Overview
Itinerary
You will experience an in-depth journey through the Northern safari circuit with this carefully crafted 10-day budget-friendly itinerary. You will be joined by a knowledgeable guide, well-versed in wildlife and park insights, along with a cook dedicated to providing freshly prepared meals throughout your expedition.
Day 1: Airport Pick up
You will be picked up from either Kilimanjaro or Arusha Airport and dropped off at your budget accommodation in Arusha. If time allows (depending on your arrival), you will have the option to do an Arusha city tour, visiting the famous art gallery, the Cultural Heritage Centre, the local market, and the Maasai market.
Main Destination: Arusha (City)
Accommodation: Karibu Heritage House – Budget hotel located in Arusha (City)
Meals & Drinks: Meals at own expense
Drinks not included
Drinks not included
Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, you will be picked up from your accommodation and drive for approximately 2 hours and a half to Tarangire National Park. The park is famous for its large elephant herds and ancient baobab trees. From our open-roof vehicle, you’ll experience seasonal swamps and savannahs. The Tarangire River teems with wildlife, including birds, giraffes, impalas, lions, leopards, and elephants. You will have a picnic lunch at a picturesque spot before continuing your wildlife viewing. After enjoying watching the sunset while on a game drive, you’ll go to the campsite inside the park for dinner and an overnight stay.
Main Destination: Tarangire National Park
Accommodation: Budget camping – Inside Tarangire NP
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
Day 3: Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park
Following an early morning game drive in Tarangire, you will drive to Lake Manyara National Park. It is a relatively small but diverse park, 120km west of Arusha. The park’s namesake is a shallow, salt lake. It covers a large area of the park, flooding and drying with the seasons, and is home to thousands of flamingos and over 500 other bird species. On your exploration of the park, you will see monkeys, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, buffalos, elephants, 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. Later on, you will exit the park and head to Fig Tree Lodge (you’ll stay in rooms with cozy beds and private bathrooms) for dinner and an overnight stay.
Main Destination: Lake Manyara National Park
Accommodation: Fig Tree Lodge & Camp – Budget hotel located just outside Lake Manyara NP
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
Day 4: Drive to Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, you will begin your journey to Serengeti. The route ahead will take you through a long and occasionally bumpy road, providing you with approximately 4 to 5 hours of captivating wildlife viewing as you ascend the crater highlands towards the vast plains of Serengeti. If the weather conditions allow and visibility is clear, a 10-minute stop will be made at Ngorongoro Viewpoint, offering you a glimpse of the breathtaking caldera before continuing the drive to Serengeti.
Main Destination: Serengeti National Park
Accommodation: Budget camping – Inside Central Serengeti NP
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
Day 5: Full-Day Game Drive in Serengeti National Park
Today, you will be spending the entire day in the Serengeti National Park. You will start your exploration at sunrise with a full-day game drive, searching for the Big Five. After returning to the campsite for breakfast, you will head out for an afternoon game drive. There is more to Serengeti than large mammals. The Serengeti is also home to over 500 bird species, including ostriches, secretary birds, and black eagles. You will continue searching for wildlife until sunset. Then, you will return to the camp for dinner and an overnight stay.
Main Destination: Serengeti National Park
Accommodation: Budget camping – Inside Central Serengeti NP
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
Day 6: Full-Day Game Drive in Serengeti National Park
You will enjoy a full day in Serengeti National Park, beginning with a sunrise game drive to seek out the iconic Big Five. After breakfast at the campsite, you will embark on an afternoon game drive, extending your wildlife exploration until sunset. You will return to the camp for dinner and an overnight stay.
Main Destination: Serengeti National Park
Accommodation: Budget camping – Inside Central Serengeti NP
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
Day 7: Serengeti to Ngorongoro (Simba Campsite)
Today’s adventure begins early as you depart from the campsite with a packed breakfast for a sunrise game drive. This offers the best opportunity to spot animals when they are most active. A stop at a picturesque picnic site allows you to enjoy breakfast in the heart of the wilderness. Following this, the game drive will resume, keeping you captivated until you return to the camp around noon for a satisfying hot lunch.
Main Destination: Serengeti National Park
Accommodation: Budget camping – On the crater rim of Ngorongoro Crater
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater
Today, your adventure starts with an early breakfast before heading out for a game drive. You’ll then journey into the Ngorongoro Crater, bringing along your packed lunch. This incredible area is home to a wide variety of East African wildlife, including the rare black rhinoceros. If you’re fortunate, you might catch a glimpse of them. Covering an expanse of 260 square kilometers with a diameter of roughly 20 kilometers, the crater offers a full day of exploration amidst its natural marvels. Afterward, you’ll return to the campsite for dinner and spend the night there.
Main Destination: Ngorongoro Crater
Accommodation: Budget camping – On the crater rim of Ngorongoro Crater
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
Day 9: Empakaai Crater Walking Safari
You will experience a walking safari at Empakai Crater. You’ll begin by trekking along the rim in the morning, where you can spot wildlife and take in panoramic views. You will pause for a picnic breakfast, then venture further into the crater. You will return to Simba campsite for a hot lunch, followed by a drive to Lake Eyasi for dinner and an overnight stay.
Main Destination: Empakaai Crater (Ngorongoro Highlands)
Accommodation: Budget camping
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
Day 10: Visiting the Hadzabe and Datoga, Lake Eyasi
You will experience a unique opportunity to join the Hadzabe in hunting activities early in the morning. Renowned for their expertise in hunting and gathering, the Hadzabe traditionally focus on small game like dik-diks, monkeys, and hares, along with honey gathering. Their dwellings are simple and easily constructed and abandoned. Communicating through a click language and engaging with the Hadzabe offers a rich cultural immersion. Afterward, you’ll visit the Datoga people, celebrated for their craftsmanship. You’ll return to the campsite for a hot lunch, then followed by a drive to Arusha, marking the end of your 10-day adventure!
Main Destination: Lake Eyasi
Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks: All meals included
All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
Includes
Excludes
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