9 days Tanzania Northern Circuit
This 9-day safari takes you through Tanzania’s iconic wildlife destinations, providing immersive experiences in breathtaking landscapes, incredible wildlife sightings, and unique cultural interactions. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the journey:
Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport
- Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where you’ll be met and transferred to your lodge.
- Accommodation: Four Points by Sheraton Arusha
- Meal Plan: Breakfast only
Day 2: Arusha – Tarangire National Park
- Depart from your hotel at 8:00 AM and head to Tarangire National Park, known for its diverse landscapes, abundant wildlife, and iconic Baobab trees. Enjoy a picnic lunch with scenic views of the river.
- In the afternoon, embark on another game drive in this wildlife-rich park, home to elephants, lions, giraffes, leopards, and more.
- Accommodation: Tarangire Sopa Lodge
- Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner, and Breakfast
Day 3: Lake Manyara National Park
- Travel across the Great Rift Valley to Lake Manyara, famous for its lush acacia forests and wildlife, including tree-climbing lions, flamingos, hippos, and large herds of elephants.
- The day offers great opportunities for photography, particularly with giraffes and buffaloes in front of the lake and flamingos.
- You can also opt for additional activities like a bike tour or a boat excursion on the lake.
- Accommodation: Lake Manyara Serena Lodge
- Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner, and Breakfast
Day 4: Serengeti National Park
- Early morning departure to Serengeti, where you’ll be treated to spectacular views of Ngorongoro Crater. As you approach the Serengeti, the vast plains stretch endlessly before you.
- The Serengeti is home to the Great Migration, as well as the Big Five and abundant wildlife, including wildebeest, zebras, lions, cheetahs, and hyenas.
- En route, you can visit the famous Olduvai Gorge, the site where the first human remains were discovered by the Leakeys.
- Accommodation: Serengeti Sopa Lodge
- Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner, and Breakfast
Day 5-6: Serengeti National Park
- Spend two full days exploring the Serengeti with game drives tailored to your preferences. Choose between morning and afternoon game drives or a full-day safari with a picnic lunch.
- Optional: Hot air balloon safari for a unique aerial view of the Serengeti plains.
- Accommodation: Serengeti Sopa Lodge
- Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner, and Breakfast
Day 7: Serengeti – Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Enjoy an early morning game drive in the Serengeti, followed by a relaxing brunch. Continue your journey to Ngorongoro, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
- Ngorongoro Crater is a vast caldera that houses diverse wildlife, including the endangered black rhino and the world’s largest elephants.
- Accommodation: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
- Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner, and Breakfast
Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater
- Early descent into the Ngorongoro Crater for an unforgettable day of game viewing in this natural paradise.
- After a picnic lunch near the hippo lake, enjoy a short game drive before ascending the crater and continuing your journey to Lake Eyasi for a cultural experience.
- Accommodation: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
- Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner, and Breakfast
Day 9: Lake Eyasi and the Hadzabe Tribe
- Experience a truly unique cultural encounter with the Hadzabe tribe, one of the last nomadic tribes in Africa. Join them in their morning activities such as hunting or fruit gathering and gain insight into their ancient lifestyle.
- After your time with the tribe, visit Lake Eyasi, a seasonal salt lake in the Great Rift Valley.
- Return to Arusha in the late afternoon for transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) for your onward flight or next destination.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Highlights:
- Tarangire National Park: Known for its Baobab trees and the largest elephant population in Tanzania.
- Lake Manyara National Park: Famous for tree-climbing lions and its vibrant birdlife, including flamingos and eagles.
- Serengeti National Park: The heart of the Great Migration, with vast plains filled with wildlife, including lions, cheetahs, and zebras.
- Ngorongoro Crater: A natural wonder with diverse ecosystems, including a soda lake, swamps, and a high concentration of wildlife.
- Lake Eyasi: A chance to visit the Hadzabe tribe, one of the last truly nomadic tribes in Africa, and experience their ancient way of life.
Details
Overview of the 9-Day Safari Itinerary:
This 9-day safari takes you through Tanzania’s iconic wildlife destinations, providing immersive experiences in breathtaking landscapes, incredible wildlife sightings, and unique cultural interactions. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the journey:
Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport
- Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where you’ll be met and transferred to your lodge.
- Accommodation: Four Points by Sheraton Arusha
- Meal Plan: Breakfast only
Day 2: Arusha – Tarangire National Park
- Depart from your hotel at 8:00 AM and head to Tarangire National Park, known for its diverse landscapes, abundant wildlife, and iconic Baobab trees. Enjoy a picnic lunch with scenic views of the river.
- In the afternoon, embark on another game drive in this wildlife-rich park, home to elephants, lions, giraffes, leopards, and more.
- Accommodation: Tarangire Sopa Lodge
- Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner, and Breakfast
Day 3: Lake Manyara National Park
- Travel across the Great Rift Valley to Lake Manyara, famous for its lush acacia forests and wildlife, including tree-climbing lions, flamingos, hippos, and large herds of elephants.
- The day offers great opportunities for photography, particularly with giraffes and buffaloes in front of the lake and flamingos.
- You can also opt for additional activities like a bike tour or a boat excursion on the lake.
- Accommodation: Lake Manyara Serena Lodge
- Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner, and Breakfast
Day 4: Serengeti National Park
- Early morning departure to Serengeti, where you’ll be treated to spectacular views of Ngorongoro Crater. As you approach the Serengeti, the vast plains stretch endlessly before you.
- The Serengeti is home to the Great Migration, as well as the Big Five and abundant wildlife, including wildebeest, zebras, lions, cheetahs, and hyenas.
- En route, you can visit the famous Olduvai Gorge, the site where the first human remains were discovered by the Leakeys.
- Accommodation: Serengeti Sopa Lodge
- Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner, and Breakfast
Day 5-6: Serengeti National Park
- Spend two full days exploring the Serengeti with game drives tailored to your preferences. Choose between morning and afternoon game drives or a full-day safari with a picnic lunch.
- Optional: Hot air balloon safari for a unique aerial view of the Serengeti plains.
- Accommodation: Serengeti Sopa Lodge
- Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner, and Breakfast
Day 7: Serengeti – Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Enjoy an early morning game drive in the Serengeti, followed by a relaxing brunch. Continue your journey to Ngorongoro, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
- Ngorongoro Crater is a vast caldera that houses diverse wildlife, including the endangered black rhino and the world’s largest elephants.
- Accommodation: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
- Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner, and Breakfast
Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater
- Early descent into the Ngorongoro Crater for an unforgettable day of game viewing in this natural paradise.
- After a picnic lunch near the hippo lake, enjoy a short game drive before ascending the crater and continuing your journey to Lake Eyasi for a cultural experience.
- Accommodation: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
- Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner, and Breakfast
Day 9: Lake Eyasi and the Hadzabe Tribe
- Experience a truly unique cultural encounter with the Hadzabe tribe, one of the last nomadic tribes in Africa. Join them in their morning activities such as hunting or fruit gathering and gain insight into their ancient lifestyle.
- After your time with the tribe, visit Lake Eyasi, a seasonal salt lake in the Great Rift Valley.
- Return to Arusha in the late afternoon for transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) for your onward flight or next destination.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Highlights:
- Tarangire National Park: Known for its Baobab trees and the largest elephant population in Tanzania.
- Lake Manyara National Park: Famous for tree-climbing lions and its vibrant birdlife, including flamingos and eagles.
- Serengeti National Park: The heart of the Great Migration, with vast plains filled with wildlife, including lions, cheetahs, and zebras.
- Ngorongoro Crater: A natural wonder with diverse ecosystems, including a soda lake, swamps, and a high concentration of wildlife.
- Lake Eyasi: A chance to visit the Hadzabe tribe, one of the last truly nomadic tribes in Africa, and experience their ancient way of life.
On arrival at JRO International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your Lodge.
Accommodation: Four Point Sheraton Arusha
Meal Plan: Breakfast only
We will pick you up from your hotel at 8am and take you to a very special national park. Tarangire is famous for its diverse landscape with nine different vegetation zones. The park is particularly known for the abundance of Ancient Baobab trees (the largest trees in the continent) which fill the landscape and dwarf the animals next to them. The river of the park is full of wildlife ranging from a large variety of birds to lions, leopards, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes and, of course, elephants. In fact, the park has the largest concentration of elephants in the whole country and provides unique chances to observe the interaction between elephant families. The lunch area is fascinating, boasting an observatory with amazing views to the river and wildlife (with good chances of seeing a hunt while having your picnic). In the afternoon we will still do a game drive before continuing to your accommodation.
Accommodation: Tarangire Sopa Lodge
Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner and Breakfast
Beautiful short journey across the Great Rift Valley until Lake Manyara National Park for a full day game drive. Although small in dimension (205 sq. miles), the park has breathtaking scenery and well famous for its lush acacia forest, giant figs and mahogany trees, as well as to a growing population of baboons and blue monkeys. Permanent residents of this park also include giraffes, elephants, impalas and a huge amount of buffaloes. The lake is also home to a large number of hippos. Some unique facts about this park include the tree climbing lions, flamingos in the lake shore, as well as the Ground Hornbill and the Crested Eagle. The landscapes of Lake Manyara are something that can not be described with words, and the game drives along the lake provide stunning photo opportunities of giraffes and buffaloes in the foreground and the lake (and its flamingos) in the background. During this day, some extra tours are possible, including a bike tour or a boat excursion. In the afternoon, transfer to the camp for dinner.
Accommodation: Lake Manyara Serena Lodge
Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner and Breakfast
Some unique facts about this park include the tree climbing lions, flamingos in the lake shore, as well as the ground hornbill and the crested eagle
After an early breakfast, depart towards the most famous National park in the World, the Serengeti. The driving itself, although long, is spectacular. You will drive up the crater highlands, making a quick stop at the rim for an out of this world view of Ngorongoro Crater. This will be an unforgettable moment for anyone seeing it for the first time. As you progress well into the Serengeti, you will see why the name means, in local language, “endless plains”. The park has 6,900 sq. mile (18,000 sq. km) and for most of it, the plains will stretch to the horizon defying your senses and perception of distances. It is the home of the Great Migration and to 2 million wildebeests, hundreds of thousands of zebras and all kinds of antelopes including the abundant impalas and Thomson’s gazelles. As for Big Cats and large predators, it’s the place of choice to look out for lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, with many television scenes like the famous river crossings having been filmed in this park. Smaller animals like foxes, mongoose, honey badgers, jackals, monkeys, baboons, rock hyrax and african hares, together with more than 500 species of birds, also inhabit this park.
On the way to the park you will have the option to stop for a visit to Olduvai Gorge, a famous place where Dr. Louis and Mary Leakey discovered the remains of the first man who walked on Earth. This tour includes a short lecture describing the archeological digs and geologic characteristics of the gorge, as well as a visit to their museum.
Accommodation: Serengeti Sopa Lodge
Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner and Breakfast
Tow full days in the Serengeti National Park. We are completely flexible with your preferences and this day will be organized according to your wishes. On every day of the safari, your guide will discuss with you the best timings for you, including the game drives and the wake up time. For example, on this day, you could do a morning game drive, return to the camp for lunch and relaxation and finish with an afternoon game drive, or you could do a full day game drive with picnic lunch.
Accommodation: Serengeti Sopa Lodge
Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner and Breakfast
A hot air balloon safari highly recommended
On this day we suggest a very early wake up in order to do an early morning game drive (when the animals are more active) and see one of the best sunrises you’ll ever witness. It’s really one of the most beautiful experiences to have. After the game drive, we return to the camp for a rewarding brunch and then we’ll proceed to Ngorongoro, the 8th wonder of the Natural World. The crater spreads for 102 sq. miles and has 2.000 ft high walls, making it virtually a Noah’s ark and inhabiting almost every species of wildlife that is indigenous to East Africa. It’s one of the very rare locations in the whole continent where you can witness the black Rhino. The concentration of African wildlife if the greatest in the continent. The crater has a river, several swamps, a soda lake with a great concentration of flamingos, a forest and open plains. It’s also famous for its elephants which are the largest in the world and have huge tusks. This is due to the rich mineral content of the volcanic soil and its grasses. Ngorongoro Crater is truly a Wonder of the Natural World.
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner and Breakfast
We will start the day very early and descend into the crater floor for an incredible morning of wildlife in one of the most stunning places on Earth. After the game drive, there will be time for a picnic lunch near the beautiful hippo Lake. After lunch, we will have time for a short game drive and then ascend the crater and exit Ngorongoro Conservation Area towards Lake Eyasi, where you will have a unique and fascinating cultural experience on the next day.
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner and Breakfast
Today will be a very special and different day. You will wake up very early, just before sunrise, and follow your guide until he finds the Hadzabe tribe, one of the last true nomadic tribes in Africa. After some explanations about the tribe, you will join them in their daily morning activities. This experience is out of the beaten track and does not feel touristic by any means. The photographic opportunities are out of this world. This tour will definitely be a highlight of your safari. The experiences you do with the tribe can either be joining the men in their daily hunting, or the women in their fruit gathering session. In either of them, you will learn about many aspects of the hadzabe way of living.
After finishing the activities with the tribe, we will visit the beautiful Lake Eyasi, a season shallow salt lake on the floor of the Great Rift Valley and then return to Arusha. We expect to be back in Arusha around 5pm although we are flexible in case there is a flight to catch or another situation. Drop of JRO international Airport for your outbound flight back home or to the next destination.
This itinerary can be combined with beach holiday or Gorilla & chimps trekking in Uganda or Rwanda
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