Rhinos up close: a fourteen-day rhino tracking journey
Black rhino are the hardest of the Big Five to see in Tanzania, and this trip is built around the three places where they can be. The fenced sanctuary at Mkomazi, the crater floor over three nights on the rim, and the Moru Kopjes in the Serengeti, where a visit to the ranger post explains how the last wild population is guarded. Walking days at Arusha and on the crater rim break up the driving.
Where you'll go
Numbered in the order you travel. Tap any stop for what happens there.
- 1Arusha
- 2Mkomazi by road
- 3Arusha National Park by road
- 4Ngorongoro Crater by road
- 5Serengeti by road
- 6Arusha by road
What makes this one
- Three nights at Mkomazi and its rhino sanctuary
- Three nights on the Ngorongoro rim with two crater descents
- The Moru Kopjes rhino ranger post in the Serengeti
- Walks in Arusha National Park, on the crater rim and 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 short drive to Moshi.
Overnight Brubru Lodge, Moshi, or similar, bed and breakfast - Day 2
To Mkomazi
East along the Pare mountains to the park and the rhino sanctuary.
Overnight Mkomazi Wilderness Retreat or similar, full board - Day 3
Mkomazi
A full day: wild dogs, the waterholes and the birds, and a night drive after dinner.
Overnight Mkomazi Wilderness Retreat or similar, full board - Day 4
Mkomazi to Moshi
A last morning in the dry country, then back west.
Overnight Brubru Lodge, Moshi, or similar, bed and breakfast - Day 5
Arusha National Park
A walk with a ranger among giraffe and buffalo, and the Momella lakes.
Overnight Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge or similar, full board - Day 6
To the crater rim
The drive to the highlands and a one to two hour walk along the rim.
Overnight Ang'ata Ngorongoro Camp or similar, full board - Day 7
The crater floor
A full day on the floor, looking for the rhino on the short grass near Lake Magadi.
Overnight Ang'ata Ngorongoro Camp or similar, full board - Day 8
The crater, again
A second descent, the Lerai forest and the lake shore.
Overnight Ang'ata Ngorongoro Camp or similar, full board - Day 9
To the Serengeti and Moru
West into the Serengeti and to the Moru Kopjes, with a visit to the rhino ranger post.
Overnight Awali Serengeti or similar, full board - Day 10
- Day 11
On foot in the Serengeti
A ninety-minute guided walk, then the kopjes and Simba Rock.
Overnight Awali Serengeti or similar, full board - Day 12
The Seronera
A last full day for the cats and the rarer animals.
Overnight Awali Serengeti or similar, full board - Day 13
Serengeti to Arusha
A dawn drive, then the long road back through the conservation area.
Overnight Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge or similar, half board - Day 14
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 $5,450 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 | $9,062 | $6,286 | $6,080 | $5,450 | $5,495 |
| Shoulder seasonJan to Mar, Jun, Nov, 1 to 19 Dec | $11,715 | $8,039 | $7,627 | $6,823 | $6,820 |
| Peak seasonJul to Oct, 20 Dec to 10 Jan | $13,365 | $9,061 | $8,565 | $7,624 | $7,615 |
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 walking safari ranger fees in Arusha, on the rim and in the Serengeti
- The Mkomazi night drive
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
- Tips for the rangers on the walks, usually $10 to $20 per group
Tell us your dates and group size and we'll turn $5,450 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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