7 Day Tanzania Northern Parks Safari

Welcome to Tanzania! When your plane arrives at the Kilimanjaro International Airport, a representative from Chalema Tanzania Safaris will be waiting to meet you and begin your Tanzania Northern Parks Safari. When you think of East Africa, do you think of volcanoes? As we travel across the subtropical outskirts of Arusha to reach tonight’s accommodations, you’ll be reminded of Tanzania’s geological past: Ilboru Safari Lodge is situated just a stone’s throw from both Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro, the country’s two most prominent dormant volcanoes. We’ll see even more evidence of volcanic activity during our Tanzania Northern Parks Safari, but for now it’s time to enjoy some rest and relaxation at Ilboru’s cottage-style accommodations. You can look forward to cozy rooms, verdant gardens, and a refreshing dip at the lodge pool before dinner.

After breakfast this morning, we’ll wind our way westward from Arusha for about three hours to reach the first of Tanzania’s northern parks: Tarangire National Park. This unspoiled wilderness lies directly opposite the sparkling shores of Lake Manyara, and it’s here that you’ll discover a world of dirt roads, skyscraping baobab trees, and herds upon herds of elephants. There’s nothing more quintessentially Tarangire than watching dozens of these semi-migratory gentle giants socializing, playing, and dusting themselves with the park’s distinctive red soil. Of course, there are plenty of other animals to find: lion, buffalo, giraffe, and impala abound here, and lucky travelers may even catch a glimpse of the cheetah or African wild dog. After searching the park far and wide for these exciting species, we’ll retire to our accommodations at Tarangire Simba Lodge to enjoy the unmistakable style and comfort of classic safari tents situated right in the heart of the wilderness.

As the sun breaks over the baobab woodlands of Tarangire National Park, we’ll set out on another game drive to discover the park’s animals at their most active. Later this morning or afternoon, we’ll embark upon the three-hour drive to reach the next destination on our Tanzania Northern Parks Safari. The Marera Valley Lodge is an especially welcoming resort situated near the town of Karatu, and it will serve as our home base while we explore the Ngorongoro Conservation Area on tomorrow’s portion of our Tanzania Northern Parks Safari. Tonight, you’ll savor an exquisite meal prepared by the lodge’s renowned chef and enjoy plenty of time to relax on the spacious hotel grounds before turning in for the night and preparing for tomorrow’s adventure.

We promised more geological wonders of volcanic origin on your Tanzania Northern Parks Safari, and now it’s time to deliver. This morning, we’ll descend into the jaw-dropping Ngorongoro Crater: a tremendous natural caldera formed two million years ago when the colossal Ngorongoro volcano collapsed upon itself. The crater now represents 260 square kilometers of prime wildlife real estate, where species like lion, hyena, elephant, and even the rare black rhinoceros can be found. We’ll explore the crater this morning to experience some genuinely intimate encounters with these iconic species; this afternoon, we’ll leave the crater behind and continue traveling through the expansive Ngorongoro Conservation Area for about three hours. Our destination today is the crown jewel of Tanzania’s northern parks: the mighty Serengeti National Park. We’ll enjoy classic safari tents at the Tanzania Bush Camp, located in the heart of the park’s central Seronera region.

The Serengeti is perhaps the most well-known wildlife reserve in the entirety of East Africa, and for good reason. The entire ecosystem stretches across Tanzania’s northern border to encompass the neighboring Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. But Tanzania alone holds the vast majority of this incredible wilderness: the Serengeti National Park represents nearly 15,000 square kilometers of sprawling savanna, shaded riverine forest, and open woodlands. The Serengeti is also home to the world-famous Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra: a unique natural phenomenon involving the annual movement of millions of antelope. On today’s portion of our Tanzania Northern Parks Safari, we’ll explore the length and breadth of the park, seeking out keystone predator species like the lion and hyena. The entire day is at our disposal, and we can even enjoy a picnic-style lunch on the Serengeti plains before returning to Tanzania Bush Camp in the evening.

There are few pleasures greater than watching the sun rise across the African bush, and the Serengeti plains are the perfect place to enjoy the natural splendor of daybreak and all its attendant displays of light and color. With the orange ball of the sun hanging heavy in the sky, we’ll embark upon a half-day game drive to search for any wildlife species we haven’t yet discovered on our Tanzania Northern Parks Safari. As you’ve learned by now, each game drive brings its own rewards, and there’s no telling what surprises the Serengeti holds in store for us. Later this afternoon, we’ll pack our bags and leave the park behind, retracing our steps across the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and returning to the Marera Valley Lodge to spend our last night here in the wilds of Tanzania.

After spending the morning at your leisure enjoying the unique ambience of the Marera Valley Lodge, it’s time to conclude our adventure on Tanzania’s northern safari circuit. We’ll bring you back to the Kilimanjaro International Airport in plenty of time for your outgoing flight. Thank you for choosing Chalema Tanzania Safaris to arrange your Tanzania Northern Parks Safari—we can’t wait to welcome you back!