Arusha to Arusha | 14 Nights | Best from late January to February

This journey explores northern Tanzania’s finest parks at a relaxed pace. It combines birding in Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Ndutu, and the Serengeti with four nights in the Ndutu calving grounds, giving you three full days with the herds.

Day One: Arrival in Arusha

Route: Kilimanjaro International Airport → Arusha

On arrival, you will be warmly welcomed by your guide and transferred to your hotel in Arusha. Once you have checked in, we will take a few moments to introduce you to the days ahead, outlining the journey and answering any questions you may have about the safari.

The remainder of the day is yours to rest and recover after your journey, at a comfortable pace. The hotel gardens are a pleasant place to enjoy a first look at East Africa’s birdlife, with species such as the silvery-cheeked hornbill and the variable sunbird often seen among the trees and flowering shrubs. In the evening, you may like to enjoy dinner at the hotel and retire early, in preparation for the start of the safari tomorrow.

Overnight: Arusha hotel (to be confirmed)
Meal Basis: Dinner

Day Two: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

Route: Arusha → Tarangire National Park (Game Drive) → Tarangire Safari Lodge

After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and begin the scenic drive south-west toward Tarangire National Park, arriving around midday. Your guide will take care of the entry formalities at the gate, allowing you to relax and enjoy the surroundings as the safari begins.

We spend the afternoon on a game drive through the park’s striking landscape of ancient baobab trees, acacia woodland, and the Tarangire River, which draws wildlife from across the region. Tarangire is famed for its large herds of elephant, and it is also a rewarding destination for bird enthusiasts. Species to look for include the yellow-collared lovebird, ashy starling, and rufous-tailed weaver, among many others. Your guide will pause at each sighting so that you can observe and photograph at a relaxed pace.

In the late afternoon, we arrive at Tarangire Safari Lodge, set on a ridge overlooking the river. You will check in and have time to settle in and refresh, perhaps enjoying the view from the terrace as the sun sets. Dinner and a restful overnight stay follow.

Overnight: Tarangire Safari Lodge
Meal Basis: Full Board

Day Three: Full Day in Tarangire National Park

Route: Tarangire Safari Lodge → Tarangire River, Swamps & Woodland (Full-Day Game Drive) → Picnic Lunch → Tarangire Safari Lodge

After an early breakfast, and with your picnic lunch prepared by the lodge, we set out for a full day of exploring Tarangire National Park. The early hours are a particularly rewarding time to be in the park, when the air is cool, the light is soft, and wildlife is at its most active.

With the whole day at our disposal, we can explore at a relaxed pace, following the course of the Tarangire River, the permanent swamps, and the open acacia woodland. Each habitat offers something different, and your guide will adapt the route according to the latest sightings. Throughout the day, we will stop for birds as well as mammals, and you may see bee-eaters, rollers, hornbills, and a variety of raptors. Elephants, giraffe, zebra, and impala are plentiful, and with luck, a lion or leopard may also make an appearance.

We will enjoy a picnic lunch at a scenic spot chosen by your guide, allowing time to rest, take in the views, and photograph the wildlife. After an afternoon of further game viewing, we return to the lodge in the late afternoon, with time to freshen up and relax before dinner. A restful overnight stay follows.

Overnight: Tarangire Safari Lodge
Meal Basis: Full Board

Day Four: Tarangire National Park to Karatu

Route: Tarangire National Park → Morning Birding → Karatu → Acacia Farm Lodge

After an early breakfast, we enjoy a final morning of birding and game viewing in Tarangire National Park, a lovely opportunity to take in the baobab-studded landscape and its birdlife once more in the soft morning light. Your guide will take you at an unhurried pace, with time to stop for any species you may have missed.

Following the morning’s activities, we check out of the lodge and begin the scenic drive to Karatu, a pleasant highland town set among coffee farms and rolling green hills. We will stop along the way for lunch at a time and place that suit you.

In the afternoon, we arrive at Acacia Farm Lodge, where you will check in and have time to settle in and refresh. The lodge’s gardens are a pleasant place for a gentle evening walk, with the chance to enjoy more of the region’s birdlife as the day cools. Dinner and a restful overnight stay follow, in preparation for tomorrow’s early start and your visit to the Ngorongoro Crater.

Overnight: Acacia Farm Lodge, Karatu
Meal Basis: Full Board

Day Five: Ngorongoro Crater & Transfer to Ndutu

Route: Acacia Farm Lodge, Karatu → Descent into the Ngorongoro Crater → Crater Floor Game Drive (Lerai Forest & Lake Magadi) → Ascent → Ngorongoro Highlands → Ndutu Safari Lodge

After an early breakfast, and with your packed lunch prepared by the lodge, we set out for the Ngorongoro Crater. We begin the winding descent onto the crater floor, which offers the best chance of enjoying the soft morning light and the cooler hours, when the animals are at their most active. Ngorongoro is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to a remarkable concentration of wildlife in a single, enclosed setting.

On the crater floor, we explore its varied habitats at a relaxed pace, including the open grasslands, the Lerai Forest, and Lake Magadi, a shallow soda lake where flamingos and other waterbirds often gather. Bird enthusiasts will find much to enjoy, with species such as the kori bustard, grey crowned crane, and Abdim’s stork among those to look for. The crater is also well known for its lions and hippos, and it is one of the few places in Tanzania where black rhinos may be observed, although they are rare and usually seen at a distance. Your guide will share insights into the wildlife and the ecology of the crater throughout the day.

We pause for a picnic lunch at a designated spot, with time to relax and take photographs. In the afternoon, we begin the ascent out of the crater and continue through the highlands toward the Ndutu area, with changing landscapes and wide views along the way.

In the evening, we arrive at Ndutu Safari Lodge, where you will check in and have time to settle in and refresh. Dinner and a restful overnight stay follow, with the sounds of the bush around you.

Overnight: Ndutu Safari Lodge
Meal Basis: Full Board

Days Six: Full Day Exploring the Ndutu Calving Grounds

Route: Lodge → Lake Ndutu & Lake Masek Shores → Acacia Woodlands → Open Plains → Lodge

After an early breakfast, we begin our second full day of game viewing, exploring a different side of the Ndutu area. The landscape here is remarkably varied, with the shores of the soda lakes of Ndutu and Masek, patches of acacia woodland, and the open plains beyond. Each habitat offers different wildlife and the shifting terrain gives you a fuller picture of the ecosystem.

The lakeshores often attract flamingos and other waterbirds, while the woodlands are favoured by giraffe, elephant and a wide variety of birdlife. The plains remain the focus for the herds and the predators that follow them, so we will return there during the best light of the day to look for fresh action. Your guide will adjust the route according to the latest sightings, drawing on a close understanding of the herds’ movements.

We enjoy a picnic lunch in the field, or return to the lodge for a relaxed lunch and a short rest, depending on your preference. After an afternoon of game viewing, we return to the lodge for dinner and a restful overnight stay.

Day Seven: Full Day Game Viewing in the Ndutu Calving Grounds

Route: Lodge → Ndutu Calving Plains → Picnic Lunch → Lodge

Today is your first full day in the Ndutu area. After an early breakfast and with a packed lunch, we set out at first light, when the plains are cool and the light is beautiful for photography. Your guide will head to wherever the herds are gathered, as the animals move according to the rains and the fresh grass.

Throughout the day, you may see wildebeest giving birth, new-born calves taking their first unsteady steps, and herds moving across the plains with zebra and Thomson’s gazelles. This is also a prime time for predators, like lion, cheetah, spotted hyena and jackal are often seen hunting or resting near the herds. We will take our time at each sighting, so that you can observe and photograph at a relaxed pace.

We stop for a picnic lunch in a safe and scenic spot chosen by your guide, then continue game viewing through the afternoon, returning to the lodge in the late afternoon. Dinner and an overnight stay follow.

Day Eight: Full Day Exploring the Ndutu Lakes & Woodlands

Route: Lodge → Lake Ndutu & Lake Masek Shores → Acacia Woodlands → Open Plains → Lodge

After an early breakfast, we begin our second full day of game viewing, exploring a different side of the Ndutu area. The landscape here is remarkably varied, with the shores of the soda lakes of Ndutu and Masek, patches of acacia woodland, and the open plains beyond. Each habitat offers different wildlife and the shifting terrain gives you a fuller picture of the ecosystem.

The lakeshores often attract flamingos and other waterbirds, while the woodlands are favoured by giraffe, elephant and a wide variety of birdlife. The plains remain the focus for the herds and the predators that follow them, so we will return there during the best light of the day to look for fresh action. Your guide will adjust the route according to the latest sightings, drawing on a close understanding of the herds’ movements.

We enjoy a picnic lunch in the field, or return to the lodge for a relaxed lunch and a short rest, depending on your preference. After an afternoon of game viewing, we return to the lodge for dinner and a restful overnight stay.

Overnight (all three nights): Ndutu Safari Lodge | Meal Basis: Full Board

Day Nine: Ndutu to Central Serengeti (Seronera)

Route: Ndutu Area → Southern Serengeti Plains → Seronera Area → Kubu Kubu Safari Lodge

After an early breakfast, we check out of the lodge and begin our journey north from the Ndutu area toward the central Serengeti, with game viewing along the way. As we leave Ndutu, the short-grass plains that form the heart of the calving season stretch out around us. Your guide will pause whenever there is something worth seeing, so you may expect large herds of wildebeest and zebra, as well as gazelles and the predators that follow them.

As we travel further north, the landscape gradually changes from open plains to the rivers, granite kopjes, and acacia woodland of the Seronera area. We will enjoy a picnic lunch en route at a scenic spot chosen by your guide, allowing you to rest and take in the views at a comfortable pace.

In the afternoon, we arrive in the Seronera area, widely regarded as one of the best places in Tanzania to see predators. If time and light allow, we will enjoy a late-afternoon game drive on the way to the lodge, when the animals are at their most active. You will then check in at Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, settle in, and enjoy a relaxed evening. Dinner and a restful overnight stay follow, with the sounds of the African bush all around you.

Overnight: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge
Meal Basis: Full Board (to be confirmed)

Day Ten: Full-Day Game Drive with Picnic Lunch in the Central Serengeti

Route: Kubu Kubu Tented Lodge → Seronera River Valley → Kopjes & Open Grasslands → Picnic Lunch Stop → Lodge

After an early breakfast, and with your packed lunch prepared by the lodge, we set out at first light. This is a magical time in the Serengeti: the plains are cool and quiet, the golden light is ideal for photography, and predators are often still on the move after a night of hunting. Your guide will keep you informed throughout the day, sharing knowledge of animal behaviour, tracking signs, and the ecology of the Serengeti.

The full day gives us the freedom to explore the Seronera area at a relaxed pace, without the pressure of returning to the lodge at midday. We begin along the Seronera River valley, a permanent water source that draws a wide variety of wildlife and is especially rewarding for spotting leopards resting in the branches of acacia and sausage trees. We then move on to the kopjes, the ancient granite outcrops that rise from the plains and serve as lookout points for lions and shelter for hyraxes, agama lizards, and many bird species. Finally, we cross the open grasslands, where herds of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle graze, and where cheetahs scan the horizon for their next opportunity.

Around midday, we pause for a picnic lunch in a quiet, scenic spot chosen by your guide, with time to rest, enjoy the views, and take photographs. Please note that, for safety, we remain in or close to the vehicle at all times, and picnic spots are selected with this in mind.

Throughout the day, lion, leopard, and cheetah are the main highlights, alongside elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hyena, and wildebeest. Birdlife is plentiful, and you may see species such as the secretary bird, lilac-breasted roller, grey-crowned crane, and a variety of raptors and vultures. Your guide will follow sightings as they unfold, giving you ample time at each encounter.

In the late afternoon, as the light softens, we begin a leisurely drive back to the lodge, with further game viewing along the way. On arrival, you will have time to freshen up and relax before dinner, followed by a restful overnight stay with the sounds of the African bush around you.

Day Eleven: Western Serengeti to Central Serengeti (Seronera)

Route: Western Serengeti → Game Viewing en Route → Seronera Area → Lodge

After an early breakfast, we check out and begin the journey toward the central Serengeti, with game viewing along the way as the landscape opens from woodland into wide plains. Your guide will pause whenever there is something worth seeing, so you may travel at an unhurried pace.

We stop for a picnic lunch in a scenic spot, then continue to the Seronera area, widely regarded as one of the best places in Tanzania to see predators. In the late afternoon, we enjoy a game drive when the light is at its best and the animals are most active. Lion, leopard, and cheetah are often seen here, alongside elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and a variety of birdlife.

We arrive at the lodge in the early evening to check in and relax before dinner.

Day Twelve: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater Rim

Route: Central Serengeti → Game Viewing en Route → Ngorongoro Highlands → Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge (Crater Rim)

After an early breakfast, we check out of the lodge and bid farewell to the Serengeti, beginning our journey south-east toward the Ngorongoro highlands. As we leave the park, the wide plains gradually give way to cooler, greener hills, and your guide will pause for game viewing along the way, allowing time for photographs and a final search for wildlife.

We will enjoy a picnic lunch en route at a scenic spot chosen by your guide, so that you can rest and take in the changing scenery at a comfortable pace.

In the afternoon, we arrive at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, set directly on the rim of the crater. Upon arrival, you will check in and have time to settle in and refresh. The lodge offers sweeping views across the caldera, and the remainder of the day is yours to relax, whether on your private balcony or in the lodge’s lounge areas, watching the light change across the crater floor. Dinner and a restful overnight stay follow.

Overnight: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
Meal Basis: Full Board

Day Thirteen: Lake Manyara National Park & Return to Arusha

Route: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge → Lake Manyara National Park → Arusha

After breakfast, we check out of the lodge and descend from the crater highlands toward Lake Manyara National Park, a compact and scenic reserve set beneath the dramatic wall of the Rift Valley escarpment. Arriving in the cool of the morning, we begin with a game drive through the park’s groundwater forest, where troops of olive baboons and blue monkeys are commonly seen, alongside a variety of forest birds.

The drive then opens onto the shores of the alkaline lake, where flamingos, pelicans, storks, and other waterbirds gather, depending on the season. With more than 400 species recorded, Lake Manyara is an excellent destination for bird enthusiasts, and your guide will take time at each sighting so that you can observe and photograph at a relaxed pace.

After a picnic lunch at a scenic spot in the park, we begin the journey to Arusha. On arrival, you will check in at your hotel and have time to rest and refresh. Dinner and a restful overnight stay follow.

Overnight: Arusha hotel (to be confirmed)
Meal Basis: Full Board

Day Fourteen: Arusha National Park

Route: Arusha → Arusha National Park (Momella Lakes & Forest) → Arusha

After an early breakfast, we set out for Arusha National Park, a compact and varied reserve of montane forest, volcanic crater, and shallow lakes, located only a short drive from the city. Despite its size, the park offers remarkable diversity, making it a fitting finale to your safari.

We begin with a visit to the Momella Lakes, a series of alkaline lakes that attract a wide variety of waterbirds, including flamingos, whose pink flocks often line the shallows. Your guide will take time at each viewpoint, so that you can enjoy the birdlife and photograph the scenery at a relaxed pace.

We then explore the park’s forested areas, where you may spot black-and-white colobus monkeys moving through the canopy, along with a range of forest birds. On the open ground, giraffe, buffalo, and zebra are commonly seen grazing, and the views of Mount Meru, on a clear day, make a memorable backdrop.

In the afternoon, we return to the hotel in Arusha, where you will have time to relax and refresh. In the evening, we will gather for a farewell dinner, an opportunity to reflect on the highlights of your journey through northern Tanzania.

Overnight: Arusha hotel (to be confirmed)
Meal Basis: Full Board

Day Fifteen: Departure

Route: Arusha → Kilimanjaro International Airport (or a destination of your choice in Arusha)

After a relaxed breakfast, we check out of the hotel, and your guide will transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport, in good time for your onward flight. Should you prefer to continue elsewhere in Arusha, we will gladly take you to the destination of your choice.

Before departure, we kindly recommend a final check of your room, luggage, passports, and travel documents so that nothing is left behind. Your guide will assist you with your luggage, and the team at Terrain Safaris will be happy to help with any last-minute questions.

It has been a genuine pleasure to guide you through the landscapes, wildlife, and birdlife of northern Tanzania. We thank you most sincerely for travelling with Terrain Safaris, and we hope to welcome you back to East Africa in the future. Safe travels, and kwaheri until we meet again.

Meal Basis: Breakfast