In the morning you will be collected from your lodgings in Arusha by our personal safari guide. We set out for Tarangire National Park across gently rolling Masai plains with scattered acacia trees. As we zip along we pass many Masai in their colorful dress walking on the roadside, riding bicycles, herding cattle and driving donkeys carts. Tarangire National Park, well known for its large elephant herds, is also host to a multitude of other creatures. From the open roof of our safari jeep we experience the seasonal swamps, savanna and life giving Tarangire River endeavoring to encounter a multitude of creatures from zebra to wildebeest, buffalo, elephant, and giraffe, to name but a few. It is possible we will glimpse lion stalking prey or leopards relaxing in the trees above. After our extensive game drive we depart to drive to one of our mid range partner lodges for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, you will continue towards the fertile highlands where wheat, coffee and corn are grown by the Iraqw people. Passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will be able to see the breath-taking Ngorongoro Crater before traveling onwards to the Serengeti National Park, which you will reach by midday. The Serengeti National Park is the largest park in Tanzania with diverse landscapes and habitats, such as grassy plains, swamps, lakes, savannah and mountains. Here the biggest wildebeest and zebra migration takes place and depending on the season, you may have the opportunity to witness thousands of animals on their search for food and water. After an extensive game drive, you will head for your campsite, The Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp: Revitalised, with tents raised on wooden daises, a beautiful buffet dining tent, wildlife wandering by, a Maasai Warrior to accompany you to your chambers, musicians and a fire on the plain.

This entire day is set aside for game drives upon the Serengeti. The Serengeti, the habitat of an abundance of wildlife such as impala, buffalo, crocodile, and hippo, is more well-known for its great migrating herds of zebra, antelope, and wildebeest. The animals’ trek is determined by the rainfall and varies from year to year. In November and December the animals move from the northern region, dominated by woodlands and hills, to the grassy plains of the south. During the longer rainy season from April to June they return to the north. Apart from the migrating herds, we may have the opportunity to see the resident predators, leopard, cheetah, and lion, fulfilling their role in the circle of life. After an unforgettable day, we will return to The Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp for relaxation, dinner and our overnight sleep on The Endless Plain.

After an early breakfast we head out for another game drive upon the Serengeti. We may have the opportunity to spot the “Big Five” – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard – before embarking on our journey to the Ngorongoro Conservation area. On the way to Ngorongoro conservation area you will pass by a Maasai village whereby you will get a unique opportunity to learn about some of the customary practices such as fire-making and beadwork. You may also get the chance to meet and speak to villagers in their homes and your guide will happily interpret if needed. This activity takes approximately 1 hour and after that you will drive straight to the rim of the crater for the walking safari at sunset with an armed ranger and during this walking safari you will explore extinct volcanoes, landscapes and wildlife in these beautiful highlands. The views and scenery are truly breathtaking and after about 2-2.5 hours you will drive straight to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.

Early risers are rewarded with breath-taking views of the rising sun over the crater’s edge and, after a hearty breakfast, we rumble down the adventurous track into the crater. This UNESCO world heritage site, one of the seven wonders of Africa, formed about three million years ago, is 610 m deep and covers roughly 260 square kilometres. Due to its dense animal population of approximately 25,000 ungulates, the crater offers the best game viewing of all the parks in Tanzania. In a matter of minutes we will be able to see wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, elephant, and some of the more than 500 bird species here inhabiting. With a little bit of luck we may catch a glimpse of the endangered black rhino through the grass. After an extensive game drive and a picnic lunch we leave the crater in the afternoon to travel back to Karatu, again staying at one of our, hand picked for quality, mid range partner lodges.

After breakfast we drive to our final destination on this epic safari - Lake Manyara National Park. This relatively small but diverse park, 120km west of Arusha, is so named for the shallow salt lake which covers a good seventy percent of the parks surface area. Flooding and drying with the seasons the soda lake is home to thousands of flamingo as well as over 500 other bird species. On our exploration of the park we will see monkey, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, elephant and, with some luck, lions lounging in the trees. The park is known for its diverse landscapes; not only open grassy plains, but also primate-filled woodlands and baobab dotted cliffs. After another memorable game drive we, with our adventure at an end, return to Arusha in the late afternoon, replete with images of the African wilds to last a lifetime.