Grand Tanzania Journey: Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Cultural Encounters

Welcome to Tanzania! Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you will be warmly greeted and transferred to KIA Lodge, a charming property ideally located just minutes from the airport. Nestled amid acacia trees and offering sweeping views of Mount Kilimanjaro (on clear days), the lodge provides a peaceful and convenient setting to rest after your international flight. Settle in and enjoy a relaxed evening at leisure. Dinner is included at the lodge.

Accomodation: KIA Lodge or similar
Meals included: Dinner

This morning, meet your private safari guide and driver, who will accompany you throughout your journey. Set off for a full-day exploration of Arusha National Park, a hidden gem nestled beneath the majestic Mount Meru. Though smaller than many of Tanzania’s parks, Arusha offers a remarkable diversity of landscapes - from lush montane forests and sparkling lakes to open savannahs. Keep an eye out for giraffe, buffalo, flamingos, colobus monkeys, and more. After your day of discovery, continue to the peaceful Moivaro Coffee Plantation Lodge, set in a tranquil garden setting on the outskirts of Arusha.

Accomodation: Moivaro Coffee Plantation Lodge or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

After breakfast, journey to Tarangire National Park, famed for its ancient baobab trees and impressive herds of elephants. The park's varied terrain is home to an abundance of wildlife including lions, zebras, wildebeest, and over 500 bird species. Spend the day on game drives through this ruggedly beautiful landscape, soaking in the raw and untamed atmosphere. In the late afternoon, travel to Migunga Tented Camp, located in a quiet forest near Mto wa Mbu.

Accomodation: Migunga Tented Camp or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Today’s drive is one of the most scenic of your journey. Depart Tarangire and ascend into the Ngorongoro Highlands, passing through the lush, elevated terrain of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Continue down onto the seemingly endless plains of the Serengeti, where you will begin to spot wildlife as soon as you enter the park. A game drive en route introduces you to the Serengeti’s open savannahs and abundant game. You will overnight at Ikoma Tented Camp, situated just outside the park boundary, but ideally positioned along wildlife migration routes.

Accomodation: Ikoma Tented Camp or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Today you will explore the Ikoma Wildlife Management Area, a private reserve bordering the western edge of the Serengeti. Wildlife freely roams here, as this area lies along a vital corridor used during the Great Migration. Without the restrictions of national park rules, guests can enjoy unique activities like a guided walking safari or opt for another exhilarating game drive. With fewer vehicles and open landscapes, the experience feels more intimate and immersive.

Accomodation: Ikoma Tented Camp or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Depart Ikoma after breakfast and enjoy one last drive through the Serengeti as you make your way back into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. By midday, descend into the legendary Ngorongoro Crater, a collapsed volcanic caldera teeming with life. Home to some 25,000 large mammals in an area just 20 km wide, the crater offers one of Africa’s most concentrated and reliable game viewing experiences. Look out for black rhino, hippo, lion, and large herds of zebra and wildebeest. After an unforgettable afternoon, settle in at Crater Tented Camp, nestled on the crater rim or nearby.

Accomodation: Crater Tented Camp or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

After breakfast, begin your day with a fascinating coffee plantation tour in the lush Crater Forest area, where you will learn about the cultivation, harvesting, and roasting processes behind one of Tanzania’s most renowned exports. Then journey south to Lake Eyasi, a remote, off-the-beaten-path destination with striking landscapes and rich cultural encounters. Your home for the next two nights is Tindiga Tented Camp, perched on a hillside overlooking the Eyasi plains and offering a peaceful retreat close to traditional tribal communities.

Accomodation: Tindiga Tented Camp or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Today promises a rare and deeply enriching cultural experience. Set out at dawn to meet the Hadzabe, a hunter-gatherer tribe who have lived in the Eyasi region for thousands of years. Join them on a traditional hunt and witness their ancient survival techniques. Next, visit the Datoga, skilled blacksmiths and cattle herders who craft weapons and ornaments using age-old methods. Along the way, you may also meet members of the Maasai community and gain insight into their iconic customs and nomadic lifestyle. Return to Tindiga Camp for a restful evening after this immersive day.

Accomodation: Tindiga Tented Camp or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

After breakfast, enjoy a scenic drive back toward Arusha, passing through farmlands, villages, and rolling hills. On arrival, settle in at the serene Arusha Safari Lodge, a quiet property set on a lush hillside just outside of town. The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax by the pool, enjoy the gardens, or unwind with a massage or drink at the bar.

Accomodation: Arusha Safari Lodge or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Today is dedicated to both cultural discovery and light adventure. Begin with a guided tour of Moivaro village, where you will meet local artisans and farmers and get a glimpse of daily life in rural Tanzania. Continue with a short Arusha town tour, visiting bustling markets, craft centers, or the Natural History Museum. Optional hiking trails are available in the area for those seeking a final dose of nature and fresh air. Return to the lodge for a final evening under the African sky.

Accomodation: Arusha Safari Lodge or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

After breakfast and a leisurely morning, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport in time for your onward flight. Depart with memories of iconic wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, and deep cultural connections that will stay with you for a lifetime. This is the end of the tour.

Meals included: Breakfast

Please note: We may have to re-route the itinerary or accommodate in similar lodges in case of non-availability.

IMPORTANT: As of June 1, 2019, it has been enacted by law that plastic bags are no longer permitted to be brought into Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
The authorities enforce this law by carrying out random inspections of travelers’ luggage at airports.
Violation of the law may result in fines - and in particularly serious cases, imprisonment. Please pay close attention to this regulation.

Meet and greet services with assistance at the airport or hotel
Game drives will be in a private 4x4 safari vehicle
Services of a professional English-speaking driver-guide on private basis
All transfers
10 nights accommodation
Meals as specified
All park fees and government taxes
All activities as specified
Drinking water in the vehicle during game drives