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NORTHERN TANZANIA / 6 DAYS

6-Day Northern Tanzania Safari Itinerary

From Tarangire’s elephants to two nights in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Hadzabe and Datoga cultural encounters at Lake Eyasi.

6 safari days, plus arrival day2 nights in SerengetiHadzabe & Datoga cultural encounters
Giraffes pictured in the original itinerary

Overview

This journey links Tarangire, the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Eyasi. The six safari days begin in Arusha, combining wildlife viewing with opportunities to learn about Hadzabe and Datoga daily life and traditions.

The original itinerary lists an arrival day before the six safari days: JRO pickup, an overnight stay in Arusha and dinner. Allow extra time for arrival. Day six ends in Arusha or JRO after several hours on the road; a late departure flight is recommended.

DAY BY DAY

Day-by-day itinerary

ARRIVAL

Arrival day (Day 0): JRO → Arusha

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to Arusha to rest before the six-day safari begins the next morning.

Accommodation
Point Zone Hotel
Meals
Dinner
  1. 01

    Day 1: Arusha → Tarangire → Mto wa Mbu

    Leave Arusha after breakfast for a game drive among Tarangire’s baobabs, seasonal swamps and open landscapes. Look for elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and buffalo; predator sightings depend on the day’s activity. Continue to Mto wa Mbu in the afternoon for dinner and an overnight stay.

    Accommodation
    Fanaka Lodge / Ikumbi LodgeOr similar, subject to availability
    Meals
    Lunch and dinner
  2. 02

    Day 2: Mto wa Mbu → Serengeti

    Travel through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to the Serengeti as the highlands give way to open plains. Enjoy wildlife viewing on the way to camp, guided by the season and animal movements.

    Accommodation
    Kontiki Serengeti Camp / Kati Kati Tented CampOr similar, subject to availability
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  3. 03

    Day 3: Full day in the Serengeti

    Explore the Serengeti’s plains, kopjes and denser vegetation throughout the day, looking for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants and other wildlife. The migration follows seasonal and natural movements, so encounters at any particular location cannot be guaranteed. Return to the same camp for the night.

    Accommodation
    Kontiki Serengeti Camp / Kati Kati Tented CampOr similar, subject to availability
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  4. 04

    Day 4: Serengeti → Ngorongoro Highlands → Karatu

    Enjoy a morning game drive in the Serengeti before travelling towards the Ngorongoro Highlands. Settle into your lodge in Karatu, relax and have dinner before the next day’s crater visit.

    Accommodation
    Eileen’s Trees Inn / Marera Valley LodgeOr similar, subject to availability
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  5. 05

    Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater → Lake Eyasi

    After an early breakfast, descend into the crater for a game drive across grasslands, wetlands and lakeside habitats. Black rhinos are rare and sightings depend on conditions that day. Ascend from the crater and travel through the highlands to Lake Eyasi for the night.

    Accommodation
    Lake Eyasi Safari Lodge / Kisima Ngeda Tented CampOr similar, subject to availability
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
  6. 06

    Day 6: Lake Eyasi cultural encounters → Arusha / JRO

    Learn about Hadzabe and Datoga life and traditions, subject to local arrangements and community consent. Return to Arusha or JRO after several hours on the road. Choose a late international flight, or arrange an additional night in Arusha to suit your onward travel.

    Accommodation
    Departure; no overnight stay
    Meals
    Breakfast and lunch
    Local archery experience in the six-day itinerary PDF

Included

  • Transfers to and from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
  • 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
  • Tarangire and Serengeti park entry fees (final scope to be confirmed)
  • Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Crater fees
  • All game drives described in the itinerary
  • Drinking water during the safari

Excluded

  • International and domestic flights
  • 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
  • Souvenirs and personal shopping
  • Other services not specifically listed as included

Similar accommodation may be used subject to availability. Meal listings differ between the PDF summary and daily descriptions; this page follows the daily descriptions. The fee list also mentions Arusha and Lake Manyara parks, which are outside this route. Confirm admission fees, cultural visit charges, transfers, accommodation and meals in the final proposal. Wildlife and migration sightings depend on the season and daily 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.