Overview
Embark on an unforgettable 10-day journey through the heart of Tanzania, blending breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural encounters, and thrilling wildlife safaris. Begin with the lush Materuni Waterfalls near Mount Kilimanjaro, followed by game drives through Tarangire’s elephant-filled plains, Serengeti’s vast savannas, and the dramatic Ngorongoro Highlands. Dive into the cultural heartland at Lake Eyasi, meeting the Hadzabe and Datoga tribes, and finish with a rare and intimate experience trekking wild chimpanzees in the remote Gombe National Park, on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. This expedition offers a perfect mix of nature, wildlife, and culture.
Highlight
- Visit Materuni Waterfalls & Local Coffee Experience – Start your adventure with a scenic waterfall hike and hands-on coffee-making session in a Chagga village.
- Tarangire National Park Safari – Witness large elephant herds, baobab-studded landscapes, and diverse wildlife in one of Tanzania’s most scenic parks.
- Explore Serengeti & Ngorongoro – Enjoy game drives across the legendary Serengeti and descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for big cat sightings and unforgettable views.
- Cultural Encounters at Lake Eyasi – Meet the Hadzabe bushmen and Datoga blacksmiths to learn ancient survival and metalworking skills.
- Gombe National Park Chimpanzee Trekking – End with a bucket-list experience tracking wild chimpanzees in Jane Goodall’s legendary research area on the shores of Lake Tanganyika.
Itinerary
Materuni is a charming, authentic Chagga village located just 15 km from Moshi and is the last settlement before entering Kilimanjaro National Park. Upon arrival, you’ll register at the village office and begin your adventure with a guided 40-minute hike to the stunning Materuni Waterfall. Along the way, your local guide will share insights about Chagga culture, village life, and the surrounding flora and fauna. If the skies are clear, you might catch a glimpse of Mount Kilimanjaro’s peak. The impressive 80-meter-high waterfall cascades into a natural pool perfect for a refreshing swim—so bring your swimwear!
After enjoying the waterfall, return to the village for a traditional Chagga lunch and a taste of local banana beer. Your experience continues with a visit to a nearby coffee farm, where you’ll learn how coffee is grown, harvested, and processed using traditional methods. You’ll also get hands-on as you roast, grind, and brew your own cup of fresh Chagga coffee. A perfect mix of nature, culture, and local flavors!
Start your day early with a refreshing breakfast before embarking on a scenic drive to Tarangire National Park. This beautiful park gets its name from the Tarangire River, which serves as a lifeline for wildlife during the dry season. Be prepared to witness breathtaking landscapes filled with dense vegetation, including elephant grass and acacia woodlands. Tarangire National Park is renowned for its large elephant families that often gather by the river. Keep your eyes peeled and you may also spot giraffes, bushbucks, and hartebeests. Predators such as lions and leopards are also present. As you explore the park on an extensive game drive, you’ll be amazed by the diversity of bird species that reside here. After a thrilling day, retire to your luxury lodge near Tarangire for a delectable dinner and a relaxing overnight stay.
Rise early and enjoy a hearty breakfast before heading to the legendary Serengeti National Park, Tanzania’s oldest and most iconic wildlife sanctuary. Known for its endless plains and rich biodiversity, the Serengeti is home to one of the world’s greatest natural events – The Great Migration – where thousands of wildebeest, zebras, and antelope move in search of greener pastures, guided by the rains.
Spend two days immersed in thrilling game drives, with opportunities to spot the Big Five and countless other species in their natural habitat. Learn about the Serengeti’s ancient ecosystem, which has remained unchanged for millions of years.
Each evening, return to your luxury tented lodge, where you’ll enjoy delicious dinners and relax under the African stars, surrounded by the raw beauty and sounds of the wild.
Today, after breakfast, you’ll head into the scenic Ngorongoro Highlands, a region rich in culture and history. Your journey takes you along the rim of the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, offering sweeping views of the world’s largest unbroken caldera.
Along the way, you’ll stop at a traditional Maasai boma, where you’ll be welcomed by a local Maasai community. This immersive cultural visit allows you to learn about their semi-nomadic lifestyle, traditional homes, livestock keeping practices, and distinctive customs. You’ll also experience their traditional singing and dancing. Enjoy lunch with a view of the highlands before heading to your lodge for a restful evening in this culturally and historically rich region.
After an early breakfast, you will descend 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater for a thrilling full-day game drive in one of the most breathtaking wildlife havens in Africa. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to an incredible concentration of animals, including the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino.
As you explore the crater floor, you’ll pass through diverse habitats including savannah, forests, and seasonal swamps. Keep an eye out for large herds of wildebeest and zebra, groups of hippos wallowing in freshwater pools, and flamingos lining the shores of Lake Magadi at the center of the crater.
You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the designated sites inside the crater, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the wild. After a memorable day of wildlife viewing, you’ll ascend the crater wall in the late afternoon and head back to your lodge for dinner and overnight rest.
Today begins with an early morning cultural encounter at Lake Eyasi, where you’ll meet the Hadzabe and Datoga tribes. The Hadzabe are among the last remaining hunter-gatherers in East Africa, and you’ll have a chance to join them on a short traditional hunting walk, learn about their way of life, and see how they use local tools and natural resources. You’ll also visit the Datoga blacksmiths, known for crafting metal tools using age-old techniques.
After this enriching cultural experience, you’ll return to Arusha in the afternoon. Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to Arusha Airport for your scheduled evening flight to Kigoma, the gateway to Gombe National Park. Upon landing in Kigoma, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight, preparing for your chimpanzee trekking adventure.
We pick you up from Kigoma Hilltop hote and transfer to Kibirizi port where you will take a boat to Gombe Stream National Park. The journey takes about one hour and a half. Upon arrival at Gombe, you register at the park headquarters and get assigned to a guide who escorts you into the forest for chimpanzee trekking. Walk to up to the hill to Kakombe waterfalls for picnic lunch and continue to trek for chimps as well as to spot different birds and fruits eaten by chimps till sunset. Dinner and overnight at the camp
Breakfast at the camp, game viewing/ Chimpanzee tracking in the forest return to the camp for lunch, afternoon Game viewing by boat on the lake. Enjoy the sunset while at lake Tanganyika.
After breakfast, you’ll take a morning boat ride back to Kigoma. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel for lunch and a short rest. The afternoon is at your leisure—relax at the hotel or prepare for your onward journey. Later, you’ll be transferred to Kigoma Airport for your departure flight.
| Number of Travelers in Group Discount | Cost Per Traveler in US($) |
|---|---|
| 2-4 People | 4000 |
| 5- People | 3400 |
The Trip Cost Includes
Cost include
- Destinations transfers (airport transfer)
- Private professional safari guide
- Private 4 x 4 safari with roof for game viewing
- Daily bottle of mineral water during Safari
- All meals during safari (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Entrance, park fees and 18% VAT to our entrance fees
Cost exluded
- International flights
- Tip to the driver guide and hoteliers
- Insurance fees
- Cost of Visas.
- Bank transfer charges & card payments processing fee.
- Expenses belong to person nature e.g Drinks not included on the meal plans, personal purchases, Laundry etc.
FAQs
Migration Venture Africa will pick you up and transfer you to designated Hotels. Pick up on arrival airport and drop off are included on our package. We arrange also other group transport if required.
A valid visa is required for travel to Tanzania. A passport with a minimum validity of 6 months prior to expiry is required.
A single-entry visa is valid for 3 months from the date of issue. Visas-on-arrival are available at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)for US$50. (For U.S. Citizens, the cost is US$100 for a multiple entry visa.) However, it is advised that visitors traveling from a country where visa services are available should obtain a visa prior to arrival in order to avoid potential delays at the airport
The Tanzanian Shilling is the currency of Tanzania. The exchange rate is roughly 1 USD = 2300 TZS. (December 2024). Credit cards are not widely accepted. However, USD is accepted in most places visited by tourists. Please note that US bills printed before 2003 are not accepted in Tanzania, as there was a large amount of illegal processing of dollar bills in the country.
Swahili is the national language of Tanzania, but many tribal languages are spoken amongst the 120+ ethnic communities in Tanzania. English is considered the de facto official language. It is widely spoken by those who work in tourism and hospitality.
Summer: September to April. Temperature: 20°C to 30°C.
Winter: May to August. Temperature: 19°C to 25°C.
Rainfall: April-May (long rains) and November to mid-December (short rains).
Safaris are casual vacations! Dress comfortably and pack lightly. As you will be spending most of your safari viewing in the vehicle, loose-fitting and light-colored clothing is recommended. Avoid dark colors (i.e. black, dark blue) as they tend to attract unwanted attention from insects such as the tsetse fly.
SAFARI CLOTHING
- One pair of comfortable walking shoes (i.e. sneakers, hiking shoes)
- One pair of sandals or flip-flops
- Casual, loose-fitting clothing
- Swimsuit
- One warm fleece or sweater
- Extra Cotton socks and underwear
- Hat
- Lightweight jacket or windbreaker
Other items
- Passport, plane tickets
- S. Dollars (both large and small denominations) and credit cards
- Sunglasses
- Contact Lens Solution, extra contact lenses, and spare glasses.
- If you wear contact lenses, be sure to bring a pair of glasses in case of eye irritation from the dust
- Sunscreen (SPF 50 or higher)
- Lip balm (SPF 45)
- Insect repellant (DEET 30%)
- Anti-bacterial hand sanitizer
- Camera and extra batteries
- UK plug adapter
- Journal for recording daily observations and encounters
- Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate, if applicable
- Small Personal Medical Kit including aspirin, anti-malarial pills, cold and allergy medicine, cream of itches (i.e. Benadryl itch relief), stomachache medicine (i.e. Pepto-Bismal), antibiotic ointment (i.e. Neosporin), prescription antibiotic effective against a broad range of bacteria including travelers diarrhea (i.e. Ciprofloxacin or also known as Cipro)
All park fees and conservation fees have a 24-hour limit. We plan your itinerary according to the park permits paid. Your safari driver guide will brief you the night before and provide suggestions regarding your schedule. Please note that any penalty fee resulting from the client’s wish to extend their stay will be at the guest’s expense.
If you have any allergies or special dietary requirements, please let us know beforehand at the time of booking, so we can advise the lodgings accordingly. Most places will be able to accommodate to your preferred meal options, though sometimes vegetarian/vegan options may be a bit limited and repetitive. If you require any special health supplement, please kindly bring it with you.
This is your safari trip, your adventure! You decide how you want to spend your time on this vacation. If you would like to spend a full day on safari, you are definitely welcome to do so. Safari Infinity does not restrict your mileage, fuel, or how much time you want to be on safari. While some days you may decide to set out by sunrise, other days you can have a slower-paced breakfast before starting your daily exploration. Simply sit down with your guide to plan your day and meals the night before. Your guide will have plenty of suggestions, but of course, the decision is yours.
Bottled water is included in the safari vehicle. You can also buy any drinks along your way to the safari. There will be mini-markets in town.
They are licensed by TALA, trained, friendly, and have years of experience!
We use 4 or 6-passenger 4-wheel-drive Land Cruisers, all with viewing roofs for the safaris. The vehicles have an inverter for charging batteries, a radio, and a cooler.
Yes, just let us know what’s in your mind and we will put all together for you!
We recommend booking your trip as soon as possible. Lodges and tented camps on safari are booked quickly, so we need to reserve those before they fill up.
You should always ask permission before taking anyone’s photograph. Many of the people in places that receive a steady stream of travelers are used to having their pictures taken and some may ask for money. You can usually tell the people who will ask for money, as they pose for pictures as their “job” and will be standing around looking for tourists, asking if you want to photograph them.
Tanzania is generally a very safe country to travel to. There is petty theft in the major cities (and in Zanzibar) but this is usually targeted either at tourists who are clearly displaying their wealth (with a bulging wallet, expensive camera/watch/jewelry) or who are walking home late at night. If you follow basic precautions and use your common sense, you are very unlikely to have a problem.
There are also some basic rules that you should follow when on safari. Some of these may sound extremely obvious but you would be surprised at some of the stories we hear of other guests so we prefer to err on the side of caution!
Never ever get out of your vehicle when on safari. Even if the vehicle breaks down and you are desperate for the toilet you must remain in the vehicle. Many animals are remarkably camouflaged and you may not see them nearby. Whilst in the jeep you are safe as they just see this as a big target; the moment you get out of the vehicle you may suddenly be seen as prey. All vehicles are counted in and out of the park so if you do break down, the park rangers will soon find you.
If you do need the toilet when on a safari drive, please try to give the driver as much notice as possible. They will find a big open area where they are happy that it is safe for you to stop. Unfortunately, you will usually not be given a bush to hide behind as you never know what else may be behind that bush! The drivers will be respectful and look the other way (or ‘check the tire pressure which is the local euphemism for a pee stop!).
Don’t wave anything outside the car or stick your arms out. This can be seen as a sign of aggression and in extreme cases, could cause an elephant to charge the vehicle.
Always follow the instructions of your guide, no matter how strange they may seem. This is particularly important when on a walking or canoeing safari but applies at any time.
If staying in a tented camp, never leave your tent once it is dark without asking for one of the rangers who will be patrolling the property to accompany you. If you are traveling with younger children, you should ensure that one adult is in the tent with them.
Always wear shoes and socks when walking around the bush (rather than flip-flops). This provides a level of protection against biting insects, snakes, and scorpions.
Tipping
Tipping is very much an integral part of tourism in Tanzania and wages are generally low and are then supplemented by tips. The following guidelines should help you to work out how much to tip, but you should remember that tipping is discretionary and it is up to you whether you tip or not. If you have not received a good service, you do not need to tip whereas if the service has been particularly good, you might want to give more than we suggest.
We have quoted amounts in GBP but it is generally best to tip in either local currency or US dollars.
Concierges – $2-$3 when checking in and checking out
Drivers / Guides – approximately $20+ per day
Housekeeping staff – $2-$5 per day (there will often be a tip box in the hotel reception where you can leave a tip that will be distributed amongst the hotel staff)
Waiters – Most meals are included so you will not be given a bill. However, if purchasing drinks from the bar it would be customary to leave a tip of around 10%
You should consult your doctor about what vaccinations are required for travel to the region and check whether they recommend the use of malarial prophylactics. Please note that a yellow fever certificate is required by the authorities in Tanzania if your international flight has routed through Kenya, Ethiopia, Dubai and a number of other countries. Please check this with us so that we can provide advice depending on your airline.
