Sample Tanzania safaris
Southern Circuit
SELOUS GAME RESERVE AND RUAHA NATIONAL PARK 8-DAY SAFARI IN TANZANIA
DAY 1 – Arrive in Dar es Salaam and settle in for the evening before beginning your safari. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a quiet dinner overlooking the Indian Ocean or simply rest after the long journey. Southern Tanzania moves at a different pace than the northern safari circuit, and this itinerary is designed to ease you into it.
DAY 2 – Board a bush flight into Nyerere National Park, formerly Selous Game Reserve. Vast, remote, and far less crowded than many safari destinations, Selous feels wild in a way that is increasingly difficult to find. After settling into camp, head out for an evening boat safari along the Rufiji River where elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and incredible birdlife gather along the water’s edge as the sun begins to set.
DAY 3 – Spend the day exploring Nyerere by vehicle, following wildlife through river systems, open plains, and thick bush. Southern Tanzania safaris often feel less rushed and more immersive than the north, with long stretches of quiet wilderness broken by unforgettable wildlife encounters. Lion, buffalo, elephant, giraffe, zebra, and even African wild dog are all possible here.
DAY 4 – Start the morning on foot with a guided walking safari, one of the most rewarding ways to experience the bush. Tracking animals, noticing smaller details, and moving quietly through the landscape offers an entirely different perspective than game drives alone. Later, fly west into Ruaha National Park, a rugged and dramatically beautiful region known for its ancient baobabs, massive elephant herds, and remote atmosphere.
DAY 5 – Spend the day exploring Ruaha, one of Tanzania’s best-kept safari secrets. The landscapes here feel vast and untamed, and the pace of safari is often dictated more by the movement of wildlife than by strict schedules. Ruaha is especially rewarding for travelers who enjoy a quieter, more intimate safari experience away from heavy tourist traffic.
DAY 6 – Continue exploring Ruaha with flexible game drives tailored to wildlife activity and your interests. During the dry season, the Great Ruaha River becomes a gathering place for enormous concentrations of wildlife, creating exceptional opportunities for predator sightings and elephant encounters. Even quiet moments in Ruaha tend to feel memorable: coffee at sunrise, dust hanging in the air after a herd passes, or the sounds of camp after dark.
DAY 7 – Enjoy one final morning in the bush before returning to camp for a slower afternoon to soak in the atmosphere of Ruaha. Whether gathered around the fire, watching wildlife pass near camp, or simply taking in the stillness of the landscape, southern Tanzania has a way of settling into you slowly.
DAY 8 – Fly back to Dar es Salaam for your international departure or continue onward to Zanzibar for time along the Swahili Coast. Many travelers leave southern Tanzania surprised by how deeply personal and immersive the experience feels compared to more traditional safari routes.
Northen Circuit
TARANGIRE, LAKE MANYARA, SERENGETI &
NGORONGORO CRATER 12-DAY SAFARI IN TANZANIA
DAY 1 – Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to your lodge in Arusha. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a relaxed evening surrounded by gardens and views of Mount Meru as you settle into Tanzania for the days ahead.
DAY 2 – After breakfast, begin the drive toward Tarangire National Park. Known for its towering baobab trees, seasonal river systems, and large elephant herds, Tarangire often feels quieter and more intimate than some of the larger parks further north. Enjoy your first game drive before arriving at camp for the evening.
DAY 3 – Spend a full day exploring Tarangire at a slower pace. During the dry season, wildlife gathers heavily along the Tarangire River, creating excellent opportunities for elephant, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, and predator sightings. Return to camp as the light softens over the baobabs.
DAY 4 – This morning, continue toward Lake Manyara National Park. While smaller than the Serengeti, Manyara offers a completely different atmosphere with groundwater forests, escarpment views, and dense vegetation that supports elephants, hippos, monkeys, and abundant birdlife. Later, continue to Karatu for an overnight stay near the Ngorongoro Highlands.
DAY 5 – Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater early in the morning for one of the most unique safari experiences in East Africa. The crater floor supports an extraordinary concentration of wildlife within a relatively compact area, including lion, hyena, buffalo, hippo, elephant, and with some luck maybe a black rhino. After a full day exploring the crater, return to your lodge in Karatu.
DAY 6 – Travel west toward Serengeti National Park, passing through changing landscapes and Maasai communities along the way. As the plains begin to open up, the feeling of entering the Serengeti is difficult to describe until you experience it yourself. Arrive in camp in time for an evening game drive.
DAY 7 – Spend the day exploring the central Serengeti, where rocky kopjes, open grasslands, and river systems create ideal habitat for year-round wildlife. This region is especially well known for predator sightings, and the pace of safari here often settles into long game drives, quiet observation, and evenings around camp.
DAY 8 – Continue exploring different areas of the Serengeti based on wildlife movement and seasonal conditions. No two days on safari feel exactly alike, and often the most memorable moments happen unexpectedly.
DAY 9 – Enjoy one final full day in the Serengeti. Many travelers are surprised by how quickly safari rhythm begins to feel natural — early mornings, long conversations around meals, time spent quietly watching wildlife, and evenings listening to the sounds of the bush from camp.
DAY 10 – Fly from the Serengeti back to Arusha or return overland depending on your preferred style of travel and schedule. Spend a final evening in Arusha to relax before your international departure.
DAY 11 -Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your journey home or continue onward to Zanzibar for additional time along the Swahili Coast.
BEYOND THE NORTHERN CIRCUIT
DAY 1 – Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to your guesthouse or lodge in Arusha. Depending on your arrival time, settle in and enjoy a relaxed evening preparing for the week ahead. Arusha serves as the gateway to northern Tanzania and offers a very different atmosphere than the safari parks themselves.
DAY 2 – Spend the day exploring Arusha National Park, one of the most underrated parks in northern Tanzania. Unlike many parks where guests remain in vehicles all day, Arusha National Park allows guided walking safaris accompanied by an armed ranger. Walking through the forest and open grasslands offers a completely different perspective on safari, with opportunities to see giraffe, buffalo, zebra, warthog, monkeys, and incredible birdlife on foot.
In the afternoon, continue exploring the park by vehicle, including the lakes and views of Mount Meru before returning to Arusha for the evening.
In the afternoon, continue exploring the park by vehicle, including the lakes and views of Mount Meru before returning to Arusha for the evening.
DAY 3 – Travel toward the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro to visit the village of Materuni. Hike through lush greenery and farmland to reach the waterfall before returning to the village for a locally guided coffee experience. This is a slower-paced day that offers a chance to experience daily life, local culture, and the landscapes surrounding Kilimanjaro.
DAY 4 – Depart early for a full-day excursion into Mkomazi National Park near the Kenyan border. Far less visited than the northern circuit parks, Mkomazi offers wide-open landscapes, dramatic mountain views, and a quieter safari atmosphere. Wildlife sightings may include giraffe, zebra, elephant, and a variety of antelope species.
One of the highlights of Mkomazi is the protected black rhino sanctuary, where conservation efforts are helping restore one of East Africa’s most endangered species. Visiting the rhino preserve offers a rare opportunity to learn more about Tanzania’s ongoing conservation work while seeing these remarkable animals in a protected environment.
One of the highlights of Mkomazi is the protected black rhino sanctuary, where conservation efforts are helping restore one of East Africa’s most endangered species. Visiting the rhino preserve offers a rare opportunity to learn more about Tanzania’s ongoing conservation work while seeing these remarkable animals in a protected environment.
DAY 5 – Spend the day exploring Moshi, the small town that sits beneath Mount Kilimanjaro. Moshi has a slower pace and a strong coffee culture shaped by the surrounding Chagga communities and fertile volcanic soil. Spend time visiting local coffee shops, markets, small restaurants, and enjoying views of Kilimanjaro when the weather is clear. This day provides a more personal look at everyday life in northern Tanzania outside the safari parks.
DAY 6 – Spend the day at Chemka Hot Springs, a natural spring oasis surrounded by fig trees and crystal-clear water. This relaxed day offers a different side of northern Tanzania and provides time to slow down after safari activities. Swim, relax beneath the trees, and enjoy the quieter rhythm of the region. Travel back to Moshi for one more night before departure.
DAY 7 – Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your international departure or continue onward to Zanzibar.
ARUSHA NATIONAL PARK, MATERUNI WATERFALL, MKOMAZI NATIONAL PARK, MOSHI & CHEMKA HOTSPRINGS