Overview
This 10-day Tanzania safari adventure combines extraordinary wildlife encounters, cultural immersion, and stunning landscapes. Upon arrival in Arusha, you’ll be warmly welcomed and begin your journey with a visit to the hidden gem of Arusha National Park, featuring guided forest walks and canoeing on Momella Lakes. Your adventure continues through the baobab-studded Tarangire National Park, followed by a cultural biking tour in Mto wa Mbu and authentic village lunch. At Lake Eyasi, you’ll meet the Hadzabe and Datoga tribes, gaining unique insight into traditional ways of life. Then, venture into the iconic Serengeti National Park for world-class game viewing, witnessing the great migration and searching for the Big Five. After exploring the vast plains, you’ll head to Ngorongoro Crater, home to unmatched wildlife density and awe-inspiring scenery. Conclude your journey back in Arusha, with the option to extend your adventure to Zanzibar’s beaches.
Highlights
- Canoe safari and walking tour in the diverse Arusha National Park
- Thrilling game drives in Tarangire and Serengeti National Parks
- Cultural experiences with the Hadzabe and Datoga tribes at Lake Eyasi
- Unforgettable Ngorongoro Crater game drive with chances to spot the Big Five
- Optional visit to Olduvai Gorge and a traditional Maasai boma
Itinerary
Despite its proximity to Arusha, this small National park seldom appears on safari itineraries for Tanzania, which is a surprise as it is one of our favorites. At the centre of the park is the beautiful Ngurdoto Crater, flanked by steep cliffs and home to an abundance of buffalo that roam the marshy ground found within. Further into the park the Momella lakes are also beautiful, with an abundant bird population as well as large populations of hippo and buffalo.
Throughout your safari, you will see herds of zebra and giraffe wandering across the hills and numerous antelope darting across the landscape.
Your visit will start with a guided walk through the montane forest near the park entrance, before continuing with a vehicle safari to the crater and the Momella lakes, followed by an afternoon Canoeing safari on Momella Lakes. Late afternoon drive back to Arusha Dinner and overnight.
This morning, take packed lunches with you and have a three-hour drive to Tarangire National Park and spend the afternoon exploring on game drives. The park is cut through by the Tarangire River, which proves a magnet for all manner of wildlife during the long dry season when the surrounding area becomes completely parched.
During the wet season, the wildlife is more scattered, but you are still almost guaranteed sightings of Tarangire’s extensive elephant population. Large herds roam the riverbed whilst zebra, buffalo, gazelle, and wildebeest try to avoid the predatory advances of lion and leopard.
There is also a remarkable profusion of bird life as the Tarangire swamps are home to 550 bird varieties, including many rare species.
Drive to Mto Wa Mbu and bike ride through banana plantations, you will visit local farms, school, church, milling machine, local bar, cycle to the lake Manyara shore where there are stunning vistas of the lake, the rift Valley wall and small heards of wild life,Then have local lunch in village house . Afternoon drive to Karatu.
After early breakfast drive to Lake Eyasi area, the Land where the Wahadzabe lives.
Meet the Datoga at their village. The Datoga are terrified of the Masai. The Masai are their biggest enemy. They are cattle herders as well. There was war between the Masai and Datoga for many many years ago in Ngorongoro. The Datoga chief was killed and buried near Fig Tree Camp on the Crater floor.
Proceed with walking/Hiking Visit the Hadzabe caves, where they sometimes spend their nights while hunting. They hunt with bow and arrows. Hadzabe are the nearest relatives to the Bushmen of Kalahari Desert. Visit their place where they find the plant that they boil to produce their poison, which they use for hunting. This plant can be found all over the Lake Eyasi area.
During walking and driving we might be lucky to see game as well such as lesser kudu and dik-dik. Otherwise there are plenty of birds.
After breakfast depart for the Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti National Park is the jewel in the crown of Tanzania’s game parks and offers arguably the best game viewing in Africa. The setting is perfect – a sea of endless plains that stretches to the horizon, dotted with the occasional acacia trees and termite mound. This savannah is home to big herds of wildebeest that every year make the mass migration North, through crocodile infested rivers, in a frenzied mixture of mating and galloping that is driven by instinct.
Prides of lion rule here, their hungry gaze sweeping the savannah for a chance to attack the thousands of eland, impala and gazelle. Solitary leopard stake out their place in the high branches of the acacia trees and herds of elephants roam at will. This is the Africa that you have always dreamed about.
This day you will have both morning and afternoon game drives in the Serengeti National park.
The Serengeti National park, which derives its name from the Masai for “endless plain”, is the jewel of Tanzania’s protected areas and lies on a vast plateau between the Eastern arm of the Rift Valley and the huge expanse of Lake Victoria. Tanzania’s oldest and most popular National park and a World Heritage site, the Serengeti is best known for the annual migration of hundreds and thousands of wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle. Spectacular game viewing—of buffalo, elephant, giraffe, topi, impala, Grant’s gazelle, lion and leopard is a highlight.
Be inspired by the “amazing Acacia trees” dotted throughout the Serengeti, where visitors are treated with some of the most mesmerizing sunsets in the world. Our small safari vehicles minimize drive times and improve your chances of snapping that perfect shot of one of the elusive ‘Big 5′.
After breakfast, you will have a morning game drive in the Serengeti National Park. After lunch, drive to Ngorongoro. Along the wa,y you will stop at the Olduvai Gorge for a short visit. This is a steep-sided ravine in the heart of the Great Rift Valley, and is famous for the variety of early hominid fossils that have been found here.
There is an excellent museum; it is very small but informative and well worth the stop. Also stop en route to visit a local Masai boma and meet some of the people who live there
After breakfast you will descend 2000feet to the Crater floor for game viewing. You will have a chance to explore the Ngorongoro Crater, an ancient volcanic crater that is home to an extraordinary concentration of wildlife including a very dense population of lions and spotted hyenas. You are almost guaranteed to see all of the ‘big five’ (lion, rhino, leopard, elephant and buffalo) as well as a great variety of other species; The views are superb, from the first glimpse of the crater at ‘Heroes’ Point’, through the thick rain forest that covers its sides, down to the rich grassy plains that form its centre.
The combination of natural scenery and wildlife is truly breath-taking. During the game drive you will stop for a delicious picnic on the crater floor. Late in the afternoon drive back to Arusha.
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.
