7 Days Tanzania Unforgettable Safari

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be welcomed by your guide and transferred to your hotel in Arusha. The transit time from Kilimanjaro International Airport to the hotel is around 1 hour and 30 minutes' drive covering a distance of 65.4 kilometers (40.6 miles).

Early breakfast, then leave Arusha town and drive to Tarangire Park by Land Cruiser, crossing the Maasai Steppe on your way to Tarangire National Park, Tanzania’s fourth-largest and one of its most diverse. The drive takes approximately 2 hours (110 km / 68 miles). Stop at the picturesque park gate for the driver to fill up the park’s registration book. Full-day game drive in the park enjoying viewing animals. Soon, the impressive Great Rift Valley Escarpment will come into view – a 2,000-foot high wall that rises, improbably steep and incredibly tall, out of the flat plains.

Elephants, Buffalos, and pythons are seen easily and regularly cross your path, unbothered by your benign presence and going about their daily routines. Late this afternoon you’ll arrive at your camp where you can settle in and relax before dinner and your overnight.

Early breakfast before driving straight to the Ngorongoro conservation area for full-day game drives down the crater floor. The drive is around 3 hours (160 km / 99 miles). Full day exploring the crater floor. The area is world-renowned in its reputation and very small in its scale, so you will see other safari-goers. Don’t let that distract you from the beauty of the place or from the fact that this remains one of the only places on earth where you may see all of the Big Five at once: Lion, Leopard, Bull Elephant, African Buffalo, and Black Rhino. To maximize your time on the crater floor you will enjoy a special boxed lunch at a scenic picnic spot.

Your journey will take you through this tremendous landscape that is constantly changing as animals move to and fro in search of pasture, water, or easy prey. Early in the evening ascend to the rim and drive to the Ngorongoro crater rim for dinner and overnight.

Start with breakfast, then drive to Nainokanoka Maasai village near Olmoth Crater. The drive takes about 1 hour (40 km / 25 miles). Our Maasai guide will meet you here to go on a beautiful hike across the magnificent Embulbul depression. Along the way, you’ll visit a Maasai village and also take some time to learn their way of life. The Maasai are world-famous for their rich cultural heritage. You will see some wildlife along the trail (no lions though). The hike is non-strenuous and takes about 7 hours to cross the depression. Evening free at the camp or go dancing with the Maasai warriors.

Drive to the rim of Embakai Crater and hike down to the crater floor. The drive is around 1-2 hours (50 km / 31 miles). The Embakai Crater is one of the most beautiful places in the Crater Highlands. Much of the crater floor is covered by a jewel-like lake. Walk along the lakeshore teeming with thousands of pink flamingos. The eerie lake, the occasional hyenas chasing flamingos, the wild sounds…will make your spirit join with the body. Then ascend to the rim and trek to Naiyobi Maasai Village.

Hike down off the Great Rift Valley wall to the base of Mt. Ol’ Doinyo L’Engai. This hike takes around 4-5 hours. Your pick-up safari jeep will meet you here after dropping you at Ngorongoro Nainokanoka village on Day 2. From the base of Mt. Lengai, you’ll be transferred to Kamakia Camp. (Picnic lunch en route). Visit a nearby waterfall for your first real soothing bath after 3 days of going without one.

Shortly after midnight, transfer by jeep to the base of Mt. Ol’ Doinyo L’Engai for the climb to the peak of this live volcano. The drive is about 30 minutes. The climb takes about 3 hours at a normal pace. The climb is strenuous and requires a physically fit person. Arrive at the peak just before sunrise.

Behold! You’ve seen a crater with live animals at Ngorongoro, and a crater with a rainbow-colored lake at Embakai and now you will see a crater smoldering with fire. L’Engai volcanic crater looks like a field infested with red firelight insects just before sunrise. An amazing site to visit. Tour the active crater after sunrise.

Later in the morning descend to the base and transfer to camp for brunch. Tour Lake Natron on the way back to Lake Manyara overnight. The drive to Lake Manyara takes around 3 hours (150 km / 93 miles). Lake Natron is the principal flamingo breeding area in the whole of the Great Rift Valley area.

Lake Manyara National Park is among Tanzania’s smallest parks. Drive through the lush garden which is a gentle reminder that you are now in Africa. Exotic bird calls fill the air. Enjoy a picnic lunch and afterward, you’ll continue game viewing of animals in the park. The drive within the park can take around 3-4 hours.

Zebra, wildebeest, bushbuck, dik-dik, and guinea fowl regularly cross your path, unbothered by your benign presence and going about their daily routines. You’ll meander along bush tracks and explore the lake which is home to thousands of flamingos and the river’s twists and turns, finding elephants drinking and playing in the refreshing waters. In the late afternoon, visit Mto wa Mbu village before you drive back to Kilimanjaro Airport (a 3-4 hour drive, 200 km / 124 miles).

Note: Late afternoon visit to Mto wa Mbu village before you depart to Kilimanjaro airport.

This is the final day of your safari, so enjoy a delicious breakfast and relax while you wait for your guide. Your guide will pick you up, and you will begin your journey to Kilimanjaro International Airport via Arusha, covering a distance of 65.4 kilometers (40.6 miles).