Day 1
Activity of the Day
ARUSHA
- Arrival transfer to the hotel/ lodge.
12 Days Safari Tanzania is the ultimate African safari adventure that starts among Tanzania's most famous wildlife reserves before taking you to remote under-explored national parks of the southern circuit. The safari leads you to the most exciting places in the country with a combination of nature and pleasure in the shortest time possible. You will have magnificent and scenic views of wildlife and nature within some of the most famous national parks in Africa. The 12-day Tanzania Safari starts from the town of Arusha, followed by escapades at a Lake Manyara National park in Tanzania. From Lake Manyara, you will spend the next few days exploring and enjoying the wildlife-rich 12,000 square miles Serengeti National Park plains and the animal-concentrated Ngorongoro Crater. You will pass again through Arusha to Ruaha national park, after which you will enjoy scenic views in Selous game reserve.
Embark on wildlife drives in Lake Manyara National Park (keeping your eyes open for the elusive tree-climbing lions), meet one of the researchers at the Serengeti Wildlife Centre, and scan your surroundings in the protected Selous Game Reserve for the zeal of zebras that call these grasslands home. Experience some of the best wildlife viewing in the world amid the landscapes of Tanzania. The main activities to be enjoyed on this Tanzania Safari include; wildlife viewing, nature walks, visiting the masai Villages, and watching the great annual wildlife migration that involves the movement of over 1.5 wildebeests and 250,000 Zebras with other animals as they move from the Serengeti to Masai mara, across the mara river.
Itinerary
Arusha - Lake Manyara National Park - Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro - Ruaha National Park - Selous Game Reserve - Dar es Salaam
Day 2
Activity of the Day
ARUSHA/LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK
Visit Mto wa Mbu village for a guided cultural walk and a traditional lunch with a local family. Continue to the lodge/ safari camp located outside Lake Manyara National Park. The lodge provides unobstructed views of the Rift Valley Escarpment. Embark on an afternoon wildlife safari drive with phenomenal wildlife viewing and search out the famed tree-climbing lions.
This western wall of the Rift Valley escarpment is truly stunning. It provides a backdrop for your search of the park's bird life, tree-climbing lions, elephants, hippos, and baboons. The afternoon is spent viewing wildlife along the main road that winds through a lush, cool forest that's dominated by large ficus trees covered in bromeliads and ferns.
Day 3
Activity of the Day
LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK/SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
Travel through the Rift Valley and visit a Maasai village to learn about the Maasai people and enjoy an exclusive presentation by one of the Maasai women and hear how a community project has impacted her life and empowered other females around her. Take a guided tour of the village, meet the women that have been trained as stove engineers, visit bomas (traditional homes), and observe (or get your hands dirty) by helping the stove team build a stove in a home. After, stop at the Olduvai gorge museum and visitors' center before continuing the lodge/ camp at Serengeti national park.
Day 4
Activity of the Day
SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
Embark on morning and afternoon wildlife safari drives in a safari land cruiser 4x4, that features a pop-up roof for ideal wildlife observation. Enjoy the full of action packed game drive in search for game, drive to the maasai kopje for cheetah and lions on the rocks or a drive along the grumeti river for water mammals and some action of the wildebeest crossing the river. Optional activity to take a sunrise balloon safari.
Day 5
Activity of the Day
: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK/NGORONGORO
Continue viewing wildlife on the drive out of the Serengeti to Ngorongoro reserve. Relax this evening enjoying the African sunset on the deck with a cool drink.
Day 6
Activity of the Day
: NGORONGORO/ARUSH
Depart early into Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a wildlife safari drive and picnic lunch. In the afternoon, drive to Arusha.
Day 7
Activity of the Day
ARUSHA
Enjoy free time or explore Arusha and discover Tanzanite experience, Meserani snake park or the Central market of Arusha.
Day 8
Activity of the Day
ARUSHA/RUAHA NATIONAL PARK
Catch a flight to Ruaha National Park — Tanzania's largest national park with an abundance of wildlife and vast, diverse landscapes. Transfer to the safari lodge, After, enjoy a wildlife safari drive in this incredibly remote park. Wildlife viewing at Ruaha is stunning with a large concentration of elephant and buffalo herds, as well as abundant predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, and hyenas.
Relax this evening by the bonfire.
Day 9
Activity of the Day
RUAHA NATIONAL PARK
Spend a full day wildlife viewing with our expert safari guides inside this vast and remote park, keeping an eye out for lions, buffalo, zebras, giraffes, and impalas. This evening, relax at our lodge, sitting back on the deck with a cool drink listening to the night sounds and gazing at the stars.
At just over 20,000km2 (20,226km2) Ruaha is the largest National Park in East Africa, but add in the adjacent wildlife management areas, Villages and Private Reserves, the wildlife area grows to up to 50,000km2.
Day 10
Activity of the Day
RUAHA/SELOUS
Enjoy one last morning safari drive in Ruaha before catching a flight to Selous Game Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After settling into the camp, board a boat on the river for an evening safari. The rivers of Selous are the lifeblood of the park, attracting an abundance of wildlife including elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and a plethora of bird life.
In Selous Game Reserve the order of activities can change and all activities are subject to weather and local conditions.
Day 11
Activity of the Day
SELOUS GAME RESERVE
Rise early and head out for a full day wildlife safari drive in this incredible reserve with our expert local guide. The park is known for its numerous lion prides and holds over 50% of the remaining endangered African wild dog populations as well as over 400 species of bird. There also is an abundance of zebras, impalas, giraffes, sable, kudu, baboon, wildebeests, colobus, and vervet monkeys. After a busy day, relax this evening enjoying sunset by the river and dinner at the lodge.
Day 12
Activity of the Day
SELOUS/DAR ES SALAAM
Rise early and follow an expert guide into the bush on foot, keeping your eyes peeled for birds, lounging leopards, elephants, and buffalo. After, catch our flight to Dar es Salaam.
Today we fly to Dar es salaam.
The tour ends at the airport in the mid-to-late afternoon.
Genaral Quick Tips
Languages Spoken: Swahili is the official language of Tanzania while Arabic is widely understood on Zanzibar. In swahili “Jumbo,” or “Mambo” means hello. “Habari” means how are you and “Asante Sana” means thank you.
Capital: Dodoma
Currency: Tanzanian Shilling. (TZS)
Visa: Most nationalities need a visa to enter Tanzania, which is $50 for a three-month single entry paid in USD and can be obtained at the border. If you are a US Citizen, the visa is $100 USD for a three-month multiple-entry visa.
Weather: There are two seasons in Tanzania – dry and wet. The wet season brings long rains falling from March to May. June-November is the dry season during this time low lying areas are hot and humid.
What to Pack: If you’re going on safari make you’re wearing the right safari clothes, with a great safari hat, a good pair of safari boots, and at least one jacket as it can get very cold at night. If you’re heading to the coast, you’ll want a bathing suit.
Water: The water in Tanzania is not safe to drink. Bottled water is available for purchase for cheap.
Stay Connected: Vodacom and Airtel are the service providers on the mainland. Holatel is the most widely used in Zanzibar, however most hotels and lodges have internet connection (wifi).
