5/5.0

Journey Time: 1 – 2 Hours  

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, be welcomed by our safari guide(s) and then transfer to the hotel in Tanzania’s Arusha City. Get to the hotel to check-in to spend the rest of this day/night at leisure. Dinner included based on arrival time.

Arusha City: Situated on the lower slopes of Mount Meru and on eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley, Arusha is close to the top attractions of Tanzania such as Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park, Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Mount Meru in the Arusha National Park. It is an international diplomatic hub known for; hosting the African Union Court, capital of the East African Community, and also hosted the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, today Arusha hosts one of the headquarters of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals. Arusha is home to the National Natural History Museum, which contains three exhibits on early man, plants and animals of the region, and its history. The significant museum was recently an administrative outpost for the Germans (1900s), but converted to a public museum in 1987.

Overnight: Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge – or similar
Meal Plan: Half Board (Dinner and Breakfast)

Journey Time: Approx. 2 Hours

Pick-up Time: 08:30AM. Breakfast at the Hotel and check-out. As scheduled, start off with a tour of Arusha City. 

Arusha City Tour/Excursion – On your city tour, explore the colourful and fragrant food and vegetable markets (to explore African spices, vegetables and fruits) and visit the Arusha Clock Tower, which marks the centre of Africa. Extend to the old Boma German Museum for a look at the archaeological artefacts, as well as the graves of Polish war refugees (Tengeru). Included is a walk to the Masai Market for souvenir shopping and cultural interactions: Your tour ends with a stopover at Arusha Declaration monument.

Following a brief tour of Arusha, travel to Tarangire National Park. Upon arrival at, check-in at the lodge and enjoy your lunch.

Next is an Evening Game Drive and Sundowner – Late afternoon head out for an evening game drive in the park; enjoy sights of the park’s immense elephant herds and well as other animals and birds at sunset. Included is a sundowner at a scenic spot; this comes with a few cocktails, juices, coffees/teas and snacks, highlighted by great views of the savannah grasslands as the sun sinks into the horizon. 

Return to the lodge late evening to refresh for dinner at leisure.

Tarangire National Park – Tanzania’s 6th largest National Park and covers a 2,600 sq.km conservation area. It lies between the meadows of the Masai Steppe (southeast) and the lakes of the Great Rift Valley (north and west). In the northern region of the park is River Tarangire, (life-line of the park) which is the park’s only source of hydration in the long dry season. Tarangire is popular for hosting the highest population of African elephants than any park in northern Tanzania – on a daily, over 300 elephants are seen along the Tarangire River in the dry season. Furthermore, the park is known for its massive ancient baobab trees, and excellent birding spots. Besides the elephants, at Tarangire expect sighting other animals such as impalas, elands, buffaloes, giraffes, Bohor reedbuck, Coke’s hartebeest, Thompson’s gazelle, greater and lesser kudu as well as wildebeests and zebras; the predators common here are the leopards, lions, hyenas, and cheetah and the occasional wild dogs; with over 545 bird species. 

Overnight: Elewana Tarangire Treetops Lodge – or similar
Meal Plan: Full Board

Tarangire Balloon Safari and off to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Journey Time: Approx. 3 Hours   

Pick-up Time: 04:30AM. Early before sunrise, checkout and transfer to the balloon launch site. Arrive at the launch site by 06:00AM for briefing before starting off your balloon adventure; as you wait for take-off, be offered a cup of coffee/tea to energize.

Tarangire Balloon Safari and Bush Breakfast – After briefing and guidance, embark and hit the skies at sunrise for a great opportunity to capture the wilderness golden hour (sunrise). On your balloon adventure, traverse the Tarangire River, and admire the surrounding granitic rocks, dense swamps, as well as the deep river valleys; the stunning views of Tarangire’s millennial old baobab trees, together with a sheer population of the elephant herds, with  an opportunity to spot the leopard on the hunt, will make your balloon flight worthwhile. On landing head to the set venue for your Bush Breakfast; be served a delicious African-style breakfast in the heart or Tarangire National Park. Explore and taste freshly baked pastries, eggs/omelettes, exotic fruits, and numerous hot dishes awaits – This comes with teas/coffees, a glass of champagne and/or fresh juices.

After breakfast, continue with a Game Drive en-route to Ngorongoro: On safari expect to spot animals such as Lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, buffalo, warthogs, hartebeest, kudu, oryx, eland, gazelles, mongoose, pythons, and over 550 bird species including ostriches! Included is a stopover at River Tarangire with its elephant herds, baobab trees (photo opportunity).

From Tarangire, proceed to Ngorongoro Conservation Area: Arrive and head to the lodge to check-in: Lunch is served with the rest of this day at leisure.

Overnight: The Retreat at Ngorongoro – or similar
Meal Plan: Full Board

Pickup Time: 06:30AM. Breakfast and dinner at the lodge + a picnic lunch in the crater. This day is dedicated to exploring the stunning adventures of Ngorongoro. Starting with a guided game drive, and continue to experience the wonderful Ngorongoro Crater. 

Included in your guided game drive is Ndutu Plains: Situated on the outskirts of the Southern Serengeti plains – the plains are enriched with tremendous acacia trees, providing a panoramic view across Lake Ndutu and Masek. Reaching Ndutu means being in a calving ground for migratory animals, specifically the wildebeest; it is composed of vast savannah grasslands, soda-lake Masek, marshes, and woodland vegetation which offers a conducive atmosphere for calving. Thousands of calves are born here every calving season, making Ndutu a home for new creatures on Earth. Giraffe, impala, elephant, dik dik, lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena, bat-eared fox, genet, jackal, wildcat, and many other animals call Ndutu home.

Explore the stunning Ngorongoro Crater; a renown world’s largest and most scenic volcanic crater! Ngorongoro is an utterly unique biosphere that has remained virtually untouched since the dawn of time. Deep within the crater, enclosed by towering walls, some over 20,000 large mammals roam in the plains, lakes, and forests of this land that time forgot, dominated by enormous bull elephants, rhinos, lions, and birds of all kind. Enjoy a picnic lunch within Ngorongoro Crater amid stunning views!

The adventure continues to Olduvai Gorge and Olduvai Museum; a pre-historic archaeological site where the ancient fossils (early man) were discovered hence the “Cradle of Mankind”. Get to learn about; the discovery works of Mary and Louis Leakey; then proceed to Olduvai Museum; which exhibits numerous fossils, stone tools of our hominid ancestors and skeletons of extinct animals excavated in the gorge. It was founded by Mary Leakey in 1970 and later redeveloped to its present look in 2017.  

Returning to the lodge will be in the late afternoon/evening to refresh for dinner.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (UNESCO World Heritage Site): Was once a part of the great Serengeti National Park, but later in 1959, the Ngorongoro was split from Serengeti into an independently protected area a with unique outstanding universal values and conservational status. At the top of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders; Ngorongoro was upgraded to a UNESCO World Heritage status in 1979, owing to its global biodiversity significance portrayed by the presence of endemic animal species, immense wildlife within and the annual migration of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles into the northern plains.

Overnight: The Retreat at Ngorongoro – or similar
Meal Plan: Full Board

Journey Time: Approx. 2 Hours to Serengeti

Pick-up Time: 06:30AM. Early refreshment at the lodge and check-out. Enjoy one more guided game drive in Ngorongoro en-route to Serengeti National Park; exploring nocturnal animals at sunrise.Pause your safari at a set Bush Breakfast Spot: Arrive and make yourself comfortable around set tables, for breakfast to be served breakfast in the wilderness at sunrise! The scenic spot is setup with tables, camping chairs, campfire, a live “bush kitchen” with a professional chef and his team. Be welcomed with a glass of chilled sparkling wine or fresh-pressed orange juice: Then to a delicious full English breakfast; the chef will offer a choice of sausage, bacon, eggs, tomatoes and toast as you sock-in some vitamins from the morning sun.

Thereafter, continues on your way to the Serengeti still with a game experience. Arriving at Serengeti will be for lunch at lodge upon check-in. In the evening head out for a guided game drive at sunset. Diner at the lodge.

Overnight: Elewana Serengeti Pioneer Camp – or similar
Meal Plan: Full Board

Pickup Time: 06:30AM. Early breakfast at the lodge and go for an epic guided game drive in the legendary Serengeti National Park (detailed safari experience).  

Safari in Serengeti National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site) – The word “Serengeti” was derived from the Masai language, meaning “endless plains”. Serengeti remains outstanding due its beauty and being a home to the Great Wildebeest Migration: The huge herds of plains game such as wildebeest, zebra and antelope dominate the park whereas the attendant predators such as lion and cheetah are often overseeing the plains from the many kopjes scattered across. The park’s savannah-wood-landscape is composed of open grass plains, savannah with scattered acacia trees, hilly, wooded grassland as well as, extensive woodland and black clay plains. Serengeti is also renowned for vast wildlife populations: a record 2 million+ ungulates, 4000 lions, 1000 leopards, 550 cheetahs and over 500 bird species, inhabiting a close to 15,000sq.km area – a great opportunity to witness an iconic Great Migration on your safari adventure! A few snacks and soft drinks will be provided during your game drive. Lunch and refreshment at the lodge following a successful morning safari.  

Late afternoon – Go for the Masai Cultural Visit: The Masai are a dominant nomadic warrior tribe residing within the Serengeti, and still live largely untouched by modernity. The Maasai live in traditional “Manyattas”; low height huts, made of mud, cow dung and wood, with a single entrance and minimal side windows – these are clustered forming a homestead/village “Masai Boma”, without modern facilities (power, piped water and more) Enjoy a cultural immersion on your visit to a Maasai village; interact with the Maasai and get to explore their unique culture and traditional lifestyle (customs and practices).

Return to the lodge late evening to refresh for dinner at leisure.

Overnight: Elewana Serengeti Pioneer Camp – or similar
Meal Plan: Full Board

Flight Duration: Approx. 2 Hours

Pickup time: flexible based on confirmed flight.  Breakfast at the lodge and check-out according to your domestic flight schedule (lunch included for afternoon flights).

Be dropped off at either Seronera or Kogatende Airstrip to check-in for your domestic flight to Kilimanjaro (departure time(s) 09:25/14:55). Upon landing at Kilimanjaro International Airport proceed to check-in for your onward flight or transfer to your reserved hotel dayroom for later departure. Lunch/dinner to be offered based on onward flight schedule.

Accommodation: Airport Planet Lodge (Dayroom only)
Meal Plan: Lunch/dinner