10-Day Safari & Cultural Activity in Kilimanjaro Region (Private Lodge)

In the morning you will be collected from your lodgings in Arusha by your private safari guide. You will drive to Tarangire National Park on a good tarmac road across gently rolling Maasai plains with scattered acacia trees. On the way, you will pass many Maasais in their colourful dress walking on the roadside, riding bicycles, herding cattle and driving donkey carts. Tarangire National Park, well known for its large elephant herds, is also host to a multitude of other animals. From the open roof of your safari jeep you will see seasonal swamps, savanna and the life giving Tarangire River. You will see zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, elephant and giraffe, to name but a few. It is possible you will see lion stalking prey or leopards watching and relaxing in the trees above. After your extensive game drive, you will drive to your accommodation for dinner and your overnight stay.

After breakfast, you will continue towards the fertile highlands where wheat and corn are grown by the Iraqw people. Along the way, we’ll pass through the mist-shrouded rainforests of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where you might be lucky enough to see baboons or even leopards and elephants in the dense undergrowth. Passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will be able to see the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater before traveling onwards to the Serengeti National Park, which you will reach by midday. The Serengeti National Park is the largest park in Tanzania with diverse landscapes and habitats, such as grassy plains, swamps, lakes, savannah and mountains. After an extensive game drive, you will drive to your accommodation where you will enjoy dinner and an overnight stay.

Today, you may wish to embark on a sunrise game drive. See the sun set fire to the savannah as predators such as leopards and lions hunt for their morning meal. Alternatively, you may wish to add a sunrise hot air balloon safari and champagne breakfast to your safari. Speak with your Sky View tour consultant about how you can add this unforgettable experience to your safari. You will continue your exploration of the Serengeti and observe many animals, birds and landscapes.

After breakfast, you will embark on a final game drive in the Serengeti before travelling to the Ngorongoro Crater. Arriving at the edge of the crater in the afternoon, you will have your first glimpse of what awaits you the following day – glistening streams, open grassland and an infinite number of animals. You will spend the night at a luxury lodge on the crater rim, where the views of the crater are quite unforgettable.

When you first see Ngorongoro Crater, it looks like a forgotten world. Concealed by the steep volcanic walls is a pristine wilderness, including sweeping savannah, pockets of acacia woodland, and glistening lakes and swamps. The crater was created when a large volcano exploded and collapsed in on itself 2 to 3 million years ago. It is famous for both its geological delights and for being a natural reserve that is home to some of the densest large mammal populations on the African continent. The drive down into the crater is an adventure in itself. When you reach the crater floor, you quickly find yourself amongst large numbers of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, and more than 500 bird species. The crater provides you with the best chance of seeing the endangered black rhino, which can sometimes be spotted in the open grasslands. After the thrills and excitement of the day, you will drive to the nearby town of Karatu for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, you will drive to your final destination on this epic safari - Lake Manyara National Park. Manyara is an unspoiled paradise and is best known for its abundance of birds and tree-climbing lions. The dramatic western escarpment of the Rift Valley forms the park’s western border. To the east is the shallow, alkaline Lake Manyara. The lake covers a large area of the park, flooding and drying with the seasons and is home to thousands of flamingos during the rains. The name Manyara comes from the Maasai word ‘emanyara’, a popular plant that is used to build the protective enclosure around a family homestead (boma). The park’s vegetation is diverse, ranging from savannah to evergreen forest. On your exploration of the park, you may see giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, elephant and if you are lucky, lions lounging in the trees. After lunch, you will head back to Arusha where you will arrive in the early evening.

In the early morning, you will leave your accommodation in Arusha and drive to Materuni village in the Kilimanjaro region for a wonderful coffee tour. You will learn how coffee is cultivated, dried, roasted and further processed. You will also be invited to help with the grinding of the coffee, which is traditionally accompanied by Chagga songs and dances - a fun way to immerse yourself in the local culture. If the weather is clear, you will be able to see the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. After your day in Materuni, you will be driven to a small lodge, set on beautiful grounds, near Kilimanjaro International Airport. The lodge staff will transfer you to the airport the next day.

At an appropriate time, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro or Arusha airport in time to catch your flight.