Signature: Tanzania’s Serengeti, Tarangire & Ngorongoro Crater

Welcome to Tanzania. Your expedition begins at the airport where you will be met and transferred to your hotel, a peaceful retreat situated in the verdant foothills of Mount Meru. Take time to settle into the rhythm of East Africa. If you arrive early, you may wish to explore the area — perhaps visit a local coffee estate to trace the bean from berry to cup, wander through colourful markets brimming with crafts and produce, or simply relax by admiring the views of Mount Meru in the distance as the sun dips behind the peaks.

Included Experiences

• Arrival Day: The adventure begins tomorrow. Feel free to explore on your own before your welcome meeting on the morning of day two. Check for the meeting time in the welcome note at the hotel.
• Arrival Transfer: You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.

After breakfast, meet your fellow travellers and National Geographic Expedition Leader. The adventure opens with an inspiring talk by a conservationist from African People & Wildlife, co-founded by National Geographic Explorer Dr. Laly Lichtenfeld. Then, travel to Tarangire National Park, a landscape defined by sweeping savannahs, the bulbous silhouettes of towering baobabs, and the rumble of Tanzania’s largest elephant herds. Watch for giraffes, lions, and a whole host of birdlife as you make your way to the lodge. Upon arrival, check in to your inviting haven and enjoy lunch. Later, head out on an afternoon safari drive, watching the bush come alive in the amber light of dusk, before returning to the lodge to refresh and enjoy a warm welcome dinner served against the backdrop of the wild.

Included Experiences

• Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group: Your opportunity to meet your Expedition Leader and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group on the morning of day two.
• National Geographic Expert Talk by Dr. Laly Lichtenfeld: Enjoy a National Geographic Expert-led talk given by Dr. Laly Lichtenfeld where she will discuss African People & Wildlife (APW), co-founded in 2005 by herself and Charles Trout. Their mission? A world where Africa's people and wildlife not just coexist, but thrive together in healthy landscapes. Learn about innovative efforts on the ground and how community engagement plays a role in successful, lasting outcomes.
• Afternoon Safari Drive in Tarangire National Park: Enjoy the wildlife viewing opportunities inside Tarangire National Park. Admire the ancient baobab trees and the presence of far fewer crowds, in this lesser-known, but mighty national park.

Ascend towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area this morning, climbing from the dry plains into the cool, mist-shrouded forests of the highlands. The drive offers chances to spot wildlife as you transition from Tarangire’s savannas into the lush hills. Upon arrival, check in and have lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon, engage with the KopeLion Project, meeting conservationists dedicated to protecting lions in this shared landscape. Learn how the Maasai coexist with predators during a visit to a nearby boma, hearing stories of resilience and respect. Return to the lodge to refresh, then gather for sunset drinks and dinner overlooking the crater rim as the vast caldera falls into shadow.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Enjoy free time to relax and take advantage of the property amenities. There will be sunset drinks and another expert discussion before dinner at the lodge.
• KopeLion Presentation & Field Work Visit: Meet with representatives from KopeLion, which was founded with the aim of finding a working model for coexistence together with the pastoralist communities, and alongside the conservation authorities in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The group will be taken into the field to meet staff and see firsthand how the organization helps people live alongside lions on a daily basis. Many of the activities that are part of the visit will be demonstrated in a Maasai boma setting, adding a real-life glimpse into the harmony between humans and wildlife.

Descending into the Ngorongoro Crater, you enter a lost world — one of Africa’s most remarkable wildlife havens. On a morning safari across the crater floor, the density of wildlife is staggering; watch for elephants, lions, spotted hyenas, and grazing herds roaming against the dramatic backdrop of sweeping volcanic walls. Pause for a scenic bush brunch set amidst the acacia, surrounded by the sounds of the wild and the cool morning breeze. Returning back to the lodge, spend the afternoon at leisure, soaking in breathtaking views of the crater from the rim. As the light softens, gather for sundowners and an engaging talk on conservation through tourism, before ending the day with dinner at the lodge.

Included Experiences

• Ngorongoro Crater Morning Safari Drive & Bush Brunch: Set an alarm and rise early and descend to the Ngorongoro crater floor for a morning wildlife safari drive and a bush brunch. Here you’ll see Maasai herdsmen in the morning mist and all the best spots to view wildlife. Spot zebra, gazelles, buffaloes, and warthogs. The swamp and forest are home to hippos, rhinos, elephants, baboons, and monkeys. Keep your eyes peeled and camera ready to capture a pride of lions or a lone leopard walking along the crater floor. Enjoy brunch in the bush amid the sounds of the wild.
• Free Time: Enjoy an afternoon to relax, enjoy the amenities of the lodge, opt for a guided walk on the rim of the crater, and later watch the sun set over the crater from the lodge.
• National Geographic Expert Talk - Ngorongoro: During a discussion this afternoon, learn more about conservation through tourism from one of your National Geographic Experts on tour.

Travel across the highlands to Olduvai Gorge, the dusty ravine where a National Geographic– supported expedition led by Louis and Mary Leakey uncovered Homo habilis. Explore the museum and drive into the gorge to learn about this groundbreaking discovery that rewrote history. Continue into the vast plains of Serengeti National Park, stopping for a picnic lunch under the open sky. This afternoon, enjoy your first safari drive through the Serengeti’s iconic landscapes — a sea of gold grass alive with wildebeest, zebras, impala, and the big cats stalking the herds. Arrive at the lodge to check in and enjoy dinner beneath the stars, accompanied by the distant calls of the wild.

Included Experiences

• Olduvai Gorge Private Tour: The Olduvai Gorge is a steep ravine in the Great Rift Valley of Tanzania. It is one of the world’s most important paleoanthropological sites. Beginning in 1931, excavations by Louis Leakey revealed evidence of early man dating back nearly 2 million years. Enjoy a private visit to the Olduvai museum and see bone fossils along with fragments of ancient stone tools, and depart with an intriguing glimpse into the origin and evolution of man in the Serengeti Plains of Africa. The group will also see the Mary Leakey Living Museum.

Rise to the sounds of the savannah — the dawn chorus of birds and the low grunts of hippos — and set out early for a morning safari drive across the Serengeti’s golden plains. Watch the drama of the bush unfold: elephants stripping bark from trees, lions seeking shade, and herds of antelope bounding through the tall grass. Return to the lodge for breakfast and a relaxed morning before gathering for a talk to deepen your understanding of the Serengeti’s intricate ecosystem. After lunch, enjoy time at leisure before venturing out again for an afternoon safari drive to track predators on the move. As dusk settles, return to the lodge for dinner and share the day’s stories around the fire.

Included Experiences

• Central Serengeti Morning Safari Drive: Begin the day with a morning safari drive in the Central Serengeti for a classic African wildlife experience. The park is known for its consistent and exceptional wildlife viewing year-round.
• Free Time: Listen to an expert talk before lunch and then enjoy a few hours of free time around the middle, hottest part of the day. Sample the lodge's amenities or lounge with a good book. The group will reconvene for high tea together before the afternoon safari drive.
• Central Serengeti Afternoon Safari Drive: Enjoy an afternoon safari drive in the heart of Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. With luck, you may encounter the impressive herds of the famed wildebeest migration.

Wake early and set out on a safari drive across the park’s sweeping savannahs, seeking out the elusive sightings: lions, elephants, cheetah, and other wildlife moving against the endless horizon. Return to the lodge for breakfast, then enjoy free time to relax or explore the lodge’s surroundings, perhaps watching wildlife from your private deck. This afternoon, gather for high tea — a refined pause in the wilderness — then venture out on one last wildlife drive in the national park as the sun paints the sky in hues of violet and orange. Return to the lodge for a farewell dinner, celebrating the sights, sounds, and memories of your Serengeti adventure.

Included Experiences

• Central Serengeti Morning Safari Drive: Begin the day with a morning safari drive in the Central Serengeti for a classic African wildlife experience. The park is known for its consistent and exceptional wildlife viewing year-round.
• Free Time: Enjoy free time at the lodge to try out the various amenities available to guests. During the hottest part of the day, it's best to relax and recharge before more time in the bush. The group will reconvene for high tea before the afternoon safari drive.
• Central Serengeti Afternoon Safari Drive: Enjoy an afternoon safari drive in the heart of Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. With luck, you may encounter the impressive herds of the famed wildebeest migration.

Take to the skies for a flight back to Arusha, watching the sprawling ecosystem shrink to a patchwork of green and gold below. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch and some time to refresh at the lodge — a final moment of calm — before your onward transfer to the airport. Reflect on your expedition through Tanzania’s iconic landscapes — from the ancient trunks of Tarangire’s baobabs and the sheer walls of Ngorongoro’s crater to the boundless space of the vast Serengeti plains — as you prepare to say farewell to East Africa.

Included Experiences

• Plane: Sit back and enjoy the views from above on a short flight between Serengeti National Park and Arusha.
• Departure Transfer: You will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport at the end of your adventure.