Northern Tanzania immersive: twenty-three days of wildlife, culture & hidden corners
Three weeks and six landscapes, with three nights almost everywhere so nothing is rushed. Rhino and wild dogs at Mkomazi, two nights in a Maasai lodge in West Kilimanjaro, a walk and a canoe at Arusha, three nights at Lake Natron, a village day at Mto wa Mbu, three in Tarangire, the crater from the rim, Olduvai, and four nights in the Serengeti with a bush dinner. A flight brings you back.
Where you'll go
Numbered in the order you travel. Tap any stop for what happens there.
- 1Arusha
- 2Mkomazi by road
- 3West Kilimanjaro by road
- 4Arusha National Park by road
- 5Lake Natron by road
- 6Mto wa Mbu by road
- 7Tarangire by road
- 8Ngorongoro Crater by road
- 9Olduvai Gorge by road
- 10Serengeti by road
- 11Arusha by air
What makes this one
- Six parks and reserves, three nights at most stops
- Two nights with the Maasai in West Kilimanjaro
- Lake Natron's flamingos and the Engaresero falls
- Four Serengeti nights and a flight home
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 Brubru Lodge, Moshi, or similar, bed and breakfast - Day 2 to 4
Mkomazi
Three nights in the dry east: the rhino sanctuary, wild dogs, the waterholes.
Overnight Mkomazi Wilderness Retreat or similar, full board - Day 5
- Day 6 to 7
West Kilimanjaro
Two nights in a Maasai-run lodge on the rangeland under the mountain: nature walks, spear throwing, an evening with the elders.
Overnight Original Maasai Lodge or similar, full board - Day 8
Arusha
A short drive back and an afternoon off.
Overnight Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge or similar, full board - Day 9
Arusha National Park
A ranger walk and a canoe on the Momella lakes.
Overnight Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge or similar, full board - Day 10 to 12
Lake Natron
Three nights at the lake: flamingos, the Engaresero waterfall hike, the volcano at dawn.
Overnight Lake Natron Camp or similar, full board - Day 13
Mto wa Mbu
A village walk, the banana farms and the market on the way south.
Overnight Sound of Silence Lake Manyara or similar, full board - Day 14 to 16
Tarangire
Three nights with the elephants, with a guided walk on one morning.
Overnight Conserve Safari Tarangire or similar, full board - Day 17
The crater
The crater floor from a lodge on the rim.
Overnight Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge or similar, full board - Day 18
Olduvai, then the Serengeti
The gorge and its museum on the way west.
Overnight Awali Serengeti or similar, full board - Day 19 to 21
The Serengeti
Three full days in the centre, with a bush dinner and a sundowner.
Overnight Awali Serengeti or similar, full board - Day 22
Fly to Arusha
An optional dawn drive, then the flight south.
Overnight Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge or similar, half board - Day 23
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 $8,492 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green seasonApr to May | $13,816 | $9,643 | $9,460 | $8,492 |
| Shoulder seasonJan to Mar, Jun, Nov, 1 to 19 Dec | $18,605 | $12,605 | $12,268 | $10,883 |
| Peak seasonJul to Oct, 20 Dec to 10 Jan | $21,817 | $14,527 | $14,028 | $12,360 |
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
- The flight from the Serengeti to Arusha
- The walking, canoe and cultural activity fees
- The bush dinner and the sundowner
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 $8,492 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.”
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