Best of Northern Tanzania

After clearing the baggage claim and customs you are met by your safari representative who will take you to your hotel for the evening. Your safari representative will be your guide and driver for the duration of your safari.

This morning, begin your exploration of the highlights of Tanzania. Head for Lake Manyara National Park, watching out for game en route. Spot the elusive tree climbing lion, or watch for the twitch of a leopard's tail as you make your way to the Migunga Forest Camp.

Head north towards Lake Natron after breakfast. There is an opportunity for an optional cultural tour in the town of Mto Wa Mbu to experience a typical day with the locals. A guide from the village will take you through the markets, to rice fields, banana plantations, through the streets where people are cooking meals, to painters and carpenters with an opportunity to purchase some art. You will also have the option to try some locally-made banana beer! This is a wonderful way to see the Tanzanian people in their everyday lives.

This morning, you will meet your Maasai guide who will be with you for the next day. After breakfast, take a walk or drive to explore the area surrounding Lake Natron. Lake Natron is a surreal soda lake below the Rift Valley escarpment, and millions of flamingos flock here, as it is their only breeding ground. Depending on the season, this afternoon you will have the opportunity to visit a local clinic and school before stopping for a drink at Rehema's place. Enjoy the views of Ol Dointo L'Engai, the only active carbonite volcano in the world before taking a walk to a nearby waterfall. The hike to the waterfall is typically during the dry season and is dependent on the weather. Enjoy some downtime at the camp in between or after optional tours. If you're lucky, you may see a family of giraffe pass close by!

Early this morning you will drive to a Maasai boma to witness a community's morning routine, such as milking cows. Return to enjoy your last breakfast at camp and head off to the Serengeti. Renowned for its wealth of lions and leopards, the Serengeti is the quintessential safari destination. Derived from the Maasai word "srinetu" meaning "endless plains," the Serengeti plays host to more than a million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra, and 300,000 Thomson's gazelle during the annual migration.

Head out for a full day game drive in the Serengeti, examining one of the oldest ecosystems on earth. Little has changed in the Serengeti over the past million or so years, you will still find the renowned plains intermingled with wooded hills, massive termite mounds, rocky kopjes, and acacia tree lined rivers. Depending on the time of year you will be able to witness the Wildebeest Migration (Dec-July), or an abundance of predators (June-Oct). 
Today would be a perfect opportunity to have a morning hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti. Please let us know if you’re interested in this unique and exciting experience. We can look into availability and pricing for this option.

Take an early morning game drive and return to camp in time for breakfast, then back out for another game experience before lunch. This afternoon travel towards the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation area and to your next accommodation for the evening.

Today descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a six hour tour. As the world's largest caldera (nearly 100 square miles), Ngorongoro boasts over 20,000 large animals, including Tanzania's remaining black rhino. Living alongside the abundance of wildlife here you find 40,000 Maasai pastoralists with their cattle, goats, and sheep. The conservation gives a rare look into how people harmoniously lived with nature and wildlife in ancient times.

We can plan an optional visit at Oldupai Gorge for an additional cost. Please let us know if you would like to add it. This site provides evidence of the earliest signs of mankind, showcasing hominid footprints preserved in volcanic rock that date back 3.6 million years. Return to Tarangire Safari Lodge for your final night in Tanzania.

Say goodbye to your new friends as you traverse Tarangire National Park on your way back to Arusha to catch your flight home, or continue on your journey with an extension to Mount Kilimanjaro or on a Zanzibar tour.