Tanzania Wildlife Safari

Luxury Small Group Journeys: The finest small-group travel experience

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Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Arusha, Tanzania

Arrive after an overnight flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha. Nestled in the heart of a coffee estate, your lodge boasts views of Lake Duluti and Mount Meru.

Serena Mountain Village

Day 2: Arusha/Tarangire National Park

This morning, travel to Tarangire National Park and on to your lodge. After settling in, observe local wildlife — perhaps hartebeests, buffalo or impalas — on a short afternoon game drive. Tarangire has an exceptional elephant population and the highest recorded number of breeding bird species of any habitat in the world; watch for them at the edge of green-tinged swamps. Get your binoculars out and try to spot the vibrantly colored Fischer’s lovebird and ashy starling. This evening, attend a welcome dinner and exchange stories with your fellow travellers about your first exciting day in the bush.

Tarangire Sopa Lodge   |   Meals: B L D

Day 3: Tarangire National Park

Traverse the eight varied landscapes of Tarangire, from its baobab forest to its swamps and acacia-dotted plains filled with wondrous species. Be on the lookout for the myriad species to be found here, ranging from giraffes, waterbucks, wildebeests and zebras to elands, fringe-eared oryx, greater kudu and the elusive wild dog, a prized sighting for any safari-goer. The Tarangire River runs through the center of the park, providing the thirsty animals with a year-round supply of water.

Tarangire Sopa Lodge   |   Meals: B L D

Day 4: Tarangire/Lake Manyara National Park/ Ngorongoro Crater

Travel overland to the small but wildlife-rich Lake Manyara National Park — home to grasslands, forests, marshlands, scrub and parklands punctuated with acacia trees. Have your camera ready while looking for lions and large elephant herds. Stop for a farm-fresh lunch at Gibb’s Farm, a sprawling property with a local artist-in-residence program. If you have time, you may wish to walk around the lovely grounds to see the gardens and the nearby waterfall. Continue to the 2,000-foot-deep Ngorongoro Crater, which is among the natural wonders of the world. The caldera, created by the collapsed cone of a volcano, contains a hidden world of wildlife. Settle in to your lodge, located on Lemala Hill on the uppermost rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. From your lodge you have spectacular views of this natural amphitheater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge   |   Meals: B L D

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater

Descend to the short grass prairies of Ngorongoro Crater, a haven for lions, elephants, hyenas, wildebeests and gazelles. Watch for pink flamingos as they flock to the crater lake and notice the vast array of other birds that call Ngorongoro home. Even the rare and elusive black rhinoceros, one of Africa’s most endangered species, is a resident here. After a picnic lunch, visit a Maasai village and gain cultural insight into the lifestyle of these nomadic cattle herders when you meet with a village elder. The Maasai have peacefully coexisted with wildlife here since the 17th century.

Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge   |   Meals: B L D

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater/Serengeti National Park

Continue to arid Serengeti National Park and on to your lodge, which sits amid acacia, overlooking the plains. This afternoon, set off on a game drive through the 10,000-square-mile region, keeping watch for lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, giraffes and topi. This is also the site of the annual, seasonal Great Migration of wildebeests and zebras.

Serengeti Sopa Lodge   |   Meals: B L D

Day 7: Serengeti National Park

As the animals begin to stir, skim the treetops during a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti’s boundless plains for a different perspective on the wildlife action. Watch as early morning activities begin: hippos return to water after foraging for food in the dark; elephants rustle through trees in search of breakfast; and lions amble back from a hunt with wide, yellow eyes. During an afternoon game drive, watch for cheetahs, crocodiles and leopards. This evening, join fellow travellers for a festive farewell dinner.

Serengeti Sopa Lodge   |   Meals: B L D

Day 8: Serengeti/Arusha/Depart

Fly to Arusha, where a dayroom is reserved for your convenience to use until later this evening when you transfer to the airport and board your international flight.

Serena Mountain Village   |   Meals: B