Spend 7 memorable days in Tanzania on this easy-paced small-group tour. Explore the famed savannah of the Serengeti National Park, visit the Ngorongoro Crater in search of the Big 5, and spot tree-climbing lions around Lake Manyara. This program is an ideal introduction to a Tanzania safari, featuring the highlights of the Northern Circuit while maximizing time for adventure and wildlife viewing. This is a scheduled tour that departs every Saturday.
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Arrive in Arusha, Tanzania on the flight of your choice today. Arusha is a lively, bustling town and operates as a major base for those headed out to safari or to hike Kilimanjaro. After clearing customs you meet your transfer and make your way to the scenic Mount Meru Game Lodge. Enjoy a restful evening and dinner on your own. You embark for the Northern Safari Circuit first thing in the morning!
Day 2: Honeyguide Tarangire Camp, Tarangire National Park
Rise early for breakfast, taking in the beautiful views of Mount Meru before meeting your driver and guide and setting out for Tarangire National Park. After the Serengeti, Tarangire boasts the greatest concentration of wildlife in Tanzania, including large herds of elephant, migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala and predators. Tarangire is likely most famous for its spectacular baobab trees, which dominate the expansive landscape. Stop along the way to Honeyguide Tarangire Camp for a picnic lunch in a scenic location.
Your first day on safari concludes at the Honeyguide Tarangire Camp, set high above the Great Rift Valley. Settle in for the evening and enjoy a good night's rest before the Serengeti tomorrow.
Set out early for the famous Serengeti National Park. Situated in the heart of Tanzania, the Serengeti is home to the renowned Seronera Valley and is widely recognized for its prime wildlife viewing opportunities. This impressive landscape is characterized by endless stretches of savannah, interspersed with rocky outcrops, acacia woodlands and covered by a network of rivers, streams and waterholes. The great wildebeest migration passes through the Central Serengeti, which is home to giraffe, impala, waterbuck, hippo, elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, hyena, jackal, serval and much more. The Serengeti also offers popular activities such as cultural tours, horse riding safaris and hot air ballooning (please inquire if interested).
Arrive at your traditional tented camp just before dinner. Enjoy the solitude of the camp's location, relaxing under the starry sky.
Today you spend a full day exploring the vast wonders of the Central Serengeti. After your morning and evening game drives, return to your tented camp to spend a quiet evening in the African bush, a memorable experience for even the most seasoned of travelers. Sit around the campfire, sharing stories of your game drive and connecting with your guide or other travelers from around the world.
This morning you leave the Serengeti for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Stop along the way at the Olduvai Gorge, one of the world's most important prehistoric sites. Here you learn the fascinating story of the gorge's significance to the origin of humankind, and why it's called the "Cradle of Mankind". You then proceed to the Ngorongoro Conservation area, where a stunning first view of the crater awaits (weather depending). You soon arrive at your lodge, situated in a lush area just outside the lively town of Karatu. Karatu is a popular stopover for the safari circuit, boasting a bustling marketplace, local brewery and small tours to homesteads or into the Ngorongoro Forest. Enjoy an evening in town before settling in to your comfortable country lodge.
Rise early to make the most of your day in the Ngorongoro Crater. Known for its natural beauty and abundance of diverse wildlife, the Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa's most popular safari destinations. You quickly see why! This UNESCO site is said to be the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, and the scenery is absolutely stunning. Perhaps more notably, the Ngorongoro is home to the famed Big Five and a host of other wildlife species. Spend a full day exploring the crater before returning to your lodge in Karatu.
Day 7: Departure from Arusha
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
Today is your last day of safari, and you spend it exploring the beautiful Lake Manyara National Park. This small yet lively park supports 400 species of birds and the largest concentration of baboons anywhere in the world. Other species include giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, impala, waterbuck, warthog, the Cape clawless otter, and Egyptian mongoose. Highlights include sitings of thousands of flamingos gathered on the lake, the renowned tree-climbing lions and large families of elephants roaming through the forest.
Return to Arusha on time to catch your flight home (please note: transfer included to Arusha Airport, additional cost if going to JRO). Or, opt to extend with a relaxing beach vacation to Zanzibar!
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is 25% ($400 minimum), and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
Nancy Sin
TrustScore 4.8 | 254 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 254 reviews on
2 days ago
The holiday of a lifetime. The company is Alaksa-owned and thhat makes a big difference to the experineces you get i.e. meet genuine First Nations tribes people. The amount of wildlife was beyond my expectation, and seeing everything on sucha small, intimate boat made it even more spoecial and unique.
Liz O
2 days ago
Adventure Life covered all the details in planning our trip to Ireland. Any questions we had were answered immediately. Any trip glitches, which always happen when traveling, were resolved immediately. There were no worries, just fun!
Kathleen Weller
2 days ago
It was an outstanding, up-close, educational vacation of nature, culture, history, animals and geology! It was everything they promised! Binoculars were plentiful on the boat, but I'm glad I brought my own. Food was excellent. Rooms had black-out shades. Pack/wear multiple layers of clothing (I carried a small backpack when off the ship). Crew were delightful and very accommodating! Remember to jump FEET FIRST first when taking the optional polar plunge! Spend as much time outdoors as you are able and ENJOY!!!
Janet Dutton
1 week ago
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
1 week ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.