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Home Africa Secluded Tanzania Safari Itinerary

See More of Wild Tanzania—Including the Great Migration—Away from Crowds!

Day 1: Arusha, Tanzania
Our Tanzania safari begins in Arusha, with a transfer from the airport to our lodge in the forested foothills of Mount Meru. Wander the lushly landscaped gardens that offer a refreshing respite after long travels, relax by the pool, or enjoy the view from your private veranda before our welcome dinner this evening.

Days 2–4: Tarangire National Park
Set off by road this morning for Tarangire National Park, with our first exhilarating wildlife drive en route once we enter the park bounds. Seldom-visited Tarangire, the “Baobab Capital of the World,” teems with wildlife. Herds of up to 300 elephants scratch the dry riverbed for underground streams while migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle and eland crowd the shrinking lagoons. Tarangire is also one place in northern Tanzania where we occasionally see dry-country antelope such as oryx and gerenuk. 

Our remotely located camp is perfectly positioned to take advantage of proximity to some of Africa’s densest wildlife concentrations. Though far from the standard tourist circuit, our deluxe tented camp spares nothing in comfort, from hot showers to gourmet dining around a crackling campfire under the stars. A range of activities is available, from guided walking safaris to wildlife drives, bush breakfasts and picnic lunches beneath a baobab tree, and sundowner cocktails followed by optional night drives to see nocturnal wildlife. 

Day 5: Tarangire / Ngorongoro Highlands
After a sunrise breakfast, depart camp for a final wildlife drive in Tarangire National Park. Bask in the quiet morning solitude while watching for elephants, impala and possibly even a pack of wild dogs trotting across the savanna. Exiting the park, we ascend to the Ngorongoro Highlands, stopping to visit a local school where our tourism dollars directly support the local community. Continuing along the escarpment, we reach our luxury camp by late afternoon, perched high on the Ngorongoro Crater rim at 7,300 feet. Once we arrive, we’ll have an opportunity to meet local Masaai herders and learn firsthand about their culture. Then it's time to retire for the night, sleeping beneath canvas at our secluded camp replete with all the romance of Africa.

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater
At morning's first light, board 4x4 safari vehicles to descend the steep walls of the world’s largest unbroken volcanic caldera. Here, we find Africa's densest concentration of wildlife, attracted to the constant water present on the 100-square-mile crater floor.  Among a multitude of species, look for zebra, wildebeest, gazelle and eland, and the lion and hyena that prey upon them. If we are exceptionally fortunate, we may spot an endangered black rhinoceros. Spend a full day exploring the crater, with a picnic lunch along the way. Late this afternoon, we exit the crater and make the short transfer to Plantation Lodge, a gracious inn on a working coffee, flower and cattle plantation in the Ngorongoro Highlands.

Days 7 & 8: East Central Serengeti Plains
Leaving the volcanic highlands behind, we fly to the Serengeti Plains, one of Africa's most legendary safari locales. These expansive grasslands are home to a profusion of wildlife throughout the year. We spend two nights on the eastern side of the Serengeti ecosystem in the Ngari Nanyuki Plains region, amid sprawling grasslands dotted with rocky outcrops—sunrise over the kopjes never fails to impress. Our secluded camp is located in a hidden corner of the Serengeti where the short-grass plains meet acacia woodlands and the Ngare Nanyuki underground river creates pockets of permanent water that support year-round wildlife concentrations. From this private outpost we can expect unrivaled sightings of the big cats that are so plentiful in this area. Such close encounters with the Serengeti’s apex predators are sure to enthrall even the most seasoned safari-goer!

Days 9–11: Northern Serengeti—Nat Hab's Migration Base Camp–Serengeti
Flying on to the northern Serengeti, we reach Nat Hab's private mobile camp, our base for a three-day immersion in Africa's Great Migration. In accord with the herds’ seasonal movements, we locate our camp in the northern Serengeti from June through October. This deluxe tented outpost rests within one of the main movement corridors for hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle and an accompanying cast of predators. Each year, the herds trek 1,800 miles from Kenya’s Maasai Mara to the southern Serengeti and back again.

On daily safari drives, witness this remarkable spectacle as the enormous herds traverse the savanna while big cats steal behind. We may behold stunning scenes of predator-prey interaction as a lion takes down a sick wildebeest or a cheetah overtakes an infant. Track the area’s prolific wildlife in private 4x4 vehicles, allowing optimal mobility and proximity. Our luxury mobile camp ensures seclusion, yet we enjoy impressive amenities despite the remoteness of our location. Walk-in canvas tents are reminiscent of the classic safari era of a century ago, with all the comforts of today. And there's nothing more romantic than dinner served on white linen beneath a canopy of stars.

Day 12: Serengeti / Arusha / Depart
After a final wildlife drive this morning, fly back to Arusha, where we'll share a farewell lunch together before our Tanzania safari comes to a close. You'll have time to relax and refresh in a day room before you transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport to meet departing flights this evening. 

Physical Rating: Easy