Tanzania, with a Wilder Side
The Classic Tanzania Circuit Safari
Overview
See an astonishing range of Tanzania in 10 days, from its most celebrated wildlife havens to the Serengeti’s seldom-visited West. Watch enormous elephant herds beneath Tarangire’s ancient baobabs, search for black and recently reintroduced white rhinos in Ngorongoro Crater, and spend four full days exploring the Serengeti. At the Grumeti River, location of the new Thomson-exclusive western camp, riverine forests shelter resident lion prides, and hippos crowd the water. With an expert Tanzanian guide throughout and the freedom to linger at a sighting or follow fresh tracks, each day reveals more of the country Thomson has explored for 45 years.
Gallery
Photo 1 of 15
Trip Highlights
-
Journey Among Tarangire’s Giants
Watch large elephant families gathering along the banks of the Tarangire River, framed by thousand-year-old baobabs.
-
Descend Into the Ngorongoro Crater
Explore this immense volcanic caldera to search for lions, elephants, hippos, wildebeest, zebras, and both black and recently reintroduced white rhinos.
-
Explore the Secluded Western Serengeti
Venture beyond the busier routes to the Grumeti River, where resident lion prides, hippos, and abundant wildlife surround a new Thomson-exclusive private camp.
Itinerary
Itinerary 1 itinerary
Day 1: Touch Down in Tanzania
Meet your Tanzanian guide at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to your accommodations in Arusha.
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where a Thomson Safaris representative will meet you and accompany you to your private vehicle. From there, drive toward Arusha, passing local villages and farmland with Mount Meru rising in the distance. Continue to Rivertrees Country Inn along the Usa River, where you’ll have the rest of the afternoon to settle in after your flight. Take a swim, walk through the grounds, or simply relax with a quiet drink before dinner. After a good night’s rest, you’ll be ready to head out for your first safari in Tarangire the following morning.
Days 2 to 3: Track Tarangire’s Elephant Herds
Drive from Arusha to Tarangire as towns and farmland give way to the open grasslands and acacia woodlands of the Maasai Steppe.
Set out on morning and afternoon wildlife drives, following elephant herds along the river and searching for lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras, and other wildlife.
Look to the trees, grasslands, and riverbanks for some of the more than 500 bird species recorded in Tarangire.
Depart Arusha and travel across the sweeping Maasai Steppe toward Tarangire National Park, watching suburban streets give way to open savanna dotted with ancient, massive baobab trees. Over two days of immersive wildlife drives, explore the park’s rich river corridors where elephant families gather in large numbers to dig for fresh water in dry riverbeds and bathe in muddy pools.
Your expert guide navigates through acacia thickets and palm groves to track resident lions resting in the shade, stealthy leopards draped over high branches, and giraffes browsing among the canopy. Birdwatchers will be in paradise, as the park's riverbanks and swamps host brilliant lilac-breasted rollers, hornbills, and fish eagles, providing vibrant color and soundtrack to your safari drives.
Days 4 to 5: Descend 2,000 Feet into Ngorongoro
Climb into the cool, forested Ngorongoro Highlands before descending nearly 2,000 feet to the crater floor.
Explore grasslands, wetlands, woodland, and alkaline lakes that support an exceptional concentration of wildlife within the caldera.
Watch for hunting lions, grazing herds, hippos in the wetlands, and flamingos and other waterbirds along the lakeshore.
Journey upward into the lush, cool Ngorongoro Highlands, reaching the rim of the world's largest intact, unflooded volcanic caldera. At first light, wind your way nearly 2,000 feet down the crater walls into a 100-square-mile self-contained sanctuary packed with incredible wildlife concentrations across open grasslands, acacia forests, and soda lakes.
Spend unhurried hours observing prides of lions on the prowl, pods of hippos wallowing in freshwater marshes, and flamingos adding pink hues to Lake Magadi. Keep your eyes trained on the open plains for a chance to spot big bull elephants with massive tusks and both black and recently reintroduced white rhinos before returning each evening to your highland camp on the crater rim.
Days 6 to 9: Follow the Grumeti West
Drive into the Serengeti, taking in the scale of its grasslands, kopjes, woodlands, and river systems from the air.
Set out from a private western camp each day to search for big cats and other wildlife along the Grumeti River and across the surrounding plains and forests.
Spend four days in the region, giving your guide time to follow fresh tracks, return to promising areas, and stay with exceptional sightings as long as conditions allow.
Begin your Serengeti adventure in the Central Serengeti, where sweeping grasslands and abundant wildlife offer exceptional safari opportunities. Explore this iconic landscape in search of lions, elephants, giraffes, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra and elusive predators, with time to observe the remarkable diversity of wildlife that calls the region home.
Continue west into a remote part of the Serengeti near the Grumeti River, where fewer visitors venture and the river and surrounding forests support a wide range of resident wildlife. Settle into a new, Thomson-exclusive private Western camp, your base for exploring this secluded region. Watch hippos gather in the river, follow elephants as they move between feeding areas, or search the forest for leopards. Lions, hyenas, wildebeest, zebra and hundreds of bird species also inhabit the area. Return to camp between outings to relax around the fire and enjoy the quiet of the Western Serengeti.
Day 10: Fly from the Serengeti to Arusha
Fly from the Serengeti to Arusha for a farewell lunch at Arusha Coffee Lodge.
Relax and refresh in a day room before transferring to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your evening flight home.
Soak in your final bush flight high over the Serengeti plains, enjoying a beautiful aerial overview of Tanzania's wild landscapes before landing back in Arusha. Upon arrival, take time to share fond farewells with your expert Tanzanian guide team, thanking them for their keen eyes and deep knowledge throughout your journey.
After your send-off, head over to the picturesque Arusha Coffee Lodge to enjoy a delicious, unhurried lunch on your own schedule among the peaceful coffee trees. Afterward, settle into a private day room at Rivertrees Country Inn to unpack, shower, and relax before your transfer driver meets you for the final trip to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Add-Ons
Add-On
Fly over the Serengeti
Enjoy a bird’s eye view, a hearty breakfast and a glass of champagne during a morning hot air balloon tour. Your entire trip will be unforgettable, but this will bring it to new heights.
Call for current pricing. Advanced reservations required.
Accommodations
Dates, Prices & Info
As of July 1, 2016, Tanzania imposed a new Value Added Tax (VAT) on tourism activities. VAT starts at $300 and varies by trip. Single accommodations start at $800 and vary by trip. All prices are subject to change without notice.
Group Size
We specialize in small group travel (about 14 people or fewer), but the exact size varies from trip to trip. One thing’s for sure: you’ll have plenty of elbow room, 360-degree sightlines, and a guaranteed window seat.
What's Included
Your safari land package includes all accommodations, meals, purified water (with meals and on wildlife drives), airport transfers aligned with Delta/KLM flights, park fees, and the services of guides and drivers.
Not Included
International airfare is not included.
Additional costs may include tips for your guides, drivers and staff, bar beverages, laundry service, phone calls, passport and visa fees, souvenirs, and travel insurance.
Your pre-departure packet includes visa application instructions and information on travel insurance and tipping.
Important Information
A 20% deposit is required to reserve your space. This deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. Full payment is due 90 days prior to the first land day of the trip.
Notification of cancellation must be made in writing to Thomson Safaris. At the time we receive the cancellation, all moneys will be refunded less the following cancellation charges:
91 days or more before departure: cancellation fees equal the amount of your deposit
90 to 61 days before departure: 50% of the package price is non-refundable
60 to 46 days before departure: 65% of the package price is non-refundable
45 days or less before departure: 100% of the package price is non-refundable
No partial refunds will be given for unused meals, hotel rooms, airport transfers, etc., for any reason whatsoever. Thomson Safaris reserves the right to increase the tour price in the event of cost increases due to changes in airfares, currency fluctuations, park fee increases, fuel surcharges, taxes, etc. Accommodations are subject to change.
Travel Insurance
Thomson strongly encourages you to purchase travel insurance within two weeks of making your deposit to protect your investment, as we are not able to make changes to our cancellation policy for any reason. Travel Guard comes highly recommended by our guests.
Getting There & Getting Home
Delta/KLM have by far the quickest, easiest routing: an overnight flight from North America brings you to Amsterdam for a brief layover before arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Our scheduled trips and airport transfers are designed with the KLM arrival schedule in mind, so check with your safari consultants or trip managers before making arrangements with a different airline.
You’ll find your guide at the airport holding a Thomson Safaris placard with your name on it.
