Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro or Arusha Airport, your dedicated driver-guide will greet you and provide a safety orientation, a vehicle tour, and an overview of your safari. You'll then enjoy a scenic transfer to your Arusha lodge, passing coffee farms and Maasai homesteads along the way. After check-in and some time to unpack and settle in, you'll receive a short primer on Tanzania's rich ecosystems and wildlife etiquette. The afternoon is yours to relax by the pool or explore Arusha town at your leisure. As evening falls, join your guide for a sundowner and an introduction to the next day's adventure. Dinner is available at your lodge's restaurant, and we recommend an early night to rest for your first safari.
Full board
Forest Hill Hotel
Day 1: Arusha - Tarangire National Park
Your first safari day begins with a sunrise tea and a hearty breakfast before heading out for a 2.5-hour drive to Tarangire National Park. Known for its ancient baobab trees and vast elephant herds, Tarangire delivers incredible wildlife encounters right from the start. After a mid-morning game drive, you'll enjoy a picnic lunch under the shade of acacia trees, complete with grilled chicken, fresh salads, and cold drinks. In the afternoon, continue exploring the park's floodplains and riverbeds, with a short ecological talk to deepen your understanding. By late afternoon, arrive at your tented camp, where a cold towel and refreshments await. Enjoy tea and snacks at dusk, followed by a delicious three-course dinner under the stars.
Full board
Africa Safari Lake Manyara
Day 2: Tarangire - Lake Natron via Engaruka: Ngarasero Falls & soda-lake birding 180 km / 4 h
Begin your day with a sunrise tea and a briefing on the fascinating geology and ecology of Lake Natron. After breakfast and packing up, you'll embark on a scenic four-hour drive to Natron, passing through the historical site of Engaruka. Enjoy a picnic lunch en route before arriving at Ngarasero Falls, where you can take a short walk and swim in the natural pools. In the afternoon, stroll along the shores of Lake Natron, home to flocks of flamingos and other birdlife. After checking in at your lakeside camp, unwind with a sundowner and stories about the nearby active volcano, Ol Doinyo Lengai. Dinner is served buffet-style, featuring traditional Tanzanian stews and fresh salads.
Full board
African safari Lake Natron Lodges
Day 3: Lake Natron - Serengeti via Klein’s Gate: afternoon game drive
After a warm cup of tea and a review of your route, you’ll have breakfast and set off toward the Serengeti via the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Stop briefly at the crater rim for photos, with optional detours to a Maasai boma or the historic Olduvai Gorge. Continue through Klein’s Gate into Serengeti National Park, enjoying a picnic lunch along the way. Your first game drive in the Serengeti promises sightings of giraffes, zebras, and perhaps your first big cats. Upon arrival at your camp, you’ll be welcomed with drinks and have time to relax before a sunset bush sundowner on a scenic kopje. Dinner is served under the open sky, closing your first Serengeti day in style.
Full board
Africa Safari Maasai Boma
Day 4: Full-day Serengeti game drives: big cats, migration herds, “Hatari” filming sites
Rise early for tea and head out for a thrilling morning game drive, tracking wildebeest herds during their great migration. Mid-morning, you’ll pause for a conservation talk explaining the science behind these epic animal movements, followed by coffee and pastries. Continue your safari through dramatic terrain and watering holes where crocodiles and hippos linger. Enjoy a picnic lunch in a shaded clearing before resuming your afternoon drive in search of big cats and birdlife. Return to camp in the evening to relax and recap the day’s sightings before enjoying a multi-course dinner. Stargazing is optional but highly recommended under the Serengeti’s expansive night sky.
Full board
Embalakai Serengeti Camp
Day 5: En-route Game Drives + Crater Ecology Briefing – Karatu
Begin your day with sunrise tea, then enjoy a scenic en-route game drive through the Serengeti’s western corridor. By mid-morning, you’ll arrive at Crater Rim Café for a buffet lunch with sweeping views into Ngorongoro Crater. After lunch, attend a short briefing on the crater’s unique ecology and black rhino conservation. Continue to Karatu and check in at your lodge, where you’ll have time to relax or take a short nature walk before tea and a route briefing for tomorrow’s crater descent. Dinner will blend local flavors with international favorites.
Full board
Pamoja Farm Villas
Day 6: Hadzabe cultural tour at Lake Eyasi - return to Arusha
After your final sunrise tea in the wild, descend into the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater for a half-day safari. This UNESCO World Heritage site is home to endangered black rhinos, hippos, flamingos, lions, and hyenas, all thriving within the crater’s walls. You’ll stop at a scenic hippo pool for a picnic lunch and then enjoy a final game drive as you ascend the crater. In the afternoon, begin your journey back to Arusha, arriving in the evening. Dinner is on your own at the lodge, with time to reflect on an extraordinary week in the wild.
Breakfast
Forest Hill Hotel
Day 7: Fly Arusha - Zanzibar - transfer to beach resort
After breakfast and check-out, your driver will transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your short domestic flight to Zanzibar. Upon arrival, a representative will greet you and transfer you to your beach resort. The afternoon is yours to relax by the sea or unwind at the spa. In the evening, enjoy a beachside sundowner and dinner at the resort’s restaurant, marking the start of your coastal escape.
pend your days enjoying the pristine beaches of Zanzibar. Whether you prefer lounging under palm trees, snorkeling in coral reefs, or exploring Jozani Forest, each day is yours to shape. Sunset mocktails and relaxed dinners at the resort cap off each tropical day.
Half board
Zanzibar Bay resort
Day 9: Zanzibar beach leisure & additional activities
pend your days enjoying the pristine beaches of Zanzibar. Whether you prefer lounging under palm trees, snorkeling in coral reefs, or exploring Jozani Forest, each day is yours to shape. Sunset mocktails and relaxed dinners at the resort cap off each tropical day.
Half board
Zanzibar Bay resort
Day 10: Stone Town walking tour & Spice Farm excursion - return to resort
Today begins with a short transfer to Stone Town, where you’ll explore the city’s UNESCO-listed alleyways, marketplaces, and history-rich sites. Afterward, head to a nearby spice plantation for a guided tasting tour showcasing Zanzibar’s famous spices. Return to your resort for a restful afternoon before dinner.
Half board
Zanzibar Bay resort
Day 11: Zanzibar beach leisure
Enjoy a day at the beach bliss or opt for additional activities like a dhow cruise, scuba diving, or cultural tours. As before, each day includes breakfast, dinner, and optional sunset drinks.
Half board
Zanzibar Bay resort
Day 12: Last day on the beach + your flight back home
