Tanzania Offbeat Safari

Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, our safari guide will greet you based on your flight schedule. You will then be transported to Arusha town, which is approximately a one-hour drive away.

Once you reach the lodge, you can relax and prepare for your upcoming safari adventure the following day.

You will be collected from your lodging in Arusha early in the morning and transported to Arusha National Park. This park is inhabited by a variety of wildlife, including buffalo, elephants, giraffes, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, and numerous bird species such as turacos and flamingos. After savoring a picnic lunch, you will continue with afternoon game drives before being returned to your accommodation in Arusha for dinner and an overnight stay.

You will be greeted by your personal guide and vehicle at your hotel in Arusha in the morning, after which you will be transported to Tarangire National Park, allowing ample time for both morning and afternoon game drives.

The park is traversed by the Tarangire River, which draws a significant population of elephants, buffalo, giraffes, and antelope, especially during the dry season from June to October. It is common to observe large herds of elephants wandering through the savannah or seeking refuge under the uniquely shaped baobab trees scattered throughout the area. Additionally, Tarangire is home to over 550 bird species, making it the most diverse avian habitat in Africa, including the Kori bustard, recognized as the heaviest flying bird globally.

In the late afternoon, you will be transferred to Manyara for an overnight stay.

You will set off with packed lunch boxes towards Lake Natron, which is approximately a 2.5-hour drive from Mto Wa Mbu/Manyara. This destination is renowned for its surreal beauty and distinctive natural features. The lake’s waters are notably alkaline and quite shallow, with an average depth of only one meter. Upon your arrival and after settling into your lodge or camp, you will have a brief rest before donning your walking shoes. A Masai tribesman will then guide you to the Ngare Sero Waterfalls, which cascade down from the Nguruman Escarpment located to the west of Lake Natron.

In addition to this, you will have the opportunity to stroll along the shores of Lake Natron, where you can observe various bird species, particularly the lesser flamingos. This lake serves as a crucial and consistent breeding ground for lesser flamingos in East Africa, with numbers reaching up to 2 million during the breeding season. The peak period for egg-laying and hatching occurs from September to January.

Today, you will journey to the Northern-central region of Serengeti National Park, where the Rift Valley ascends into the expansive plains of the Serengeti. This national park is renowned as one of the largest natural migration systems for wildlife. Each year, over 1.4 million wildebeests, nearly 300,000 Thomson’s gazelles, around 200,000 zebras, and several thousand topis migrate between conservation areas, following the rainy seasons to seek out verdant landscapes and lush meadows. In addition to these species, the park is also inhabited by a diverse array of wildlife, including giraffes, buffalo, hyenas, elephants, and crocodiles, with a particularly significant population of feline predators.

After a delightful breakfast, you will embark on a game drive as you travel from the Serengeti to the stunning Ngorongoro Crater. This remarkable site is recognized as the largest un-flooded caldera in the world. Your journey from Serengeti will take you through the verdant rainforests that line the rim, descending 610 meters (2,000 feet) to the crater floor, which spans approximately 260 square kilometers (100 square miles). This ecological paradise is home to a variety of wildlife, including wildebeest, zebra, eland, and gazelle, as well as the highest concentration of lions in Africa. The rainforests are inhabited by elephants, mountain bucks, buffalo, hyenas, and leopards.

You will have an entire day dedicated to wildlife viewing and exploring the crater floor, with opportunities to enjoy a picnic on the grasslands surrounded by grazing animals. In the evening, you will drive to your lodge in Karatu, where you can unwind and enjoy dinner before settling in for the night.

After breakfast, you will embark on a journey along the rugged road from Karatu to Lake Eyasi. This seasonal, shallow endorheic salt lake is situated within the Great Rift Valley in northern Tanzania, just south of the Ngorongoro highlands. You will have ample opportunity to appreciate the serene atmosphere and immerse yourself in the surrounding natural beauty.

Upon your arrival in the late morning, you will engage in a cultural experience with the Tatoga tribe, known for their intriguing customs. A local Tatoga guide will accompany you through the village, where you will have the chance to explore the arid and rugged terrain on foot, which is still home to a small group of Bushmen known as the Hadzabe or Watindiga. These tribes continue to live in small bands, employing traditional methods of survival such as hunting with bows and arrows and foraging for roots, tubers, and wild fruits, much like our ancestors did 10,000 years ago. Additionally, you will learn about the Datoga tribe, also referred to as the Barabaig or Mang’ati, who historically competed with the Maasai for grazing territories.

After a day filled with enriching experiences, you will be transported back to Karatu, where you can unwind at your lodge, enjoy dinner, and spend the night.

After a morning breakfast at the lodge you will be transferred to Arusha town at either your own booked accommodation or transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport to mark the end of your 10-Days Tanzania Offbeat Safari.