10 Days Best of Tanzania
Highlights: Walking Safari, Arusha National Park, Game drives, Masai Village walk, waterfalls hike, Hot air balloon safari, Ngorongoro Crater
Day 1- Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport
When you arrive at the airport, you will be met by your driver/guide and transferred to your accommodation in Arusha. Here you will relax and rest in preparation for the next days’ activities. No meals are inclusive on this day.
Day 2- Walking Safari & Game Drive in Arusha National Park
After your breakfast, you will be picked up by the guide and drive to Arusha National Park. The park has beautiful landscapes ranging from the Meru crater in the west, the Ngurdoto Crater in the south-east, to the grasslands and the Momella lakes in the north-east. The park also has some wildlife like giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, the white and black colobus monkeys, among others. You will have the opportunity to take 2 to 3 hours walking safari with an armed ranger and experience wildlife and bird life in the park up-close. You will have lunch at a quiet picnic spot and then in the afternoon, you will have a game drive where you pass the tranquil beauty of the Momella Lakes which are tinged pink between May and October with thousands of lesser and greater flamingos and many other migrant birds. In the evening, you will return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan- Breakfast, packed lunch, and dinner
Day 3- Drive to Lake Natron National Park (4-5hrs)
After a relaxed breakfast, you will drive to Lake Natron National Park on a dusty, bumpy road, and during the drive, you pass many Masai villages. There is also a chance of seeing some gazelle, giraffe, zebra, baboons, bee boxes, ostrich as well as birds such as vultures, and many others. Lake Natron lies at the lowest point of the Rift valley in the northeast of Tanzania between the Ngorongoro Highlands and the Serengeti plains. It is situated at the base of Tanzania’s only active volcano, Oldonyo L’Engai, which means; ‘The Mountain of God’). You will arrive later in the afternoon, and transfer to your accommodation for relaxing and dinner.
Meal Plan- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4- Lake walk / Masai village / Waterfall hike
After early morning breakfast, you will go for 3-4 hours walk before it gets hot to the Lake accompanied by a Masai guide. The walk will take you through Ngare Sero village where you can experience the livelihoods of local Masai communities. You will also have magnificent views of the active Oldonyo L’Engai volcano and Lake Natron, as well as some wildlife such as Gerenuk, Lesser flamingos, and Oryx. After the walk, you will head back to the camp for lunch. After a few hours of resting, you will hike to the Ngare Sero Waterfalls accompanied by a Masai guide. You must be fit during this walk. The walk to the first waterfall is quite difficult as there is no clear footpath through the gorge, and you need to wade across the river several times. Also, expect to do some walking along ledges and clambering over rocks. After viewing the first waterfall, you will continue for another 20 minutes until you reach the second waterfall. Here you will have the opportunity to jump into the natural chilly swimming pool and freshen up. In the evening, head back to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 1- Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport
When you arrive at the airport, you will be met by your driver/guide and transferred to your accommodation in Arusha. Here you will relax and rest in preparation for the next days’ activities. No meals are inclusive on this day.
Day 2- Walking Safari & Game Drive in Arusha National Park
After your breakfast, you will be picked up by the guide and drive to Arusha National Park. The park has beautiful landscapes ranging from the Meru crater in the west, the Ngurdoto Crater in the south-east, to the grasslands and the Momella lakes in the north-east. The park also has some wildlife like giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, the white and black colobus monkeys, among others. You will have the opportunity to take 2 to 3 hours walking safari with an armed ranger and experience wildlife and bird life in the park up-close. You will have lunch at a quiet picnic spot and then in the afternoon, you will have a game drive where you pass the tranquil beauty of the Momella Lakes which are tinged pink between May and October with thousands of lesser and greater flamingos and many other migrant birds. In the evening, you will return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan- Breakfast, packed lunch, and dinner
Day 3- Drive to Lake Natron National Park (4-5hrs)
After a relaxed breakfast, you will drive to Lake Natron National Park on a dusty, bumpy road, and during the drive, you pass many Masai villages. There is also a chance of seeing some gazelle, giraffe, zebra, baboons, bee boxes, ostrich as well as birds such as vultures, and many others. Lake Natron lies at the lowest point of the Rift valley in the northeast of Tanzania between the Ngorongoro Highlands and the Serengeti plains. It is situated at the base of Tanzania’s only active volcano, Oldonyo L’Engai, which means; ‘The Mountain of God’). You will arrive later in the afternoon, and transfer to your accommodation for relaxing and dinner.
Meal Plan- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4- Lake walk / Masai village / Waterfall hike
After early morning breakfast, you will go for 3-4 hours walk before it gets hot to the Lake accompanied by a Masai guide. The walk will take you through Ngare Sero village where you can experience the livelihoods of local Masai communities. You will also have magnificent views of the active Oldonyo L’Engai volcano and Lake Natron, as well as some wildlife such as Gerenuk, Lesser flamingos, and Oryx. After the walk, you will head back to the camp for lunch. After a few hours of resting, you will hike to the Ngare Sero Waterfalls accompanied by a Masai guide. You must be fit during this walk. The walk to the first waterfall is quite difficult as there is no clear footpath through the gorge, and you need to wade across the river several times. Also, expect to do some walking along ledges and clambering over rocks. After viewing the first waterfall, you will continue for another 20 minutes until you reach the second waterfall. Here you will have the opportunity to jump into the natural chilly swimming pool and freshen up. In the evening, head back to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5- Game Drives in Tarangire National Park
After an early breakfast, you will travel to Tarangire National Park for a game drive. The national park is famous for the gigantic baobab trees and the large herds of elephants. It is also the only place in Tanzania where the oryx and gerenuk are regularly spotted. You can also spot many different animals like leopards, zebras, impala, warthogs, elands, buffalo, waterbuck, and lions. Birders will also have a chance to see some birds. Since it is a full day game drive, you will have a picnic lunch somewhere in the park. After the game drive, head to your accommodation for overnight.
Meal Plan- Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Day 6- Game Drive, Village Walk & Drive to Lake Manyara
After our breakfast, you will have a game drive, and after you will travel to the farming community of ‘Mto-wa-Mbu’ which is home to around 18,000 people. You will have a walk through the community where you will get a feel of the social side and culture of the community. Your guide is a member of the community, so you will have the opportunity to see the village through his eyes. The tour will take roughly 2-3 hours, and after you will have a local Swahili meal for lunch. Later in the afternoon, transfer to your accommodation in Lake Manyara National Park for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan- Breakfast, local lunch, dinner
Day 7- Game Drive & transfer to Serengeti National Park
After an early breakfast, you will go for a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. It is one of Tanzania’s small national parks with around 11 ecosystems ranging from savannah to marshland, where you can find some elephants and tree climbing lions. It also has an evergreen rainforest where you will find baboons and other animals as well as some bird species. You will also find flamingos, pelicans, and other water birds on the lake, which is home to over 300 species of migratory birds. After your picnic lunch, you will drive to Serengeti National Park.
Meal Plan- Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Day 8- Full day Game Drive
Very early in the morning, you will set off from your accommodation for a full day safari. Early morning is the best time to observe predators hunt for prey. You will visit Seronera Valley, the heart of Serengeti, where you will see different kinds of wild animals like the lions and mongoose. You will find a nice spot with the help of your guide to have packed lunch. After you will continue with your safari/game drive, and later in the evening you will head back to your accommodation for dinner and relaxing.
There is an optional Hot Air Balloon Safari Serengeti that costs US$500 per person. It is another way of viewing game in the park. The balloon safari starts early morning, and the capacity is limited hence making this experience special and exclusive. It takes approximately 1 hour depending on the weather conditions, and you will end this excursion in style with a champagne bush breakfast in the middle of the park!
Meal Plan- Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Day 5- Game Drives in Tarangire National Park
After an early breakfast, you will travel to Tarangire National Park for a game drive. The national park is famous for the gigantic baobab trees and the large herds of elephants. It is also the only place in Tanzania where the oryx and gerenuk are regularly spotted. You can also spot many different animals like leopards, zebras, impala, warthogs, elands, buffalo, waterbuck, and lions. Birders will also have a chance to see some birds. Since it is a full day game drive, you will have a picnic lunch somewhere in the park. After the game drive, head to your accommodation for overnight.
Meal Plan- Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Day 6- Game Drive, Village Walk & Drive to Lake Manyara
After our breakfast, you will have a game drive, and after you will travel to the farming community of ‘Mto-wa-Mbu’ which is home to around 18,000 people. You will have a walk through the community where you will get a feel of the social side and culture of the community. Your guide is a member of the community, so you will have the opportunity to see the village through his eyes. The tour will take roughly 2-3 hours, and after you will have a local Swahili meal for lunch. Later in the afternoon, transfer to your accommodation in Lake Manyara National Park for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan- Breakfast, local lunch, dinner
Day 7- Game Drive & transfer to Serengeti National Park
After an early breakfast, you will go for a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park. It is one of Tanzania’s small national parks with around 11 ecosystems ranging from savannah to marshland, where you can find some elephants and tree climbing lions. It also has an evergreen rainforest where you will find baboons and other animals as well as some bird species. You will also find flamingos, pelicans, and other water birds on the lake, which is home to over 300 species of migratory birds. After your picnic lunch, you will drive to Serengeti National Park.
Meal Plan- Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Day 8- Full day Game Drive
Very early in the morning, you will set off from your accommodation for a full day safari. Early morning is the best time to observe predators hunt for prey. You will visit Seronera Valley, the heart of Serengeti, where you will see different kinds of wild animals like the lions and mongoose. You will find a nice spot with the help of your guide to have packed lunch. After you will continue with your safari/game drive, and later in the evening you will head back to your accommodation for dinner and relaxing.
There is an optional Hot Air Balloon Safari Serengeti that costs US$500 per person. It is another way of viewing game in the park. The balloon safari starts early morning, and the capacity is limited hence making this experience special and exclusive. It takes approximately 1 hour depending on the weather conditions, and you will end this excursion in style with a champagne bush breakfast in the middle of the park!
Meal Plan- Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Day 9- Game drive in Serengeti and drive to Ngorongoro Crater
After an early breakfast, you have a game drive on your way out of The Serengeti National Park. You will drive to Ngorongoro Crater. Your destination will be the Ngorongoro Conservation Area which lies immediately adjacent to Serengeti National Park. When you arrive in the afternoon, you will have a game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater. Depending on the time of year, you may see flocks of pink flamingo around the shores of the shallow Lake Magadi, while the surrounding swamp is inhabited by hippos. In the evening, you will drive to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan- Breakfast, packed lunch & dinner
Day 10- Departure
After your breakfast, depending on your flight, your driver/guide will transfer you to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight back home.
Meal Plan- Breakfast
Tour Package Includes:
- Transport in a 4WD Landcruiser with a pop-up roof
- Airport transfers
- English speaking driver/guide
- Accommodation as per programme
- Meals as per programme
- National Park entrance fees as per programme
- All activities as per programme
Excludes:
- International air fares and entry visa to Tanzania
- Meals that are not part of your accommodation
- Personal (medical/travel) insurance
- Government tax or park fees increase
- Tips and gratuities to rangers, driver/guide, porter, hotel staff, etc
- All expenses of personal nature (e.g. drinks, laundry, optional activities, souvenirs etc.)
Day 9- Game drive in Serengeti and drive to Ngorongoro Crater
After an early breakfast, you have a game drive on your way out of The Serengeti National Park. You will drive to Ngorongoro Crater. Your destination will be the Ngorongoro Conservation Area which lies immediately adjacent to Serengeti National Park. When you arrive in the afternoon, you will have a game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater. Depending on the time of year, you may see flocks of pink flamingo around the shores of the shallow Lake Magadi, while the surrounding swamp is inhabited by hippos. In the evening, you will drive to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan- Breakfast, packed lunch & dinner
Day 10- Departure
After your breakfast, depending on your flight, your driver/guide will transfer you to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight back home.
Meal Plan- Breakfast
Tour Package Includes:
- Transport in a 4WD Landcruiser with a pop-up roof
- Airport transfers
- English speaking driver/guide
- Accommodation as per programme
- Meals as per programme
- National Park entrance fees as per programme
- All activities as per programme
Excludes:
- International air fares and entry visa to Tanzania
- Meals that are not part of your accommodation
- Personal (medical/travel) insurance
- Government tax or park fees increase
- Tips and gratuities to rangers, driver/guide, porter, hotel staff, etc
- All expenses of personal nature (e.g. drinks, laundry, optional activities, souvenirs etc.)
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