10 Days Best of Tanzania Safari

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha Airport or your agreed meeting point, you will be warmly welcomed by a representative from Tavira Africa Safaris.

After a short briefing, transfer to Arusha, the safari capital of northern Tanzania. Depending on your arrival schedule, enjoy a relaxed city experience that may include local markets, craft centers and selected cultural attractions.

When the weather is clear, Mount Meru creates a dramatic backdrop to Arusha and provides a beautiful introduction to Tanzania’s northern highlands.

Mount Meru viewed from Arusha, Tanzania.

Later, transfer to your accommodation where you can rest before beginning the wildlife safari the following day.

Accommodation: Selected Hotel or Lodge (Mid-range accommodation in Arusha)

After breakfast, leave Arusha with your professional Tavira Africa Safaris driver-guide and begin the journey to Tarangire National Park.

Tarangire is known for its dramatic baobab trees, seasonal wildlife concentrations and impressive elephant population. Upon arrival, check in at your lodge or safari camp and enjoy lunch.

Later, head into the park for your first game drive. Search for elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, antelopes and predators while exploring Tarangire’s beautiful savannah and woodland landscapes.

Elephant in Tarangire National Park.

Return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Selected Safari Lodge or Tented Camp (Mid-range accommodation in or near Tarangire)

After breakfast, spend a full day exploring Tarangire National Park. Your guide will select the best routes according to wildlife movements, seasonal conditions and water availability.

The Tarangire River is particularly important during dry periods and can attract elephants, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes and many antelope species. Lions, leopards and other predators are also present, although all wildlife sightings remain natural and cannot be guaranteed.

The park is also an excellent destination for bird watching, with a remarkable variety of savannah and dry-country species.

Enjoy lunch according to your safari arrangement before continuing your afternoon game drive. Return to your lodge or camp later in the day.

Accommodation: Selected Safari Lodge or Tented Camp (Mid-range accommodation in or near Tarangire)

After breakfast, check out and continue toward Lake Manyara National Park, one of northern Tanzania’s most scenic wildlife destinations.

The drive leads toward the Great Rift Valley escarpment before you enter a park characterized by groundwater forest, open grasslands, wetlands and lake-edge habitats.

After lunch, enjoy an afternoon game drive in search of elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, baboons, hippos and numerous bird species.

Giraffe in Lake Manyara National Park.

Lake Manyara is also associated with tree-climbing lions, although seeing this behavior depends entirely on wildlife movements and luck.

Accommodation: Selected Safari Lodge (Mid-range accommodation around Lake Manyara)

After breakfast, return to Lake Manyara National Park for a full day of game viewing.

Spending a complete day in the park gives you time to explore its different habitats at a relaxed pace. Look for elephants in the forested sections, giraffes and zebras in more open areas, hippos around the wetlands and large troops of baboons along the park roads.

Birdlife can be particularly rewarding around the lake and wetland areas, although water levels and seasonal conditions influence the numbers and species present.

Your guide will also keep watch for predators and other wildlife before returning to your accommodation later in the day.

Accommodation: Selected Safari Lodge (Mid-range accommodation around Lake Manyara)

After breakfast, leave Lake Manyara and begin the scenic transfer toward Serengeti National Park.

As you continue into the heart of Tanzania’s Northern Safari Circuit, the landscape opens into the vast plains for which the Serengeti is famous. Wildlife viewing may begin as you travel through the park toward your selected lodge or tented camp.

The Serengeti supports lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, hyenas and hundreds of bird species.

Wildebeest in the Serengeti ecosystem.

Arrive at your accommodation and enjoy the evening surrounded by the Serengeti wilderness.

Accommodation: Selected Safari Lodge or Tented Camp (Mid-range accommodation in Serengeti National Park)

Begin the day with breakfast before heading out for an extensive game drive across Serengeti National Park.

Your guide will use local wildlife information and seasonal knowledge to select productive areas. Search for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, hyenas and large herds of plains game.

Male lion in Serengeti National Park.

During periods when the Great Migration herds are in accessible sections of the park, the day’s route may focus on wildebeest and zebra movements. Exact herd locations vary throughout the year according to rainfall and grazing.

Later, take part in a respectfully arranged Maasai cultural experience where local hosts introduce aspects of pastoral traditions, clothing, livestock culture, songs and dances.

Return to your lodge or camp for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Selected Safari Lodge or Tented Camp (Mid-range accommodation in Serengeti National Park)

After breakfast, enjoy your final views of the Serengeti before beginning the journey toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Along the way, stop at Olduvai Gorge, one of East Africa’s most important archaeological and paleoanthropological locations. The site is associated with discoveries that have contributed greatly to the scientific understanding of early human evolution.

After visiting the museum or interpretation area according to your arrangements, continue toward the Ngorongoro highlands.

Panoramic view across Ngorongoro Crater.

Check in at your selected accommodation and enjoy the evening near one of Africa’s most spectacular natural landscapes.

Accommodation: Selected Safari Lodge (Mid-range accommodation in or near Ngorongoro)

After breakfast, descend into Ngorongoro Crater for a rewarding game drive across the crater floor.

The crater supports an impressive concentration of wildlife, including lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, warthogs, hippos, hyenas and several antelope species.

Ngorongoro is also an important conservation area for black rhinos. Sightings are possible but never guaranteed because the animals are wild and may be seen only at a distance.

Enjoy a picnic lunch at an approved location before continuing your wildlife viewing.

Later, return toward the crater rim. Depending on your accommodation, weather and final arrangements, you may opt for a guided nature walk in the Ngorongoro highlands with an authorized guide.

Accommodation: Selected Safari Lodge (Mid-range accommodation in or near Ngorongoro)

After breakfast, check out and begin your return journey to Arusha.

Enjoy one final drive through northern Tanzania’s scenic countryside as you reflect on the wildlife, landscapes and cultural experiences of your 10-day safari.

Depending on your onward travel schedule, you may stop for lunch in Arusha before continuing to your hotel, Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Travelers wishing to extend their holiday may continue to Zanzibar, Mount Kilimanjaro or another East African destination with Tavira Africa Safaris.

Accommodation: Not included (End of tour)