Northern circuit tour through all famous parks including big wildebeest migration in Serengeti
| Country | Tanzania |
| Accommodation | Upper Middle Class |
| Food | Full board |
| Minimum number of participants | 2 Personen |
Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport - Welcome to Tanzania
Today you land in East Africa - at the foot of the majestic mountain: Mount Kilimanjaro!
Perhaps you have already caught a glimpse of the highest mountain in Africa from the plane, if not, with a little luck you can still make out the summit on the drive from the airport to Arusha.
Your personal driver will be waiting for you at the exit of the airport with a sign in his hands and will give you a warm welcome on Tanzanian soil with a cheerful "Jambo" and "Karibu".
The drive to Arusha takes about 1 hour, depending on traffic and time of day. Your transfer will lead you through the first small local villages, past Mount Meru - the second highest mountain in Tanzania - to the lively city of Arusha.
Here you check into your accommodation and can recover from the journey.
Do you have any questions about the tour? Then discuss this with your guide before he says goodbye to you for the rest of the day.
Note:
If you arrive early in the morning, we would be happy to organize a guided tour of Arusha for you.
The Clock Tower, the Tanzanite Museum and the Maasai Souvenir Market are particularly worth seeing :-)
Arusha National Park with walking at the foot of Mount Meru and game drives through the park
In the morning you leave the accommodation together with the guide and continue to Arusha National Park at the foothills of Mount Meru.
A local ranger is already waiting for you here, who will also take you on a search for clues in the Arusha Naitonal Park. On a 1.5 hour easy hike, the "small five" are explained to you and the tracks on the way are read. Giraffes will cross your path, buffalo graze in the distance until you arrive at the waterfall in the park. After a short photo stop, your way back to your guide.
He is already waiting for you and explores the park with you in the safari car. The path meanders along the Momella lakes and through dense rainforest. Black and white Colobus monkeys sit in the trees and look cheekily down at the visitors. Proud giraffes stroll through the meadows and nibble on the acacia trees with devotion. Zebras and flamingos are also often seen park residents.
After the game drive, you will continue to your accommodation.
Herds of elephants and baobab trees in Tarangire National Park
Your guide will pick you up from the hotel after breakfast around 8:30 a.m. Check out of the accommodation and stow your luggage in our comfortable Toyota Landcruiser, in which you will be traveling with the guide for the next days.
The safari adventure can go on!
You can already observe the typical Tanzanian landscape on the way to Tarangire National Park. Wide savannahs, acacia trees and grasslands line the path. The vegetation is broken up by the red robes of the Maasai who herd their calves, goats and cattle here. Children who watch with big eyes the Mzungus (Swahili: the traveler / the white person) on the way to the national parks and sometimes run after the cars with big laughs and a lot of waves.
After about 2 hours you will reach the entrance gate of the Tarangire National Parks. While your guide takes care of the entry formalities, you can freshen up and visit an information trail about the park. First impressions of the dryness and heat will accompany you.
The journey continues straight into the National Park. First animals crossing your path.
The park is known for its large herds of elephants, zebras and wildebeest, but also for the baobab trees that shape the landscape. In between there are also a few lions and a variety of bird species. Especially on the Tarangire River - the main source of water in the park - you can watch the animals looking for water.
After the first impressions we take a break at the Tarangire Safari Lodge for lunch. A good mix of Tanzanian and continental food is offered here and the view from the terrace with a cup of coffee or tea is unforgettable. Many times the elephants pass under the hill and all you have to do is keep your eyes open and watch.
After your meal, continue your game drives with your guide. There is so much to discover and your guide will take you to beautiful spots in the park so that you can fully enjoy the tour - rest assured - the guide has eyes like an eagle and also spots small animals out of the corner of his eye!
The day is coming to an end and you continue to your accommodation. Here you check into your room and review the impressions of the first day of the safari.
Tarangire National Park - also home to lions, zebras and wildebeests
Another day in Tarangire National Park is calling!
Today we recommend you drive to the swamps in the southern Tarangire together with your guide. Here you can, if the elephants wish, see them wading through the water.
These animals slide slowly through the water, quench their thirst and cool off. A great contrast between the gray pachyderms and the lush green marsh grasses provide a wonderful backdrop for an unforgettable photo.
In addition to the elephants, you also have the opportunity to see lions, wildebeests and zebras in front of your lens. Warthogs wallow in the sand and run swiftly through the steppe.
You can enjoy the lunch box at a public picnic area at lunchtime before your guide continues the game drives in the afternoon. You will pass the liver sausage trees, a real curiosity in Tarangire.
Ask your guide about the story with God and the baobab trees - you will be amazed!
You end the day at the accommodation in the evening.
A great variety of birds and lions climbing the trees - Lake Manyara National Park
After the huge herds of elephants, you continue to Lake Manyara National Park.
A special highlight for bird lovers. In the winter months, the migratory birds come from the north and populate the lake - huddling close together. In addition to the storks, there are also vultures, pelicans and of course the pink flamingos!
In addition to these many species of birds, you can also watch the hippos snorting in the lake and, with a little luck, lions climbing the trees to protect themselves from annoying flies and the heat on the ground. They just hang around here and have a good time in the shade.
If time permits, drive to the hot springs - which occur here due to the activities underground - and walk a little way into the lake via a jetty.
Today we packed a packed lunch for you - you can eat it at one of the picnic areas in the park and use the sanitary facilities on site before you go on the next observation tour.
On the further way dik diks, giraffes, zebras and buffalo cross your path.
In the late afternoon you leave this impressive park and drive up to the crater highlands.
Here you check into the accommodation and can enjoy the cool air of the highlands.
The journey takes about 45 minutes - 1 hour. Pack a sweater!
Ngorongoro Crater Tour - UNESCO World Heritage Site and a special highlight
One of THE highlights in Tanzania awaits you on this day! The Ngorongoro Crater!
Today you have to get up early, strengthen yourself with breakfast and get ready for an unforgettable day.
You start from the accommodation with the safari car and your guide and first drive to the Ngorongoro Gate. Take advantage of the opportunity to find out more about this unique landscape in the visitor center.
The Ngorongoro Crater was formed from a volcano that has collapsed - forming a so-called caldera. In the whole world there are only a few formations like this that can also be accessed by car. First you drive along the edge of the crater. Get a first glimpse of the interior of the crater and Lake Magadi.
Once you get to the road for the descent into the crater, it's 600 m down to the crater floor. The safari car winds its way very slowly along the crater wall until it reaches the ground and then as if by itself plunges into this landscape. If you get there early, you will see Maasai who cross the road with their herds of cattle and lead them to the watering holes on the edge of the crater and lick special salt stones. The Maasai are the only people who are allowed to settle in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and thus shape the landscape with its typical bomas (villages).
No settlement is allowed within the crater itself, so you can observe animals such as zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, warthogs and lions in their natural habitat. Due to the limitation of the slopes of the crater, you will find an incomparable biodiversity in a small space.
A special inhabitant of the crater is the rhinoceros, which with a little luck you will see in the plain.
For lunch you stop at the picnic area - a little tip: take your meal in the car and then stretch your legs - the giant birds in the trees are just waiting to steal the bread from your fingers.
After the break you explore the rest of the crater and then make the steep ascent with the safari car back up to the crater rim - this takes a while and is mostly "pole pole" - "slowly slowly".
The driveway is done and you return to your accommodation for your overnight stay.
What a day - with lots of great experiences!
From the crater highlands to the world-famous Serengeti
The next highlight of Tanzania is on your itinerary today.
The Serengeti National Park!
The name "Serengeti" alone evokes images of vast plains with individual acacia trees, lions roaming the savannah and breathtaking sunsets!
And this is exactly where today's tour will take you. You leave the crater highlands, drive one last time along the crater rim before descending into the plain of this unique national park.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area merges seamlessly with the Serengeti Park. If you want, you can stop at a Maasai Boma and get a glimpse into the life of this people.
Just before the entrance to the Serengeti is the "Olduvai Gorge" - the "Cradle of Human Kind"! In a small museum and some information boards you can find information about the discovery of the first person to walk upright (plaster casts of the footprints are on display in the museum).
Take a break at Naabi Hill Gate, which you will reach after a 4-hour drive. There is some seating here to enjoy the lunch box you brought with you.
Right next to it, a path leads to a rock that gives you an unobstructed view of the vastness of the Serengeti from above. The climb up there is definitely worth it - use the opportunity to stretch your legs and take a first look at the Serengeti adventure!
After refreshment, your guide will take the path to the center of the national park. On the way he will stop for the first animal observations. Be it giraffes standing in the wide plain, or a hyena that runs off laughing when you get closer, or vultures circling over a prey in the distance.
Let your gaze wander and not miss a single detail.
Further animal observations will follow on the way to the accommodation.
Here it is now time to check in and enjoy the voices of the wilderness around you and switch off!
Wide plains in the Serengeti National Park
On this day you have ample opportunity to explore the flora and fauna of the Serengeti.
Talk to your guide the evening before about how you would like to organize the day.
We have the following options for you:
1) Go on game drives very early and experience the awakening of the wilderness. Take advantage of the hot lunchtime at the property to rest before going on another game drive in the afternoon. The animals are particularly active in the morning and late afternoon.
2) You choose a full day game drive and don't miss anything. After breakfast, pack your lunch box and explore the Serengeti.
With a bit of luck you will come across a pride of lions on the hunt, a herd of wildebeest in search of water, followed by zebras and hyenas.
Be amazed at what this day has in store for you today - and don't forget your camera to capture the moment!
End the evening comfortably in the accommodation.
Tip: You can optionally go on a balloon safari over the Serengeti in the early morning. You fly over the steppe for an hour and watch the wildlife from a bird's eye view. A champagne breakfast awaits you back on the ground. After that, your driver and game drives continue.
From the center of the Serengeti to the Kenyan border - Mara River
After breakfast you leave the Central Serengeti today and continue to the northern part to the Mara River. The transfer will take the whole day and will take you through the various landscapes of the Serengeti - once wide plains and then again rock formations protruding from nowhere - the so-called Kopjes - which shape the image of this area.
There is a lot to discover up here in the north! A special spectacle that repeats itself every year - the crossing of the Mara River by countless wildebeest from the Tanzanian side to the Kenyan side to the Masai Mara and of course vice versa.
Scenes like those from National Geographic documentaries are not only played on the screen, but right in front of your nose and the photo lens. So don't forget to charge the batteries the evening before and insert a memory card with enough space.
After you have already gathered your first impressions of this spectacle, you continue to your accommodation.
Check in and let your mind wander.
With a bit of luck - river crossing on the Mara River
Use today to explore the vastness of the Serengeti and go on game drives.
With a bit of luck you can experience other River Crossings live today. Watch how careful the first wildebeest is when entering the water and after it has decided to cross, all the other animals follow it. The crocodiles are already lurking nearby and are just waiting for their opportunity to prey.
Nevertheless, the wildebeests cannot be stopped once they enter the river and start crossing. With a lot of noise, blustering and swirling dust clouds and hopefully only a few losses until they reach the safe bank on the other side.
From here they walk on, as if nothing exciting had just happened, and head to the lush green meadows to eat.
You will certainly observe the event with great astonishment and return to the accommodation in the evening with great pictures.
Goodbye wilderness - departure / onward travel
Today it's time to say goodbye to the wilderness of the Serengeti and to your guide!
You check out of the accommodation after breakfast, stow your luggage around the vehicle and set off on a final exploration drive.
Your guide will bring you to the Kogatende Airstrip in good time before departure - on the way you can enjoy the last animal observations.
When you arrive at the Airstrip, check in for your flight.
Your guide says goodbye to you!
We wish you a good flight, have a good time and say ASANTE (thank you) for your time with us on what will hopefully be an unforgettable safari!
You fly from here to your desired destination (Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Sanisbar, Pemba, Mafia) (please note there will be several stopovers on the way).
Katambuga House opened in 2017, has 6 rooms and is located near the airport of Arusha (only 5 minutes by car). This lodge provides a wonderful view over Mount Meru and coffee fields. The main building has 4 rooms and a comfortable lounge. The cottage has two more rooms, which are connected. All 6 rooms have a bathroom, are spacious and well-ventilated and offer great comfort. The cuisine serves gourmet - dishes, which can be consumed in the lounge, the big patio or by the pool.
Kitela Lodge is a small, exclusive lodge in a valley with view over a coffee plantation. It has 20 spacious suites with cottages in old colonial farm style. It offers a relaxed, quiet atmosphere surrounded by beautiful gardens, including pool and massage offers. Kitela offers it's guests relaxation, respect for local traditions and sustainable ecology in a perfect African surrounding. Stimulate your senses and enjoy the ultimate pleasure in the spa. It has a wide selection of treatments for pure happiness and to relax body, mind and soul.
This lodge is located in the center of the Serengeti and is strategically positioned in one of the most important areas of migration. Therefore it's guests can enjoy this breathtaking miracle of nature from their beds in their tents. There are 25 spacious en-suite tents, which offer real comfort, exclusiveness and an authenic African bush -experience. In the central restaurant the guests can enjoy special foods and wines. The lounge area was designed creatively to create intimacy and exclusiveness. There is a also a pool, where you can relax after a long game drive. In the main area there is WiFi provided. Accommodation on full board.
The Mara Mara Tented Lodge is located in one of the best areas in the North Serengeti, only 10 minutes by car to the Mara River. It is African and modern in design with a fresh ambience. There are 15 spacious en-suite tents that offer absolute comfort, exclusivity and a real African bush experience. In the central restaurant you can enjoy extraordinary dishes and wines and the cozy lounge area is creatively designed. The pool invites you to relax after the game drives. Internet connection is available in the hotel.
The Serengeti is a relatively treeless savannah, stretching from the north of Tanzania, east of Lake Victoria, to southern Kenya and covering an area of 30,000 km². More than 1.6 million herbivores and thousands of carnivores live here. Common animals in this region are gnus, gazelles, zebras and buffaloes. A unique experience is the migration of large animal herds. The word “serengeti” originates in the Massai language and means “vast area/wide plain”.
Large and plain grasslands in the south are contrasted by slightly hilly, forested plains in the north. The central savannah is almost treeless, and in the southeast you can find the Ngorongoro preservation area, which is characterised by volcanism and classified as world natural heritage since 1979. The highest mountains are about 1850 m above sea level, lower parts of the savannah go down to 950 m. The Serengeti area includes the Serengeti National Park which covers 14,763 km² and belongs to the largest and surely the most famous national parks in the world. Since 1981, it is also part of the UNESCO world natural heritage. The documentary “Serengeti shall not die” by Bernhard Grzimek was awarded with an Oscar in 1960.
The Ngorongoro preservation area is situated between the Serengeti and Lake Manyara National Park. Within the preservation area, the Ngorongoro Crater is located, which is the largest caldera in the world. The crater is 600 m deep and 260 km² large, and represents the variety of east African landscape and wildlife in a secluded area.
The Lake Manyara National Park features a groundwater forest very rare to East Africa, transitioning into grass plains with acacia trees and open grasslands. At the banks of Lake Manyara, you can discover swamplands. The park is home to about 20 to 30 lions which enjoy resting on the trees, as well as some leopards and many monkeys of different species. Common animals of the park are giraffes, impalas, gnus, zebras, hippos and large buffalo herds.
The Arusha National Park is situated north of Arusha between Mount Meru and the Kilimanjaro. The park comprises Mount Meru (4562 m), an extinct volcano including Little Meru (3801 m) and Ash Cone, as well as the Momela Lakes, Ngurdoto Crater and Little Serengeti. The park was founded as Ngurdoto Crater National Park in 1960; Mount Meru became part of the park in 1967. The park covers an area of 137 km², featuring a landscape of forests, swamplands, grasslands, lake areas, alpine highlands and rocks. Famous for its colobus, you can also find many giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, elephants and hippos in the park.
The Tarangire National Park is one of 11 national parks in Tanzania. It is situated southwest of Arusha near Lake Manyara and is divided by Tarangire river, which is the only water source during dry season. Therefore the park is home to many animals. Its landscape is mostly made of savannah and stretches over 2600 km² at a height of about 900 m. The many baobab trees, elephants and various bird species have made the park famous.
Meals and accommodation as described in the program
All entry fees
4x4 safari car - no other guests in the car
English speaking guide
1.5 liters of water per day per person
Airport transfers
Flying Doctors Insurance *
* In the event of an accident or sudden illness, you will be picked up by the Flying Doctors at the nearest landing site and flown to a hospital in Nairobi. From then on, your international health insurance should cover payment for the treatment.
Any airport charges
Things of personal use
Tips: Recommendation per guide on safari: 15-20USD per day
Tanzania visa (50USD per person)
beverages
International travel health insurance
Travel cancellation insurance
National and international flights
