Tailor-Made Holiday

Tanzania - Northern Tanzania Tented Safari

Explore Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti

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9 days

from $5,495pp (excluding flights)

Lioness in long grass, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Elephants crossing the river, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Zebras and a wildebeest walking beside the lake, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Cloud over the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Journey through northern Tanzania’s safari landscape, staying at a succession of beautiful tented camps. Combine the baobab-dotted valleys of Tarangire with the volcanic vistas of Ngorongoro and the endless plains of the Serengeti.

Admire the vast herds of elephants that roam Tarangire National Park
Explore the unique terrain of the Ngorongoro Crater, dotted with wildlife
Drive across the plains of the Serengeti, spotting big cats and plains game
Stay at tented camps throughout, offering beautiful views of this wild landscape

TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

Begin with two nights spent at the beautifully positioned Oliver’s Camp, in Tarangire National Park. This quiet camp sits in an acacia thicket on the side of a low hill, looking out over verdant floodplains. Below the camp, a perfectly placed sundowner deck offers marvellous views of the African sunset - best accompanied by a gin and tonic from the nearby bar.

Spend some time exploring this wonderfully varied landscape – home to vast numbers of elephants. These magnificent pachyderms roam the acacia woodlands, grass-coated floodplains and rock-dotted hillside. The gnarled baobabs that litter the park show scars from the scratching of countless tusks.

A large variety of other wildlife can also be found here, including leopards, lions, servals, aardwolves and antelopes.

NGORONGORO CRATER

Head west from Tarangire to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Venture beyond the main crater to the wild highlands that lie to the north. Approach the dramatic slopes of the Olmoti volcano, where The Highlands camp is positioned. This innovatively designed camp features unusual dome-shaped tents that offer panoramic views of the surrounding grasslands. Modern, comfortable and totally isolated, this camp offers a sanctuary amidst a volcanic wilderness.

Use this remote base to explore the landscape of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Descend to the crater floor and discover the multitude of game that flocks to this fertile basin. Surrounded by the high walls of the crater, drive across this rich plain, decorated with lakes and winding rivers. Plains game fills the grasslands, whilst black rhinos can also be spotted.

NORTHERN SERENGETI

Fly further west and into to the northern Serengeti. Staying at the quiet Ubuntu Camp, explore the plains, kopjes and quiet valleys of this iconic area. The rich grasslands are alive with antelopes, zebra and other grazing animals. These, in turn, attract an array of predators.

Drive across this captivating landscape as natural dramas unfold around you. Spot lions stalking skittish herds of Thompson’s gazelles, watch leopards curled in shady trees and admire cheetahs as they spring forwards accelerating in pursuit of their supper.

During migration season, this area floods with wildebeests. Spend time beside the Mara River awaiting one of nature's greatest sights, a crossing. Patience is important, but as the wildebeests eventually surge forward, watch as thousands of these panicking creatures stampede across the treacherous river waters.

WHY WE LIKE IT

This fantastic journey combines the best of northern Tanzania, allowing for some phenomenal wildlife encounters. And whilst the accommodation is luxurious, its tented nature means that a traditional safari feel survives.

For a more detailed itinerary with great ideas on what to do and where to stay, please get in touch with our experts.

Price Excluding Flights $	Flight cost from		Tour Details
$ 7418.25	$ 945	{"DepDate":"1900-01-01T00:00:00","RetDate":"1900-01-01T00:00:00","PricePerPax":"7418.25","FightCost":"945","TourLecturer":"","SingleSupp":""}

Click here to see what is included/excluded

what is included

Economy flight between Colombo and Male

PLEASE NOTE THE COST SHOWN INCLUDES INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS DEPARTING FROM THE UK, BASED ON AN APPROXIMATE AIR FARE. PLEASE ASK YOUR TRAVEL EXPERT FOR AN ACCURATE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT QUOTE. INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS DEPARTING FROM THE UK ARE ATOL PROTECTED.

Itinerary at a glance

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Day 1

London - Amsterdam - Kilimanjaro - Arusha

Fly London to Amsterdam

Fly Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro

Drive from Kilimanjaro to Arusha (Road Journey)

You will be staying at Onsea House, Full board

Day 2

Arusha - Tarangire National Park

Drive from Arusha to Tarangire National Park

Your guide will collect you from your hotel and together you will travel to Tarangire national park. The drive to the park gates will take about 2 hours depending on the road conditions. The rest of the way to camp will be through the park, game viewing along the way.

Located just a few hours drive from the town of Arusha, Tarangire is a popular stop for safaris travelling through the northern circuit on their way to Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. The Tarangire River is a magnet for thirsty wildlife and large herds of elephant, migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest and eland gather and not surprisingly the predators follow behind. The scenery here is spectacular, with ancient baobab trees and breathtaking views of the Masaai Steppe and the mountains to the south.

After some time to settle in, set out on an afternoon game drive.

You will be staying at Oliver's Camp, Full board

Day 3

Tarangire National Park

Activities at Oliver's Camp
Explore the magnificent landscape of Tarangire, taking advantage of the activities on offer at Oliver's Camp. These include game drives, night drives and guided bush walks.

The game drives are in 4x4 vehicles, accompanied by an expert guide. Drive across riverine flood plains, through baobab-dotted savannah and between acacia thickets. Get close to the park's vast elephant population; watch as they bathe in the cooling mud of the Tarangire River. Also spot lions, cheetahs, leopards, giraffes and variety of plains game.

Night drives are led by a spotter, armed with a red-light spotlight and accompanied by a driver, improving the chances of spotting game in the dark. Leave camp at around 6.30pm, returning for a late dinner with the other guests. Sightings vary hugely from night to night, but this is the ideal time for spotting leopards hunting. Also look out for servals, bat-eared foxes, mongooses and black-backed jackals.

Game walks are led by an armed guide, with an armed ranger in accompaniment. Learn about the intricacies of this beautiful landscape, whilst walking through acacia woodlands and out onto the river valley floor. Elephants dot the terrain, making sightings inevitable, but also expect to see waterbuck, birds, warthogs and other small game.

You will be staying at Oliver's Camp, Full board

Day 4

Tarangire National Park - Ngorongoro Crater

Travel from Tarangire to Ngorongoro

Depart Tarangire for the Ngorongoro, a journey time of approximately 2.5 hours. Along the way, you can enjoy some wonderful rural scenery.

This region is dominated by the massive Ngorongoro crater, which has formed the focal point of so many television documentaries. The crater floor is alive with game, particularly around Lake Magadi, which is also well known for its flamingo population. Aside from herds of zebra, gazelle, and wildebeest, the crater is home to the 'big five' - rhinoceros, lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo.

After arriving, have some time to relax and unwind. Have a drink at the bar or beside the fire.

You will be staying at The Highlands, Full board

Day 5

Ngorongoro Crater

Visit the Crater floor
Today you head to the Ngorongoro Crater and admire the abundant wildlife in one of Africa's most remarkable locations. Photographic opportunities are plentiful, with animals often seen against the spectacular backdrop of the caldera's sheer cliff face.

The crater floor itself is alive with game, particularly around Lake Magadi, which is also well known for its flamingo population.

Aside from herds of zebra, gazelle and wildebeest, the crater is home to the big five of rhinoceros, lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo. It also plays host to almost every individual species of wildlife in East Africa, with an estimated 25,000 animals within the crater. Elsewhere on the crater floor, predators roam freely, terrorising the vulnerable plains game that huddle in groups as the dusk settles.

The views from the rim are spectacular and the fever tree forest, which characterises the area, is alive with elephant, leopard and buffalo, most of which descend into the crater to feed.

You will be staying at The Highlands, Full board

Day 6

Ngorongoro Crater - Lake Manyara - Serengeti National Park

Transfer to Manyara airstrip

Today you will be driven from the Ngorongoro highlands to Lake Manyara Airport. The drive should not take more than 90 minutes depending on the road conditions. Your driver will make sure you depart on time.

Travel from Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park (Air Transfer Journey)

This is the setting for one of the greatest wildlife shows on earth, the famous Great Migration of wildebeest - a life and death dash beset on all sides by the Serengeti's many predators and undoubtedly a 'wildlife wonder of the world'.

After arriving, have time to either relax or take an afternoon game drive.

You will be staying at Ubuntu Serengeti, Full board

Day 7

Serengeti National Park

Days at Ubuntu Camp
Explore the northern Serengeti, close to the border with the Masai Mara. Here, rolling hills rise up from fertile savannah, split by the rushing brown waters of the Mara River and interspersed with impressive grey kopjes.

Accompanied by an expert guide, venture out in search of wildlife, across this varied terrain. Game drives depart in the morning and afternoon, with wildlife abundant throughout this magnificent landscape. The kopjes are popular with leopards and lions alike, whilst zebras, giraffes and elephants roam the valleys. A small number of rhinos also inhabit this area, with sightings regular but hard to predict.

During migration season, the northern Serengeti floods with wildebeests. Spend time beside the Mara River awaiting one of nature's greatest sights, a crossing. Patience is important, but as the wildebeests eventually surge forward, watch as thousands of these panicking creatures stampede across the treacherous river waters.

You will be staying at Ubuntu Serengeti, Full board

Day 8

Serengeti National Park - Arusha - Kilimanjaro - Amsterdam

Travel from Serengeti National Park to Arusha (Air Transfer Journey)

Drive from Arusha to Kilimanjaro (Road Journey)

Fly Kilimanjaro to Amsterdam overnight

Day 9

Amsterdam - London

Fly Amsterdam to London

Arrive into London Heathrow

Accommodation

Below you can see some of the wonderful places we recommend you stay on your journey.

Oliver's Camp

Oliver's Camp and Little Oliver's Camp are both situated in the exclusive southern part of Tarangire National Park....

View Accommodation

Ubuntu Serengeti

Ubuntu Camp is a small, semi-permanent camp in the Serengeti National Park....

View Accommodation

The Highlands

Set in the wild landscape of the northern reaches of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, The Highlands hugs the dramatic slopes of the Olmoti volcano....

View Accommodation

For a more detailed itinerary with great ideas on what to do and where to stay, please get in touch with our experts.

Destination Experts

Our experts have unrivalled firsthand knowledge of Tanzania

Phone: +44(0) 1285 650 011

Illona Cross, Travel Expert

"Illona was quite simply brilliant. She listened and carefully noted what we thought we wanted, made suggestions and came up with an itinerary which suited us down to the ground."

"Excellent personal service; well-informed local knowledge; dependable outcome; quality of experience."

Phone: +44(0) 1285 650 011

Jackie Devereux, Travel Expert

"Every part of our trip was the highlight and it is not possible for us to point out just one thing, event or place."

"However, we received a magnificent surprise of a helicopter ride between camps in Botswana which meant a flight over the delta and an opportunity to see the delta and how it is formed. It was a wonderful surprise organised by Jackie and we were both absolutely overjoyed with the opportunity. I do not believe that there was more that could have been done as we had a magnificent trip."

"Jackie was excellent- she listened and was very knowledgeable."

For a more detailed itinerary with great ideas on what to do and where to stay, please get in touch with our experts.