A broad, varied journey across five landscapes, from forest and lake to crater and plains.
A broad, varied journey across five landscapes, from forest and lake to crater and plains. 10-day route through Arusha National Park, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, with your own guide and vehicle and accommodation chosen for location and atmosphere.
This is an inspirational sample itinerary. Every journey is tailor-made — route, pace and accommodation can all be adjusted to suit you.
Wildlife sightings, migration movements and river crossings depend on nature and are never guaranteed.
You are met at Kilimanjaro International Airport by a Bush Guides Safaris representative and transferred to your accommodation on the outskirts of Arusha, set among gardens with views toward Mount Meru on a clear day.
The afternoon is yours to rest. In the evening your guide meets you for a short briefing on the journey ahead.
A gentle first day in the small but varied Arusha National Park. Montane forest, the Momella Lakes and the slopes of Mount Meru offer colobus monkeys, giraffe, buffalo and seasonal flamingo, all within easy reach of town.
Where permitted, a guided walk with an armed ranger brings you closer to the ground. Your guide balances time between sightings so the day feels full but never rushed.
After breakfast, drive west to Tarangire, a landscape of ancient baobabs and the seasonal Tarangire River. The park is known for large elephant herds, especially in the drier months, along with giraffe, zebra and a rich variety of birdlife.
Your guide balances time between sightings so the day feels full but never rushed. Picnic lunch is taken in the park, and you continue exploring until late afternoon before reaching your accommodation.
A full day to explore deeper corners of Tarangire, following the river and the swamps where wildlife often gathers. Early and late light are especially beautiful among the baobabs.
Your guide balances time between sightings so the day feels full but never rushed. Return to camp for a relaxed evening.
Lake Manyara packs groundwater forest, open floodplain and a soda lake beneath the Rift Valley escarpment into a compact area. Look for baboon troops, elephant in the forest, and birds along the shoreline.
Your guide balances time between sightings so the day feels full but never rushed. In the afternoon you climb the escarpment to the cooler highlands around Karatu.
Cross the Ngorongoro highlands and descend to the plains, with an optional stop at Olduvai Gorge, one of the world’s most significant paleoanthropological sites. The landscape opens out as you enter the Serengeti.
Game drive on the way to your camp, arriving in time for sundowners.
Spend the day exploring the central Serengeti around the Seronera River, an area with resident wildlife year-round. Rocky kopjes, river woodland and open grassland support lion, leopard, cheetah and great herds of plains game.
Your guide balances time between sightings so the day feels full but never rushed. Choose between a full day out with a picnic lunch or returning to camp for a midday rest.
Head out early to explore further afield: granite kopjes such as the Moru or Gol areas, and the river valleys where predators often rest in the heat of the day.
Your guide balances time between sightings so the day feels full but never rushed. An afternoon drive brings you back as the light softens across the plains.
Descend early into Ngorongoro Crater, a vast caldera with grassland, swamp and a seasonal soda lake. Its permanent water supports buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, hippo and lion, and black rhino are occasionally seen, though no sighting is ever guaranteed.
Your guide balances time between sightings so the day feels full but never rushed. A picnic lunch is enjoyed in the crater before you ascend in the afternoon.
After breakfast, a last game drive on the way out of the park before returning to Arusha, with time for lunch and a little shopping for local crafts.
Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight.
Change the length, swap a park or upgrade a stay. We will shape this journey around you.
5 days / 4 nightsArusha · Tarangire · Serengeti · Ngorongoro
A short, rewarding introduction to Tarangire, the crater and the Serengeti.
Best for: First-time visitors with a few days to spare, or an add-on to a Kilimanjaro climb.
6 days / 5 nightsArusha · Tarangire · Serengeti · Ngorongoro
Three of the north’s great parks, with a full day on the Serengeti plains.
Best for: First-time safari travelers wanting the big three parks in under a week.
7 days / 6 nightsArusha · Tarangire · Lake Manyara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro
The essential northern parks, with two full days in the Serengeti.
Best for: Travelers who want the classic Tanzania route at a balanced pace.
8 days / 7 nightsArusha · Tarangire · Serengeti · Ngorongoro
Extra time on the plains, with the chance to explore beyond the central Serengeti.
Best for: Travelers who want to go deeper into the Serengeti.
Tell us what you have in mind. We’ll take it from there.
Tell us what moves you. We’ll help shape the journey around it.
