Big Game Safari

ITINERARY

DAY 1

  • Departure

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport- Arusha

  • Confirmation Number

34567

Your guide will meet you on arrival at Kilimanjaro airport and transfer you to your hotel in Arusha (45-60 minutes).  Dinner

 

Arusha town is Tanzania’s safari capital, famous or its well better-known neighbors, including Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro. The town has numerous first-class restaurants, bars, and local markets.
Arusha’s rural charm is amplified by the many beautiful coffee plantations that surround the town, many of them dating back to colonial times and offering tours of graceful plantation houses.

Day of Leisure

Spend the day exploring Arusha. 

  • Check out the Cultural Center
  • Take a Coffee Plantation tour
  • Enjoy lunch at the Coffee Lodge and visit Shanga
  • Take an optional excursion (see below).

Or just relax and enjoy the spa and pool at your leisure. 

Breakfast * Lunch * Dinner

Grand Melia – Luxury

This spectacular hotel is located between the Serengeti and Kilimanjaro National Parks, opening out onto all of Tanzania’s majestic natural beauty. An oasis of five-star comfort and elegance, with extensive, unbeatable facilities, exclusive suites, and international cuisine, including the outstanding The Grill restaurant. With a spa, heated pool, and gym. Perfect for a safari trip or luxurious business meeting.

Serena Hotel Arusha – PREMIUM

Arusha Serena Hotel is unlike any other hotel in Tanzania with authentic, bespoke experiences that stir the traveller’s soul while showcasing the breathtaking tranquillity of our surroundings. Set among the woodland slopes of Mount Meru at the edge of Lake Duluti, there’s no better destination for soaking in the beauty and magnificence of the Tanzanian “Northern Safari Circuit.”

View More

DAY 2

Day of Leisure

  • Spend the day exploring Arusha. 
 

Optional Excursion: Day Hike Kilimanjaro

7:00 am – 10 hours – East Africa Time

Your guide will pick you up at your hotel early morning and take you up to Kilimanjaro. You’ll enjoy a hike to the summit, lunch and a descent to the base of the mountain.

Your guide will take you back to the hotel.

Optional Excursion: Sevral Wildlife

11:00 am – 4 hours – East Africa Time

For a fascinating, exclusive, and unparalleled experience, visit Serval Wildlife! A  luxury ecotourism lodge and wildlife haven tucked away in the Siha District of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Explore the curated ecosystem with over 3000 hand planted endemic flora that directly benefit the exquisite animals residing at Serval Wildlife, while you enjoy the mesmerizing views of Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro.

Home to a variety of wildlife, including Majestic African Lions,  Colobus Monkeys,  Masai Giraffes,  Bat-eared Foxes,  Elands,  Ostriches, and  Blue & Vervet monkeys! You will have unforgettable direct interactions with a many free-roaming wild animals.

Enjoy a lovely lunch with in the Serval Restaurant, which you may share with the Giraffes!

  • Check out the Cultural Center
  • Take a Coffee Plantation tour
  • Enjoy lunch at the Coffee Lodge and visit Shanga
  • Take an optional excursion (see below).

Or just relax and enjoy the spa and pool at your leisure.

Breakfast * Lunch * Dinner

View More

DAY 3

Arusha National Park

First up this morning, join an experienced local guide on a full-day game drive in Arusha National Park (the first of many on your safari) to look for gentle giraffes, boisterous baboons, colorful flamingoes and big buffalo. Return to the hotel mid-afternoon.

Breakfast * Lunch * Dinner

View More

DAY 4

Tarangire National Park

At Tarangire National Park you will experience an unrivalled landscape of open plains, dotted with thousands of baobabs. Not only does the meandering Tarangire River attract a vast number of wildlife, but the Park is renowned for its huge elephant herds, enabling visitors to see entire herds of elephant families. 

Breakfast * Lunch * Dinner

 

Elewana Tarangire Treetops – LUXURY

Many a childhood would have been spent playing in the world of ‘make-believe’. Within this imaginary existence many of us will have climbed and played high up in the bows and branches and, for the lucky few, built a ‘palace’ in the sky.

It is this nostalgic sparkle that is all too visible in the eyes of the ‘grown-ups’ who gaze upon Tarangire Treetops for the first time. Tarangire Treetops sits serenely on the border of the Tarangire National Park – Tanzania.

Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge -PREMIUM

Tanzania’s towering Mto wa Mbu escarpment provides a remarkable backdrop for a one-of-a-kind visit. Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge welcomes you with a peaceful location amidst the rich wildlife and unsurpassed tranquility of Lake Manyara National Park. The lake is home to over 300 migratory birds including flamingoes, long-crested eagles and grey-headed kingfisher; our lodge is designed to mimic this extraordinary birdlife, with an architectural motif featuring swooping avian curves and vibrantly coloured wall frescoes depicting the intricacy of bird migratory patterns.

Here, at our Lake Manyara lodge, you’ll find everything you need to relax, rejuvenate and discover the singular beauty of the region. Housed in circular two-storey “rondavels”, our accommodation pays homage to tradition, while also offering contemporary perks. Flamingo Restaurant, our central dining room, serves delicious cuisine and includes a veranda with picturesque views; we would be pleased to arrange a meal in the bush for you as well. 

 
View More

DAY 5

Tarangire National Park

At Tarangire National Park you will experience an unrivalled landscape of open plains, dotted with thousands of baobabs. Not only does the meandering Tarangire River attract a vast number of wildlife, but the Park is renowned for its huge elephant herds, enabling visitors to see entire herds of elephant families. 

Breakfast * Lunch * Dinner

View More

DAY 6

Tarangire-Mto Wa Mbu Tour & Cultural Visit

This morning we will drive to the bustling farming community of Mto Wa Mbu, located between Manyara and Ngorongoro, and home to around 18,000 people. Spend half a day here with a knowledgeable local guide and you’ll discover a side of Tanzania that many visitors miss.

Breakfast * Lunch * Dinner

 

A melting pot of cultures, Mto Wa Mbu is thought to be one of the only places in Tanzania where there are representatives from all 120 tribes living happily side by side. 

During your visit you’ll get a good feel for the social side of the village – the farms and the milling machines, the schools, markets and churches. Your guide will happily answer any questions you might have, and will help you to gain an understanding of the inner workings of this typical Tanzanian community. 

Your tour will finish in the bustling local market, where you can wander around stalls selling fruit and vegetables stalls, spices and meat. Your guide will stop and explain points of interest, and give you the opportunity to try and smell a variety of foods. A real treat for the senses!

View More

DAY 7

Game Drive in Ngorongoro Crater

One of the best places in Africa to spot the Big Five – elephants, leopards, lions, buffalo and the rare black rhinoceroses is the ancient Ngorongoro Crater, often called Africa’s “Garden of Eden,” is home to almost every species in Africa… except the giraffe, which can’t negotiate the steep incline down into the caldera but will be seen at the rim of the crater.

Breakfast * Lunch * Dinner

 

Game drives and a unique picnic lunch on the crater floor offer ample opportunities to spot lions, cheetahs, hippos and lots of birds.

Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge – LUXURY / PREMIUM

The 74 guest rooms at Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge blend the indescribable beauty and magnitude of the Ngorongoro Crater with unparalleled standards for comfort and service. Clinging to the Crater rim beneath river stone and a cloak of native vines, our accommodation is so seamlessly entwined with the landscape, guests can’t help but feel as one with the natural surroundings. With a private stone balcony opening onto the blue-green vastness of the Crater floor below, it’s like you’re living alone in the “cradle of mankind.” 

Interiors feature brass lamps, embossed leather headboards, wildwood mirrors, Maasai carvings and stylised cave paintings. The guest experience is enhanced with modern comforts like complimentary wireless Internet and 24-hour room service. 

With a private stone balcony opening onto the blue-green vastness of the Crater floor below, it’s like you’re living alone in the “cradle of mankind.” 

Breakfast * Lunch * Dinner
View More

DAY 8

Full day Game Drives in the Serengeti Plains

Serengeti National Park is  the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world and boasts the greatest concentration of plains game in all of Africa. Established in 1952, it is home to the great migration of wildebeest and zebra. The resident population of lion, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, and birds is also impressive. The Park can be divided into 3 sections:

Breakfast * Lunch * Dinner

 
  • The southern/central part (Seronera Valley) with its classic savannah dotted with acacias and filled with wildlife.
  • The western corridor is marked by the Grumeti River, and has more forests and dense bush.
  • The north meets up with Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve, is the least visited section. It is the migration for which Serengeti is perhaps most famous – over a million wildebeest and about 200,000 zebras flow south from the northern hills to the southern plains for the short rains every October and November, and then swirl west and north after the long rains in April, May and June. During the months of July-September the herds will cross the Mara River again and again in search of fresh grass. They will have to face the mighty crocodiles in the river, who are waiting quietly in the water for their opportunity.
Breakfast * Lunch * Dinner

Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti – LUXURY

Join us deep in the heart of the world’s most celebrated wildlife reserves, where the Big Five – the lion, the leopard, the buffalo, the elephant and the rhinoceros – run free on the endless, untamed landscape. Perched on a series of elevated platforms and walkways, our Lodge sits next to an animal watering hole, where you can watch a family of elephants stop for their morning drink as you sip your own out on your room’s private balcony.

However you spend your day, our Spa is waiting to help you rehydrate, restore and re-energize for your next adventure. Our only question – where would you like to begin?

Each of these spacious accommodations features a balcony with direct views out across the savannah or the neighboring waterhole. The Lodge’s spacious rooms include four-poster beds and are furnished with local textiles and artwork.

Breakfast * Lunch * Dinner

Meliá Serengeti Lodge – PREMIUM

In harmony with the fabulous natural surroundings of the Serengeti National Park, this hotel offers an intense wildlife experience accompanied by all the comforts of the most exclusive accommodation. Elegant rooms inspired by Maasai traditions with spectacular views of the hotel gardens or Serengeti plains. A cuisine that reinterprets local dishes with ingredients inspired by international cuisine. And magnificent, sustainable facilities that include an incredible infinity pool, gym and spa.

View More

DAY 9

Full day Game Drives in the Serengeti Plains

Serengeti National Park is  the best-known wildlife sanctuary in the world and boasts the greatest concentration of plains game in all of Africa. Established in 1952, it is home to the great migration of wildebeest and zebra. The resident population of lion, cheetah, elephant, giraffe, and birds is also impressive. The Park can be divided into 3 sections:

Breakfast * Lunch * Dinner

 

  • The southern/central part (Seronera Valley) with its classic savannah dotted with acacias and filled with wildlife.

  • The western corridor is marked by the Grumeti River, and has more forests and dense bush.

  • The north meets up with Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve, is the least visited section. It is the migration for which Serengeti is perhaps most famous – over a million wildebeest and about 200,000 zebras flow south from the northern hills to the southern plains for the short rains every October and November, and then swirl west and north after the long rains in April, May and June. During the months of July-September the herds will cross the Mara River again and again in search of fresh grass. They will have to face the mighty crocodiles in the river, who are waiting quietly in the water for their opportunity.

Breakfast * Lunch * Dinner
View More

DAY 10

  • Departure

Flight to Arusha and Home...or on to your Next Adventure

After breakfast, you will depart to the closest Airstrip for your flight to Arusha. Upon arrival, your guide will take you to a fabulous lunch at the Arusha Coffee Lodge, where you’ll be able to see visit Shanga.

After lunch your guide will take you to the airport for your return flight.

Breakfast * Lunch * Dinner

 

While your safari memories will last forever, we hope you will return one day to again take part in the adventure that is Africa. 

Breakfast * Lunch
View More

Included:

  • Full board (breakfast, lunch & dinner) accommodation while on safari
  • Transfers to and from the Airport
  • Professional English-speaking driver-guide during the safari.
  • Bottled safe drinking water in safari vehicles
  • Government taxes and levies
  • 24-Hour support during the safari
  • Tanzania Flying Doctors

Not Included:

  • International flights
  • Optional excursions while you are in Tanzania
  • Out-of-full board service at the hotel including body massage, hotel excursions, bar & laundry services
  • Tanzania Visa
  • Trip Protection
  • Gratuities for your guide, hotel staff, and porters
  • Meals, drinks, and excursions not included in the itinerary

Trip Notes

Notes

  • Safari groups consist of 2 – 6 persons per vehicle.
  • Trekking tours groups consist of 2 – 15 persons
  • We cannot guarantee viewing for the described animal observations on safari. These are wild animals in their natural habitat, and their behavior can never be guaranteed. For this reason, there is no refund if some animals are not seen. Our experienced safari guides will use all their expertise and knowledge to provide you with as much adventure and wildlife observation as possible.
  • The opening hours of the national parks are daily from 06:00 – 18:00. The maximum length of stay (until 18:00 hrs.) cannot always be exhausted, as many sections of the route in Tanzania should not be traveled in the dark. Your stay in the national parks therefore depends on your further route. Wishes and special requests can be discussed with your Safari guide.

Additional information

Our Team would like to offer you an unforgettable trip! If you have special requests regarding accommodations, routes, excursions etc., please let us know. If the accommodation listed is not available, we will book an equivalent alternative for you. This does not constitute a reason for reduction. All prices are per person, subject to rate changes, exchange rate fluctuations and availability as well as confirmation by Excellent Guides Tours and Safaris.

Mobility information

This journey is generally not suitable for persons with reduced mobility. If you have special needs (e.g. a wheelchair, walker, oxygen unit or similar) or health restrictions that affect your ability to travel, please inform us before booking so that we can advise as to whether this trip is suitable for you. If we do not receive such information prior to booking, and if the trip cannot be ca your responsibility. 

Amref Flying Doctors

During your round trip in Tanzania (including Zanzibar) you are covered by our local partner agency, Amref Flying Doctors. The Amref Flying Doctors will evacuate you in a medical emergency and take you to the nearest hospital. This service does not replace Trip Protection insurance, but does cover medically necessary local transport.

General Terms and Conditions of Business

Please read our General Terms and Conditions (GTC) carefully, as these form the basis in connection with package tours booked with Excellent Guides Tours and Safaris.

Contact us.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name
Prefered Method of Communication
New-Logo-for-Website

Get in Touch

TANZANIA Office.
P.O. Box 14698 Arusha.
Tel & Fax +255 27 297 0282.
What sap : +255 784 454483.

Stay Connected
Facebook Twitter Youtube

We Accept

Trusted Partners
Scroll to Top

Zanzibar Extension

Looking for the perfect way to top off your safari adventure? Consider adding a Zanzibar extension to your itinerary! This idyllic island paradise, located just off the coast of Tanzania, is known for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and rich cultural heritage. Whether you want to kick back and relax in a luxury resort, explore historic Stone Town, or snorkel among colorful tropical fish in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, Zanzibar has something for everyone. This is the best of both worlds! Contact us today to learn more about our Zanzibar extension options.

Serval Wildlife Encounter

Experience the thrill of getting up close and personal with some of Tanzania’s most majestic wildlife at Serval Wildlife Encounters in Arusha. From the graceful giraffes and playful monkeys to the powerful lions and sleek cheetahs, there’s something for everyone to marvel at. Our knowledgeable guides will take you on an unforgettable journey through the African wilderness, where you’ll learn about these incredible animals and their habitats. Whether you’re a seasoned wildlife enthusiast or just looking for an adventure, a day at Serval Wildlife Encounters is an experience you won’t soon forget.

Arusha Culture and Activities

Arusha offers a rich cultural experience for visitors. Immerse yourself in the local traditions by visiting the vibrant Maasai Market, where you can browse handmade crafts and meet local artisans. Take a trip to the Meserani Snake Park and learn about the fascinating reptiles that call the area home. For a taste of Tanzania’s music and dance, attend a traditional drumming performance or check out the lively nightlife scene in the city center. Take a canoe excursion, a cooking class or a bike tour. Arusha has something for everyone, whether you’re looking to relax or seek adventure.

Hot Air Balloon over the Serengeti

Experience the ultimate adventure with a hot air balloon ride over the majestic Serengeti. Soar above the vast savannah plains and witness the breathtaking beauty of the sunrise from a unique perspective. As you glide over the African wilderness, you’ll have the chance to spot the “big five” and other incredible wildlife in their natural habitat. With experienced pilots and luxurious amenities, a hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will leave you with unforgettable memories. Add the hot air balloon experience to your safari and take it to the next level of unparalleled beauty of one of the world’s most iconic destinations.