11-Day Northern Circuit Safari & Beach

In the morning you will be collected from your lodgings in Arusha by our personal safari guide. We set out for Tarangire National Park on a good tarmac road across gently rolling Maasai plains with scattered acacia trees. As we zip along we pass many Maasai in their colorful dress walking on the roadside, riding bicycles, herding cattle and driving donkey’s carts. Tarangire National Park, well known for its large elephant herds, is also host to a multitude of other creatures. From the open roof of our state of the art safari jeep we experience the seasonal swamps, savanna and life giving Tarangire River endeavoring to encounter a multitude of creatures from zebra to wildebeest, buffalo, elephant, and giraffe, to name but a few. It is possible we will glimpse lion stalking prey or leopards watching, relaxing in the trees above. After our extensive game drive experiencing the various sights and sounds of the wilderness, we depart to drive to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, you will continue towards the fertile highlands where wheat and corn are grown by the Iraqw people. Along the way we'll pass through the mist-shrouded rainforests 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 be able to see the breath-taking Ngorongoro Crater before traveling onwards 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, we drive to the Seronera Valley for an evening meal and overnight stay at your accommodation.

This entire day is set aside for game drives upon the Serengeti. The Serengeti, the habitat of an abundance of wildlife such as impala, buffalo, crocodile, and hippo, is more well-known for its great migrating herds of zebra, antelope, and wildebeest. The animals’ trek is determined by the rainfall and varies from year to year. In November and December the animals move from the northern region, dominated by woodlands and hills, to the grassy plains of the south. During the longer rainy season from April to June they return to the north. Apart from the migrating herds, we may have the opportunity to see the resident predators, leopard, cheetah, and lion, fulfilling their role in the circle of life. After an extensive game drive we head for our accommodation for a hearty dinner and another night by the fire of relaxation and conversation under the sweeping majesty of the star bright African night out upon the ‘Endless Plain’.

After our scrumptious breakfast we head out of Serengeti to Ngorongoro crater. We may spot the “Big Five” – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard – before embarking on our journey to The Ngorongoro Crater. This UNESCO world heritage site, one of the seven wonders of Africa, formed millions of years ago, is 600 m deep and covers roughly around 260 square kilometres. Due to its dense animal population of approximately 25 000 ungulates the crater offers the best game viewing of all the parks in Tanzania. We arrive at the Crater rim before lunch, descending into the Crater, we very quickly may view wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, elephant, and some of the more than 500 bird species in the area. With a little luck we may catch a glimpse of the endangered black rhino through the grass. After our lunch and a full afternoon inside the Crater, we head to our lodgings for delightful dining, and our night of rest in the midst of the plains and her multitudinous animal life.

After breakfast, we drive to our final destination on this epic safari - Lake Manyara National Park. This relatively small but diverse park, 120km west of Arusha, named for the shallow, salt lake that covers a large area of the park, flooding and drying with the seasons, is home to thousands of flamingo and over 500 other bird species. On our exploration of the park we will see monkey, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, elephant, and with some luck, lions lounging in the trees. The park is known for its diverse landscapes; not only open grassy plains but also primate-filled woodlands and baobab dotted cliffs. After our lunch we head back to Arusha where we arrive in the late afternoon for our flight to the Zanzibar (Stone Town).

At the time of your choice, you will transfer to Nungwi. This large village at Zanzibar Island's northernmost tip was once best known as a dhow-building centre. Today it's a major tourist destination, thanks in part to the beautiful beach and stunning sunsets. Diving, snorkelling, fishing and other water sports are the main attraction here. From Nungwi, frequented dive sites are mainly down the east coast or to Mnemba Island and reefs near Tumbatu Island. For swimmers, Nungwi's local geography and tidal pattern mean swimming is possible at any time. Other activities available include yoga, cycling and guided tours of the village. You will spend 4 nights at this incredible place.

Today we bring our adventures to a close Breakfast at our hotel. Transfer to the airport or seaport according to the time of your departure back home, brimful of enduring images of the African Wild and our memories of unforgettable experiences.