The Ultimate Tanzania Safari: Arusha, Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Arusha, Visit the Cultural Heritage Centre

Welcome to Tanzania! Touch down at Kilimanjaro Airport and meet your driver for a one-hour transfer to your hotel in Arusha. Nestled at the base of Mount Meru, this culturally diverse city is known for being the gateway to the country's northern safari circuit. Stay in and relax by the pool, or venture out to explore the city at your own pace. Opt for a visit to the Cultural Heritage Centre to learn more about Tanzanian culture and artistry. As you wander through the galleries, you'll discover exhibits that tell the stories of various tribes and their customs.

The center also features a bustling marketplace where local artisans sell their handicrafts, making it the perfect place to pick up souvenirs. After exploring, sit down at the on-site restaurant and savor traditional dishes, such as nyama choma (grilled meat), served with sides like ugali (thick porridge made from white maize meal) or kachumbari (a fresh tomato and onion salad). If you have a sweet tooth, grab a tropical fruit salad or mandazi (sweet, fried pastry) before returning to your hotel.

Day 2: Bush Walk & Game Drive in Arusha National Park

Start your day with a game drive in Arusha National Park, just 40 minutes outside the city. When you arrive, you'll meet an armed ranger at Momella Gate and set off on foot to Ngurdo Crater. A walking safari allows you to experience the park's diverse flora and fauna up close as you move quietly through open grasslands and dense forests. Keep an eye out for giraffes, zebras, buffalo, and a variety of antelope, along with smaller creatures that typically go unnoticed during a game drive, like bushbabies, chameleons, and dung beetles. 

As you approach the crater, you'll be rewarded with sweeping views of the lush interior teeming with wildlife, such as buffalo, waterbucks, giraffes, warthogs, zebras, and baboons. After enjoying the view, head to a picnic spot for lunch. Then, jump in a safari vehicle to search for more animals in the national park. Be sure to look up, as the park has over 400 bird species, including African fish eagles, augur buzzards, and turacos. Following a full day on safari, transfer back to your hotel in Arusha to relax. 

Day 3: Transfer to Tarangire National Park, Afternoon Game Drive

Leave Arusha's busy city streets behind this morning as you set off on a two-hour transfer to Tarangire National Park, famous for its towering baobab trees and large herds of elephants. When you arrive, check in at your safari lodge before setting off on a game drive through the national park. Follow the banks of the baobab and acacia-lined Tarangire River, a vital and permanent water source where plenty of wildlife gather to drink water. Here, you may spot large herds of elephants, African buffalo, giraffes, and zebras.

Be sure to look in the water for hippos lounging about to keep cool. In addition to these well-known creatures, you'll also find endangered animals exclusive to the national park, such as the greater kudu, the fringe-eared oryx, and the ashy starling. Along the way, stop for a picnic lunch overlooking the river, but keep an eye on your food, as the local monkey population may try to snatch it. Then, return to the lodge in time for a delicious dinner made with produce from the on-site farm. 

Day 4: Transfer to Serengeti National Park, Evening Game Drive

Trade one iconic national park for another this morning as you transfer four hours to Serengeti National Park, spanning over 5,695 square miles (14,750 sq km) of vast savannas, acacia-dotted plains, and riverine forests. On the way, stop at the Olduvai Gorge, an archaeological site where some of the earliest hominid fossils were discovered. Visit the Olduvai Gorge Museum to see replicas of fossilized remains and tools used by early humans. Enjoy a packed lunch, then jump back in the car and complete the drive to your safari lodge, ideally positioned in the center of the Serengeti. 

Settle into your luxurious canvas tent and get ready for an evening game drive through Central Serengeti. As the sun sets and temperatures cool, you'll have a better chance of spotting nocturnal creatures and predators beginning their nightly hunt. Look out for lions and leopards prowling the grasslands while you listen for the distinctive laugh of hyenas. You may also see smaller creatures like genets, bushbabies, porcupines, and civets. Though birds can be harder to spot, some nocturnal species exist in the park, like the African nightjar and the spotted-eagle owl.

Day 5: Serengeti Game Drive & Bird-Watching 

Prepare for an early wake-up call as you embark on a game drive through the national park when the wildlife is most active. Watch the sunrise over the vast plains, casting a golden light as nocturnal creatures return from their hunt and the park's wildlife wake up to start the day. Look for predators, like lions, cheetahs, and leopards, and see herds of wildebeest, zebras, and antelopes grazing peacefully. Then, return to the lodge for a delicious breakfast and some free time to relax after your early start.

In the afternoon, join your guide on a bird-watching tour in the Serengeti, home to over 500 species. Keep an eye on the skies to see African fish eagles and lilac-breasted rollers soaring above the rivers and lakes. You'll also spot plenty of ground-dwelling birds, including ostriches, secretary birds, and flamingoes. Tread quietly behind your guide and listen to hear the birds before you see them. After the tour, head back to the lodge for dinner under a star-filled sky uninterrupted by city lights.

Day 6: Morning Game Drive in Serengeti, Transfer to Ngorongoro Crater

Set off on one last game drive in the Serengeti to search for any wildlife you may have missed, like hippos lazing about in the cool water of the park's rivers and lakes alongside the crocodiles or a pride of lions resting in the shade of a tree. Then, meet your driver in the afternoon for a two-hour transfer to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, known for its vast crater formed by a volcanic eruption millions of years ago. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is now home to an astonishing variety of wildlife, including the critically endangered black rhino.

You'll travel through the Ngorongoro Highlands, giving you your first look at the region's green hills and valleys. When you arrive, check in at your safari lodge at the southern end of the conservation area and settle into your luxurious tent. Then, head to the bar for a cocktail before enjoying dinner at the multi-cuisine restaurant.

Day 7: Ngorongoro Game Drive, Transfer to Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast at the lodge, transfer to the Ngorongoro Crater for a full-day tour of its diverse ecosystem spanning over 100 square miles (260 sq km). Descend into the crater and traverse the open grasslands, acacia forests, and shimmering lakes. The sheer abundance of wildlife in this compact area makes every vehicle turn a potential highlight. In addition to the Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos), you may also see wildebeest, zebras, hyenas, and even cheetahs if you're lucky. 

Head toward Lake Magadi, a shallow alkaline lake renowned for its turquoise waters and the mesmerizing sight of thousands of flamingoes that flock to its shores. The vast expanse of shimmering water contrasts beautifully with the surrounding arid land, creating a picturesque setting perfect for wildlife photography. After snapping a few pictures, continue to a nearby hippo pond to enjoy lunch and watch hippos wallow in the water or bask in the sun. When ready, bid farewell to the crater and transfer 2.5 hours to Lake Manyara National Park, situated between the lake and the Great Rift Valley.

Day 8: Game Drive in Lake Manyara National Park, Transfer to Arusha

Today, you'll head out on your final game drive to explore Lake Manyara National Park. Discover a range of habitats, including dense woodlands, acacia trees, swamps, and the open waters of Lake Manyara, an alkaline lake that draws large flocks of flamingoes and other waterbirds. The park's diversity supports a variety of flora and fauna, including the tree-climbing lions that lounge in the branches of acacia trees. While trying to spot these big cats, you'll see large herds of elephants foraging for food in the lush vegetation and African buffalo, hippos, warthogs, and giraffes.

The park's groundwater forest, fed by underground springs, also supports many primate species, including blue monkeys, baboons, and vervet monkeys. Stop for a picnic lunch before continuing your game drive in search of wildlife. These include some of the park's 400 bird species, like African spoonbills, southern ground hornbills, and lesser flamingoes. After a full day in the park, transfer two hours back to Arusha and check into your hotel for the night.

Day 9: Day Trip to Kikuletwa Hot Springs

Spend your penultimate day in Tanzania at the geothermal Kikuletwa Hot Springs, known for its rich turquoise color. Pack your bathing suit and towel and meet your driver in the hotel lobby at 9:00 am for a two-hour transfer to this hidden gem surrounded by lush vegetation in an otherwise semi-arid landscape. When you arrive at the natural oasis, you can swim in the warm, crystal-clear waters filtered through underground limestone rocks. As naturally heated water bubbles up through the earth, enjoy a gentle massage while you float in the springs.

After your refreshing swim, you can swing on a rope hanging from the trees and splash into the water, relax under the shade of ancient fig trees, or opt for activities like snorkeling and guided nature walks to discover the area's flora and fauna. At the end of the day, transfer back to your hotel in Arusha for your final night in Tanzania. 

Day 10: Depart Arusha

While your 10-day tour of Arusha and some of Tanzania's best national parks ends today, you may have time to explore more of the city before your flight home. Consider heading to the National Natural History Museum to learn about the country's rich natural heritage or the Maasai Market to shop for souvenirs among the array of handmade goods. When it's time, return to your hotel to grab your bags, meet your driver, and transfer to the airport. Safe travels!