Big cats & a Serengeti balloon
The essentials circuit with the one addition most people wish they had booked: a balloon over the Serengeti at sunrise, an hour above the plains and a bush breakfast where you land. The rest is Tarangire, the crater and two Seronera game drives built around lion, cheetah and leopard.
Where you'll go
Numbered in the order you travel. Tap any stop for what happens there.
- 1Arusha
- 2Tarangire by road
- 3Ngorongoro Crater by road
- 4Serengeti by road
- 5Arusha by road
What makes this one
- A sunrise balloon flight over the Serengeti
- Champagne breakfast in the bush
- The crater's lion prides
- Tarangire's elephants on the way out
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 Gran Melia Arusha or similar, bed and breakfast - Day 2
Tarangire
A full day among the elephants and baobabs, then on to the highlands.
Overnight Sound of Silence Lake Manyara or similar, full board - Day 3
The crater, then the Serengeti
Down at dawn, the crater circuit, and over into the Serengeti.
Overnight Sound of Silence Serengeti or similar, full board - Day 4
Balloon, then the plains
A 5 a.m. pickup, an hour aloft as the sun comes up, breakfast on the grass, and a game drive for the rest of the day.
Overnight Sound of Silence Serengeti or similar, full board - Day 5
Serengeti to Arusha
A last dawn drive, then the road back through the conservation area.
Overnight Gran Melia Arusha or similar, bed and breakfast - Day 6
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 $2,200 does and doesn't cover
Price is per person, group of 5 or more, 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 | $3,474 | $2,523 | $2,386 | $2,312 | $2,200 |
| Shoulder seasonJan to Mar, Jun, Nov, 1 to 19 Dec | $4,230 | $2,957 | $2,774 | $2,515 | $2,507 |
| Peak seasonJul to Oct, 20 Dec to 10 Jan | $4,979 | $3,429 | $3,173 | $2,863 | $2,695 |
Per person, US dollars, per person, group of 5 or more, 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
- The Serengeti balloon flight and bush breakfast
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 $2,200 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
Tanzania essentials: Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Serengeti
Classic northern circuit: Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Serengeti
