Tanzania Offbeat Safari

Upon arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport, our safari guide will meet you according to your flight schedule. From there, you’ll be driven to Arusha town, located about an hour away.

At the lodge, you’ll have the opportunity to unwind and get ready for your exciting safari adventure that begins the next day.

You’ll be picked up from your accommodation in Arusha early in the morning and driven to Arusha National Park. The park is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including buffalo, elephants, giraffes, black–and–white colobus monkeys, baboons, and an array of bird species like turacos and flamingos. Following a picnic lunch, the adventure continues with afternoon game drives before heading back to your lodging in Arusha for dinner and an overnight stay.

Your personal guide and vehicle will meet you at your hotel in Arusha in the morning. From there, you will head to Tarangire National Park, allowing plenty of time to enjoy both morning and afternoon game drives.

The park is characterized by the Tarangire River, which attracts an impressive array of wildlife such as elephants, buffalo, giraffes, and antelope, particularly during the dry season from June to October. You can often spot large herds of elephants roaming the savannah or resting beneath the iconic baobab trees scattered across the landscape.  Additionally, Tarangire boasts an extraordinary bird population, with over 550 recorded species, making it one of the richest avian habitats in Africa. Notable species include the Kori bustard, the world’s heaviest flying bird.

In the late afternoon, you‘ll proceed to Manyara for an overnight stay.

You’ll set off with packed lunch boxes towards Lake Natron, which is approximately a 2.5-hour drive from 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’ll 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’ll 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’ll 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’ll 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’ll 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’ll drive to your lodge in Karatu, where you can unwind and enjoy dinner before settling in for the night.

After breakfast, you’ll 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’ll 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’ll 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’ll be transported back to Karatu, where you can unwind at your lodge, enjoy dinner, and spend the night.

After breakfast at the lodge, you’ll be transferred to Arusha town, either to your pre-arranged accommodation or to Kilimanjaro International Airport, concluding your 10-day Tanzania Offbeat Safari.