The Lion's Share Luxury Safari

You’ll begin your adventure in Arusha, the hub of the Northern Circuit that rests near the foot of Mt. Meru, Tanzania’s second-tallest peak. From here, you’ll take a scenic drive through the Tanzanian countryside on your way to your first destination: Tarangire National Park.

Upon entering the gates, you’ll be greeted by plentiful wildlife as well as one of the region’s most emblematic symbols—the baobab tree, one of Africa’s largest and longest living trees. After exploring the park and its inhabitants for a few hours, you’ll stop for lunch in a scenic spot before diving into another fantastic game drive, seeing many animals, including elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, warthogs, buffaloes, giraffes, jackals, and over 500 different species of birds.

In the evening, you’ll head to Oliver’s Camp or Maramboi Tented Camp for a fantastic dinner with plenty of comfortable space to relax in after, before turning in for the night.

After breakfast, you’ll head out to see more of the park, this time focusing on the Tarangire River, where many animals gather to drink and predators often lie in wait, allowing you to see a wide variety of species as well as many natural events. In turn, you’ll also see the silale plains and swamp, another picturesque area much of the wildlife is drawn to. 

Around midday, you’ll stop to enjoy your lunch in a peaceful, natural setting before diving into another game drive through the park. 

In the evening, you’ll head back to Oliver’s Camp or Maramboi Tented Camp for another delectable dinner, relaxation, and a comfortable night’s sleep.

After breakfast, you’ll head to your next destination: Lake Manyara National Park. A favorite of Ernest Hemingway’s, the park is part of the Great Rift Valley and boasts many beautiful views and plentiful wildlife—including two of its most famous, the rare tree-climbing lions which are exclusive to Manyara, and some of the largest baboon troops in the region. 

Around midday, you’ll stop to enjoy your picnic at the gorgeous Msasa picnic site that overlooks much of the park. From there, you’ll continue on another game drive taking in more wildlife, including the park’s famous flamingo populations, as well as many others, including leopards, hyenas, jackals, mongooses, hippos, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests, warthogs, gazelles, monkeys, and many species of water birds. In the evening, you’ll head to the Lake Manyara Serena Lodge or Ngorongoro Farm House Lodge for an excellent dinner, time to relax, and a good night’s sleep.

On your fourth day, you’ll wake up, have breakfast, then head to one of Africa’s most legendary destinations: Serengeti National Park. Before you arrive, you’ll first get a taste of the lush Ngorongoro Conservation Area as you pass through it on your way to your next stop. 

You’ll arrive at the Serengeti’s gates around midday—enjoying your lunch shortly before or after your arrival—before diving into an incredible game drive. Named by the Maasai for its seemingly endless sprawling plains, the Serengeti is home to over 1.5 million wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles, best known for forming the heart of the Great Migration, in which they move en masse in search of more fertile grounds. 

In the evening, you’ll head back to the Serengeti Serena Lodge or Kubukubu Lodge for more great food and rest for the night.

You’ll be off to an early start after breakfast, taking in a sunrise game drive, allowing you to see many of the animals out in the cool morning air before the day’s heat sets in—including many predators who prefer this time for hunting. 

Midday, you’ll stop to enjoy your lunch before continuing with your exploration, seeing many of the park’s wildlife, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, jackals, mongooses, giraffes, hippos, wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, warthogs, topis, hartebeests, elands, and many species of birds. In addition, you’ll also see some iconic Serengeti features, including many kopjes, the massive rocky outcroppings often used by predators for shelter, breeding, and gaining a better view of their prey and the surrounding area. 

In the evening, you’ll head back to the Serengeti Serena Lodge or Kubukubu Lodge for more excellent food, rest, and relaxation.

After breakfast, you’ll enjoy your last game drive in the Serengeti, taking in more parts of the park and much more wildlife before stopping for lunch midday. From there, you’ll continue on another game drive as you work your way out of the park and back into the beautiful Ngorongoro Conservation Area. 

In the evening, you’ll head to the crater rim to the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge or Ngorongoro Farm House Lodge to enjoy a lovely dinner and a good sleep.

You’ll start the day with a truly breathtaking sunrise game drive. As you make your way down from the crater rim, you’ll be enveloped by the largest intact and unfilled volcanic caldera in the world—the Ngorongoro Crater. Around you, you’ll quickly notice while the area is often considered a small zoo, as no matter which way you look will be plentiful wildlife of all types. 

Throughout the day, you’ll see many animals as you make your way towards the heart of the crater where you’ll stop for lunch midday at a beautiful little picnic site where you can watch the nearby wildlife as you eat. From there, you’ll explore more parts of the park and some of its most famous creatures, including its most popular attraction—the elusive black rhino, which is found in few, if any other places in the area. 

In the evening, you’ll head to the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge or Ngorongoro Farm House Lodge to enjoy your dinner, relax a bit, and catch some shut eye.

On your final day, you’ll wake up, enjoy breakfast, and head to the village of Mto wa Mbu to enjoy a cultural program. You’ll learn about the 120 different tribes that call Tanzania home and much about their daily lives. You’ll visit a nearby banana farm, learn their farming techniques, as well as head into the village to try the local banana brew, stop at the market, and try some local food before finally heading back to Arusha, bringing your trip to an end.