10-Day Safari & Cultural Activity in Kilimanjaro Region

After breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel by your private safari guide. The journey to Tarangire takes you through gently rolling Maasai plains with scattered acacia trees. You will pass many Maasai in their colourful dress walking on the roadside, riding bicycles and herding animals. The Park is named after the Tarangire River which runs through it. This ‘river of warthogs’ is the only source of water for wildlife in the region during the dry season. The Park is well known for its elephant families, which can often be seen congregating by the river. You may also see giraffe, bushbuck and hartebeest. These animals are closely followed by a range of predators, including lions and leopards. There are more breeding species of birds found in Tarangire National Park than anywhere else on the planet! The huge and ancient Baobab trees can be seen here. After your game drive, you will drive to one of our mid-range partner lodges for dinner, relaxation and overnight

After breakfast, you will continue towards the fertile Ngorongoro highlands where wheat and corn are grown by the Iraqw people. Along the way you will pass through the mist-shrouded rain forests of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where you might be lucky enough to see baboons, or even leopards and elephants in the dense undergrowth. Passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will see the breath-taking Ngorongoro Crater before traveling onward to the Serengeti National Park, which you will reach by midday. The Serengeti National Park is the largest park in Tanzania with diverse landscapes and habitats, such as grassy plains, swamps, lakes, savannah and mountains. After an extensive game drive, you will head toward the Seronera Valley for an evening meal and overnight stay at your accommodation.

This day is set aside for game drives upon the Serengeti. The Serengeti is truly spectacular. It is famous for its vast open grasslands which allow for excellent sightings of wildlife. The Serengeti is Tanzania’s oldest National Park and it is also one of the oldest ecosystems on earth. Its climate and vegetation have remained largely untouched for millions of years. Whilst the Serengeti boasts abundant wildlife, it is perhaps best known for the annual Great Migration. Vast numbers of wildebeest; accompanied by large numbers of zebra and antelope move in an annual pattern, constantly seeking fresh grazing. The precise location and timing of the Migration is entirely dependent upon the rainfall patterns each year. After your game drive, you will return to your accommodation for a hearty dinner and relaxation under the stars.

Today, you may wish to embark on a sunrise game drive. See the sun set fire to the savannah as predators such as leopards and lions hunt for their morning meal. Alternatively, you may wish to add a sunrise hot air balloon safari and champagne breakfast to your safari. Speak with your Lion Ling Tour Consultant about how you can add this unforgettable experience to your safari. You will continue your exploration of the Serengeti and observe many animals, birds and landscapes.

After breakfast you will embark upon a final game drive in the Serengeti before travelling to the Ngorongoro Crater. Arriving at the edge of the crater in the afternoon, you will have your first glimpse of what awaits you the following day – glistening streams, open grassland and an infinite number of animals. You will spend the night at a luxury lodge on the Crater rim, where the views of the Crater are quite unforgettable.

When you first see Ngorongoro Crater, it looks like a forgotten world. Concealed by the steep volcanic walls is a pristine wilderness including sweeping savannah, pockets of acacia woodland and glistening lakes and swamps. The Crater was created when a large volcano exploded and collapsed in on itself two to three million years ago. It is famous for both its geological delights and for being a natural reserve which is home to some of the densest large mammal populations in the whole of the African continent. The drive down the into the Crater is an adventure in itself and when you reach the Crater floor, you quickly find yourself amongst large numbers of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, and more than 500 bird species. The Crater provides you with the best chance of seeing the endangered black rhino, which can sometimes be spotted in the open grasslands. After the thrills and excitement of the day, you will drive to the nearby town of Karatu for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, you will drive to your final destination on this epic safari - Lake Manyara National Park. Manyara is an unspoilt paradise and is best known for its abundance of birds and tree-climbing lions. The dramatic western escarpment of the Rift Valley forms the Park’s western border. To the east is the shallow, alkaline Lake Manyara. The lake covers a large area of the park, flooding and drying with the seasons and is home to thousands of flamingos during the rains. The name Manyara comes from the Maasai word ‘emanyara’, a popular plant which is used to build the protective enclosure around a family homestead (boma). The Park’s vegetation is diverse, ranging from savannah to evergreen forest. On your exploration of the park you may see giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, elephant and if you are lucky; lions lounging in the trees. After lunch, you will head back to Arusha, where you will arrive in the early evening.

In the early morning, you will leave your accommodation in Arusha and drive to Materuni village in Kilimanjaro region for a wonderful coffee tour. You will learn how coffee is cultivated, dried, roasted and further processed. You will also be invited to help with the grinding of the coffee, which is traditionally accompanied by Chagga songs and dances - a fun way to immerse yourself in the local culture. If the weather is clear, you will be able to see the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. After your day in Materuni, you will be driven to a small Lodge, set in beautiful grounds, near to Kilimanjaro International Airport. The Lodge staff will transfer you to the airport the next day.

At an appropriate time, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro airport in time to catch your flight.