Arusha – Unwinding on the Banks of the Usa River
Tanzania’s safari starting point, Arusha, is a lively city standing pinned against the foothills of Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro. As you fly over Tanzania towards the airport, you will admire its vast belt of untamed bushveld and enormous clusters of rocky mountains. Arriving near Arusha, you will enjoy a brisk scenic transfer to your thatched country inn nestled in a dense forest flowing from the banks of the Usa River. Today, you will acclimate to your surroundings from the comfort of your safari retreat and embrace the grandeur of Tanzania’s wilderness.

When you arrive at the gates of Tarangire National Park, a stunning animal sanctuary nestled within the Manyara region’s granite ridge-covered landscapes and complex mixed-vegetative ecosystems, your safari in Northern Tanzania will truly begin. Your trained ranger will take you on a wildlife drive across the lush reserve, stopping at waterholes where a variety of herbivores assemble quietly and observation decks overlooking bushveld where animals graze free. You’ll capture images of Tanzania’s greatest safari vistas, from lions lazing in the shade of acacia trees to elephants standing beneath baobab trees.

Today, you’ll see Tarangire from a different perspective as you walk from camp into the chilly bushveld with an armed ranger. Your knowledgeable tracker will point out animal tracks, and you will put yourself in the shoes of the animals as you follow their tracks and assess evidence of the previous night’s activity. As you crouch close to green shrubbery, you’ll see rhinos, giraffes, and other animals standing just a few meters away, and you’ll learn about Tarangire’s tiniest residents. In the evening, you’ll cruise Tarangire with spotlights, peering into the darkness to see Tanzania at night.

Following your exhilarating safari tour through Tarangire, you’ll be transferred to a beautiful tented glamping site positioned on the rim of the huge Ngorongoro Crater, with postcard-worthy vistas of the highlands. After unpacking your belongings, you can explore the conservation area with a trained game ranger in the hopes of seeing lion prides leisurely crossing the dry caldera and long-limbed serval cats hunting mice in the long grass. Sundowners and panoramic views of the region’s rolling bushveld will round off your trip.

Today, on guided game drives through the magnificent landscapes of Ngorongoro, you will be ecstatic to learn more about the park. Before arriving at a traditional Maasai settlement, where you will meet the friendly native tribe, you will see much more amazing wildlife and views of unusual plant life surviving in Tanzania’s different ecosystems. Locals will provide insights into their pastoral lives and present generational performances as well as their unique specialties, allowing you to immerse yourself in African culture and learn a lot about their simple way of life.

The Serengeti savannas, an illustrious golden environment home to some of the world’s greatest wildlife spectacles, are only a short domestic flight away. You’ll be transferred across the sun-drenched plains to a magnificent five-star safari lodge nestled amid the Kogakuria Kopje rocks with panoramic views of the surrounding bushveld. Today, you can go on a welcoming game drive to see the Serengeti’s unspoilt splendor, or relax with the help of your accommodation’s top-notch services, and enjoy uninterrupted stargazing this evening.

Game drives in the Serengeti allow you to discover the Serengeti’s different ecosystems and meet the fascinating creatures that roam the plains. Today, you’ll go on morning and afternoon safari trips through the reserve’s pristine wilderness, where you’ll catch spectacular wildlife photographs. All of Africa’s Big Five can be seen in the Serengeti, from giant rhinos grazing the grasslands to massive elephants lumbering across river banks, stealthy leopards seeking refuge in dark acacias to indolent lions meandering the savanna, and herds of buffalo gathered around waterholes.

Spotting Africa’s Big Five is something you’ll want to check off your bucket list by the end of your Northern Tanzania safari, and you can do so today during more ultimate game drive experiences. After seeing the Big Five, you’ll be on the lookout for additional well-known and rare sightings, such as the Aardvark and Pangolin, to mention a few. You’ll also see colorful birds soaring across the Serengeti sky, as well as birds of prey gliding across the baby blue.

As you step out onto your patio in the morning, images of the Northern Serengeti’s arid savannas and acacia-peppered grasslands will welcome you. While sipping a steaming cup of coffee or tea, you may watch animals meander through the sparse bushveld and hear their faint echoes echoing across the grassy fields. Today, you’ll have breakfast in front of these stunning views and go on one last Serengeti safari before collecting your belongings and transferring to the airport for your flight home.