Arrive anytime today and we will transfer you to our hotel to relax a bit after a long flight.

Arusha is a vibrant city in northern Tanzania, often called the “Gateway to Safari Country” because it lies close to many of the country’s most famous national parks. There is plenty to do there as well, such as visit a coffee plantation, waterfall visits, shop for handicrafts made by the Maasai and more.

Tonight, we meet up for a welcome dinner.

Overnight in Arusha, at Mvuli Hotel Arusha

Wake up to a hearty breakfast before setting out on a short drive to Arusha National Park, a compact gem just 40 minutes from town. Beneath the canopy of montane forest, blue monkeys swing overhead and flashes of turacos and trogons catch your eye. Keep watch for the rare black-and-white colobus monkey—easily spotted here.

Your day winds through the misty Ngurdoto Crater, where buffalo graze on the marshy floor, and continues north to the Momela Lakes. Each lake shimmers in shades of green and blue, often fringed with flamingos. Giraffes drift across the grassy slopes, zebras graze in tight bands, and tiny dik-dik dart for cover. By late afternoon, return to your tented lodge for dinner and a night’s rest.

Overnight in Arusha, Mvuli Hotel Arusha (same as previous night)

After breakfast, journey two hours south to Tarangire, a park known for vast elephant herds and its iconic, towering baobab trees. The Tarangire River winds through the valley, a lifeline that draws wildlife year-round. On today’s game drive, look out for lions lounging in the shade, flocks of dazzling birds, and elephants moving in family groups across the plains. As the sun dips, settle into your tented camp or lodge for dinner under the stars.

Overnight at Mvuli Ngorongo Lodge

The road to the Serengeti winds along the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, offering glimpses of wildlife before the plains even open up. By late morning, the savannah stretches endlessly—golden grasses alive with wildebeest, zebras, and giraffes. Enjoy a picnic lunch at Naabi Hill, where rock hyrax and the park’s famous pink-headed lizards bask on sun-warmed kopjes. Continue deeper into the Serengeti on a leisurely game drive before reaching your tented lodge. Tonight, drift to sleep to the distant calls of hyenas and zebra.

Dinner and overnight at KonTiki Serengeti

Wake to the sounds of the wild—perhaps a lion’s roar or the chatter of monkeys nearby. Today you’ll explore the Serengeti in depth. Today, you will witness the Great Migration! Hippos wallow in pools, giraffes browse from acacia trees, and crocodiles lie in wait along riverbanks. After an exhilarating day, return to the tented lodge for a relaxed dinner.

Dinner and overnight at KonTiki Serengeti

Enjoy one last Serengeti game drive before heading east toward Ngorongoro. The transition from wide-open plains to the dramatic highlands is striking. Pause for a picnic lunch en route, then continue to your lodge perched on the crater’s rim. As the sun sets, soak in views of the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera—a stage for Africa’s densest concentration of wildlife. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Overnight at Mvuli Ngorongoro Lodge

Rise early and descend 600 meters into the crater, a wildlife sanctuary unlike any other. Here, there’s a real chance of spotting all of the “Big Five”—lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, and buffalo—in a single day. Alongside them are flocks of storks and cranes, and hippos wallowing in freshwater pools. After a picnic lunch beside a lake, ascend the crater walls and begin the drive back to Arusha, arriving by evening.

Dinner & overnight in Arusha, overnight at Mvuli Hotel Arusha

Today, it is time to say goodbye to our local guides and new-found friends and continue your travels or head home.

Karibu tena—welcome again to Tanzania!

Breakfast at the hotel and airport transfer included.