Untamed Wilderness

Your journey begins with a morning transfer from your hotel in Zanzibar to the airport, where you will board a domestic flight to Arusha. As you soar over the Indian Ocean and mainland Tanzania, anticipation builds for the adventure ahead. Upon arrival at Arusha Airport, your experienced safari guide will be waiting to welcome you. After a brief introduction, you will embark on a scenic drive to Tarangire National Park.

Tarangire spans approximately 2,850 square kilometers, making it the sixth-largest national park in Tanzania. It is best known for its vast herds of elephants, ancient baobab trees, and the Tarangire River, a crucial lifeline for wildlife during the dry season. In August, temperatures range from 14°C in the early morning to around 28°C in the afternoon, with low humidity creating comfortable game-viewing conditions.

As you enter the park, you will immediately notice large herds of elephants gathering around the riverbanks, while zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, and buffalo roam the golden plains. Tarangire is also home to tree-climbing lions, leopards resting in acacia trees, and endangered African wild dogs. Bird enthusiasts will be thrilled to spot over 550 species, including the striking yellow-collared lovebird and the majestic martial eagle.

Lunch will be served at 1:00 PM at a scenic picnic site overlooking the river. After an exciting afternoon game drive, you will head to Karatu for the night. Your accommodation is Omega View, a comfortable mid-range lodge with en-suite rooms offering stunning views of the highlands. Dinner will be served at the lodge’s restaurant before you settle in for a restful night.

After an early breakfast, you will set off for Serengeti National Park, passing through the lush Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This journey offers breathtaking landscapes, from misty crater highlands to vast open savannas. Serengeti, covering approximately 14,750 square kilometers, is Tanzania’s most renowned park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is famous for the Great Migration, where millions of wildebeest and zebras traverse the plains in search of fresh grazing grounds. In August, much of the migration is concentrated in the northern region, but Central Serengeti remains a prime location for spotting big cats and resident wildlife.

The park’s altitude ranges from 1,100 to 2,000 meters, keeping temperatures mild, with daytime highs around 26°C and cool evenings averaging 15°C. The Seronera region, in the park’s central zone, is a wildlife haven with year-round predator activity. The landscape features rolling grasslands, rocky kopjes favored by lions, and winding rivers where leopards stealthily hunt.

A picnic lunch will be enjoyed at a designated site in the heart of the Serengeti. In the afternoon, you will embark on a thrilling game drive, keeping an eye out for cheetahs sprinting across the plains and elephants grazing near acacia woodlands.

As the sun sets, you will arrive at Serenity Lodge or a similar mid-range tented camp. Nestled in the heart of the wilderness, the lodge offers spacious tents with en-suite bathrooms, comfortable bedding, and an atmospheric dining area. Dinner will be served at the lodge, where you can unwind under the star-lit African sky.

Eastern Serengeti is one of the park’s most remote and wildlife-rich regions, best known for its high concentration of cheetahs. After breakfast, you will venture into this untouched wilderness, where open plains stretch endlessly, providing ideal hunting grounds for these swift predators.

In August, the dry season makes wildlife sightings particularly rewarding, as animals gather around permanent water sources. Expect to see large herds of gazelles, elands, topis, and possibly African wild dogs. The birdlife here is equally impressive, with ostriches, secretary birds, and kori bustards frequently spotted. A picnic lunch will be served in a scenic area, surrounded by the vast Serengeti plains. The afternoon will be spent exploring more of this untamed paradise before heading to your next accommodation.

Tonight, you will stay at Serenity Tented Lodge or a similar mid-range tented camp, where you will experience the perfect blend of luxury and adventure. Enjoy a freshly prepared dinner while listening to the distant roars of lions echoing across the plains.

After an early breakfast, you will depart the Serengeti and head towards the Ngorongoro Crater, often referred to as Africa’s Eden due to its incredible density of wildlife. This 260-square-kilometer caldera, formed millions of years ago by a volcanic eruption, is home to approximately 25,000 animals, including lions, elephants, buffalo, and the rare black rhino.

The descent into the crater offers a breathtaking view of the lush landscape below. Temperatures in August range from 12°C in the early morning to about 22°C in the afternoon. The diverse habitats, including grasslands, woodlands, and a soda lake, support a rich array of wildlife. Hippos wallow in the marshes, flamingos gather along the shores, and jackals trot across the plains in search of scavenging opportunities.

Lunch will be served at a picturesque picnic site near a hippo pool, providing a peaceful break before an afternoon game drive. Later, you will ascend the crater walls and return to Karatu for your overnight stay at Omega View. A delicious dinner will be served at the lodge, allowing you to reflect on the day’s unforgettable experiences.

Your final day begins with an early breakfast before setting out for Lake Eyasi, a remote and culturally rich destination south of the Ngorongoro Highlands. This seasonal soda lake is home to the Hadzabe and Datoga tribes, two of Tanzania’s last remaining traditional hunter-gatherer and pastoralist communities.

The Hadzabe, known for their unique click language, live a nomadic lifestyle and rely on hunting with bows and arrows. Spending the morning with them offers a rare insight into their survival skills, from tracking animals to making fire using traditional methods. You will then visit the Datoga people, skilled blacksmiths who forge arrowheads and other tools from scrap metal.

Lunch will be enjoyed at a scenic picnic site before heading to the airport for your evening flight back to Zanzibar. Upon arrival, your driver will be waiting to transfer you back to your hotel, marking the end of your incredible Tanzanian adventure.