Recommended number of days at this destination: 2 - 10

The most famous safari destination in the world! And for good reason. The number and variety of animals is excellent. It is one of the few remaining destinations where all of the "Big Five" - elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, and black rhinos might be spotted in a single day. The Serengeti also is the location of the famous Wildebeest Migration occurs. Throughout the year, at least a portion of the migration herds are in the Serengeti.

From Moshi/Arusha, to include the Serengeti into a safari itinerary will need at least 4 days, with 5 or more days being ideal. The travel time overland from Moshi to central Serengeti is about 9 hours. Most commonly this span is broken up by visiting another destination along the way, then completing the drive the next day. But it is also possible to get to (and/or return from) the Serengeti by small plane (18 - 22 passengers) in just a couple of hours. Since the park is so large, there are 10 airstrips inside the Serengeti. There is also the option of flying into/out of central Serengeti (Seronera) to/from Zanzibar on a medium size plane.

The Seronera portion of the Serengeti is most commonly visited. Year-round this is a good and reliable destination, although the rains during April/May may make some roads too muddy even for 4wd safari vehicles. There are many accommodation options in the Seronera ranging from basic campsites, to ulta-luxurious lodges such as Four Seasons Serengeti. This portion of the park has a large number of cats - lions, cheetahs, leopards, caracals, servals, and African civits. The varieties of other animals are too numerous to list but the Seronera includes populations of elephants, giraffes, impalas, buffaloes, hippos, rhinos, warthogs, zebras, varieties of gazelles, hyenas, and wildebeests.

During the months of May, June, and November a portion of the migration herds pass through Seronera.

During the months of January - March, visiting the Ndutu portion of the Serengeti is well worth the trip. Ndutu straddles the southern Serengeti and a portion of Ngorongoro Conservation Area (but not the crater). During these months, the wildebeest migration herds are present and February is the birthing season for the wildebeests. During a 3 week period approximately 400,000 calves are born. This is an active time for lions, leopards, and hyenas as they look for weakened mothers and vulnerable calves to pray on. But a new-born wildebeest can stand up within 3 - 5 minutes after birth and will be able to run at good speed within 10 - 15 minutes.

There are several lodges and tented camps in this area, from mid-range to luxury, but no public campsites. If desiring a basic camping safari, overnights would need to be in Seronera with a visit to Ndutu as a day trip from there.

Northern Serengeti is a great place to visit during the months of July - October because of the presence of migration herds. Kogetende is about a 3 hours drive from Seronera although this time is misleading since it will take much longer because there is game viewing opportunities throughout the entire drive. The Kogatende portion of the Serengeti is where the Mara River is located, the site of the dangerous river crossings of the migration herds frantically trying to avoid the huge Nile Crocodiles and lions hiding on the far river bank. What is not commonly known, is that where these river crossings take place, both sides of the Mara River are in the Serengeti, not Kenya's Masai Mara. Not all of the herds cross into Kenya, a good portion remain inside the Serengeti. There are many tented camps in the area, some extremely luxurious. There are no public basic campsites in Kogetende, but overnight camping can be done in the Lobo portion of the Serengeti, about 90km away.

Recommended number of days at this destination: 1 - 2

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), a World Heritage Site, differs from a national park. In a national park, the area is excluded from human habitation and use of the natural resources inside the park. The NCA, while having some restrictions on the usage of the resources to protect the areas environment, still allows local human habitation and grazing of domestic animals. Of the inhabitants of the NCA, 98% are Maasai, 2% are of the Datoga and Hadzabe tribes.

The NCA is a 5 hours drive from Moshi, 3.5 hours drive from Arusha. It is located very close to Lake Manyara National Park on the east, and it shares the western border with the Serengeti. Entering and exiting the NCA is limited to the times of 6am - 6pm.

The most famous portion of the NCA is Ngorongoro Crater. This is technically a caldera (a inward collapse of a volcano). Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact caldera in the world, with a depth of 600m (2,000ft) and a diameter of 18km (11 miles). The elevation at the top of the rim reaches 2,286m (7,500ft) above sea-level. Th crater is home to more than 30,000 large animals including rhino, elephants, hippos,lions, cheetahs,leopards, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests, antelopes, ostriches, hyenas...all African plains animals except for giraffes and elands (a large antelope). The vast majority of these animals live in the crater year-round.

The beautiful crater walls make a wonderful backdrop for photography and the animals inside of the crater are not as shy as in some other locations so this is a great destination for photography. Because of the convenient location of the NCA (along the way to the Serengeti) and the wonderful variety and density of the wildlife, the crater is a very popular safari destination. This is the only negative - the crater does get crowded with safari vehicles. To protect the fragile environment, all people (including the Maasai) and vehicles are not allowed inside the crater between 6pm and 6am each day. This means that all accommodations are outside of the crater, many near the crater rim overlooking the crater. At an altitude of 2,200m the crater rim is often cold and windy. Even packing a warm jacket, knit cap, and light gloves might be smart.

The size of the crater is such that all can be seen within 4-5 hours. In addition to the daily entry fee ($71/person) there is an extra fee for each vehicle descending into the crater of $295/vehicle so most itineraries include only one crater visit per itinerary.

Besides the crater, the NCA has other attractions. The most notable being Olduvai (Oldupai) Gorge Museum. Olduvai Gorge is a world famous palaeoanthropologial attraction since the research done by Lous and Mary Leakey in the 1930s unearthed hunderds of fossilized bones and stone tools which lead to the conclusion that humans evolved in Africa. The museum is located approximately 50km west of Ngorongoro Crater, along the way to the Serengeti. Typically visitors spend one hour at the museum. There are also black sand shifting sand dunes approximately a 20 minute drive away from the museum. The dunes are composed of a highly magnetic volcanic ash which keeps the wind from eroding the dunes. The dunes migrate at a rate of 15 - 30m/year. If you wish you can spend some time hiking and exploring this phenomenon.

Empakai Crater, a much smaller caldera than the famous Ngorongoro Crater. 75% of the crater floor is covered with a lovely lake. There are hiking options accompanied by armed park rangers since dangerous animals may be present. There is a pubic campground on the crater rim. The elevation here is higher than the rim of Ngorongoro Crater (up to 3,200m/10,500ft).

Recommended number of days at this destination: 1 - 4 days

Tarangire is often referred to as the "Elephants Paradise". It would be amazing if on a day's game drive you didin't encounter more elephants than you can keep track of. In addition to the elephants, you will find most African plains safari animals here except for rhinos. Giraffes, hippos, wildebeest, zebras, and buffaloes being large in number. There is a fairly good chance of seeing lions. It is a 4 hours drive from Moshi or 2.5 hours drive from Arusha. This is a beautiful park with giant baobab trees and huge termite mounds dotting the landscape. The Tarangire River winds its way through the park. Being the only water source during dry season brings many animals to the river banks. Most people visit Tarangire for one day only but a visit of several days would not be boring. There are a variety of accommodations in the park ranging from basic camping to ultra-luxury resorts. Just outside of the park are also several excellent campsites/lodges/tented camps in locations that are teeming with wildlife ins spite of not being inside the park boundries. This park is an excellent safari destination especially during the driest months of July - October, Janaury, and February.

Recommended number of days at this destination: 1 day

Lake Manyara is located between Tarangire National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It is a 4 hours drive from Moshi or 2.5 hours from Arusha. This park is not large and 2/3 of the park is Lake Manyara. At times there are huge numbers of flamingoes covering the lake. Before reaching the park gates you will most likely be greeted by large numbers of baboons blocking the road. Inside of the park there are plenty of animals although the bushy terrain can make them tougher to get a good look at compared to other destination. This is a good destination if you are a bird watcher since there are 597 bird species present. There is an opportunity to rent a canoe to get a lake view of the park. Because the park is not large most people find half day inside the park as sufficient. There is a campsite inside of the park and outside of the park there are some good lodges/tented camps as well as private campsites. With the park being very close the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, there are many accommodation choices close to the entry gates of Ngorongoro.

Recommended number of days at this location: 1 day

Arusha National Park is a small park located just an hour's drive from Moshi or 30 minutes fromt he city of Arusha. It is a lovely park with a variety of landscapes: plains, forest, lakes, and Mt Meru - the second highest mountain in Tanzania. Surprisingly, it is not heavily visited. This might be due to the fact that some of the most popular safari animals are not present such as lions, cheetahs, rhinos, and elephants. The park does have plenty of giraffes and antelopes. In addition to vehicle safaris there are options for walking safaris (with an armed park ranger) and canoe rentals. See the mountain trekking page of this website to learn about Mt Meru treks. Besides the huts used for Mt Meru treks, there are no accommodations inside of the park. But there are very many options not far from the park. Because of the small size of the park this destination is seldom done as more than a day trip from Moshi or Arusha.

Recommended number of days at this destination: 1 - 3

Lake Natron is located along the Kenyan border to the east of Serengeti National Park. This area is hot and dusty with sparce vegetation. The lake itself is shallow and highly alkaline with a pH close to that of ammonia. The only life that the lake can support are the alkaline tilapia fish and algae which is highly favored by flamingoes. The water itself is pinkish-red in color. The temperature of the water can reach up to 60°C (140°F)! But there are some activities in the area. There are some well preserved hominid footprints to see, maasai villages to visit, and nice hiking ranging from half-day to full day at the beautiful and refreshing Ngare Sero Gorge reaching a refreshing waterfalls where swimming is safe and quite luring.

Ol Doinyo Lengai is an active volcano just to the south of Lake Natron. Views of the flamingo covered lake with the often smoldering volcano in the background is a memorable view. This volcano is highly studied because it is unique in the world for having a different lava type. Without going into the technical aspects, it is cooler than other lava (only 575°C/1050°F) and the lava is fast flowing. The volcano is a holy site in the traditional Maasai religion and is known as "The mountain of god". It can be climbed in a day but is a very difficult climb. Temperatures in the area frequently reach over 40°C/104°F and with no shade, steep grade, loose gravel and dust; the climb is done in the nighttime. Because the volcano is active, there is no guarentee until the day of the climb that the climb will be permitted. It is done with a local Maasai guide. Most consider this a tougher climb than Kilimanjaro, being steep with lots of scrambling. If you are interested in this challenge, we can give you full details upon request. This destination can be part of a multi-day walking safari itinerary.

In this area there are some lodges (mid-range and luxury) and campsites available, some of them luxury. Most choose to spend 1 - 2 days in the area either on the way to northern Serengeti or returning from northern Serengeti.

Recommended number of days at this destination: 1

Lake Eyasi is a shallow (1m depth) soda lake located west of Lake Manyara and shares a border with the southern portion of Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The attraction in this area is the cultural tourism. Tanzania has 120 tribes, each with their own language and culture. Most all of them have adapted to a more modern way of life. The most notable exception is the Hadzabe Tribe who live near Lake Eyasi. They have resisted all attempts to modernize their way of life and exist as true hunter-gatherers. They are opportunistic in their existance hunting with bow and arrow anything from mice to giraffe. For larger game, poison-tipped arrows are used. They are also experts in gathering wild honey and foraging for edible tubors and berries. Their knowledge of herbal medicine is remarkable. The tribe is quite friendly and during a visit you can join them on a hunt. Be prepared to run through the bushes following them. You can join them in song and dance afterwards and compare your archery skills with theirs along with your ability to start a fire without matches. Their language is unique for Tanzania with the use of clicking sounds incorporated in their speaking.

The Datoga tribe lives nearby and are pastoralists although they are increasingly turning to agriculture. They are known for their metalworking skills, turning scrap metal such as keys and belt buckles into arrowheads and knives which they trade with the Hadzabe. They are an isolated tribe, resisting education and outside influence. Only 5% speak Swahili (Tanzania's national language) and only 1% are literate. Aside from trading with the Hadzabe, they are not a friendly tribe toward outsiders. In the past Datoga warriors would improve their status by killing any outside intruder. Fortunately, this is no longer the case. They are shy but when you are escorted by a local guide you are welcomed.

The accommodations in this area include basic camping, mid-range lodge, and luxury lodge. Since the best time to visit the Hadzabe is very early when they typically hunt at dawn, the most common itinerary is to arrive the previous day and visit the lake itself briefly and perhaps visit the Datoga. The next morning after spending the morning hours with the Hadzabe travel either back to Moshi/Arusha or to the next destination in the afternoon.

Recommended number of days for this destination: 2 - 7 days.

Nyerere National Park was created in 2019 and is part of what is considered the Southern Safari Circuit. The other destinations listed above on this website are part of the Northern Safari Circuit. This park was created out of a large portion of the Selous Game Reserve. By giving it national park status, it now enjoys more protection than as a game preserve. This is a huge park, more than twice the size of Serengeti National Park! It is not heavily frequented and with such a large area, the animals here are not used to human presence. The wildlife is abundant and diverse. Having only recently become a national park, the infrastructure is not as developed as the older parks and the accommodations are not as numerous but this is changing. An itinerary here can originate from Kilimanjaro, Arusha, or Dar es Salaam Airports via flight into the park, or overland from Dar es Salaam (230km by road). Because of its large size, Nyerere National Park has seven different airstrips so we can book a flight to the one closest to your accommodations inside the park. Contact us for a bepsoke itinerary which includes Nyerere National Park.

Recommended number of days for this destination: 1 - 4 days.

Another Southern Safari Circuit destination is Mikumi National Park. It is a fairly large park and can be visited as a stand alone option or combined with a visit to Nyerere National Park. It is a 5-6 hour drive from Dar es Salaam (280km) or you can reach it by flying into the park from Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, or Arusha Airports. It has been a national park for a longer time compared to Nyerere so the infrastructure is more established. The abundance of animals is very good and with good variety - all of the "Big Five" (rhino, elephant, buffalo, lion, and leopard) are present. For a bespoke itinerary which includes Mikumi National Park, contact us. We will be happy to help you.

Day 1: In the morning we will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to Tarangire National Park (approximately 4 hours from Moshi). You will have a game drive in the park, having a picnic style lunch inside of the park. In the late afternoon, we will depart and drive west near the town of Karatu ( 1- 1.5 hours) where you will have dinner and overnight rest at the campsite/lodge/tented camp as was determined based in your preference.

Day 2: After breakfast we continue west, crossing the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (but not through the crater). Along the way, there are optional side-trips visiting a Maasai village or visiting Olduvai (Oldupai) Gorge Museum, a famous and important paleoantropological site made famous by the works of Mary and Louis Leakey. Both these trips incure an additional cost, with the Olduvai Gorge Museum requiring the entry payment online before arrival. Afterward we continue west, reaching the border of the Serengeti. We will pause for a picnic style lunch. Most times of the year we will drive to Seronera (central Serengeti) for game viewing. In the evening we will then go to your campsite/lodge/tented camp for dinner and night's rest. During January - March we may instead take you to the Ndutu portion of Serengeti/Ngorongoro. This will be discussed with you during the planning stages before booking.

Day 3: Full Day Serengeti game viewing. It will be up to you how you divide up this day between relaxing at your accommodations and game viewing. If you choose the option of a balloon safari ($600/person additional charge) it would be in the early morning hours of this day. Afterwards you will continue with the regular itinerary. Lunch this day can be a picnic style lunch while game viewing or at your accommodation. The day will end with dinner at the same accommodation as day 2 and overnight rest.

Day 4: Morning Serengeti game viewing. Your last look at the Serengeti as we go on a game drive, working our way out of the park and into Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Along the way you would have the same options of day 2 with possible side trips to visit the Maasai or Olduvai Gorge Museum. We will continue driving until reaching our accommodations (campsite/lodge/tented camp) near Ngorongoro Crater for dinner, relaxation, and overnight rest.

Day 5: After an early breakfast we descend 600m (2,000ft) down the winding road into Ngorongoro Crater. Although one of the best safari destinations in the world, it is not a large destination. Typically 4 - 5 hours is enough time to see all there is. A picnic style lunch will be had at a designated site near a small lake frequented by hippos and pelicans. After the game viewing we ascend out of the crater and travel to Arusha/Kilimanjaro Airport/Moshi for the end of the itinerary.

Day 1: After an early breakfast at your hotel we drive west passing through several small villages where you can catch a glimpse of typical rural life in Tanzania. We enter into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (but not into the crater) and continue to drive west. It is a long drive but we will stop for a picnic style lunch, typically upon reaching the border of Serengeti National Park. Most times of the year we will have a game drive in Seronera (central Serengeti) and in the evening go to our campsite/lodge/tented camp for dinner and overnight rest. During the months of January - March it may be previously decided to instead travel to the Ndutu portion of Serengeti/Ngorongoro for game viewing, dinner and rest at your tented camp/lodge.

Day 2: Full day at your descretion how it is divided up between game viewing and enjoying your accommodation. If you are choosing a balloon safari ($600/person additional charge),it ould be done in early morning hours of this day. The rest of the day would follow the regular itinerary. Lunch can be served picnic style while on a game drive or at your accommodation. Dinner and overnight rest will be at the same accommodation as the previous day.

Day 3: Morning game drive in the Serengeti as we work out way out of the park and into Ngorongoro Conservation Area. We drive through the conservation area but there are options for a side trip visiting either a Maasai village or Olduvai (Oldupai) Gorge Museum, a famous and important paleoantropological site made famous by the works of Mary and Louis Leakey. Both these trips incure an additional cost, with the Olduvai Gorge Museum requiring the entry payment online before arrival. Afterwards we continue east to your campsite/lodge/tented camp near Ngorongoro Crater for dinner and overnight rest.

Day 4: After an early breakfast we descend 600m (2,000ft) down the winding road into Ngorongoro Crater. Although one of the best safari destinations in the world, it is not a large destination. Typically 4 - 5 hours is enough time to see all there is. A picnic style lunch will be had at a designated site near a small lake frequented by hippos and pelicans. After the game viewing we ascend out of the crater and travel to Arusha/Kilimanjaro Airport/Moshi for the end of the itinerary.

Day 1: After breakfast at your hotel we drive you to Tarangire National Park for game viewing. You will have a picnic style lunch during the game drive and in the evening we will travel to your campsite/lodge/tented camp for dinner and overnight rest.

Day 2: Early morning game drive inside Tarangire. Afterwards we return to the accommodation for breakfast. We then continue with game viewing stopping for a picnic style lunch. In the mid/late afternoon we exit the park and drive west. Your overnight accommodations may be outside of Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) or inside according to how we planned your itinerary with you. If staying inside the NCA we must be sure to reach the entry gate before it shuts down at 6pm. Dinner and overnight rest at your predesignated accommodation.

Day 3: After an early morning breakfast, we descend 600m (2,000ft) winding crater road into Ngorongoro Crater, one of the world's best safari destinations. During the game drive we will stop for a lunch at a designated picnic area next to a small lake frequented by hippos and pelicans. The crater is not large, so in 4 - 5 hours all will be seen. We then ascend out of the crater and drive to Arusha/Kilimanjaro Airport/Moshi for the end of the itinerary.

Day 1: After breakfast we pick you up at your hotel and drive you to Lake Manyara National Park. You will have game viewing in the park with a picnic style lunch served. In the late afternoon we will exit the park and travel to your accommodation. Your accommodation maybe inside Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) or outside the conservation area. Inside the NCA will be much more of an "in the wild" experience but more expensive and perhaps without some of the comforts as outside the NCA. If choosing to stay inside the NCA we must be sure to reach the entry gate before it shuts down at 6pm. This will be discussed and will be agreed on during the planning stages of your safari. Dinner and overnight rest at the accommodation.

Day 2: After an early morning breakfast, we descend 600m (2,000ft) winding crater road into Ngorongoro Crater, one of the world's best safari destinations. During the game drive we will stop for a lunch at a designated picnic area next to a small lake frequented by hippos and pelicans. The crater is not large, so in 4 - 5 hours all will be seen. We then ascend out of the crater and drive to Arusha/Kilimanjaro Airport/Moshi for the end of the itinerary.

After breakfast at your hotel we drive you to your safari destination for as much game viewing as we can get in. Most people are amazed how many safari animals they can spot in a single day. Lunch will be served picnic style during the game drive. In the late afternoon we exit and drive you back to your hotel.