8-Day Legendary Landscapes Tour

Arusha is the safari capital of the country and a bustling ‘ tourism-driven city. You will be met by your driver guide at the airport and be brought to Africa Safari Arusha for your first overnight. Africa Safari Arusha is quietly located, offering comfortable accommodation in the secluded area of Sakina. This property occupies a hill, the Ngateu, which offers views of Arusha town and the environment. An excellent location to recover from your flight and prepare for the upcoming journey.

After a good night's sleep, today is the ‘day of the elephants.' Tarangire is an hour's drive from the lodge and presents quite a different landscape to Lake Manyara. The hilly savannah together with the Tarangire River makes this the favourite park for large herds of elephants. During the dry season (June – October) the Tarangire River is the only source of water available, making it a popular spot not just for the elephants but a variety of small hoofed animals and an abundance of birdlife. Lions, warthogs, giraffes, zebras, and monkeys all roam the park, waiting for the ‘perfect picture’ opportunity! The night is spent at Africa Safari Lake Manyara.

Be sure to wake up early today, so there is no delay on your descent into the famous Ngorongoro Crater. As soon as you arrive in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you will be amazed by the beauty around you. Even more so when you arrive at the edge of the crater and take in the amazing view over one of the Natural Wonders of this world. The crater of this inactive volcano is approximately 3 million years old, 20sq km in size, and the largest unbroken volcanic caldera in the world. Due to its natural borders, the wildlife in the crater is amazing. The crater is home to the Big Five and offers a good chance to spot the rare black rhinos. Throw hyenas, zebras, buffalos and elephants into the mix, and you have the perfect canvas for a pretty awesome safari experience. At the end of the afternoon, you will go to the lodge, Africa Safari Karatu, for a well-deserved night’s sleep.

This day brings you a road trip through northern Tanzania with the destination of Lake Natron. You will depart from Africa Safari Karatu after breakfast. The drive can take up to 4 hours and it’s the perfect way to see different sides of Tanzania’s ever-changing landscapes. As you pass the Rift Valley and drive further toward Lake Natron, you will notice the lush green vegetation slowly exchanging for dry, arid, and dusty landscapes. The occasional Maasai villages passed en route become dots in the distant scenery. The further north you reach, the more remains of old volcanoes rise around you. Among them is Ol Doinyo Lengai, meaning ‘Mountain of God’ in the Maasai dialect. This volcano is one of the few that are still active. When you eventually reach Lake Natron, you might perhaps catch its smoke disappearing in the sky. The night is spent in a comfortable bed at Africa Safari Lake Natron.

This morning, put on your walking shoes as a Maasai tribesman guides you on a walk around the shores of Lake Natron in search of the lesser flamingo. Lake Natron is the most important and regular breeding site for lesser flamingos in East Africa and during the breeding season, Lake Natron hosts up to 2.5 million flamingos. The majority of egg-laying and hatching takes place from September to April although the peak occurs between October and (early) December. The long-legged waterfowl may flourish here, but to most other living creatures including small birds, these conditions make survival extremely challenging. However, lake flats do provide a variety of habitats for birds that flourish in the alkali oasis. Around midday, you will depart on a road trip west for an overnight stop in Africa Safari Maasai Boma, where you will have an insight into traditional Maasai life. You will finish this day with an afternoon game drive in Pololeti Game Reserve.

After a good breakfast at Africa Safari Maasai Boma, you will depart on your adventure towards Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma. This game drive leads you through Serengeti. Your driver-guide will take you exploring, following the movement of resident wildlife, while heading towards your accommodation in Ikoma. There will be a stop for a nice picnic lunch along the way. In the afternoon, you will reach the border of the park and just 2km further you will find the staff of Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma welcoming you. This is your place to relax, and a beautiful ‘canvas home’ for a good night of sleep is awaiting you.

Nothing beats waking up from a restful sleep to the sounds of the Serengeti. Once you have enjoyed your breakfast, the acacia-studded savannah welcomes you to start exploring its wildlife. This is another day filled with safari adventuring on African soil and by the end of this day, you probably understand the meaning of the name ‘Serengeti’ to be ‘endless plains’. Later in the afternoon, you will return to Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma.

After a good night’s sleep, this morning is departure time. After the last game drive, your vehicle will be taking you to the Seronera Airstrip for your flight back to Arusha Airport. After boarding the aircraft, your trip nears the end, but you can still peer out over the wings of the plane and enjoy the magnificent views while flying over Serengeti National Park and admire the changing scenery of the Great Rift Valley. You will land at Arusha Airport with a camera full of pictures to share with friends and family, and look back on the amazing memories created by your African endeavour!