You will fly from Zanzibar and explore northern Tanzania's best parks by car ending your safari in Arusha! This allows you to experience the vast plains of the Serengeti from the heights above, as well as explore the wondrous terrain and animals on offer throughout the parks of the Northern Circuit from the open rooftop of a 4×4 safari vehicle. You'll be flown in across the open plains of the Serengeti, winding your way back by vehicle. Adventure doesn’t get much more all-encompassing than this.
Day 1
Zanzibar Airport - Central Serengeti National Park
You will depart from Zanzibar Airport and fly over the Indian Ocean for 1.5 hours, the hinterland of Tanzania, the Ngorongoro Crater Highlands, and the vast expanse of the Serengeti before making your descent to Seronera Airstrip. The views from above are undeniably magnificent. Within half an hour of disembarkation from the aircraft, you will be in a 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof, ready to take all in that Serengeti has on display for you. At around midday, there will be a picnic stop for lunch and a leg stretch, and off you go again. Late afternoon, you will be driven to Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma for the night.
Day 2
Full-day in Serengeti National Park
Nothing beats waking up from a restful sleep to the sounds of the Serengeti. Once you have enjoyed your breakfast, the acacia-studded savannah welcomes you to start exploring its wildlife. You will experience another day filled with safari adventuring on African soil. By the end of today, you will probably understand why the "Serengeti" means "endless plains." Late in the afternoon, you will return to your accommodation Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma.
Day 3
Full-day Serengeti National Park
After breakfast at Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma, you will begin your safari heading north. The drive takes you through a natural wonderland of ever-changing landscapes. The journey begins cruising along dirt tracks lined by shrubby savannah, the habitat of impalas and giraffes. After a while, you'll reach the Lobo area where the landscape opens up to a mix of grasslands, rivers, hills, and forests. Depending on the movement of the migration, you might make your way even further north. This northern section of the Serengeti is less frequented than the southern and central parts of the Serengeti, allowing for a more "exclusive" safari experience. At the end of the day, you will leave the park through Klein’s gate. After a few kilometres, you will find another surprise, the Maasai culture in its full glory. You’ll spend the night at Africa Safari Maasai Boma, a modern-style version of a traditional Maasai earth house with an en-suite bathroom and a kingsized bed.
Day 4
Full-day Game Drive in Pololeti Game Reserve
You will finish your breakfast at Africa Safari Maasai Boma and get back in the safari jeep for another day in nature in search of wildlife. You will go on another full-day game drive. This time in Pololeti Game Reserve, just outside the Serengeti National Park. This area is truly a hidden gem and is on the route of the Great Migration. The landscape alternates between vast grass fields, forested hills and stone boulders which are regularly used as lookouts by lions and leopards. At the end of the day, you will return to Africa Safari Maasai Boma for a delicious dinner and a well-earned night's rest.
Day 5
Safari Transfer to South Serengeti National Park- Ndutu
Today the alarm goes off early because this whole day is dedicated to Serengeti National Park! You will check out of your accommodation and board the safari jeep with all your gear. During the day, you will traverse the entire national park, with many chances to spot unique wildlife moments. The park is so vast that the landscape is constantly changing. At the end of the day, you will arrive in the south of Serengeti National Park, where you will continue your journey to Ndutu. Here lies the next accommodation where you will spend the night, another gem in the middle of nature. With a little luck, elephants will walk past your tent.
Day 6
Ngorongoro Crater
Be sure to wake up early today, so there is no delay on your descent into the famous Ngorongoro Crater. As soon as you arrive in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will be amazed by the beauty around you. Even more so when you arrive at the edge of the crater and take in the amazing view over one of the Natural Wonders of this World. The crater, an inactive volcano is approximately 3 million years old, 20 sq km in size and the largest unbroken volcanic caldera in the world. Due to its natural borders, the wildlife in the crater is amazing. The crater is home to the Big Five and offers a good chance to spot the rare black rhinos. Throw hyenas, zebras, buffalos and elephants into the mix, and you have the perfect canvas for a pretty awesome safari experience. At the end of the afternoon, you will go to Africa Safari Karatu, for a well-deserved night’s sleep.
Day 7
Road Trip to Lake Natron
You will wake up with the Ngorongoro Highlands in the backdrop and enjoy a good breakfast. Afterwards, you will depart for Africa Safari Lake Natron. A safari road trip of about 140 kilometres leads you through different types of landscapes to the place where Ol Doinyo Lengai (the Mountain of God) can be found. The road is rough but the Maasai with their brightly-coloured dress and beadwork ornaments between the many Aleo vera and Candelabra trees will provide plenty of distraction. When the views open up and the vegetation changes to the whistling-thorn Acacias in dry grassland it won’t be long till you will see the recognizable shape of a volcano in the distance. In the last kilometres, the landscape changes again to a dramatic lava desert with a highly alkaline lake in a depression created by the Rift Valley. The staff of Africa Safari Lake Natron eagerly await your arrival to welcome you with a meal and a good night of sleep under the stars of Lake Natron.
Day 8
Flamingo Lake Walk in Lake Natron
This morning, put your walking shoes on as a Maasai tribesman guides you on a walk around the shores of Lake Natron on the lookout for the lesser flamingoes. Lake Natron is the most important and regular breeding site for lesser flamingoes in East Africa and during the breeding season, Lake Natron hosts up to 2.5 million flamingos. The majority of egg-laying and hatching takes place from September to January although the peak occurs between October and (early) December. Besides the waterfowl, there are other limited bird species due to the lake’s steeply alkaline waters. The remainder of the day is spent at your leisure. You'll have a snooze, or take a dip in the pool, taking in the stunning views of the still-active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai. Your meals and an overnight stay will be at Africa Safari Lake Natron.
Day 9
Transfer to Arusha
All good things end! Enjoy your last meal at Africa Safari Lake Natron before checking out for your journey to Arusha. After meeting your driver-guide at the reception, you will head off on a drive back to where it all started. Keep your eyes open, as the very rare gerenuk antelopes can be spotted next to the road. After a 4-hour drive, you will be back in Arusha, your heart and camera filled with memories of your African safari adventure.
