunning wildlife like cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, hippos, ostriches, warthogs, aardvark, pangolin and lots of beautiful birds. Serengeti is the park with the largest concentration of big mammals in the world. Discover all this beauty on an afternoon game drive. Lunch, dinner and overnight will be at Tanzania Bush Camp in the Serengeti. Read more about Serengeti National Park.
Spend the morning and afternoon game driving in the stunning Serengeti National Park, where over a million wildebeest and zebras crowd together, hooves kick dust and lions hunt at dawn. This wildlife hotspot is absolutely one of the most breathtaking natural wonders in Africa. Enjoy the infinite plains, overwhelming wildlife, breathtaking sunsets and the sound of elephants trumpeting in the distance. Lunch, dinner and overnight will be at Tanzania Bush Camp.
In the morning your driver transfers you to Seronera Aistrip for your flight to Zanzibar. Upon arrival at Zanzibar Airport, you will be met by your driver and transferred to Next Paradise Boutique Resort for dinner and overnight in a beachfront bungalow. This resort is protected by a coral reef and set along a white sand, palm-fringed beach offering views of the Indian Ocean. Read more about Zanzibar.
Today will be at leisure to relax or explore as you like. Wash off the dust of your safari with a dip in the Indian Ocean. Enjoy laid-back beach life or go active with some surfing, sailing, snorkeling or scuba diving in these crystal blue waters. Swim among the wonderful reef fish and enjoy the sights of many diverse marine creatures like turtles, rays, barracudas, octopus, zebrafish, moorish idols, lions fish and many more. Or sail towards the golden sunset on a traditional sailing boat while you spot pods of dolphins. Zanzibar offers a wide variety of activities. All meals and overnight will be at the Next Paradise Boutique Resort.