Follow your complete day-to-day schedule, wildlife tracking routes, meal plans, and premier lodge stays for this 11-day East African expedition.
Day 1
Arrival & Scenic Transfer to Tarangire National Park
Depart Arusha and drive across the Maasai Steppe to Tarangire National Park, celebrated for its ancient baobab trees and enormous elephant populations. Enter the park and begin an afternoon game drive along the Tarangire River circuit, the permanent water source that draws wildlife from across the northern circuit.
Accommodation: Tarangire Elephant Springs / Tarangire Treetops / Kuro Tarangire
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 2
Full Day Exploring Tarangire National Park – Big Five Wildlife & Landscapes
Full day in Tarangire National Park. Witness massive congregations of elephants digging for water in sandy riverbeds, flanked by herds of oryx, wildebeests, zebras, and impalas. Keep your eyes trained on the branches of grand acacia trees for Tarangire's famous tree-climbing lions and leopards. Enjoy a scenic picnic lunch overlooking the river valley.
Accommodation: Tarangire Elephant Springs / Tarangire Treetops / Kuro Tarangire
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 3
In-Depth Safari Exploration in Tarangire National Park
Explore the remote Silale Swamps in southern Tarangire, a vital wetland feeding hundreds of bird species, African wild dogs, pythons, and giant bull elephants. Savor a peaceful sundowner as dusk paints the baobab silhouettes against the fiery orange sky.
Accommodation: Tarangire Elephant Springs / Tarangire Treetops / Kuro Tarangire
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 4
Transit Game Drive to Serengeti National Park
After a hearty breakfast at your lodge, depart for Serengeti National Park. Drive through the scenic highlands and enter the boundless golden plains of Serengeti National Park, "the place where the land moves on forever." Enjoy game viewing en route through the central Seronera Valley, home to large lion prides, cheetahs on the prowl, and sweeping herds of grazers. Arrive at your safari camp for sunset dinner around the campfire.
Accommodation: Signature Serengeti Luxury Tented Camp / Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge / Oleserai Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 5
Full Day Exploring Serengeti National Park – Big Five Wildlife & Landscapes
Dedicate a full day to tracking the legendary wildlife of the Serengeti. Following the seasonal movements of the Great Wildebeest Migration or central predator territories, navigate through diverse ecosystems including riverine woodlands, open savannahs, and towering granite kopjes. Enjoy an open-air picnic lunch in the wild surrounded by untamed African wilderness.
Accommodation: Signature Serengeti Luxury Tented Camp / Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge / Oleserai Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 6
In-Depth Safari Exploration in Serengeti National Park
Explore the northern or southern corridors of the Serengeti depending on the seasonal migration movements. Marvel at dramatic predator-prey dynamics, spot hyena dens, towers of giraffes browsing on whistling acacias, and vibrant raptors. Savor sundowners overlooking the endless horizon.
Accommodation: Signature Serengeti Luxury Tented Camp / Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge / Oleserai Camp
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 7
Transit Game Drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area & Crater
After a hearty breakfast at your lodge, depart for Ngorongoro Conservation Area & Crater. Ascend the slopes of the ancient Ngorongoro volcanic massif into the mist-shrouded highlands. Take in panoramic vistas from the crater rim overlook, gazing 600 meters down onto the caldera floor below. Settle into your lodge perched on the rim or in the nearby Karatu coffee estates, preparing for tomorrow's descent.
Accommodation: Meliá Ngorongoro Lodge / Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge / Neptune Ngorongoro Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 8
Full Day Exploring Ngorongoro Conservation Area & Crater – Big Five Wildlife & Landscapes
Descend 600 meters down steep forested crater walls into the world's largest unbroken volcanic caldera. The crater floor is an enclosed wildlife paradise sheltering over 25,000 large mammals. Spend the day tracking the critically endangered black rhino, dense prides of black-maned lions, giant old-tusker elephants, and spotted hyenas. Enjoy a picnic lunch beside the hippo pool at Ngoitoktok Springs.
Accommodation: Meliá Ngorongoro Lodge / Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge / Neptune Ngorongoro Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 9
In-Depth Safari Exploration in Ngorongoro Conservation Area & Crater
Visit a traditional Maasai village within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, experiencing Maasai songs, traditional dances, and cultural traditions. Afterwards, explore the archaeological site of Olduvai Gorge, the famed "Cradle of Mankind" where hominid fossils dating back nearly 2 million years were discovered by Dr. Louis and Mary Leakey.
Accommodation: Meliá Ngorongoro Lodge / Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge / Neptune Ngorongoro Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 10
Flight / Transfer to Zanzibar Island & Tropical Beaches – Tropical Coastline
Board your flight or transfer to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport in Zanzibar. Your private driver greets you and transfers you to your beachfront resort on the north coast (Nungwi / Kendwa) or historic Stone Town. Settle in, dip your toes in the warm turquoise Indian Ocean, and enjoy a tropical sunset seafood dinner overlooking the calm waves.
Accommodation: Zanzibar Serena Hotel / Riu Palace Zanzibar / The Residence Zanzibar
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 11
Morning Beach Leisure & Departure Transfer (Zanzibar Island & Tropical Beaches)
Enjoy a leisurely tropical breakfast overlooking the azure ocean waves. Spend your final morning strolling the beach or shopping for handcrafts before your driver transfers you to Zanzibar Airport for your departure flight.
Accommodation: Drop-off at Airport or City Hotel
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch En Route