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TANZANIA / 10 DAYS

10-Day Tanzania Safari Itinerary

Explore Arusha and Tarangire, Central and Northern Serengeti with two nights in the north, then Ngorongoro Crater and local life in Mto wa Mbu.

10 days / 9 nights2 nights in Northern SerengetiMto wa Mbu culture & guided walk
Wildebeest crossing a river in the ten-day itinerary PDF

Overview

This ten-day journey links Arusha National Park, Tarangire, Central and Northern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. Four nights in the Serengeti, including two in the north, allow time to explore varied landscapes and wildlife habitats.

The northern section offers opportunities to seek migration activity according to the season and herd movements; river crossings cannot be guaranteed. On the final day, a cultural experience and guided walk in Mto wa Mbu introduce community life and agriculture before the transfer to Arusha or JRO, coordinated with your flight.

DAY BY DAY

Day-by-day itinerary

  1. 01

    Day 1: Arrival at JRO → Arusha

    Meet your safari representative at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to your hotel in Arusha. Rest after the journey; lunch and dinner depend on your arrival time.

    Accommodation
    Point Zone HotelOr similar, subject to availability
    Meals
    Lunch and dinner, depending on arrival time
  2. 02

    Day 2: Arusha National Park → Arusha

    After breakfast, explore Arusha National Park’s forests, grasslands and views of Mount Meru. Look for giraffes, zebras, buffalo, warthogs and monkeys. A guided walking safari is optional and subject to arrangements. Return to Arusha in the afternoon.

    Accommodation
    Point Zone HotelOr similar, subject to availability
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
    Black-and-white colobus in the ten-day itinerary PDF
  3. 03

    Day 3: Arusha → Tarangire National Park

    Travel to Tarangire for a game drive among ancient baobabs, seasonal swamps and savannah. The park is known for its elephants, with possible sightings of giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffalo and lions. Continue to your lodge in the Tarangire area.

    Accommodation
    Amarula Lodge / Ang’ata LodgeOr similar, subject to availability
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  4. 04

    Day 4: Tarangire → Karatu

    Enjoy a morning game drive in Tarangire, observing landscapes and wildlife activity that change with the seasons. Later, travel to Karatu in the highlands near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for dinner and an overnight stay.

    Accommodation
    Farm of Dreams LodgeOr similar, subject to availability
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  5. 05

    Day 5: Karatu → Central Serengeti

    After breakfast, travel through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area towards the Serengeti, watching the highlands open into plains. Explore Central Serengeti’s kopjes and resident wildlife habitats, looking for lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras and wildebeest along the way.

    Accommodation
    Narudi CampOr similar, subject to availability
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  6. 06

    Day 6: Central → Northern Serengeti

    Travel north through varied Serengeti habitats with game viewing along the way. Look for elephants, giraffes, antelopes and predators. The north is associated with seasonal wildebeest and zebra movements; encounters depend on travel dates and natural herd movements.

    Accommodation
    Kenzan Serengeti CampOr similar, subject to availability
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  7. 07

    Day 7: Full day in Northern Serengeti

    Spend the day exploring Northern Serengeti’s plains, riverine areas and varied landscapes, looking for elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards and cheetahs. In migration season, large wildebeest and zebra herds may be present. Mara River activity depends on herds reaching the area; crossings have no fixed timetable and cannot be guaranteed.

    Accommodation
    Kenzan Serengeti CampOr similar, subject to availability
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  8. 08

    Day 8: Northern → Central Serengeti

    After breakfast, travel back towards Central Serengeti with game viewing along the route. Enjoy changing landscapes and further wildlife encounters, then continue exploring the central region before dinner and an overnight stay at camp.

    Accommodation
    Serengeti QueenOr similar, subject to availability
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  9. 09

    Day 9: Serengeti → Ngorongoro Crater → Karatu

    Leave early for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and descend into the crater for a game drive. Look for zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, elephants, hippos, lions and hyenas; rare black rhinos also inhabit the area. Ascend to the highlands and continue to Karatu. This is a full day, with timings depending on your Serengeti departure point, roads and crater conditions.

    Accommodation
    Farm of Dreams LodgeOr similar, subject to availability
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  10. 10

    Day 10: Karatu → Mto wa Mbu → Arusha / JRO

    After breakfast, visit Mto wa Mbu for a cultural experience and guided walk, discovering local life, community traditions and agricultural surroundings. Continue to Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport, coordinating the transfer with your flight and allowing sufficient travel time.

    Accommodation
    Departure; no overnight stay
    Meals
    Breakfast and lunch

Included

  • Accommodation listed in the itinerary or similar, subject to availability
  • Meals indicated in the itinerary
  • Private transport in a 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof
  • Services of a professional English-speaking safari guide
  • National park and conservation fees
  • Ngorongoro Crater service fees
  • Arusha National Park activities as arranged
  • Mto wa Mbu cultural experience and guided walk
  • Drinking water during the safari

Excluded

  • International and domestic flights, unless specified
  • Tanzania visa fees
  • Travel and medical insurance
  • Tips for the safari guide and other staff
  • Alcoholic and other personal drinks
  • Laundry and other personal expenses
  • Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Other services not specifically listed as included

Accommodation is subject to availability, with listed or similar properties. Meal entries differ between the PDF summary and daily descriptions; this page follows the daily descriptions. Confirm beverage coverage, optional walking activities and transfer charges in the final proposal. Day nine from the Serengeti to the crater is a full day, with timings affected by roads and local conditions. Allow sufficient time for departure transfers. Migration and river crossings follow seasonal and natural movements.

Photos from the original itinerary illustrate the journey; particular wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.

PHOTO CREDITS

Views of the wild and the mountains

Hero photograph: Gijs Tool / Unsplash ↗

Plains photograph: Husha Bilimale / Unsplash ↗

Kilimanjaro photograph: Sergey Pesterev / Unsplash ↗

Photographs illustrate travel ideas, not specific itineraries, accommodation or guaranteed wildlife sightings. The summit photograph was taken from Amboseli, Kenya.