Tanzania's Highlights

Tour Code: TZA01

A 15-day birdwatching and mammal-viewing safari through the magnificent national parks of Arusha, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara and Serengeti.

15 days from
£8,295
Land only price from
£7,395
book now

Highlights

Summary

Summary

The string of national parks that lies along Tanzania’s northern border with Kenya offers some of the finest game and wildlife-viewing in all of Africa. Starting in Arusha National Park, beneath the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, this popular wildlife safari next moves to Tarangire National Park, home to African Elephants, African Buffalo, Giraffe and Lions. We then visit the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater - one of the world’s natural wonders - and perhaps the best place in all of Africa to see the endangered Black Rhinoceros. Next, we move to the world-famous Serengeti for four nights, split between the central and south of the reserve. Between December and April, 1.2 million Blue Wildebeest, and thousands of Plains Zebra and gazelles, crowd the Serengeti’s short-grass plains alongside Giraffe, African Bush Elephant, Thomson’s Gazelle, Lion, Cheetah, and numerous birds. Leaving the Serengeti we will stop at Olduvai Gorge, before ending our holiday at Lake Manyara, set in the Great Rift Valley. 

  • Visit the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater
  • Witness the Wildebeest migration on the short-grass plains of the southern Serengeti
  • Game drives in Arusha, Tarangire & Lake Manyara National Parks
  • Visit Olduvai Gorge, ‘The Cradle of Humankind’
  • Abundant birdlife
  • Lion, Cheetah & Bat-eared Fox all likely
  • Comfortable landcruisers with opening roof & guaranteed window seat

Grading

Grade A. A traditional vehicular wildlife and birdwatching safari. Limited walking around lodges.

The magnificent game-laden lands of Africa are unique. Some of the best of them are in Tanzania. Here, Lions and Cheetahs may still enjoy a meal, free from the gaze of all-encircling tourist buses, and the largest concentrations of mammals anywhere in the world may be found. With a remarkable 35% of its area set aside for the preservation of this unique heritage, Tanzania offers such globally threatened species as the Black Rhinoceros a measure of protection that hopefully may save them from extinction.

On this tour we concentrate on northern Tanzania, an area of superlatives and variety. We explore beautiful soda and freshwater lakes, the great grasslands of the Serengeti, and the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater. Covering such a range of habitats and altitude zones, we will encounter a great variety of mammals, and also birds, for conveniently the national parks harbour the best of African birdlife, from the giant Ostrich to tiny finches and colourful weavers.

We begin our holiday in Arusha National Park, a microcosm of Tanzanian scenery. Spectacularly set between the huge volcanic peaks of snow-capped Kilimanjaro and rugged Mount Meru, the park is a verdant wilderness where monkey-filled rainforest encompasses the undisturbed Ngurdoto Crater and the beautiful Momella Lakes that hold Hippos, waterbirds, and the reflection of Mount Kilimanjaro. African Buffalo, Olive Baboon, Bushbuck, Warthog, Maasai Giraffe and Guereza Colobus may be seen; whilst, amongst an abundant birdlife, we will look out for African Pochard and Maccoa Ducks on the lakes, and White-eared and Brown-breasted Barbets in the woodland.

We drive next to Tarangire National Park, where thousands of animals from the southern Masailands must come regularly in search of water from the Tarangire River. In the park’s rolling bushland and savannah, punctuated with spectacular Baobab trees, African Buffaloes, Eland, Impala, Elephants and Lesser Kudu may be found, together with such bird species as Crested Francolin, Yellow-collared Lovebird, Brown and Orange-bellied Parrots, Northern Pied Babbler and Magpie Shrike. Next we visit the legendary Ngorongoro Crater. Permanently watered, the crater’s 260 square kilometres support a year-round residential population of thousands of mammals. Amongst great herds of Blue Wildebeest, African Buffalo and Plains Zebra, we will see Lions, Black-backed Jackals and Spotted Hyenas. Most notably, the crater is perhaps the best place in all of Africa to see the endangered Black Rhinoceros.

Birdwatching is excellent at Ngorongoro; the lakes and rivers attracting abundant wetland species, and the grasslands holding Ostriches, bustards, Secretary Birds, eagles and vultures. On the crater rim the lush montane forest holds an entirely different range of species which we may encounter around our lodge and on early morning and evening walks. Here we will also meet the people of the Maasai tribe, proud, elegant and well attuned to their environment.

The Serengeti National Park’s 14,750 square kilometres of acacia-dotted plains hold 1.3 million Blue Wildebeest and 2,000 Lions; its selection of other mammals and birds is mouth-watering. We have four full days to sample the wealth of this great African wilderness.

Leaving the Serengeti we will stop at the Olduvai Gorge —‘Cradle of Mankind’ — the famous archaeological site where Dr. Leakey discovered the 2-million-year-old remains of the Nutcracker Man, alongside those of prehistoric elephants and giant ostriches. Even today it is an area teeming with game.

Lake Manyara is our last port of call. Its hotel and pool, beautifully perched on the wall of the Great Rift Valley, overlook the forest, plains, and flamingo-lined lake of the national park where we will search for its particularly large Elephants, tree-climbing Lions, and abundant birdlife.

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Depart London
Day 2
Arusha
Day 3
Arusha National Park
Day 4/5
Tarangire National Park
Day 6/8
Ngorongoro Crater
Day 9/12
Serengeti National Park and Olduvai Gorge
Day 13
Lake Manyara
Day 14
Depart Arusha
Day 15
Arrive London
What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation:

    We stay in comfortable safari lodges and tented camps. All rooms have private facilities.

  • Food:

    All meals are included in the price, except for lunch on Day 2 and dinner on Day 14.

Reviews
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost
Fri 31st Oct – Fri 14th Nov 5 £8,295
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£7,395
Room sharing options:
If a customer on this departure has already expressed an interest in sharing a room it will be flagged here. We will identify if there are sharing options for male, female or both.
Male sharing available
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£795

2026

Departures Availability Cost
Sat 10th Jan – Sat 24th Jan SPACES £9,495
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£8,495
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£1,195
Sat 31st Jan – Sat 14th Feb SPACES £9,495
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£8,495
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£1,195
Wed 28th Oct – Wed 11th Nov SPACES £8,595
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£7,595
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£895

Tour Dates or Itinerary Don't Suit?

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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!

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