Classic Tanzania Luxury Safari: 8 Days in Serengeti & Ngorongoro
Embark on the quintessential East African adventure with this 8 day Tanzania luxury safari, exploring the legendary landscapes and wildlife havens of the Northern Circuit. Designed for discerning Canadian travellers seeking iconic experiences, this journey immerses you in Lake Manyara's unique ecosystem, the vast plains of the Serengeti, the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, and the elephant rich Tarangire National Park. Expertly planned by Bubble Tours & Travel, your East Africa specialists based in Kenya, we leverage our regional knowledge and trusted Tanzanian partners to ensure seamless logistics, premium comfort, and an unforgettable bespoke Tanzania itinerary.
Brief Day by Day Itinerary Outline
- Day 1: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) – Arusha
- Day 2: Arusha – Lake Manyara National Park – Ngorongoro Conservation Area (stay near crater)
- Day 3: Ngorongoro Area – Central Serengeti National Park
- Day 4: Full day Game Drives in Central Serengeti
- Day 5: Central Serengeti – Ngorongoro Crater Descent & Game Drive – Ngorongoro Conservation Area (stay near crater)
- Day 6: Ngorongoro Area – Tarangire National Park
- Day 7: Tarangire National Park – Arusha
- Day 8: Departure from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
(Note: Day 2 & 5 often involve staying in lodges near the Ngorongoro Crater rim or in the nearby Karatu area for optimal access.)
Activities:
* Game drives in Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire National Park
* Explore the unique landscapes and geological formations of each park
Optional activities: Hot Air Balloon Safari in the Serengeti, Maasai Boma Village cultural tour, bird watching
Optional Travel Upgrade:
Travel Between Parks with Light Aircraft: For a seamless and time-efficient experience, consider upgrading your transportation between parks with a scenic light aircraft flight. This option offers breathtaking aerial views of the landscape and significantly reduces travel time, allowing you to maximize your time on safari.
Wildlife & Scenic Highlights:
Lake Manyara National Park: Tree-climbing lions, baboons, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, gazelles, impalas, zebras, wildebeests, buffaloes, warthogs, and a variety of bird species.
Central Serengeti: Lions, leopards, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, elephants, and buffalos.
Ngorongoro Crater: The Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes), wildebeests, buffalo, zebra, eland, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle, giant tusked elephants, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, jackals, rare wild dogs, white pelicans, and flamingos
Tarangire National Park: Biggest Elephants, old Baobab trees, leopards, lions, hyenas, cheetahs, gazelles, impalas, zebra, wildebeest, buffaloes, warthogs, and different types of bird species
Scenic Landscapes: The picturesque landscapes of the Rift Valley, acacia forests, the shimmering waters of Lake Manyara, the dramatic Ngorongoro Crater, and the baobab-studded plains of Tarangire.
Your Bespoke Tanzanian Luxury Adventure
Bubble Tours & Travel ensures your Northern Circuit safari exceeds expectations:
- Premium Tanzanian Accommodations: Stay in carefully selected high end lodges and intimate tented camps across Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro area, and Tarangire, chosen for their exceptional locations, service, comfort, and ethical practices.
- Expert Tanzanian Guides: Explore with professional, knowledgeable Tanzanian driver guides in comfortable private 4x4 safari vehicles, ensuring deep local insights and maximizing your wildlife viewing success.
- Seamless East African Logistics: As your East Africa specialists, we meticulously coordinate all aspects of your Tanzanian journey from our Kenyan base, including internal transfers (road or optional flights), park fees, activities, and accommodation bookings, ensuring a smooth experience for Canadian travellers.
Tailoring Your Classic Tanzania Safari
This popular 8 day itinerary provides an excellent foundation. As creators of bespoke Tanzania luxury travel, we welcome adjustments:
- Duration: Easily add extra nights, particularly in the Serengeti, for deeper exploration or to follow the Migration.
- Focus: Tailor activities towards photography, family interests, or specific wildlife goals.
- Accommodation Selection: Choose from a portfolio of premium properties, from classic lodges on the Crater rim to secluded tented camps in the Serengeti.
- Combine Destinations: Seamlessly combine this safari with a Mount Kilimanjaro climb, a Zanzibar beach escape, or even link it with a Kenyan safari component.
Best Time for This Northern Tanzania Safari
This circuit offers incredible experiences year round, with seasonal highlights:
- Great Migration (Serengeti): The herds' location varies. Central Serengeti (as per this itinerary) often sees significant action around May/June and November/December, but resident wildlife is superb anytime. Consult us for detailed migration predictions based on your dates.
- Tarangire: Especially famous for large elephant herds during the dry season (approx June to October).
- Ngorongoro Crater: Consistent, phenomenal wildlife density year round.
- Overall: Dry seasons (June Oct, Jan Feb) generally offer easier viewing and pleasant weather. Green seasons (Mar May, Nov Dec) bring lush landscapes and fewer crowds.
Why Choose This Iconic Tanzanian Journey?
- The 'Must Do' Circuit: Covers Tanzania's most famous and wildlife rich northern parks.
- Iconic Experiences: Includes the Serengeti plains, the unique Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire's elephants and baobabs.
- Excellent Wildlife Density: Offers outstanding opportunities for Big Five sightings and witnessing the Great Migration (seasonal).
- Well Paced: Provides a good balance between game viewing and travel over 8 days.
Plan Your Tanzanian Safari Adventure
The detailed day by day itinerary, featuring specific accommodation suggestions and logistical recommendations, follows below. If exploring the icons of Northern Tanzania appeals, contact our East Africa specialists to begin planning.
Itinerary
Day 1: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) – Arusha (Approx. 1-hour drive)
- Morning/Afternoon (Depending on arrival time): Arrival at JRO: Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you will be met by your professional driver/guide. After a brief welcome and safari briefing, you will be transferred to Arusha.
- Afternoon: The transfer to Arusha is short, taking approximately one hour.
- Late Afternoon/Evening: Upon arrival in Arusha, you will check in to your chosen hotel. You can relax, take a swim, or explore the town a bit, depending on your arrival time.
- Evening: Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel in Arusha.
Hotel Suggestions (Arusha): Mount Meru Hotel, Gran Melia Arusha, Arusha Coffee Lodge, Rivertrees Country Inn, Onsea House.
Day 2: Arusha – Lake Manyara National Park – Ngorongoro (Approx. 4-5 hours drive including game drive)
- Morning: After breakfast, you will depart for Lake Manyara National Park.
- Mid-morning/Afternoon: You will enjoy a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, known for its diverse birdlife, especially flamingos, as well as elephants, giraffes, baboons, and other wildlife. Lake Manyara also features lush groundwater forests, a relatively rare habitat.
- Late Afternoon: After the game drive, you will continue your journey towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
- Evening: Upon arrival in the Ngorongoro area, you will check in to your chosen lodge/camp. Dinner and overnight stay.
Lodge/Camp Suggestions (Ngorongoro Outer Rim): Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, The Manor at Ngorongoro, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge.
Day 3: Ngorongoro – Central Serengeti (Approx. 3-4 hours drive including transit game drive)
- Morning: After breakfast, you will depart for the Central Serengeti.
- Mid-morning/Afternoon: The drive to the Serengeti involves a transit game drive, offering opportunities to spot wildlife along the way. The Serengeti is famous for the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra.
- Afternoon/Evening: Upon arrival in the Central Serengeti, you will check in to your chosen lodge/camp. You will then embark on an afternoon game drive.
- Evening: Dinner and overnight stay in the Central Serengeti.
Lodge/Camp Suggestions (Central Serengeti): Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Melia Serengeti Lodge, Serengeti Pioneer Camp.
Day 4: Full Day at Central Serengeti
- Full Day: This day is dedicated to full-day game drives in Central Serengeti with packed lunches. You can choose to do morning and afternoon game drives or a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch, maximizing your time for wildlife viewing. The Central Serengeti is excellent for spotting predators like lions, cheetahs, and leopards.
- Evening: Return to your lodge/camp for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Central Serengeti - Ngorongoro Crater – Ngorongoro (Approx. 4-5 hours drive including crater tour)
- Morning: After breakfast, you will depart for the Ngorongoro Crater.
- Mid-morning/Afternoon: You will descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive. The crater is a unique ecosystem teeming with wildlife, including lions, black rhinos, elephants, hippos, and a variety of bird species.
- Late Afternoon: After the crater tour, you will ascend and return to your lodge/camp near Ngorongoro.
- Evening: Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Ngorongoro – Tarangire National Park (Approx. 3-4 hours drive)
- Morning: After breakfast, you will depart for Tarangire National Park.
- Afternoon: You will arrive at Tarangire and begin your game drive. Tarangire is known for its large elephant herds and iconic baobab trees.
- Evening: Check in to your chosen lodge/camp in or near Tarangire. Dinner and overnight stay.
Lodge/Camp Suggestions (Tarangire): Tarangire Safari Lodge, Sanctuary Swala Camp, Oliver's Camp, Tarangire Treetops.
Day 7: Tarangire National Park – Arusha (Approx. 2-3 hours drive)
- Morning: Enjoy a final morning game drive in Tarangire.
- Late Morning: After breakfast, you will depart back to Arusha.
- Afternoon: Upon arrival in Arusha, you will check back into your hotel. You can relax or do some last-minute souvenir shopping.
- Evening: Farewell dinner and overnight stay in Arusha.
Day 8: Departure
- Morning: After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your departure flight.
Important Considerations:
- Transportation: Transportation will be in a 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for optimal game viewing.
- Meals: Meals will be provided on full board.
- Accommodation: The suggested accommodations offer various levels of comfort, from standard to luxury. You can choose according to your budget.
- Driving Times: Driving times are estimates and can vary depending on road conditions and traffic.
- Great Migration: If you are travelling during the Great Migration (typically July - October), your guide will ensure you are in the best location to witness this spectacular event.
Preparation:
- Clothing: Pack light, neutral-coloured clothing, warm layers for early mornings and evenings, comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
- Medications: Ensure you have any necessary medications and consult your doctor regarding recommended vaccinations.
- Other Essentials: Binoculars, a camera with extra batteries and memory cards, and a travel journal are recommended.
Recommendation:
- It is highly recommended to book your safari well in advance, especially if you are travelling during peak season (July-October and January-February).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. When is the best time to see the Great Migration in the Central Serengeti on this trip? While resident wildlife is fantastic year round, the massive migratory herds typically pass through the Central Serengeti area around May/June (heading north) and again around November/December (heading south). However, precise timing varies annually based on rainfall. We provide the latest predictions during planning.
2. What is the Ngorongoro Crater experience like? You'll descend onto the Crater floor for a game drive within this unique caldera, often described as a 'natural zoo' due to its incredibly high concentration of wildlife, including lions, hyenas, elephants, hippos, and a chance to see the rare black rhino. Game viewing time within the Crater itself is usually limited to a maximum of six hours per vehicle per day by park regulations.
3. How does Bubble Tours manage a Tanzania safari from Kenya? As East Africa specialists, we have established strong partnerships with trusted, high quality ground handlers, guides, and lodges within Tanzania. We leverage our regional expertise to design your itinerary and oversee all logistical arrangements seamlessly, ensuring you receive expert Tanzanian guiding and support while benefiting from our meticulous planning process accessible to you in Canada.
4. Are internal flights recommended for this 8 day itinerary? While this itinerary can be done by road, incorporating flights – particularly between the Serengeti and Arusha at the end, or potentially between parks like Manyara/Tarangire and the Serengeti – significantly enhances comfort and saves considerable driving time, allowing for a more relaxed pace or extra time on safari. We can discuss the best options based on your preferences.