Lodge-to-lodge road trip through the heart of Tanzania’s national parks

Most flights leave early in the morning and arrive in Tanzania in the evening. When you land at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), a private shuttle will pick you up and take you to your accommodation in Arusha. This laid-back city lies between the slopes of Mount Meru and the first hills of the north.

Your first night is all about catching your breath after the journey, before the real adventure begins.

In the morning, your local driver-guide picks you up from your hotel in Arusha. After a short briefing, you’ll head to Tarangire National Park, your first safari park. Your roadbook includes extra information about the route and the places you’ll visit along the way.

Tarangire is known for its impressive baobab trees, open savannahs and large population of elephants. During the dry season in particular, many animals gather around the river. From your 4x4, you’ll set out with your driver-guide to spot wildlife and explore the park at a relaxed pace.

After the safari, you’ll spend the night in an atmospheric lodge with a swimming pool, close to Lake Manyara.

You start the day around Mto wa Mbu, near Lake Manyara. This lively town is a unique cultural crossroads, home to people from more than a hundred different ethnic groups across Tanzania.

Today, you continue on to Ndutu. Along the way, you climb from the lush Rift Valley into the highlands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The landscape is constantly changing, from forested slopes to vast plains dotted with acacia trees.

Your driver-guide takes you through this remarkable wildlife area as you keep an eye out for animals along the way. By the end of the day, you’ll reach your safari camp in the Ndutu region, where you’ll spend the night in the heart of the savannah.

Today, you’ll explore the vast plains of Serengeti National Park. Together with your driver-guide, you’ll search for wildlife among the tall grass, acacia trees and distinctive rock formations.

You’ll take your time to observe. You might see lions resting on a rock, zebras crossing the plains or a leopard hidden among the branches. Your guide will help you spot wildlife and tell you more about the animals’ behavior.

At the end of the day, you’ll travel to Ikoma, where you’ll spend the night at a safari camp outside the national park.

Today, you head back into the Serengeti for a second day on safari. With more time in the park, you’ll discover different landscapes and have new opportunities to spot wildlife. Your driver-guide will help you look for animals and share more about tracks, animal behaviour and life on the savannah along the way.

After the safari, you’ll travel back to the Ndutu region, on the border between the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Your final night awaits at a safari camp in the heart of the savannah.

As the light softens and evening sounds fill the savannah, you’ll get one last chance to enjoy this special place in the wild.

Today you’ll leave the dusty plains of the Serengeti behind and head for one of the world’s great natural wonders: the Ngorongoro Crater. As soon as you reach the lush rim of this extinct volcano, you’ll gaze more than 600 metres down into its depths.

You’ll begin a steep, spectacular descent to the crater floor, where a secluded and unique ecosystem awaits. After an incredible safari in this African “Garden of Eden”, you’ll climb back out of the crater in the late afternoon, leaving the true wilderness behind. A short drive takes you to the fertile highlands of Karatu, where you can enjoy a well-deserved, comfortable night’s stay.

Today, sadly, marks the final leg of your unforgettable Tanzanian adventure. After a relaxed morning and a good breakfast in the green hills of Karatu, you’ll set off for the last time.

As you travel, you’ll slowly descend from the fertile highlands. You’ll pass sweeping views of the Great Rift Valley and head back through the lively streets of familiar places such as Mto wa Mbu, where the adventure began a few days ago. As the vast wilderness and red dirt roads fade behind you, you’ll trade the quiet of the bush for the lively buzz of Arusha. This is where your mainland journey comes to an end, with dust-covered shoes and a head full of incredible memories.

Most return flights leave in the evening, giving you almost a full day to relax by the pool or explore Arusha.

A shuttle will get you back to Kilimanjaro Airport in plenty of time.