TOUR OVERVIEW
The journey at a glance.
This lodge and tented-camp journey links Tarangire, Mto wa Mbu, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and three nights in the Central Serengeti. Olduvai Gorge and visits near Lake Eyasi add cultural and historical context before the return to Arusha.
Luxury
High-end lodges and tented camps with a more personal level of service.
Lodge safari
Comfortable lodges and permanent camps between game drives.
Culture & communities
Time with local communities, arranged respectfully with local hosts.
Is this trip for me?
- Trip type
- Luxury Safari · tailor-made
- Physical rating
- Easy. Mostly vehicle-based game drives, with early starts and some bumpy roads.
- Group size
- 2–6 guests
- Good for
- Luxury, Lodge safari, Culture & communities
Parks & places in this programme
Your route
- 01Tarangire
- 02Lake Manyara
- 03Ngorongoro
- 04Serengeti
- 05Lake Eyasi
WHEN TO VISIT
The best time to take this trip.
Typical conditions for each destination on the route. The current month is highlighted using Tanzania time.
Tanzania · local time (EAT)
- Dry season
- Showers possible
- Rainy season
ITINERARY
Your trip, day by day.
Follow the route from the first day to the last. Accommodation and meal plans reflect the published programme and are confirmed for your dates in your Eastara proposal.
Meet the team at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to your Arusha hotel. Take time to rest and settle in before the journey.
- Accommodation
- Gran Meliá Arusha
- Meal plan
- Dinner
Travel to Tarangire after breakfast for a day of game drives among baobabs, river landscapes and elephant habitat. Continue to your lodge for the evening.
- Accommodation
- Tarangire Sopa Lodge or similar
- Meal plan
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Leave Tarangire for Mto wa Mbu. A locally guided visit introduces the village’s markets, farms and food, with exploration on foot or by bicycle.
- Accommodation
- Mawemawe Manyara Lodge
- Meal plan
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Explore Lake Manyara on game drives through its groundwater forest and lakeshore habitats. Return to your Manyara lodge after the day’s safari.
- Accommodation
- Mawemawe Manyara Lodge
- Meal plan
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for game viewing, taking a picnic lunch into the crater. Return to your lodge after exploring its varied habitats.
- Accommodation
- Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
- Meal plan
- Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Travel towards the Serengeti and settle into camp after an afternoon game drive. A Maasai village visit is an optional addition to the transfer route.
- Accommodation
- Acacia Seronera Luxury Camp
- Meal plan
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Devote the day to game drives in the Central Serengeti. Your guide will consider seasonal conditions and wildlife movements when choosing the day’s route.
- Accommodation
- Acacia Seronera Luxury Camp
- Meal plan
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
A second full Serengeti day gives time to explore kopjes, river corridors and the open plains. Return to the same camp for the night.
- Accommodation
- Acacia Seronera Luxury Camp
- Meal plan
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Enjoy a morning game drive before leaving the Serengeti. Visit Olduvai Gorge on the route through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, then continue to Karatu.
- Accommodation
- Neptune Ngorongoro Lodge
- Meal plan
- Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Travel to Lake Eyasi for visits with the Hadzabe and Datoga communities. Continue to Arusha in the afternoon for your final hotel night.
- Accommodation
- Gran Meliá Arusha
- Meal plan
- Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Transfer from your Arusha hotel to the airport for your onward journey.
- Accommodation
- No overnight stay
- Meal plan
- Breakfast
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Inclusions & exclusions.
These lists describe the published itinerary. Your individual quotation confirms the agreed services and any changes.
Not included
- Optional Maasai village visit en route to the Serengeti
- International flights to and from Tanzania
- Tanzanian tourist visas
- Travel and medical insurance
- Personal expenses
ACCOMMODATION
Where you stay.
The programme names the following stays. Availability, room categories and any alternatives are confirmed in your quotation.
Days 1–10 · 2 nights
Gran Meliá Arusha
Dinner / Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Day 2 · 1 night
Tarangire Sopa Lodge or similar
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Days 3–4 · 2 nights
Mawemawe Manyara Lodge
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5 · 1 night
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Days 6–8 · 3 nights
Acacia Seronera Luxury Camp
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9 · 1 night
Neptune Ngorongoro Lodge
Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
GOOD TO KNOW
Questions about this trip.
Can this itinerary be changed?
Yes. Use it as a starting point: we can adjust the number of nights, the accommodation style, the order of the route and add or remove destinations.
When can this trip start?
On any date, subject to availability. Tell us your preferred dates and we will check the accommodation and connections for you.
How much does it cost?
Every proposal is quoted personally. The price depends on the season, group size, accommodation and any changes you make to the route.
What is not included?
The published programme does not include: Optional Maasai village visit en route to the Serengeti; International flights to and from Tanzania; Tanzanian tourist visas; Travel and medical insurance; Personal expenses.
Can you guarantee a river crossing?
No. The migration is wild and unscheduled. We can discuss a seasonally appropriate area and time to observe, but crossings and sightings cannot be promised.
Is Ngorongoro the same as Serengeti?
No. They are distinct protected landscapes. The crater provides an enclosed volcanic setting, while the Serengeti is a much larger plains and river ecosystem.
MAKE THE DETAILS YOURS
Your dates. Your travel style.
Share your preferred dates, number of travellers and accommodation preferences. Tell us what you would like to keep or change. Your proposal will confirm the route, services, accommodation, availability, payment terms and price.
