9-Day Safari in Northern Tanzania

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your safari team. From the airport, transfer to Hotel Gran Melia, Arusha for your overnight stay.

Take time to relax and recover from your long flight. If your schedule allows, explore the colourful town of Arusha with its vibrant markets, local shops, and cafés. Discover the town’s culture, cuisine, and crafts, or visit nearby coffee plantations and museums to get a glimpse of Tanzanian life.

Arusha sits at the foot of Mount Meru, offering stunning views and a perfect introduction to Tanzania’s natural beauty. It is the gateway to the country’s northern safari circuit, providing a comfortable and convenient stop before your wildlife adventure begins.

Accommodation: Overnight at Hotel Gran Melia, Arusha
Meals Included: Dinner

After a leisurely breakfast at Hotel Gran Melia, Arusha, your private guide will transfer you to Tarangire National Park, driving southwest through scenic rural Tanzania. Enter the park and begin your first game drive, exploring the baobab-studded plains, vast elephant herds, buffalo, lions, and leopards along the way.

Arrive at Oliver’s Camp, your base for the next two nights, where you can relax in the luxurious tents and enjoy the views of Tarangire’s unique landscapes.

During the dry season, Tarangire hosts the highest concentration of mammals in Tanzania, making it a perfect spot for wildlife sightings. The park is also home to over 550 bird species, including flamingoes that gather near the lakes.

Spend your days on morning and afternoon game drives led by your experienced safari guides, or enjoy educational walking safaris for a closer encounter with the flora and fauna. For a truly unforgettable experience, opt for an early morning hot-air balloon safari, drifting silently above the plains and observing wildlife from a spectacular aerial perspective (additional cost).

Evenings can be spent relaxing at the camp, sharing stories around the campfire, and enjoying delicious meals while absorbing the serenity of the African bush.

Accommodation: Overnight at Oliver’s Camp, Tarangire National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a delicious breakfast amid the early morning bush sounds, transfer from Tarangire National Park to The Highlands Camp in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Set against stunning volcanic landscapes, the camp features eight geodesic domed suites with en suite bathrooms, double showers, flushing toilets, and breathtaking views of distant mountains.

Venture out on a game drive into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in a comfortable seven-seater vehicle with pop-up rooftops, onboard power points, and fridges. Witness the rich wildlife, including rhinos, lions, buffalo, zebras, and flamingoes, while exploring the crater’s unique ecosystem.

For variety, hike to Olmoti and Empakaai Craters, or visit a nearby Maasai village to experience traditional pastoral life, joining herders as they bring their cattle back to their boma.

The Highlands Camp also offers a family dome and a honeymoon suite with a hot tub. After a day of adventure, unwind at the spa and sauna, or enjoy pre-dinner drinks in the whisky bar beside the fire. Each evening at this award-winning camp promises luxury, comfort, and unforgettable views of northern Tanzania’s highlands.

Accommodation: Overnight at The Highlands Camp, Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast at The Highlands Camp, transfer approximately three hours by road to the local airstrip and board your light aircraft flight to the northern Serengeti. Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to Sayari Camp, perfectly positioned to witness the Great Migration during certain months and explore abundant resident wildlife.

Sayari Camp features 15 spacious and bright tented suites with king or twin beds, mahogany floors, and vibrant décor. The luxurious bathrooms include walk-in showers, free-standing bathtubs overlooking the plains, and outdoor showers on your private deck. Relax on your wraparound veranda while spotting passing wildlife, or take a dip in the rim-flow pool nestled between natural rock formations as elephants or zebras wander by.

Spend your days on morning and afternoon game drives, tracking lions, leopards, cheetahs, zebras, gazelles, and, occasionally, the rare black rhino. For an extra indulgence, enjoy a rejuvenating deep tissue massage at the camp between safaris.

The camp also offers two exclusive Retreats, perfect for families or groups seeking privacy, allowing for personalized safari experiences and tailored activities. Sundowners on the plains and intimate dinners under the African sky complete the magical Serengeti experience.

Accommodation: Overnight at Sayari Camp, Serengeti National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a final breakfast at Sayari Camp, enjoy a leisurely morning soaking in the Serengeti’s breathtaking views from your tent or veranda. Take some last photographs and savor the sounds of the savannah one last time.

You will then transfer to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight back to Arusha. Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, collect your luggage and connect with your international departure or onward travel arrangements.

Reflect on the memorable wildlife encounters and luxurious experiences you’ve enjoyed: from the elephants and baobabs of Tarangire, to the dramatic crater landscapes of Ngorongoro, and the sweeping Serengeti plains, where the Great Migration roams. This journey has provided the perfect blend of adventure, wildlife, culture, and comfort.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A – Departure day