9-Day Mid Range Tanzania Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha

Welcome to Tanzania! Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro or Arusha Airport, you’ll be met by your safari guide and transferred to your hotel in Arusha, a vibrant town at the base of Mount Meru. Depending on arrival time, you can relax at the lodge or explore local markets and cafes. Overnight at a cozy mid-range lodge or hotel.

Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, your safari kicks off with a drive to Tarangire National Park, known for its huge elephant herds, baobab trees, and seasonal swamps. You’ll enjoy a full-day game drive, watching for lions, zebras, giraffes, and over 500 bird species. The Tarangire River draws in animals year-round, making it a photographer’s dream. Dinner and overnight at a lodge or tented camp near the park.

Day 3: Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park

After a relaxed breakfast, head toward Lake Manyara National Park, a scenic park nestled between the Great Rift Valley escarpment and the lake. Enjoy a game drive where you might spot elephants, hippos, flamingos, and possibly tree-climbing lions. After lunch, explore the groundwater forest and the lakeshore. Later, transfer to a lodge in Karatu for overnight.

Day 4: Karatu to Serengeti National Park (via Ngorongoro)

Today, you head to the legendary Serengeti, passing through the lush Ngorongoro highlands. Stop at a viewpoint on the crater rim before continuing to the Serengeti plains. Entering the park by midday, you’ll enjoy a game drive en route to your tented camp in central Serengeti. Watch for lions, cheetahs, elephants, and herds of wildebeest as the sun sets on the savannah.

Day 5: Full Day in Serengeti National Park

Spend the full day exploring Serengeti National Park, where the vast open plains are alive with wildlife. You can opt for morning and afternoon game drives or a full-day safari with picnic lunch. Depending on the season, you may witness the Great Migration, a stunning natural spectacle. Return to camp in the evening for dinner and storytelling around the fire.

Day 6: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Enjoy a final morning game drive in the Serengeti before starting your journey toward Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Along the way, visit Olduvai Gorge (optional), a famous archaeological site. Arrive at your lodge near the crater rim in the late afternoon. Enjoy sweeping views and cooler mountain air before dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater Tour

After an early breakfast, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the most wildlife-dense areas in Africa. You’ll enjoy a half-day game drive, with chances to spot rhinos, lions, elephants, buffaloes, and more. Enjoy a picnic lunch near the hippo pool before ascending and heading to your lodge in Lake Eyasi region.

Day 8: Lake Eyasi – Hadzabe & Datoga Cultural Tour

Wake up early for a unique cultural experience with the Hadzabe, a hunter-gatherer tribe that still lives traditionally. Join them on a morning hunt, then visit the Datoga blacksmiths, who make tools using ancient techniques. It’s an eye-opening cultural day filled with local interactions. Later, return to your lodge for dinner and reflection.

Day 9: Lake Eyasi to Arusha – Departure

After a relaxed breakfast, drive back to Arusha, passing scenic highlands and villages. Depending on your flight time, enjoy a quick stop at a local craft market before drop-off at the airport or your hotel. Your unforgettable 9-day Tanzania safari concludes here.