Combination of a wildlife safari with cultural aspect makes your trip to Africa great. RA Safaris is here to make that kind of a mixture so your trip becomes more amazing. There are a lot of wildlife and cultural destinations that Tanzania has to offer and RA Safaris will take you to where your soul is. As the destinations are many and may not be possible to land everywhere due to time and budget limit, we can tailor your plans to make one program possible for the combination. Millions of itineraries can be made for this combination, below is a sample of what we can offer but feel free to let us know your thoughts so we may plan together. Tanzania has more than 120 tribes and everyone has its culture. This makes a huge pot to pick what one wishes. As it’s not possible to get into everyone’s culture, those tribes that are in the route of your travel itinerary sounds great. We will incorporate that. We also arrange Home Stays and can be included in your itinerary. its always a real adventure safri ….. you will enjoy it.
13 Days – 12 Nights Great Northern Highlights
Day 1
Accommodation: Arumeru River Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Meet with RA Safaris Staff at Kilimanjaro International Airport (Please look for the board with your name on it), and transfer to Arumeru River Lodge for dinner & overnight.
Day 2
Accommodation: Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
After breakfast, with Picnic lunches, drive to Lake Manyara National Park for game viewing till evening then drive to Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Sheltering under the massive escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, and covering an area of 325 sq. km, this park is a flash of green amid an otherwise parched landscape. (In The Green Hills of Africa, Hemmingway describes the park’s magnificent hunting country.) A line of springs support the lush vegetation of a groundwater forest, where blue monkeys, baboons and the curious-looking silvery-cheeked hornbill live, among the more than 350 bird species, the most profuse being the flamingo. It is also home to large herds of buffalo and elephant, also giraffe, leopard, civet, hippo, zebra, impala, antelope, aardvark, the shy pangolin, bushbuck, waterbuck, and many others. It is also known for its hot springs and the famous tree-climbing lions that laze in the branches of the acacia trees.
Day 3
Accommodation: Tindiga Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
After Breakfast, with your picnic lunches, drive to Lake Eyasi for visiting Bushmen. Small groups of Hadzabe Bushmen live around Lake Eyasi. Their language resembles the click languages of other bushmen further south in the Kalahari. The tribe resisted the forcible settlement policies of Julius Nyerere and nowadays most of their children have never seen a doctor or school – the bush provides for all their needs and is a class room for their offspring.
They are often willing for visitors to come and see their simple bush homes where the tree canopy alone or a cave provides them with shelter. They live entirely off the bush and from hunting, generally small antelopes and baboons, although in rainy seasons gazelles and antelopes come down from the Ngorongoro or Serengeti to their then lush bush lands offering them richer pickings. A few hours spent with the Bushmen makes the apparently inhospitable bush country come to life and to watch them hunt a unique experience as they stealthily spot then creep up on their prey skillfully killing it.
Day 4
Accommodation: Bougainvillea Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
In early morning you will join the Bushmen for a hunting and gathering exercise then drive to Karatu for overnight at Bougainvillea Safari Lodge.
Day 5-7
Accommodation: Serengeti Sopa
Meal Plan: Full Board
After breakfast, drive to Serengeti National park through Ngorongoro and via Olduvai Gorge with a stop at Maasai Boma.
The Olduvai Gorge or Oldupai Gorge is commonly referred to as “The Cradle of Mankind.” It is a steep-sided ravine in the Great Rift Valley, which stretches along eastern Africa. Olduvai is in the eastern Serengeti Plains in northern Tanzania and is about 30 miles long. The gorge is named after the Maasai word for the wild sisal plant Sansevieria ehrenbergii, commonly called Oldupaai. It is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world and has been instrumental in furthering understanding of early human evolution. Excavation work there was pioneered by Louis and Mary Leakey in the 1950s and continued into the twenty first century by Professor Fidelis Masao of the Open University of Tanzania supported by Earthwatch.
You will do full day game viewing in Serengeti on 20th day, and 21st day then on 22nd morning game drive and proceed to Ngorongoro Conservation Area—game en-route.
The Park: The vast and sensational Serengeti is the epitome of most people’s dreams about wild Africa; its endless rolling plains perfectly honour the meaning of its name in the Maasai language: Seregenget or Siringitu is the place where the land moves on forever. Serengeti National Park is arguably the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world. It is a natural paradise and home to one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth – the annual migration of millions of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle. It is also to elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo. During your stay in Serengeti, you will be able to do lots game viewing each day.
Sopa Lodge: Looking over the seemingly endless Serengeti Plains, Serengeti Sopa Lodge is a tranquil oasis set in over 14,000 square kilometers. The lodge is located in the Nyarboro Hills in the south west of the Serengeti National Park, and is the only tourism development in this section of the park. The Serengeti Sopa Lodge was opened in 1992; the lodge can accommodate 170 guests in 79 suites, each room having wall-to-wall carpeting, a private lounge with a mini bar, a bedroom with two queen size beds and ample room for a third, an en-suite bathroom with shaver sockets and a hair dryer, and a private verandah which offers stunning views over the plains of Serengeti.
Day 8
Accommodation: Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
Morning game viewing in the Serengeti National Park then proceed to Ngorongoro Conservation Area for overnight at Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge.
Day 9
Accommodation: Tarangire Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
After early breakfast, descend to the Ngorongoro crater for game viewing till late afternoon then ascend and drive to Tarangire Safari Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Ngorongoro Crater is a true remaining natural wonder, the most unique ecosystem on earth. It is home to over 20,000 large grazing animals, boasting the largest concentration of predators found on the planet. Ngorongoro crater is the largest of 9 volcanoes in this conservation area, Oldonyo Lengai being the only one still active. The conservation area is 8300 km square with the crater itself having an average diameter of 23 km. The crater covers an area of 250 km square and has an average depth of 600m. There are many activities available from the surrounding area which enhances knowledge historically, geographically and culturally.
Day 10
Accommodation: Tarangire Sopa Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Full day game viewing in Tarangire National Park.
Tarangire N. Park: Tarangire (pronounced as Taa-raa-nghee-reh) National Park is one of the few national parks in Tanzania, who flora and fauna have not been elaborately described to prospective guest, making the park being overlooked and skipped during the Tanzania’s northern circuit safaris.
Apart from Tarangire National Park’s collage of varied colors of vegetation, supported by the water system to create a fantastic hue, the park is home to large concentrations of wildlife, all which can be observed from multiple angles.
Day 11
Accommodation: Arumeru River Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
After morning game drive, proceed to Arusha, optional shopping at Maasai market and transfer to Arumeru River Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 12
Accommodation : Momella Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
After breakfast drive to Arusha National Park for game viewing then transfer to Memolla Lodge for dinner and overnight.
The closest national park to Arusha town – northern Tanzania’s safari capital – Arusha National Park is a multi-faceted jewel, often overlooked by safari goers, despite offering the opportunity to explore a beguiling diversity of habitats within a few hours.
The entrance gate leads into shadowy montane forest inhabited by inquisitive blue monkeys and colorful turacos and trogons – the only place on the northern safari circuit where the acrobatic black-and-white colobus monkey is easily seen. In the midst of the forest stands the spectacular Ngurdoto Crater, whose steep, rocky cliffs enclose a wide marshy floor dotted with herds of buffalo and warthog.
Day 13
Accommodation: on flight
Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for onward flight.
End of this tour
18 Days – 17 Nights Great Northern Highlights
Day 01
Accommodation: Momella Wildlife lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
After Breakfast, at 8.00hrs drive to Arusha National Park with packed lunch for game Viewing till late afternoon, then drive to Momella Wildlife Lodge for Dinner and Overnight.
Day 02
Accommodation: Momella Wildlife Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Walking and game Viewing. Dinner and Overnight at Momella wildlife Lodge
Day 03
Accommodation: Twiga Campsite
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Drive to Lake Manyara National Park for afternoon game viewing. Dinner and overnight at Twiga Campsite
Day 04
Accommodation: Twiga Campsite
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Morning game viewing then drive to the campsite for lunch and relaxation with an option for Cultural/Nature walk.
Day 05
Accommodation: Seronera Campsite
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
After breakfast at 08.00 hrs drive to Serengeti via Olduvai Gorge in Ngorongoro Conservation Authority Area. Game viewing en-route, dinner and overnight at Seronera Campsite.
Day 06
Accommodation: Seronera Campsite
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Full day game viewing in Serengeti. Meals and Overnight at Seronera campsite.
Day 07
Accommodation: Serengeti Stop Over
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Morning game viewing, then drive to Serengeti stop Over Campsite for dinner and overnight.
Day 08
Accommodation: Serengeti Stop Over
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Lake Victoria tour/activities. Dinner and overnight at the Camp.
Day 09
Accommodation: Seronera campsite.
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Breakfast, relax, and then drive to Serengeti, game viewing enroute to Seronera campsite for dinner and overnight.
Day 10
Accommodation: Simba Campsite
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Morning game viewing in Serengeti and then leave for Ngorongoro. Game viewing en-route. Dinner and overnight at Simba Campsite
Day 11
Accommodation: Simba Campsite
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
After breakfast, descend to the Ngorongoro Crater Floor for game viewing and in the late afternoon/evening ascend and drive to Simba Campsite for dinner and overnight.
Day 12
Accommodation: Lake Eyasi
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
After breakfast, pack and drive to Lake Eyasi. Dinner and overnight at the campsite.
Day 13
Accommodation: Twiga Campsite
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Hunting and gathering in the morning with Bushmen (Hadzabe). in the afternoon drive to Twiga Campsite for dinner and overnight.
Day 14
Accommodation: Lake Natron/Kamakia Campsite
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
After breakfast, drive to Lake Natron via Engaruka Ruins. Dinner and overnight at Kamakia Campsite.
Day 15
Accommodation: Lake Natron/Kamakia Campsite
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Visit Lake Natron/Flamingo viewing and water falls.
Day 16
Accommodation: Palm Tree Campsite
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
After breakfast, drive to Palm Tree campsite for dinner and overnight.
Day 17
Accommodation: Palm Tree campsite
Meal Plan: Full Board Basis
Full day game viewing in Tarangire National Park. Dinner and overnight at Palm Tree campsite.
Day 18
Drive back to Arusha.
End of Safari
Note the following:
- The accommodations can be on the basis of Basic Camping (public or private), Permanent Tented Camps, Luxury Mobile Camping, or Lodges (standard to luxury). The accommodations may also vary depending on the locations of good game viewing from season to season. When we know your travel dates we will advise accordingly.
- If you wish to fly from Arusha to Serengeti or Serengeti to Arusha this is possible and we will customize the itinerary accordingly.
- This itinerary can be customized to cover only Ngorongoro and Serengeti or Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti.
- If you like us to arrange your accommodations for the night (s) before and after safari please let us know.
- If you are arriving at Kilimanjaro/Arusha Airport or in Arusha by shuttle bus let us know so we can arrange meeting you on arrival to make things even smoother.
- We will be happy to know your travel plans so we can customize this itinerary or any other itinerary for you. We are a full service company and we will be able to take care of all accommodations: before safari, on safari and after safari; airport and hotel transfers; and internal/regional flights.
- Click here for packing list. Camping and lodge safari have almost same packing list but in case you have questions let us know.
- This itinerary can also be extended (number of days and/or parks/activities) to cover other parks in the northern circuit, Kilimanjaro trek, Meru trek, Oldongo Lengai trek, Usambara Mountains, Zanzibar/Mafia/Dar beach holiday, Southern parks or western safari parks, or either way depending on your needs.
Its always an adventure!