The Highlights of Tanzania Safari

Touching down in Tanzania, your Thomson representative greets you at the airport for the comfortable transfer to Mount Meru Hotel, nestled quietly in the leafy outskirts of Arusha.

Spend the afternoon unwinding after your long flight within the hotel's lush, manicured grounds. Take a quiet drink on the terrace overlooking Mount Meru, dip into the pool, or simply enjoy a restful afternoon in your room away from the main city traffic. A peaceful evening here ensures you awake fully refreshed for your morning flight into the Serengeti wild.

A short scenic flight carries you into a private, Thomson-exclusive, 10,000-acre wilderness refuge in the Eastern Serengeti, where conservation efforts have helped indigenous wildlife flourish. Because the refuge lies outside national park boundaries, your experience extends beyond traditional wildlife drives. Step into the open savanna on foot with expert Maasai trackers, learning to read subtle signs in the soil as giraffes, zebras, and gazelles move across the landscape.

When darkness settles over the bush, set out on a spotlit night drive to search for elusive nocturnal wildlife, from bush babies and servals to genets on the prowl. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit a local school and meet members of the surrounding community, gaining insight into daily life beyond the safari. Back at camp, gather around the fire to hear traditional stories from Maasai elders and learn more about their deep-rooted connection to this ancient landscape.

Explore the central Serengeti, where the landscape is constantly changing and every outing brings a new mix of wildlife. Giraffes move through the open grasslands, hippos gather in the waterways, and warthogs, jackals, and bat-eared foxes can appear along the way. Keep your eyes on the skies, too, for bee-eaters, secretary birds, and raptors soaring overhead. And with Thomson’s lion guarantee, you can count on seeing one of the Serengeti’s most iconic predators during your stay.

Ascend into the cool, mist-shrouded Ngorongoro Highlands to settle in along the high crater rim. Positioned directly on the edge, you’ll enjoy a privileged early descent down the 2,000-foot volcanic walls at dawn, reaching the crater floor as the first golden rays illuminate the morning mist before other visitors arrive.

Spanning 100 square miles, this self-contained caldera harbors an astounding 25,000 animals, making it one of the rare places on the continent to encounter all of the Big Five in a single day. Spend the morning exploring fever-tree forests, marshy edges, and open plains: watch thousands of lesser flamingos tinting the shallow waters of Lake Magadi a brilliant pink, observe golden jackals trotting through the high grasses, and spot serval cats hunting along the reed beds while grey crowned cranes display on the open turf.

Awaken to a final morning in the highlands, enjoying a warm cup of coffee on the porch of your Nyumba tent as the crisp air gives way to dawn. After bidding a fond farewell to your camp staff and guides who have shared their passion for Tanzania with you, board your flight back to Arusha.

Upon arrival, gather for a delicious celebratory lunch among the manicured coffee trees at the historic Arusha Coffee Lodge. Afterward, settle into a comfortable day room to refresh, pack your belongings, and reflect on the extraordinary sights and sounds of your journey before your driver transfers you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home.