Tanzania: The Serengeti & Beyond

Welcome to Arusha, gateway to your dream safari. Hotel rooms are avaiable for mid-afternoon check-in.

Drive to Tarangire National Park, where baobab and acacia trees dot the landscape. The Tarangire

River provides the park a permanent water source, which makes for great game viewing year round. This is highlighted by a large population of elephants. After lunch at your lodge embark on your first exciting game drive. (B/L/D)

Rise early for a morning game drive including an exclusive bush breakfast. Be sure to watch for giraffe, zebra, Cape buffalo, and much more. Free time at your lodge before an afternoon game drive. (B/L/D)

Drive to Lake Manyara National Park, a small, ecologically diverse park with groundwater forests, grassy plains, and alkaline Lake Manyara itself. The park is also home to the world's largest concentration of baboon. Watch for these mischievous primates, giraffe, hippo, and more on your afternoon game drive. Sundowner drinks are served at a scenic viewpoint. (B/L/D)

Free time this morning before a short drive to Karatu, where coffee farms dot the outer slopes of Ngorongoron Crater. Here, visit a local primary school followed by lunch at beautiful Gibb's Farm. Continue to your lodge located on the rim of the crater. (B/L/D)

Descend into the crater for a full-day game drive. Ngorongoro Crater is technically a caldera—the world's largest unflooded one, in fact—at more than 2,000 feet deep with a floor covering over 102 square miles. Game viewing here is fantastic, as most of the animals stay in this area year round. You can see lion, hyena, hippo, elephant, and more. This is also your best chance to see the rare black rhinoceros. An exclusive bush lunch will be served in the crater. (B/L/D)

Drive to Serengeti National Park, Tanzania's largest and most famous park. The Serengeti covers an area of roughly 5,700 square miles, so it is no surprise that the name comes from the Maasai word siringit, meaning “endless plains.” Enjoy lunch at your tented camp before an afternoon game drive. You have the chance to see the big cats—lion, leopard, and cheetah—as well as an abundance of other animals, including the Nile crocodile, giraffe, gazelle, and eland. With some luck you may even spot something much rarer, like a caracal, a beautiful cat with distinctive ears. (B/L/D)

Continue your exploration during morning and afternoon game drives. Home to the annual Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra, the Serengeti attracts visitors from around the world and is great for game viewing year round. Tonight, join a farewell dinner in the bush featuring a traditional Maasai dance performance. (B/L/D)

Embark on a final game drive before flying back to Arusha, where a day room has been reserved for your use. Schedule departing flights after 5 pm. (B)