8 DAYS WILDEBEEST MARA RIVER CROSSING

Your Tanzanian adventure begins as you touch down at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), the gateway to the safari circuit. On a clear day, you may catch a glimpse of Mount Kilimanjaro’s snow-capped peak from the tarmac. You will be welcomed by a representative and transferred to your hotel in Arusha, a vibrant city nestled at the foot of Mount Meru. Depending on your arrival time, you safari briefing may take place today or early tomorrow meaning.

Meal: Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Arusha 

After breakfast, you will leave Arusha and drive southwest towards Tarangire National Park. As you enter the park, the landscape transforms into a dramatic vista of grassy savannah dotted with ancient, bulbous baobab trees and termite mounds. Known as the "Elephant Playground," this park hosts the largest concentration of elephants in the region. You will spend the day game driving, watching family herds dig for water in the riverbeds and spotting other residents like giraffes, wildebeest, and the rare fringe-eared oryx. You will overnight in a lodge within or near the park, surrounded by the sounds of the African bush.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Lodge/Camp in Tarangire

Today involves a scenic and adventurous drive as you head towards the Serengeti. You will ascend the Great Rift Valley escarpment and cross the cool, green highlands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You will stop at the crater rim viewpoint for a breathtaking look at the caldera before descending onto the vast plains. As you pass Naabi Hill Gate, the trees disappear, replaced by the "endless plains" that give the park its name. The drive to the Central Seronera area serves as your first game drive in the park, offering chances to spot hyenas, zebras, and gazelles before arriving at your camp in the late afternoon.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Lodge/Camp in Central Serengeti

Today, you will journey from the heart of the park to its remote northern reaches near the Kenyan border. As you drive north, the terrain becomes more rugged, characterized by rolling hills and rocky outcrops known as kopjes. This drive offers a chance to see distinct habitats and the wildlife that resides within them, such as topis and elephants. By afternoon, you will arrive in the Northern Serengeti. Between July and October, this area is the stage for the Great Migration’s dramatic river crossings.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Lodge/Camp in Northern Serengeti

You have a full day dedicated to exploring the Northern Serengeti. This region is defined by the Mara River, famous for its massive Nile crocodiles and hippos. During the migration season, you may spend hours waiting by the riverbanks, hoping to witness the chaotic spectacle of wildebeest plunging into the water. Even without the migration, the North is spectacular; the landscape is lush and green for much of the year. The sense of isolation and wildness here is profound compared to the busier southern sections of the park.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Lodge/Camp in Northern Serengeti

After a final morning game drive in the North, you will turn south, beginning the return journey to the Central Serengeti. This "game drive en route" allows you to explore areas like the Lobo Valley, which is rich in lion prides and elephants. You will return to the Seronera Valley, ensuring you are well-positioned for your journey to the crater later in the trip. The central area’s reliable water sources mean predator action is always high, and you might spot cheetahs using termite mounds as vantage points to scout for prey.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Lodge/Camp in Central Serengeti

After a final morning game drive in the Serengeti to track any wildlife you may have missed, you will bid farewell to the plains and drive back towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This return journey offers a second chance to spot wildlife across the plains, such as hyenas and jackals. You will ascend into the crater highlands, arriving at your lodge on the crater rim (or in nearby Karatu) in the late afternoon. The evening is spent relaxing and enjoying the spectacular views, preparing for the descent into the crater the next day.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Lodge/Camp in Ngorongoro

You will start this final day very early to maximize your time in the crater. It is a short drive from Karatu to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area gate, where you will descend 600 meters to the crater floor. This ancient volcanic caldera is a self-contained ecosystem teeming with wildlife, including the Big Five. You will spend the morning exploring the crater floor, with high chances of spotting lions, hyenas, and the critically endangered Black Rhino. After a picnic lunch near the hippo pool, you will ascend the steep walls and begin the drive to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). The drive takes you past Arusha and on to the airport, arriving in the early evening.

Meal: Breakfast & Lunch

Important Flight Note: Please note that your safari ends at around 18:00 hours at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Please plan your outbound flight to depart after 20:00 hours for domestic flight and 21:00 hours for International Flight. If you have an earlier flight please consider adding an extra night in Arusha.