Best of Tanzania & Crater Private Safari

10 Days: Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti National Park

Combining 1 night Arusha Coffee Lodge , 3 nights Oliver’s, 3 nights The Highlands, 2 nights Namiri Plains and 3 nights Rubondo Island

Day 1: Overnight at Arusha Coffee Lodge, Arusha

Meet your personal driver at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to Arusha Coffee Lodge for your overnight stay. Located just outside Arusha, Arusha Coffee Lodge is the ideal location from which to start your safari adventure.

Freshen up after your journey to Tanzania and unwind in the lush gardens – they are home to many dik-diks, the smallest antelopes in Africa. These cute little animals can be observed at close range. Enjoy your first “wildlife encounter” by just walking in the tropical garden.

After a delicious dinner, it’s an early night before your safari itinerary kicks off in the morning!

Day 2: Overnight at Oliver’s, Tarangire National Park

After an early breakfast, pack your bags and depart with your safari driver to Arusha Airport. Connect with your Air Excel flight to Kuro Airstrip in Tarangire National Park.

On arrival at Kuro Airstrip, you will be met by your guide from Oliver’s. A welcome table will be set up either at the airstrip or a short distance away, with tea and coffee, cold drinks and snacks allowing you to relax while your guide briefs you on the surrounding area. A short game drive takes you into Oliver’s.

Once in camp, lunch will be served with the opportunity to relax and settle into your new surroundings. After a siesta and afternoon tea, you will head into the bush for your first game drive. Return to camp in time to wash away the days adventure before enjoying dinner and drinks around the camp fire.

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Oliver’s

Oliver’s is located in what is no doubt the most spectacular location in Tarangire, close to the animal rich Silale Swamps. Overlooking a flood plain of the Minyoyo Pools, part of the Tarangire River, the camp has a spectacular view and easy access to a high concentration of wildlife. Consisting of only 10 beautifully appointed, spacious tents, intimacy is guaranteed and a world-class team of staff completes an experience that guests consistently rank amongst their best and most inspiring of all time.

Day 3: Overnight at Oliver’s, Tarangire National Park

After an early breakfast in camp, meet your expert African Safari guide and head out into the bush on foot for a morning walking safari in Tarangire National Park. There is no better way to experience the wilderness of East Africa up close and personal than on foot with the sun rising above the horizon. The morning walk will last for around 3-4 hours (temperature dependent), offering the chance to spot giraffe, buffalo, elephant, gazelle and of course, the ever-present predators.

A picnic lunch will be served under the shade of the large baobab tress that dot the landscape, before your journey back to camp a well-deserved siesta. The evening brings dinner in camp followed by whiskies and safari tales around the campfire.

Day 4: Overnight at The Highlands, Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kuro Airstrip for your Air Excel flight to Manyara Airstrip. On arrival at Lake Manyara you will be met by a private driver and transferred to Lake Manyara National Park.

One of the smaller parks in Tanzania, Lake Manyara offers a microcosm of the safari experience to be found in Tanzania. The diverse landscape includes lush forest hosting baboons, monkeys and canopy dwelling birdlife and grassy floodplains that play host to larger mammals like buffalo, wildebeest, zebra and giraffe. Inland, one might find the famous tree climbing lions and herds of elephant. In addition to the wildlife, over 400 species of birds have been recorded within the park. Lunch is a packed picnic.

In the afternoon, make your way up the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to The Highlands. While en-route, don’t forget to admire the spectacular views of the ancient volcanoes that make up the landscape.

Once in camp, relax and unwind after your long drive. In the evening, a three course meal prepared by the fabulous chefs will be served in the dining room. Afterwards, enjoy a whisky in the Old Moti Bar or relax by the indoor camp fire in the lounge dome.

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The Highlands

Set on the edge of the mountain forest hugging the Olmoti volcano, to the north of the Ngorongoro Crater, The Highlands camp strikes the perfect balance between a true wilderness experience and a stylish escape. The eight luxurious tented suites offer king size beds with bay windows and wood burning stoves keep the domed rooms warm throughout the night. The unique location offers an excellent base from which to explore these wild highlands, redefining the crater experience; climb to the summit of the Olmoti crater directly from camp, visit local communities to catch a glimpse of the traditional Maasai way of life, or simply explore the surrounding area, home to leopard, buffalo and elephant.

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Day 5: Overnight at The Highlands, Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Wake up with the rising sun and begin the 40 minute drive from The Highlands to the Ngorongoro Crater rim. Look out for the zebra interspersed with the Maasai cattle as they are brought out to pasture, and the magnificent view down to the Ngorongoro Crater. You will spend the morning exploring the vast 300 sq km crater floor with the opportunity to spot one of the resident black rhino that are found here. You can see all of the Big 5 in the crater (rhino, lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo) alongside other herbivores grazing on the mineral rich floor. Lunch will be served on the crater floor, and in the afternoon, you may continue your exploration of the crater or perhaps visit one of the local Maasai communities close to camp, offering an insight into the traditional way of life that has defined this corner of East Africa for centuries.

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Day 6: Overnight at Namiri Plains, Serengeti National Park

After an early breakfast, pack your bags and meet your guide for your transfer to Manyara Airstrip. Here you will say farewell to your safari driver guide and connect with your Regional Air flight to Seronera Airstrip in the Central Serengeti. On arrival at Seronera you will be met by a resident guide from Namiri Plains. A welcome table will be set up at either the airstrip or a short distance away.

Once in camp you will have the opportunity to refresh and settle into your new surroundings before gathering at the dining area for lunch. You then have the choice to either relax in camp or head out on an afternoon game drive in an open safari vehicle. Once back at camp you will enjoy a three course meal and a drink around the camp fire with fellow travellers.

Namiri Plains 

Completely refurbished and upgraded in 2019, Namiri Plains is in Tanzania’s eastern Serengeti. This remote camp is also a conservation initiative, protecting an area crucial to cheetah and other big cats.

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Day 7: Overnight at Namiri Plains, Serengeti National Park

After an early breakfast in camp, fetch your binoculars and camera and meet your guide driver and depart on a game drive in the Serengeti National Park. This central area of the Serengeti offers some of the best game viewing in Africa and you will have the opportunity to view the Big Five and countless other species. Enjoy a packed lunch from Namiri Plains in a shady spot before heading back to camp.

Once back at camp you will have the opportunity to relax and refresh before meeting everyone in the dining area for a three course home cooked meal.

Day 8: Sayari, Serengeti National Park

After breakfast depart with your guide to Seronera Airstrip for your Regional Air flight to Kogatende Airstrip in the Northern Serengeti. On arrival at Kogatende you will be met by a resident guide from Sayari. A welcome table will be set up for you with a brief introduction into the surrounding area before heading off on a game drive, en-route to camp.

Once at camp lunch will be served followed by a short siesta. You will then have the option of either relaxing in camp or heading out on an afternoon game drive in an open safari vehicle. In the evening, dinner will be served under the stars, accompanied by your fellow guests in camp.

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Sayari

A spectacular 15 room camp on the Mara River in the northern part of the Serengeti, Sayari ensures intimacy and personal service at all times. Each of the luxury guest tents are spacious and have a comfortable kind size bed and a large veranda, overlooking the Serengeti. After game drives, guests can relax and admire the view of Africa’s “endless plains” from the spectacular infinity pool, the privacy of their veranda or the comfort of the atmospheric library, bar or lounge area.

Day 9: Sayari, Serengeti National Park

After an early breakfast in camp fetch your binoculars and camera and meet your expert safari guide driver for a game drive in the Serengeti National Park. Watch out for the rhino that hide in the forests, the lion languishing on the kopjes and the elephants strolling across the plains. Enjoy a packed lunch from Sayari next to the river before heading back to camp.

Once back at camp you will have the opportunity to relax and refresh before meeting everyone in the dining area for a three course home cooked meal. You can choose to enjoy a drink by the bar or the outside dining area.

Day 10: Departure

After breakfast, pack your bags and depart for Kogatende will then catch your connecting flight and bid farewell to your Airstrip for your Regional Air flight to Kilimanjaro Airport. You guide for your onward journey.

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