20-Day Grand Safari: Explore Tanzania's Southern & Northern Circuits
20-Day Grand Safari: Explore Tanzania's Southern & Northern Circuits
1–2 People: Starting at $1,200
1–2 People: Starting at $1,200
4–6 People: Starting at $1,200
6 – Above People: Starting at $1,200
Itineraries
Day 1: Arrival in Dar es Salaam
Upon your arrival at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, our representative will warmly welcome you and conduct a short, helpful briefing regarding your upcoming safari adventures. Following the briefing, you will be comfortably transferred to your city hotel to unwind and settle in. This relaxed evening provides the perfect opportunity to shake off your long flight from home, rest deeply,
Main Destination : Dar es salaam
Accommodation : Chelsea Hotel
Meal Plan : Dinner
Day 2: Dar es salaam to Nyerere National Park
After breakfast, your guide will meet you for the road journey down to Nyerere National Park. Arrive at your camp or lodge in time to enjoy lunch, followed by a few hours of leisure to unwind from the drive. At 4:00 PM, transition to the water for an exciting boat safari on the Rufiji River. Navigating the river channels along the park borders and adjacent community villages, this excursion offers a fantastic, up-close look at hippos, crocodiles, and diverse water birds thriving in their natural environment.
Main Destination : Nyerere National Park
Accommodation : Nyerere Green Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Full Day Game Drive in Nyerere National Park
After breakfast, dedicate your entire day to exploring Nyerere National Park on a comprehensive game drive complete with a scenic picnic lunch. This massive sanctuary—rivaling the size of Switzerland and Denmark combined—boasts Tanzania’s largest elephant population, making it a premier destination for big-game tracking. Your safari loops will bring you face-to-face with an incredible array of wildlife, from lions, buffaloes, hippos, and crocodiles to giraffes, zebras, baboons, and impalas. Keep your camera ready as you scout for apex predators, rare wild dogs, greater kudu, and the prize sighting of a rare sable antelope.
Main Destination : Nyerere National Park
Accommodation :Nyerere Green Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Wilderness Walking – Mikumi National Park
After early morning call breakfast, you will set out on an exhilarating wilderness walking safari, one of Tanzania’s most immersive and exciting bush experiences. Guided by armed rangers for safety, the walk allows you to explore the natural environment up close, observing tracks, plants, and smaller wildlife that are often missed during vehicle game drives. Once the walk is complete, you will return to camp for a full and relaxing breakfast after breakfast depart to Mikumi National Park. Expect to arrive late evening for dinner and overnight.
Main Destination : Mikumi National Park
Accommodation : Camp Bastian
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Full-day game drive at Mikumi Park
After an early breakfast, grab your packed picnic lunch and set off for a comprehensive, full-day safari in Mikumi National Park. The park’s dynamic ecosystem shifts between dense woodlands, seasonal swamps, and open grasslands, creating a rich environment for diverse wildlife. You will spend the day tracking animals across these varied terrains, centering your exploration around Mikumi’s two legendary water holes, Mkata and Chamgore. These hubs of activity guarantee excellent wildlife viewing as herds of giraffes, zebras, and elephants gather to drink, breaking up the day with a relaxing lunch in the bush.
Main Destination : Mikumi Park
Accommodation : Camp Bastian
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6: Mikumi National Park to Ruaha National Park
Enjoy an early breakfast before setting off with a packed lunch on an epic, 8-to-10-hour overland journey toward the legendary Ruaha National Park. This scenic drive takes you through the spectacular Baobab Valley and winds along the dramatic Southern Escarpment of the Great Rift Valley before reaching the historic town of Iringa. As the landscapes shift into the rugged interior, you will arrive at the gates of Ruaha in the late evening. Your introduction to this untamed wilderness begins immediately with a sunset game drive en route to the Msembe area,
Main Destination :Ruaha National Park
Accommodation : Ruaha Hiltop Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 7:Ruaha Full Day Game drives and Night Game drive
Breakfast at your accommodation then leaves for a full-day game viewing in the park. The exciting Great Ruaha River features large numbers of hippos and crocodiles. Its vegetation also attracts lions, leopards, hunting dogs, and other species such as waterbuck, impala, giraffe, warthog, eland, zebra, and elephants. Grant’s gazelle, ostrich, and cheetah may be seen on the plains.
Come back to your accommodation for an early dinner. Then leave again for a night game drive from 8 pm to midnight. The night game drive will allow you to see the active night animals.
Main Destination :Ruaha National Park
Accommodation : Asanja Ndembo Ruaha
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 8: Ruaha Wilderness Walking safari and Day Game drives
After breakfast, leave for the morning wilderness walking safari in this park, starting at 7:30 am.This will take you 3 to 4 hours, and you will be escorted by two rangers who are also guides. We will pick you up and transfer you to your accommodation for a shower and hot lunch. Evening leaves again for a sunset game drive at this wonderfully unspoiled park in East Africa.
Main Destination :Ruaha National Park
Accommodation : Asanja Ndembo Ruaha
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 9: Ruaha National Park to Dodoma City
Breakfast at your accommodation, then leave the park and drive to Dodoma City, the country’s capital city, hot lunch will be provided at the restaurant in Iringa. The journey will be fascinating as you pass through the sheen highland of the Iringa Region and colourful villages.
Main Destination : Dodoma City
Accommodation : La Stanar Hotel
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 10: Dodoma Town to Tarangire National Park
Breakfast at your accommodation, then leave with your packed lunch and drive to Tarangire National Park. The journey will take you through Kondoa, where you can visit the Rock printing site. The Kondoa Rock-Art Sites or Kondoa Irangi Rock Paintings are a series of ancient paintings on rock shelter walls in central Tanzania. The Kondoa region was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2006 because of its impressive collection of rock art. Packed lunch is to be provided at this site, and then after lunch, you will proceed with your drive to Tarangire Park, where you will expect to arrive in the evening.
Main Destination :Tarangire National Park
Accommodation : Tarangire Safari Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 11: Full-day Game Drive at Tarangire National Park
On this day, you will enjoy a full-day game drive at Tarangire National Park, the fifth-largest national park in Tanzania.This delightful park, covering an area of 2,600 sq. km, was established in 1970, and it is the numerous baobab trees will initially catch your eye.
The Tarangire National Park derives its name from the Tarangire River, which rises in the highlands of central Tanzania and winds its way through the game sanctuary. The river lures the herds of plains migrants from the parched surrounding area to its shrunken – but permanent – brackish waters during the dry season.
Main Destination :Tarangire National Park
Accommodation : Tarangire Safari Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 12: Tarangire Park to Mto wa Mbu Culture Tour
Early morning game drive at Tarangire Park. Note that morning is the best time for a game drive as the animals are more active, and the sunlight is bright and lovely for picture taking. Go back to the hotel for a late breakfast.
Then pack your belonging and drive to Mto wa Mbu Village for the Culture Tourism program. A local guide will walk with you through the streets of this African farming village, surrounded by beautiful nature. During this tour, you visit an African school,church, market and a banana brewery. A great way to get an insight in the daily life of local people. This activity will take about 2 hours. A part of the money will go to the local community.
Main Destination :Mto wa Mbu Culture Tour
Accommodation : Ngorongoro Farm House Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 13: Full-day Gme Drive in Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast, you descend 600m into this magnificent crater for a full-day game drive. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the world’s most densely crowded African wildlife areas and is home to an estimated 30,000 animals, including some of Tanzania’s last remaining black rhinos.
Supported by a year-round water supply and fodder, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority supports a vast variety of animals, which include herds of Wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog,Hippo, and giant African elephants. Another big draw card to this picturesque national park is its huge predator population, including lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and the ever-elusive leopard. You will enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor. After that, ascend from the crater and drive to the rim for dinner and overnight.
Main Destination : Ngorongoro Crater
Accommodation : Ngorongoro Serena Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 14: Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority to Serengeti Park
After breakfast, you depart to Serengeti Park with the game on the route. You will stop over at Olduvai Gorge, boasting a history dating back to the dawn. It was here that the anthropologists
Drs. Lois and Mary Leakey discovered the skulls of the’ Nutcracker Man’ and ‘Handy Man’, both significant links in human evolution. After the visit, you drive to the Serengeti National Park. Evening game drive in this beautiful park of Africa.
Main Destination : Center Serengeti National Park
Accommodation : Kati Kati Tented Camp
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 15: Serengeti Seronera to Lobo Area
Early morning game drives around the Seronera area. Start from 6:00 am. Return for a full breakfast, then drive to the North of the Serengeti Lobo area with the game on the route. Pass through Grumeti River, which has good resident games throughout the year. Non-migrating games like the elephant, buffalo, gazelle, zebra, lion, leopard and cheetah can be seen all year round.
The game viewing is excellent, and you can follow the game for long periods without seeing other vehicles – truly one of the forgotten corners of the Serengeti Plains. Magnificent river trees can be found along the river lines, and bird life, such as kingfishers and fish eagles,can be found here. Evening drive to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Main Destination : North Serengeti
Accommodation : Lobo Wildlife Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 16: Full Day Game drive around Mara River, Finding Wildebeest
After breakfast, you head towards the far northern reaches of the Serengeti National Park, also known as the Wagakuria. You will do a game drive en route from the Lobo area to the Wagakuria area. As you head north, good sightings of giraffes, herds of buffalo and elephants can often be seen. You arrive in time for lunch at the lodge, and after lunch, you will enjoy an afternoon game drive in the area. The wildebeest migration can usually be found in the Wagakuria area from August to October, depending on rainfall patterns. A long stretch of the
Mara River runs through the northern Serengeti National Park, and the Mara River provides the migration with its most challenging obstacle. Witnessing the frantic herds of Wildebeest crossing the Mara River is fantastic. Finding a crossing is complicated and sometimes a matter of luck.
Main Destination :North Serengeti
Accommodation : Lobo Wilflife Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 17: North Serengeti to Lake Natron
After breakfast, you descend 600m into this magnificent crater for a full-day game drive. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the world’s most densely crowded African wildlife areas and is home to an estimated 30,000 animals, including some of Tanzania’s last remaining black rhinos.
Supported by a year-round water supply and fodder, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority supports a vast variety of animals, which include herds of Wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog,Hippo, and giant African elephants. Another big draw card to this picturesque national park is its huge predator population, including lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and the ever-elusive leopard. You will enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor. After that, ascend from the crater and drive to the rim for dinner and overnight.
Main Destination : Lake Natron
Accommodation : Lake Natron Tented Camp
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 18: Full day at Lake Natron Area
The days start early today, as we want to hike to a nearby waterfall before it gets too warm and leave enough time to enjoy the surrounding area. The hike takes about 1 to 2 hours and takes you through the beautiful landscapes surrounding Lake Natron. Get ready to get wet; you’ll have to cross the river several times. Come back to the hotel for hot lunch and rest. Evening your local guide will accompany you, you’ll explore the Lake on foot. The ground is quite slippery and
muddy, so be prepared to slide over it to avoid falling slowly. It’s very shallow for quite some time, so it’s up to you to see how far you want to go to get close to the flamingos. We’ll stay until sunset, as this is the time when the flamingos are most active, looking for food. After the visit, you’ll return to your accommodation, where dinner will be served.
Main Destination : Lake Natron
Accommodation : Lake Natron Tented Camp
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 19: Lake Natron to Arusha Town Via Maasai Family
Breakfast at your accommodation, then leave the area and drive to Arusha town. The ride will take you over bumpy paths through remote Maasai areas with stunning views of the ‘mountain of God’ Ol Doinyo Lengai, and if you’re lucky, you might even see some zebra, giraffe or other wildlife.
Drive to the Maasai Village at the park boundary for cultural interactions. Here you will learn a lot about the history and culture of this tribe, one f the most prominent tribes in Africa.
Main Destination : Arusha Town
Accommodation : Kibo Palace Hotel
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 20: Arusha to Kilimanjaro Airport Back Home
Now you will have an easy day of relaxation after your long trip. Afternoon you will be picked up by the local guide for a short city tour and shopping for those who will be interested. The tour and shopping will be within the city center.
Depending on your flight time, we will transfer you to the Kilimanjaro airport on time, where we can shake hands and say “ KWAHERI” bye-bye! And you will check in and get ready to fly back home.
Main Destination : Kilimanjaro Airport
Accommodation : No accommodation for this day
Meal plan: Breakfast & Lunch
Included in Price:
- All activities as per the itinerary
- All Accommodation as per itinerary – N.B. accommodation mentioned in the itinerary depends on availability at the time of booking; alternatives of a similar class may be booked instead.
- All meals as per itinerary (3 a day unless otherwise stated)
- All transfers to and from agreed pick up and drop off points (e.g. Airport, Bus Station, hotel in town, etc.)
- All camping gear (if you are camping)
- Service of an English-speaking driver/guide
- Safari base 4×4 Vehicle with open roof for game viewing (sometimes a saloon car or other SUV for excursions in town, etc.)
- Driver’s salary and allowances and park fees for vehicle and driver
- Bottled mineral water daily
- All Government taxes
- All National Park and Game Reserve Fees
- If included in your itinerary: foot safaris, night game drive.
- TANAPA armed ranger (where needed, e.g., on foot safaris, some boat safaris, etc.)
Exluded in Price:
- Extras, personal expenses i.e. drinks, telephone, laundry etc.
- Optional activities not outlined on the itinerary
- International flights & corresponding taxes
- Visa
- Flying Doctors rescue services
- Travel, medical, injury and luggage insurance
- Tips to the driver & guides ($ 15-20 per day)
- Anything else not mentioned in the inclusions (above)
