8 Days Week In The Wilderness

The city of Arusha lies in the shadow of the spectacular Mount Meru, and its bucolic surroundings are characterized by green cultivated fields of bananas, coffee, and a variety of vegetables. The town is best known as Tanzania’s safari gateway, as it offers easy access to all of the destinations we’ll be visiting on this exceptional itinerary. When you arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport, we’ll meet you and drive to the nearby Karama Lodge and Spa. After getting settled in, you can relax at the hotel or take a stroll through town for a look at the colorful local markets and a bite to eat.

Today we’ll start our safari in Tarangire National Park, a very special wildlife reserve where winding waterways course through thick bush, birdsong fills the air, and scattered baobab trees define the skyline. Tarangire lies only two hours west of Arusha, so we’ll get an early start this morning and spend most of our day in the park. Elephants are especially numerous here, and you can expect to see your first herds within minutes of our arrival. In the dry season when water is scarce, we’ll also be able to find plains game like wildebeest, zebras, and giraffe in astounding numbers, as they congregate along the banks of the Tarangire River. This evening, we’ll check in at the lovely Burunge Tented Lodge, which is located just outside the park by the side of Lake Burunge.

We’ll rise early this morning and drive north for just over three hours to reach Lake Natron, a surreal destination and unique natural spectacle unlike anything else you’ll see on this itinerary. Its alkaline soda waters are unusually shallow, averaging just one meter in depth. The lake serves as the most important breeding ground for more than two million lesser flamingos, making it the best place in East Africa to find them in great numbers. The lake itself is not the only geological marvel in the vicinity, either—the towering Ol Doinyo Lengai rises above the plains here. Its name translates to the “Mountain of God” in the local Maa language, and we’ll be treated to an exceptional view of the mountain when we check in at the Maasai Giraffe Eco Lodge just south of the lake this evening.

There’s so much to see in the Lake Natron region, and we’ll check out the very best highlights today. The Maasai Giraffe Eco Lodge is located in the Maasai community of Engaresero, and there’s no better way to get an authentic look at this culture’s fascinating way of life than by visiting a traditional homestead. We can also enjoy some light hiking to the nearby Ngare Sero waterfalls and relax in the cool spray of water cascading down the rocks of this scenic ravine. The region is also home to some remarkably well-preserved early hominid footprints, which are a real treat if you’re interested in the history of man’s first steps on the African plains. Tonight, we’ll return to the lodge to enjoy another sumptuous meal and a campfire under the dazzling stars of the night sky.

Our road this morning leads us south for approximately five hours to arrive at the most famous wilderness in all of Tanzania: Serengeti National Park. This splendid reserve stretches across 30,000 square kilometers of acacia-studded savanna, offering jaw-dropping wildlife encounters that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. The Serengeti is recognized internationally for its annual wildebeest migration, which sees more than two million wildebeest—accompanied by hundreds of thousands of zebra and gazelle—streaming across the plains. But the Serengeti is a world-class destination at any time of year, thanks to its gorgeous scenery and high concentration of predators. We’ll access the park from Klein’s Gate in the northeast and focus our game drives in the central region known as Seronera in order to see as much as possible. This evening, we’ll settle in to outstanding luxury accommodations at the Tanzania Bush Camp.

Watching the sun rise over a panorama of iconic umbrella thorns is one of those classic safari moments that define the entire experience. We’ll savor the view as we enjoy a hearty breakfast before heading out into the bush for an all-day game drive. The diversity of the wildlife in the Serengeti is truly staggering. You’ll have the chance to get up close and personal with all of the park’s major predators: lions, hyenas, cheetahs, and leopards. We’ll also introduce you to a surprising variety of herbivores—from the muscular eland to the diminutive duiker, you’ll see antelopes of all shapes and sizes here. There are even a few permanent water sources where we can enjoy reliable sightings of the hippopotamus and Nile crocodile. After you’ve seen it all, we’ll return to camp for a second night in the Serengeti.

Today’s drive is short but spectacular, taking us across the highlands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for just under two hours. When we reach the Ngorongoro Crater itself, you’ll be blown away by the sheer size of this extinct volcanic caldera. After traveling the winding road to the crater floor, we’ll have the whole day to enjoy a game drive in this markedly unique environment. Best of all, we can use this opportunity to locate any of the Big Five which you haven’t already seen. These are the black rhinoceros, elephant, Cape buffalo, lion, and leopard—and they can all be found within the confines of Ngorongoro Crater. After today’s safari, we’ll leave the crater behind to spend the night in nearby Karatu. Our accommodations will be at the superb Eileen’s Tree Inn.

We’ll return to Arusha this morning, reaching the city in just two hours. Your unforgettable adventure on Tanzania’s Northern Safari Circuit has now come to an end, and we hope you’ve enjoyed your week with Chalema Tanzania Safaris. We’ll drop you off at the Kilimanjaro International Airport today in time for your outgoing flight—and we hope to see you again soon!