Embark on a 10-day mid-range safari in Tanzania, exploring Tarangire, Lake Natron, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and beyond. This 10-day mid-range safari in Tanzania begins and ends in Arusha, with options for Dar es Salaam or Nairobi departures. Tailor the experience to your preferences, including accommodation upgrades. Children of all ages are welcome, with special discounts available. Highlights include encounters with elephants in Tarangire, the ethereal Lake Natron, the iconic Serengeti plains, and the diverse Ngorongoro Crater. Engage with the Hadzabe bush people, witness tree-climbing lions in Lake Manyara, and immerse yourself in Maasai culture. The itinerary balances game drives with cultural experiences and leisure time. Each day promises a new adventure, from the rugged beauty of Lake Natron to the abundant wildlife of Ngorongoro. This safari promises an enriching blend of nature, culture, and relaxation in the heart of Tanzania.
Welcome to Tanzania. Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport you will be met by a Benson Safaris Tanzania Transfer Driver and driven to your lodge where the remainder of the day is at leisure – rest in your room, enjoy a swim in the pool or explore Arusha and the surrounding areas on one of our day tours – the choice is yours.
After breakfast you will drive to Tarangire National Park for a full day game drive. Tarangire is one of Africa’s little-known gems and should be on the itinerary of all lovers of wilderness and solitude. Its name originates from the Tarangire River that crosses through the park and is the only source of water during the dry season.
Today you will travel to the wild and remote Lake Natron which is situated at the base of Africa’s only active volcano, Oldoinyo Lengai, and is known as the Mountain of God to the local Maasai people. The area around Lake Natron contains some of the most harsh and amazing scenery in Africa and is utterly breathtaking. Together with your Guide, you will be accompanied by a local Maasai Guide and walk up to the Engero Sero Waterfalls. Winding up through the shady gorge you will reach a beautiful natural swimming pool surrounded by steep rock walls showered by cascading spring water where you will have the opportunity to swim.
Lake Natron is one of the most alkaline lakes in the world and home to millions of tiny crustaceans. The lake is a haven for literally thousands of flamingos and it is one of the most important flamingo breeding grounds on earth. It is the landscape rather than the animals that is the attraction here and the area around the lake is dry, desolate and hauntingly beautiful.
After breakfast you will walk out across the baked mud to the shores of the great Soda Lake. From here, you can look back at the memorising view of Oldoinyo Lengai standing tall amongst the rolling hills and flat plains. Its ash-grey colour will remind you that this is still an active volcano. After lunch, you will return to Karatu where you will spend the night.
Today you will drive to the Serengeti National Park which is one of Africa’s premier game parks. Driving through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area towards the Serengeti you will begin to experience the vastness of this territory and marvel at the multitude of animal and bird life while cruising through this acacia spotted savannah.
You will visit a Maasai Village in the Ngorongoro Highlands (optional) where you will meet the Elders, Warriors, women and children and learn about the culture, beliefs and traditions of Tanzania’s last nomadic tribe.
The Serengeti is Tanzania’s oldest and most popular national park and is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Serengeti is a year-round destination and each season has its own special highlight with the most famous being the annual wildebeest migration which is a once in a lifetime experience. You will game drive enroute before arriving into the Serengeti in time for a half day game drive.
Today you will venture deeper into the world-famous Serengeti on a full day game drive.
Today you will be rewarded with a full day game drive in the stunning Ngorongoro Crater which became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979 and is one of the only places on earth where mankind and wild animals co-exist is harmony. The Ngorongoro Crater is famous for Africa’s best game viewing as there is an ever present abundance of wildlife due to the permanent water supply on the crater floor.
Upon arrival at the Crater’s rim you will descend 610 metres into the Crater where your safari truly begins. Spot the endangered black rhino as well as wildebeest, buffalo, zebra, eland, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle and of course, giant tusked elephants. The Crater also has the largest known population of lions and you will also find leopards and cheetahs as well as scavengers such as spotted hyenas, jackals and rare wild dogs. Over 500 species of birds have been recorded within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and these include white pelicans and flamingos.
After an early breakfast you will meet your local guide and together you will meet the Hadzabe Bush People and Datoga Tribe. Join them as they go about their daily activities such as hunting and gathering. You will visit the area where they collect fruits and roots and find water during the dry season as well as visit the caves they call home.
In the afternoon you will return to your lodge where the remainder of the day is at leisure – swim in the pool which offers a refreshing respite from the dusty conditions, enjoy a cool drink at the bar or relax on your private balcony overlooking the lake.
Today you will visit Lake Manyara National Park for a full day game drive. Stretching along the base of the Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara is home to giant fig trees, acacia woodlands, mahogany trees and grassy flood plains. The contrasts of this area are simply breathtaking with its open plains, huge escarpment, Soda Lake, dense woodlands, and distant volcanic peaks coming together in an area best described by Ernest Hemingway as “the loveliest I had seen in Africa”.
Animals such as large buffalo, wildebeest, giraffes, mongoose, dik dik and zebra herds congregate on the grassy plains while the narrow belt of acacia woodland is home to the legendary tree-climbing lions and tusked elephants.Â
Lake Manyara provides the perfect introduction to Tanzania’s bird life with more than 400 species being recorded. Highlights include thousands of pink-hued flamingos on their perpetual migration, as well as other large waterbirds such as pelicans, cormorants and storks.
In the late afternoon you will return to Arusha for your final evening.Â
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
This is a private safari, run exclusively for you and each vehicle holds a maximum of 7 clients. If an accommodation is fully booked we’ll suggest a comparable alternative where possible. All prices quoted are per person in USD (US Dollars) and are subject to availability and expire on the 31st December 2019. Please contact us for a quote for travel in 2020 and beyond.
| 1 Traveller (1 Room) | 2 Travellers (1 Room) | 3 Travellers (2 Rooms) | 4 Travellers (2 Rooms) | 5 Travellers (3 Rooms) | 6 Travellers (3 Rooms) | 7 Travellers (4 Rooms) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $8,200 | $7,600 | $7,400 | $7,150 | $7,050 | $7,000 | $6,900 |
A Tanzanian holiday is a dream come true and a once in a lifetime experience for most of our clients. We understand that every traveler is different and we are proud to offer a range of optional activities to enhance your safari experience. Please note, all activities are subject to availability and prices are subject to change and we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.Â
Night in Tarangire is another world altogether. Witness the landscape waxed in a silver moonlight as giant elephants make their way into and out of the shadows and be sure to keep an eye out for eyes shining back at you from the spotlight. For logistical reasons we must book alternative accommodation at the Tarangire Safari Lodge located inside the Tarangire National Park and additional accommodation charges may apply. Please note, this tour is not suitable for children under the age of 12.
Launch at dawn, rising as the sun rises above the breathtaking Serengeti you will gently float over the plains for around 1 hour. Upon your graceful return to the ground you will feast on a champagne breakfast under an acacia tree before beginning your full day game drive. Please note, this activity is not suitable for children under the age of 7.
Visit Olduvai Gorge which is one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world for early human evolution. The site is significant in showing the increasing developmental and social complexities in the earliest humans. Here you will enjoy free time to discover the museum before continuing to the Serengeti.
Experience a whole new world of nocturnal animals inside the Lake Manyara National Park as you drive into the thick ground-water forest and continue towards the lake following the Simba River to the hippo pools. This night safari will give you an entirely different perspective of the park and wildlife. For logistical reasons we must book alternative accommodation at the Manyara Serena Safari Lodge located high on an escarpment with breathtaking views of Lake Manyara and additional accommodation charges may apply. Please note, this tour is not suitable for children under the age of 12.
Walk among the treetops in Lake Manyara and experience untouched nature and wildlife from a unique perspective on Tanzania’s first treetop walkway, and at 370 meters, it is also one of Africa’s longest. It is an experience you’ll never forget. Duration: approx. 1 hour.
Cycle through Mto wa Mbu Village where you will experience local life and enjoy the sights and sounds of this vibrant town before riding to a Mama’s house where you will feast on a traditional Tanzanian meal. Please note, this is a half day tour which runs in conjunction with a half day game drive in Lake Manyara National Park.
$50 per person: Add beer and wine to your safari. Please note, this package is not available to clients under the age of 18
We offer Arusha City Tours (half or full day tours), Coffee Farm Tours, Night Tours with Dinner or visit the Lengo Football Academy with Village Walk. Please ask us for detailed tour descriptions and prices.
Benson Safaris Tanzania, founded in 2006, offers expertly guided Wildlife Safaris, Mountain Treks, and Beach Breaks.
