8 Days 7 Nights Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha & Transfer to Tarangire National Park Area

Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK), you’ll be warmly greeted by your Maasai Spirit Expedition representative. After a brief introduction, you’ll embark on a comfortable drive to a beautiful lodge or tented camp located near Tarangire National Park. Depending on your arrival time, you may have the option for a relaxing afternoon or an introductory walk around the lodge property. This evening provides a gentle introduction to the sounds and ambiance of the Tanzanian bush, setting the stage for your safari adventure. Dinner and overnight will be at your chosen accommodation.

Day 2: Full Day Tarangire National Park Game Drive

After an early breakfast, you’ll head straight into Tarangire National Park for a full day of game driving. Tarangire is famous for its massive elephant populations and the iconic baobab trees that dominate its landscape. The Tarangire River serves as a vital water source, attracting a diverse array of wildlife, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, and numerous antelopes. Your Maasai Spirit Expedition guide will expertly navigate the park, seeking out prime wildlife viewing opportunities. A delicious packed lunch will be enjoyed in the bush. You’ll return to your lodge or tented camp in the Tarangire area for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Tarangire Area to Lake Manyara National Park & Karatu

After breakfast, you’ll depart for Lake Manyara National Park. Upon arrival, you’ll embark on a captivating morning game drive. This compact park is incredibly diverse, boasting groundwater forests, open grasslands, and the alkaline lake itself. You’ll seek out its famous tree-climbing lions (a rare sight), large troops of baboons, and an astounding array of birdlife, including vibrant flamingos (seasonal). After a picnic lunch within Manyara, you’ll enjoy a final game drive as you exit the park, then drive to the charming town of Karatu, located near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, for dinner and overnight at a comfortable lodge.

Day 4: Karatu to Central Serengeti National Park

Today, your safari takes you to the legendary Serengeti National Park. After breakfast, you’ll drive through the beautiful Ngorongoro Conservation Area, often with an optional stop at the Olduvai Gorge Museum, a pivotal archaeological site (at extra cost). As you enter the vast, iconic plains of the Serengeti, your afternoon game drive will commence in the central Seronera region, renowned for its year-round abundance of resident wildlife, especially big cats. You’ll immerse yourself in this predator paradise, witnessing thrilling wildlife encounters. As evening approaches, you’ll settle into your lodge or tented camp within the Serengeti for dinner and overnight, under a sky filled with stars.

Day 5: Full Day Serengeti National Park (Northern / Western / Central – Migration Focus)

Today is dedicated to an extensive full-day game drive in the magnificent Serengeti National Park. Your Maasai Spirit Expedition guide will strategically lead you to areas with the highest concentrations of wildlife, particularly tracking the movements of the Great Wildebeest Migration (seasonal). Depending on the time of year, this could involve exploring the northern plains for river crossings, the western corridor, or the central Seronera region. Even outside migration events, the Serengeti offers unparalleled game viewing, with opportunities to see all of the “Big Five” and countless other species. A picnic lunch will be enjoyed in the heart of the bush. You’ll return to your Serengeti accommodation in the late afternoon for dinner and another night in the wild.

Day 6: Full Day Serengeti National Park (Further Exploration / Southern – Migration Focus)

Another full day is devoted to a deeper exploration of the Serengeti’s wonders. This extended time allows for a more relaxed pace, more in-depth photography, and the chance to observe specific animal behaviors or locate elusive species. Your guide will adapt the day’s itinerary to follow animal movements and maximize sightings, whether focusing on predator dynamics, vast herds, or the park’s diverse birdlife. This additional day truly enhances your appreciation for the scale and richness of the Serengeti ecosystem. All meals will be enjoyed in the park, culminating in a final night at your Serengeti lodge or tented camp.

Day 7: Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive & Karatu

After a final early morning game drive in the Serengeti and a late breakfast, you’ll begin your scenic drive towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Upon reaching the rim, you’ll descend 600 meters to the floor of the extraordinary Ngorongoro Crater for an unparalleled game drive. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a natural caldera teeming with wildlife, offering an incredible chance to spot the “Big Five” – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and the rare black rhino – often within a few hours. A picnic lunch will be served on the crater floor. In the late afternoon, you will ascend the crater walls and drive to your lodge in Karatu for dinner and your final overnight on safari.

Day 8: Departure from Karatu to Arusha

After a leisurely breakfast at your lodge in Karatu, you’ll have some time to relax, perhaps visit a local coffee plantation (optional) or browse local crafts. Your Maasai Spirit Expedition guide will then comfortably transfer you back to Arusha. You’ll be dropped off at your hotel in Arusha, or transferred directly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK) for your onward flight, carrying a lifetime of incredible memories from your comprehensive Tanzanian safari.