Tanzania & Zambia Big 5 Safari Tour

WELCOME TO AFRICA

Pick-up at the airport by your tour guide and transfer to your lodge in a comfortable van.

The rest of the day is at your leisure.

This evening you will meet with your Tour Guide for an information session with your fellow tour guests and enjoy a Welcome Dinner that celebrates the unique flavors of the region. This evening promises an unforgettable experience as we indulge in a menu featuring authentic regional dishes and gives you your first taste of African hospitality.

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Today if your day to relax.

Take a City Tour, go horseback riding, hike and enjoy the local landscape including beautiful waterfalls.

Or just acclimatize to Tanzania by the side of the pool!

The choice is yours on how you relax this day in preparation of the journey ahead.

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After breakfast, you’ll depart from your Arusha accommodations for a scenic drive to Arusha National Park.

Your visit offers a range of flexible options to experience the park:

Game Drive: Opt for a half-day or full-day game drive through the park, where you'll explore landmarks such as the Momella Lakes and the Ngurdoto Crater, often referred to as 'Little Ngorongoro.'

Canoe Safari: For an additional cost, swap the vehicle for a canoe and embark on a guided safari on the Momella Lakes. Here, you'll have the chance to spot bushbucks, giraffes, hippos, and buffalo from a unique vantage point.

Walking Safari: For a more immersive experience, take a guided walking safari through the park's lush landscapes. As you trek, you'll encounter diverse wildlife including black and white colobus monkeys, zebras, buffalo, and a variety of antelopes. Keep an eye out for over 400 bird species, such as the Crowned Eagle, Lanner Falcon, and Levaillant's Cuckoo.

Feel free to mix and match these activities according to your interests, though please note that the canoe and walking safaris incur additional costs.

You’ll return to Arusha in the late afternoon, with a collection of memories and photos capturing the park's stunning beauty.

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You'll depart from Arusha after breakfast for the drive to Lake Manyara National Park. The journey takes approximately two hours, but we'll pass through the market town of Mto Wa Mbu along the way. This agricultural and fresh produce market is a melting pot of local cultures and a souvenir hunter's paradise.

After a brief stop at the village market, you'll enter Lake Manyara National Park. The park is truly a photographer's playground and offers some of the best game viewing in the world. You can expect to see many of Africa's most well-known animals, with the tree-climbing lions a particular treat. These proud predators lounge in acacia trees practically begging to be photographed.

Bird watchers will find Lake Manyara is an absolute delight, with a huge variety of birds on display in the park. Even the novice can expect to be amazed by large flamingo flocks, circling birds of prey, and the brightly colored lilac-breasted roller.

You'll then retire to your accommodations for dinner and a good night's rest.

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We'll have an early breakfast, as we've got a big day of exploration and adventure ahead of us!

We'll begin the day with the scenic drive towards the Serengeti. Along the way, we'll pass through the mist-shrouded rainforests of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where you might be lucky enough to glimpse cape buffalo, baboons, or even elephants and leopards in the dense undergrowth.

It's a nearly four-hour drive to the Serengeti park gates, but you can choose to break up the drive with one or both of the optional activities below:

Olduvai Gorge Museum: Sometimes known as the Cradle of Mankind, the Olduvai Gorge Museum commemorates some of the oldest evidence of human habitation ever found. Here you can see some of the oldest fossil evidence in the world of human habitation, visit the Olduvai Gorge Museum to learn more about the human journey, and take in the stunning views of this stark gorge country.

Maasai boma visit: Pay a visit to one of the famous Maasai bomas, where you'll have the opportunity to witness (and participate in) traditional Maasai dance, tour an authentic Maasai village, and even do a little souvenir shopping at the local market.

Both of the above activities attract an additional cost. Speak with your safari expert about adding them to your itinerary.

After a delicious lunch at the Serengeti National Park picnic area, it’s time to explore the Serengeti itself. Witness Africa’s iconic savannah landscape and be amazed by the sheer number of animals that roam these grassy plains.

Dinner and overnight in the heart of the Serengeti National Park.

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We'll wake with the sunrise today, as we're going out to watch as the sun rises over the Serengeti in a true 'Circle of Life' moment. Accompanied by the melodic singing of the birds, we'll search for leopards and lions hunting their morning meals and soak in the utter tranquility of the Serengeti at daybreak. It's a wake-up call you'll not soon forget.

We'll return to your campsite or lodge for a late breakfast . Pack your belongings and freshen up, and then we will continue our game drive and stay in the wilderness for the rest of the day. Our safari drive will continue according to the time of year, and we will follow the animals on their trails. Your guide will expertly guide you through the park, ensuring that you see and experience the very best that the Serengeti has to offer.

Dinner and overnight in the heart of the Serengeti National Park.

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After breakfast, we get right on the road back towards the Ngorongoro Crater National Park.

Our drive takes us back through the Serengeti via a different route, offering plenty of opportunities to spot the animals that eluded us on day two. As far as the eye can see, you’ll spot thousands upon thousands of animals in herds; wildebeests and zebras migrating together, tall and graceful giraffes, jumping antelopes and gazelles, the powerful African elephant, and the most respected group of animals: the predators.

You will have the chance to spot lean cheetahs and shy leopards, foraging hyenas, and last but not least, the king himself; the lion.

Dinner and overnight on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater or in nearby Karatu Town.

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After breakfast, you'll set off for Ngorongoro Crater, often hailed as the Eighth Wonder of the World. As you take in the breathtaking view from the panoramic viewpoint, you'll quickly understand why this vast, verdant caldera has earned its stellar reputation.

Home to over 120 species of mammals, including the iconic Big Five, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of the world's most coveted safari destinations. It's an exceptional place to spot the endangered black rhinoceros grazing on the grassy plains and to see large numbers of hippopotamuses wallowing in the cool waters.

From the comfort of your open-top vehicle, you'll have the perfect vantage point to observe and photograph some of Africa's most famous wildlife. The crater is teeming with predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs, jackals, and hyenas, alongside a rich array of wildebeest, zebras, antelope, cape buffalo, and more. It truly stands out as one of Africa's premier safari experiences.

After an exhilarating day of wildlife encounters, you'll enjoy a picnic lunch in the park before we make our way back to Arusha.

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Enjoy a game drive in Tarangire National Park, followed by an afternoon drive back to Arusha. Known as the "Home of Giants," Tarangire is renowned for its impressive elephant herds and iconic baobab trees.

As you enter the park, you'll embark on a game drive through a vast expanse of golden savannah surrounding the Tarangire River. This river, a crucial water source during the dry season, is lined with acacia and baobab trees, attracting a large population of elephants and other herbivores like zebras and antelopes.

Take a moment to enjoy a picnic lunch with a picturesque view of the river, but be on guard—the local monkeys are known for their playful attempts to snatch your meal!

During your drive, keep an eye out for lions, leopards, cape buffalo, and an array of antelopes. With a bit of luck, you might even spot rarer species such as the greater kudu or the fringe-eared oryx.

After a day of wildlife adventures, you'll return to Arusha for the evening.

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Today marks the final day of your Tanzanian adventure.

You have the option to relax at your hotel, enjoying the pool and lush gardens, or embark on a leisurely village walk to gain insight into daily life in Tanzania.

The guide team will ensure you are picked up and transported to the airport in time for your international flight. Should your flight schedule permit and you wish to add extra activities, we can accommodate your preferences.