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Overview

Safari adventure in Tanzania

A once in a lifetime experience! The extraordinary annual Great Migration of wildebeest and other grazing herbivores across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is one of the greatest spectacles in the natural world.
Over two million herbivores partake in this journey, with about 200 000 zebra and 500 000 Thomson's gazelles behind the main players... one-and-a-half million wildebeest ! Thanks to our mobile luxury camp settlements in the heart of Serengeti and following the migration, you will be in the right area to watch this unique show ! You will also visit the Ngorongoro Crater and Manyara with hundred of flamingos and meet the population in a cultural authentic village where you will be most welcome !

Don't hesitate to contact our Tanzania expert to get more information about this safari adventure in Tanzania!

Itinerary

Day 1| International flight

Day 2| Kilimanjaro - Arusha
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International airport, you will be transferred to your hotel for overnight stay. Dinner and overnight at KIA Lodge / Half Board

Day 3| Kilimanjaro – Manyara National Park
Begin your safari with a visit to Manyara National Park for a full day of game viewing. Lake Manyara National Park is a small breathtaking National Park with immense natural richness; home to over 380 birds species, including thousands of flamingos that tint the soda waters of the Lake in Pink, and the famous tree climbing lions, which for reasons un-known to man sleep in the branches of Acacia trees. Dinner and overnight at Plantation Lodge / Full Board

Days 4-5| Manyara – Serengeti
An early morning departure is scheduled from Karatu Village, with a picnic lunch en route to the infamous Plains of the Serengeti. Late afternoon arrival at your lodge; dinner and overnight.
Serengeti Sopa Lodge / Full Board.

Days 6-7| Full day of game viewing in Serengeti National Park
Established in 1951, and covering an area of almost 15,000 sq km, Serengeti is one of the most spectacular game parks in East Africa. From its short and long grass plains in the south, which give way to Acacia savannah in the central area, to the hilly more densely wooded areas of the north, and the extensive woodland in the western corridor, Serengeti offers great variations both geographically as well as with the millions of animals, birds and plants that go to make up this complex ecosystem. The name comes from the Maasai siringet, “endless plains”. Twice a year, triggered by the rains, 1.3 million wildebeest, 200,000 zebra and 300,000 Thomson’s gazelle gather to undertake the long trek to new grazing lands. The migration of the herbivores roughly defines the boundaries of Serengeti National Park which is the central zone of the Serengeti ecosystem, an area that also takes in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Maswa Game Reserve in the west. Within these 25,900 square kms of varied landscape live thirty-five species of plains game and 500 bird species.
Dinner and overnight at Simiyu Camp / FULL BOARD

Simiyu Luxury Camp offers guests the perfect balance of comfort, privacy and remote location. Accommodations include eight fully-furnished spacious tents, with en suite facilities, including separate toilet and safari showers. An elegant mess tent and comfortable lounge tent completes the camp's facilities. The camp moves to three different locations during the year, allowing guests to remain close the great Serengeti migration. The Simiyu Camp provides many exiting activities including a bush lunch and dinners, ballooning, and guided walks in the Serengeti.

Day 8| Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro Crater
Travel from Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater. After breakfast you will depart Via Olduvai Gorge, referred to as The Cradle of Mankind, Olduvai Gorge is an archaeological site located in the eastern Serengeti Plains. The gorge is a very steep sided ravine roughly 30 miles long and 295 feet deep. Exposed deposits show rich fossil fauna, many hominid remains and items belonging to the one of the oldest stone tool technologies, called Olduwan. The time span of the objects recovered date from 2,100,000 to 15,000 years ago. At Olduvai Gorge you will have a short lecture on the archeological site.
Drive to your lodge for some leisure time. Enjoy a stunning sunset over the caldera before dinner. Overnight stay Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge /Full Board

Day 9| Ngorongoro Conservation Area
After breakfast, drive straight to the crater for an entire day of spectacular game viewing. A brief stop for a picnic lunch is scheduled along the way. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area covers 8300 sq km, of which the renowned Ngorongoro Crater only makes up about 3% - equal to approximately 260 sq km. The conservation area also encompasses the volcanic area around the Ngorongoro Crater including the still active volcano of Oldonyo Langai and the famous Olduvai Gorge. Its centerpiece, the Ngorongoro Crater, often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world is the largest unbroken caldera in the world, and the first sight of it is truly breathtaking. The floor of the crater is home to a year round population of varied wildlife, including the almost extinct black rhino. Animal densities are so high here, that game viewing is excellent. Nowadays, visitors have a chance to get up and close sightings to these beautiful, wild animals.
Depart for your lodge in Karatu in the early evening. Dinner and overnight at Bougainvillea Lodge.

Day 10| Ngorongoro – Mto Wa Mbu – Arusha - Kia
After breakfast, we will drive to the inspiring village of Mto wa mbu for a cultural tour and experience a typical African lunch before driving back towards Arusha and onto Kia lodge where a day room awaits you. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure relaxing by the pool or in the gardens. Get your last glimpse of Mount Kilimanjaro, before a late night transfer to the adjacent airport for your international flight back home.

Budget

**Rates published on this website are for information purposes only and are not legally binding (since departure dates are not given). Prices on this website are known to fluctuate frequently in relation to changes in currencies and hotel pricing. In order to obtain a definite quote, please click here.

Other fees

Lodging

Overview

With such a perfect Location, perched on the edge of the African continent, and facing the Indian Ocean, Tanzania's weather and climate leaves nothing to be desired. Warm and sunny days are followed by cool and balmy nights, and whether you're on safari on the Serengeti plains or enjoying the tropical beaches of Zanzibar, the temperatures are always welcoming and gentle. Consult Weather and Climate to find out when the best times to visit are, and learn more about the monsoon winds and seasonal rains.

But sun-filled and beautiful days are not all that Tanzania has to offer. On the contrary, the country's borders hold a vast number of people and tribes whose varied cultures and traditions make up the rich tapestry that is Tanzanian culture. Read on to learn more about the Masaai culture and the customs of the Swahili Coast.

Although Tanzania is a country rich in culture and traditions, it's history is also one of treasured heritage and pride. From the early days of mankind's history, man has called the land of Tanzania home - its verdant mountains, its scrubland plains. Find out more about our country's rich history, from the arrival of merchants and traders on the Swahili Coast to the peaceful political climate that exists today.

Tanzanians enjoy a climate of freedom and peace in our daily lives, and value community and togetherness very highly. Religion is an expression of community and culture, and one that binds us all as citizens to our country and to the people around us. Tanzanians practice Christianity, Islam, and traditional African religions in tolerance and understanding.

Religion defines our community and our sense of identity, but culturally, we are all Tanzanians. Our culture and our traditions can be seen in the everything we surround ourselves with and the handicrafts that are the specialties of our country. Visitors to Tanzania will find the section on Shopping immensely useful in helping them decide what to bring back for their friends and loved ones from our amazing country.

Geography

Tanzania is located in East Africa between longitude, 29 degrees and 41 degrees east and latitude 1 degree and 12 degrees south. Tanzania borders Kenya to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to the south, and is the largest country in East Africa (943,000 sq km), comprising both the mainland and the Zanzibar Archipelago.

A large central plateau makes up most of the mainland (at between 900m and 1800m) and the mountain ranges of the Eastern Arc and the Southern and Northern Highlands cut across the country to form part of the Great Rift Valley.

A land of geographical extremes, Tanzania has the highest peak - Mount Kilimanjaro, the lowest point - the lakebed of Lake Tanganyika, and the largest lake - Lake Victoria, on the continent.

Culture

Tanzania is home to some of the most incredible tribal diversity in Africa. The country includes all of the major ethnic and linguistic groups on the continent – an amazingly varied population to inhabit a single country. Home to approximately 120 tribal groups, most of these comprise small communities that are gradually being assimilated into the larger population due to changes in land use and the economic draw of city life. Tribal diversity is prized and far from being a source of division, Tanzanians place a high value on their country's multicultural heritage. Over the past few years, cultural tourism has become an increasing attraction for visitors from around the world and visits to tribal villages are often a highlight of safari itineraries.

The Masaai are perhaps the most well known of Tanzania's tribes and inhabit the northern regions of the country. Pastoralists who fiercely guard their culture and traditions, Masaai tribal life revolves around protecting and caring for their herds of cattle and finding ample grazing land in their region. The tribes live in circular enclosures called manyatas, where small mud huts surround a secure open circle where their cattle and other herd animals sleep protected during the night. Woven thorn bushes form a thick fence around the enclosure to protect the herds from attacks by lions and other predators. Because good grazing land fluctuates according to the seasons and yearly rains, Masaai settlements are temporary and easily relocated to where grazing and water access is best. Tribal tradition separates men and women into different age groups: the youngest herd sheep and goats while the young male warriors, or moran's, job is to protect and care for their family's cattle. Male elders hold a position of respect in Masaai society and once a warrior becomes an elder, he may marry to begin a family of his own.

The ‘Spice Islands' of the Zanzibar Archipelago, Pemba, Mafia, and the entire Tanzanian coast is home to the Swahili people, a vibrant mix of Arab, Indian and Bantu origins who historically based their livelihoods around Indian Ocean trade. The Swahili Coast, as the region is called, is a predominantly Islamic region with old mosques and coral palaces found throughout the area. Swahili culture centres around the dhow, a wooden sailing boat powered by the seasonal wind. Historically, the boats connected the Swahili Coast with Arabia and India and allowed trade between the regions to flourish. Fishing remains a mainstay of coastal income in small villages throughout the area, and coconut and spice plantations continue to form an important source of export. These days, life on the Swahili coast is tranquil and even-paced. Women cloaked in long robes called bui bui walk through meandering streets to the local market, stopping to chat outside tall houses hewn from coral and limestone rock. In the villages, the call to prayer rings out clearly over the palm trees and once they have finished their religious duties, the men gather in the square to drink spiced coffee from brass braziers. From the warrior moran of the fierce Masaai to the tranquil rhythms of Swahili town, Tanzania offers a unique glimpse into African life as it has remained for centuries.

Climate

Because Tanzania lies below the equator, the coolest months occur during the northern hemisphere's summer, and all-year round the weather remains pleasant and comfortable. Between June to October, temperatures range from around 10°C in the northern highlands to about 23°C on the coast. On the plains and the lower-altitude game reserves, the temperatures from June to October are warm and mild. On the coast, these months are some of the most pleasant to visit, with balmy, sunny weather much of the day and cooling ocean breezes at night.

From December to March, the days are hot and sunny with often not a cloud in the sky. Temperatures range from the mid-twenties to the low thirties throughout the country while visitors flock to the parks and beaches to escape the dreariness of late winter in colder climes. Clear sunny days are the norm in the northern highlands and the heat of mid-day is tempered by the golden light in late afternoon and the especially striking sunsets. In the game parks and central plains, the beautiful weather provides perfect opportunities for unhampered game viewing, and clear night skies offer perfect opportunities for star-gazing and romantic evenings in the bush. On the shores of the Swahili Coast, the Indian Ocean reaches its highest temperatures and is ideal for swimming at any time of day or night.

Tanzania's equatorial climate brings two seasons of rain each year: the masika, or long rains that fall from mid-March to the end of May, and the mvuli, or short rains, that come intermittently throughout November and parts of December, and sometimes stretch into early January. During the long rains, heavy showers fall in the early mornings but usually clear up by mid-day, with the weather often remaining clear and sunny until late afternoon. By evening, impressive cloud formations build, breaking sometime after dark and the rain often continues throughout the night. During the short rains, light showers in the mornings and late afternoons are punctuated by stretches of clear weather and beautiful rays of sunlight. The beginning of both rainy seasons is marked by a change in the winds which historically, marked the time for trading boats to set off on expeditions across the Indian Ocean or return to their native lands.