Active explorer: canoeing in Arusha, trekking Empakaai & the Serengeti
For people who find nine days in a vehicle a waste of legs. A walking safari and a canoe on the Momella lakes, a day on foot in the farms of Mto wa Mbu, the Ngorongoro floor by vehicle and then Empakaai crater by boot, Olduvai Gorge on the way west, and three days in the Serengeti to finish.
Where you'll go
Numbered in the order you travel. Tap any stop for what happens there.
- 1Arusha
- 2Arusha National Park by road
- 3Mto wa Mbu by road
- 4Ngorongoro Crater by road
- 5Empakaai Crater by road
- 6Olduvai Gorge by road
- 7Serengeti by road
- 8Arusha by road
What makes this one
- Two hours in a canoe among hippo on the Momella lakes
- The hike into Empakaai crater
- Olduvai Gorge and its museum
- Three nights in the Serengeti
The itinerary
Lodges are the ones we usually use for this trip at this price. Every one can be traded up or down.
- Day 1
Arrive at Kilimanjaro
Airport pickup and the drive to Arusha.
Overnight Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge or similar, half board - Day 2
Arusha National Park
A ranger-led walk in the morning and two hours of canoeing on the Momella lakes after lunch. On to the Manyara escarpment.
Overnight Sound of Silence Lake Manyara or similar, full board - Day 3
Mto wa Mbu
A day on foot: the banana farms, the market, a village lunch.
Overnight Sound of Silence Lake Manyara or similar, full board - Day 4
The crater floor
The crater circuit at dawn with a hippo pool picnic, then up to a camp on the highlands.
Overnight Ang'ata Ngorongoro Camp or similar, full board - Day 5
Empakaai
A drive across the highlands and a two to three hour hike down to Empakaai's lake and back.
Overnight Ang'ata Ngorongoro Camp or similar, full board - Day 6
Olduvai, then the Serengeti
West past Olduvai Gorge and its museum, into the Serengeti by afternoon.
Overnight Awali Serengeti or similar, full board - Day 7
- Day 8
Serengeti to Arusha
A dawn drive past Simba Rock, then the long road home.
Overnight Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge or similar, half board - Day 9
Home
Breakfast and the airport transfer.
Want a day swapped, a lodge changed or a night added? Just ask.
We reply within 4 working hours. No deposit to ask.What $3,290 does and doesn't cover
Price is per person, group of 4, green season, in US dollars. Season, lodge choice and group size change it. Tell us yours and we'll quote it exactly.
| Season | 1 person | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people | 5+ people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green seasonApr to May | $5,361 | $3,746 | $3,644 | $3,290 | $3,315 |
| Shoulder seasonJan to Mar, Jun, Nov, 1 to 19 Dec | $6,861 | $4,746 | $4,516 | $4,068 | $4,061 |
| Peak seasonJul to Oct, 20 Dec to 10 Jan | $7,730 | $5,261 | $4,977 | $4,454 | $4,440 |
Per person, US dollars, per person, group of 4, green season. Children under 12 are discounted; festive dates (Christmas, New Year, Easter) can carry a supplement. Your proposal states the exact figure.
Included
- Pickup and drop-off at Kilimanjaro International Airport, and every transfer in between
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, fridge, charging points and binoculars
- One English-speaking driver-guide for the whole safari
- All park entry and conservation fees, including the crater descent permit where the route goes down
- The lodges and camps listed, with the meals shown for each night
- Bottled water in the vehicle and picnic lunches on full game-drive days
- Flying doctors evacuation cover for the days on safari
- Canoe hire, the walking safari and the Empakaai ranger fees
- The Mto wa Mbu village walk and lunch
Not included
- International flights
- Tourist visa
- Mandatory inbound travel insurance, $44 per adult, bought in your own name before you fly
- Your own travel insurance
- Drinks at the lodges
- Tips for your guide, never mandatory, usually $30 to $50 a day per vehicle
- Single room supplement
Tell us your dates and group size and we'll turn $3,290 into an exact figure.
We reply within 4 working hours. No deposit to ask.Questions people ask
Do I need a visa for Tanzania?
Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival or an e-visa in advance; a single-entry tourist visa covers both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. We'll confirm what applies to your passport when we send your proposal.
Do I need the mandatory travel insurance?
Yes, unless you are a Tanzanian resident or a citizen of an East African Community or SADC state. Zanzibar arrivals have bought it from ZIC since 1 October 2024; from 1 October 2026 mainland arrivals buy it from NIC. It is $44 per adult for 92 days, one policy for the whole country, bought online before you fly. It is a basic emergency cover, so keep your own travel insurance too. Everything about it, and which portal is yours.
Which vaccinations are required?
Yellow fever proof is required if you arrive from a country where it is endemic. Malaria prevention is strongly advised for the parks and the coast. Ask your travel clinic 6 to 8 weeks before you fly; we'll tell you which areas your trip covers.
How does the deposit and payment work?
You pay nothing to enquire. Once you approve the proposal we confirm the lodges and flights, and we agree the deposit and balance dates with you in writing before anything is charged.
What if I need to cancel or change dates?
Tell us as early as you can. Lodge and flight terms vary by season, so the cancellation terms for your specific trip are written into your proposal, so there are no surprises later.
Are park fees and tips included?
Park and crater fees are included wherever the itinerary says so. Tips are never included and never mandatory; guides and camp staff appreciate them, and we'll suggest what is customary.
What should I pack?
Neutral colours for the bush, a warm layer for early game drives (the crater rim is cold at dawn), reef-safe sunscreen and a modest cover-up for Stone Town. We send a version of the list for your exact trip with your final documents. The packing guide for bush, beach and town.
A question that isn't here? A human answers.
We reply within 4 working hours. No deposit to ask.Guests on trips like this
Quoted from public reviews you can read in full on Tripadvisor, SafariBookings.
“Transparent pricing and no pressure.”
“Felt like saying goodbye to family.”
“Responsive, kind and caring, with exceptional communication.”
Or one of these
Honeymoon safari: Arusha, Ngorongoro & Serengeti
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