12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari

Pick Up from Arusha and Transfer to Africa Safari Rift Valley

Your 12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari begins with a warm welcome in Arusha, a vibrant city that pulses with the rhythm of Tanzania’s tourism and cultural life. Upon arrival, your knowledgeable and friendly safari driver-guide will meet you at the airport or designated meeting point, ready to begin your safari adventure with a comfortable transfer to Africa Safari Rift Valley.

The journey to Africa Safari Rift Valley takes approximately two hours, weaving through the scenic landscapes of northern Tanzania. This first day allows you to settle into your luxurious safari accommodation surrounded by expansive wilderness. The lodge offers stunning views and tranquil settings that invite relaxation and contemplation after your travels.

As the sun sets, enjoy dinner under the vast African sky, an evocative introduction to the sensory delights of the 12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari. The comfortable accommodation promises restful sleep, preparing you for the excitement of the days ahead. Your safari guide will be available to answer questions and outline the itinerary, ensuring you feel fully prepared and excited for the wildlife adventure unfolding.

• Main Destination: Arusha (City)
• Accommodation: Africa Safari Rift Valley (Safari Luxury Accommodation)
• Meals & Drinks: Dinner included; breakfast and lunch not included; drinks not included

Full-day Game Drive in Lake Manyara National Park

Wake up to breathtaking views over Lake Manyara on Day 2 of your 12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari, and prepare for an immersive game drive in one of Tanzania’s most ecologically diverse parks. After a delicious breakfast, your safari driver-guide will escort you to the gates of Lake Manyara National Park, known for its compact size and incredible variety of habitats.

The park’s winding roads traverse groundwater forests where troops of baboons playfully lounge in the mahogany and acacia trees. The famous tree-climbing lions of Lake Manyara may grace your visit, perched lazily on branches—a unique sight that sets this park apart. As you move towards the grassy lakeshore, you will witness vast herds of wildebeest, giraffes, zebras, and large buffaloes grazing peacefully.

Lake Manyara is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, hosting over 400 bird species, including spectacular flamingos that adorn the lake’s edge in thousands. Throughout the day, your expert guide will share insights into the behaviors and ecology of the wildlife, deepening your understanding and appreciation. After a delicious picnic lunch surrounded by nature’s serenity, you will return to Africa Safari Rift Valley for a sumptuous dinner and restful evening.

• Main Destination: Lake Manyara National Park
• Accommodation: Africa Safari Rift Valley (Safari Luxury Accommodation)
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included; drinks not included

Full-day Game Drive in Tarangire National Park

Day 3 of your 12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari is dedicated to the remarkable Tarangire National Park, often celebrated as the ‘elephant park’ of northern Tanzania. After breakfast, set off on a scenic hour’s drive to Tarangire, where the landscape dramatically shifts from lush woodlands to open savannah punctuated by towering baobab trees.

During the dry season, the Tarangire River becomes a lifeline for wildlife, drawing vast herds of elephants and diverse fauna to its banks. Here, you will have extraordinary opportunities to observe large elephant families bathing and socializing, alongside lions, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, and a variety of primates. Birdlife flourishes as well, with colorful species frequenting the riverine habitats.

Your safari guide will expertly navigate the park’s vast expanses, maximizing wildlife sightings and photographic moments. After a day filled with unforgettable game drives, you will spend the night at Africa Safari Lake Manyara, offering a comfortable resting place to recharge for the journey ahead. The day’s experiences embody the wild heart of the 12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari.

• Main Destination: Tarangire National Park
• Accommodation: Africa Safari Lake Manyara (Safari Comfort)
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included; drinks not included

Visit a Maasai Boma at Mto Wa Mbu

Day 4 of your 12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari provides a cultural interlude to complement the thrilling wildlife encounters. After a leisurely morning and breakfast, prepare to visit the traditional Maasai Boma near Mto Wa Mbu. The Maasai are among Tanzania’s most iconic indigenous communities, known for their vibrant customs and deep connection to the land.

The Maasai Boma comprises small circular huts constructed from natural materials, encircled by thorny fences designed to protect cattle from predators. Your visit includes the chance to participate in traditional Maasai dances, engage in conversations about their daily lives and customs, and admire intricate beadwork crafted by Maasai women. This authentic cultural exchange enriches your safari experience by revealing the human stories intertwined with Tanzania’s wild landscapes.

After returning to your lodge, enjoy a relaxing afternoon with opportunities to swim, read, or simply soak in the surrounding nature. Dinner features fresh vegetables grown in the lodge’s own gardens, embodying the harmony between nature and local tradition. This day’s activities offer a reflective balance in the 12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari itinerary.

• Main Destination: Mto Wa Mbu (Town)
• Accommodation: Africa Safari Lake Manyara (Safari Comfort)
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included; drinks not included

 Relaxing with Optional Activities

Day 5 of the 12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari is dedicated to rest, relaxation, and personal exploration. Following several active days, this day offers you the chance to slow down and absorb the beauty around you, living by the Swahili philosophy of “polepole” — slow and easy.

Whether you choose to sleep in, savor a coffee overlooking grazing wildlife, or take a gentle stroll through the camp’s gardens, this day is your own. For those seeking adventure, optional excursions are available (at an additional cost), including bicycle rides, nature walks, or visits to nearby villages.

After lunch, you will prepare for a smooth transfer to Karatu, a gateway town near Ngorongoro and Serengeti. Your stay at Africa Safari Karatu features comfortable bungalows nestled amidst lush vegetation, offering a peaceful retreat and convenient access to the next phase of your 12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari journey.

• Main Destination: Karatu District
• Accommodation: Africa Safari Karatu (Safari Comfort Bungalow)
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included; drinks not included

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater — The Eighth Wonder of the World

An early start on Day 6 of your 12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari brings you to the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As you approach the crater’s rim, the panoramic view takes your breath away—an immense basin teeming with wildlife, encircled by steep walls and lush vegetation.

Descending into the crater floor, you enter a natural wildlife sanctuary unlike any other. The crater hosts the Big Five—lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros—along with a diverse assemblage of other mammals and birds. The rare black rhino is often sighted here, making it a prized destination for conservation enthusiasts. Hyenas, zebras, and wildebeests also roam the grassy plains and forested areas.

After an enriching full-day game drive, you will ascend to the crater rim and return to Africa Safari Lake Manyara for a restful evening, reflecting on the spectacular wildlife experiences this day has brought. The Ngorongoro Crater stands as a highlight in the 12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari, combining geological wonder with rich biodiversity.

• Main Destination: Ngorongoro Crater
• Accommodation: Africa Safari South Serengeti (Safari Comfort)

Meals & Drinks: All meals included; drinks not included

Full-day Game Drive in Serengeti National Park — The Heart

Day 7 leads you into the world-renowned Serengeti National Park, the crown jewel of Tanzania’s safari circuit and home to one of the planet’s greatest wildlife spectacles. The drive to the Serengeti crosses varied habitats where you may spot giraffes, zebras, and antelope grazing as you approach the vast plains.

Arriving at Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma Lodge, you will be ideally positioned to explore the central Serengeti region, covering over 14,000 square kilometers. This vast landscape supports an extraordinary density of wildlife, including predators like lions and cheetahs and herbivores numbering in the thousands.

Your full-day game drive will take you across open plains, riverine forests, and kopjes (rocky outcrops), offering opportunities to observe and photograph a diverse array of species. The Serengeti’s remarkable ecosystem, shaped by the annual wildebeest migration and seasonal changes, ensures a dynamic and unforgettable safari experience on your 12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari.

• Main Destination: Serengeti National Park
• Accommodation: Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma (Safari Comfort)
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included; drinks not included

Afternoon Walking Safari, Sundowner, and Night Game Drive in Serengeti National Park

Day 8 of the 12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari offers a blend of adventure and tranquility with a walking safari, sundowner experience, and night game drive. After a leisurely morning, you will venture out on foot in the Serengeti, accompanied by an armed and experienced ranger who ensures your safety and enriches the journey with knowledge of the flora and fauna.

Walking through the wilderness allows a closer connection to the environment, revealing smaller details often missed from vehicles—the tracks of animals, bird calls, and the rich smells of the savannah. The approximately two-hour walk concludes with a sundowner—a refreshing drink while watching the sun dip below the horizon, painting the sky in vivid colors.

As night falls, the safari continues with a thrilling game drive by spotlight, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of nocturnal animals such as bushbabies, civets, genet cats, and possibly the elusive aardvark. The unique sights and sounds of the Serengeti at night provide an extraordinary dimension to your 12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari experience.

• Main Destination: Serengeti National Park
• Accommodation: Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma (Safari Comfort)
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included; drinks not included

Game Drive to Northern Serengeti National Park

On Day 9, you journey northwards on your 12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari, exploring the lesser-traveled northern Serengeti. The drive takes you through diverse habitats—savannah, rivers, hills, and forests—where resident wildlife thrives year-round.

The Lobo area offers a mix of open grasslands and dense bush, providing habitat for many herbivores and carnivores alike. This region is less frequented by tourists, promising a more intimate and exclusive safari experience. Wildlife encounters here are abundant and varied, often including top predators and rare species.

Leaving the park through Klein’s gate, your day culminates in a cultural stay at Africa Safari Maasai Boma, a modern yet authentic Maasai earth house featuring en-suite facilities and luxurious comforts. This unique accommodation enriches your safari with cultural immersion and relaxation in a peaceful setting.

• Main Destination: Northern Serengeti National Park
• Accommodation: Africa Safari Maasai Boma (Safari Comfort Bungalow)
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included; drinks not included

Game Drive in Pololeti Game Reserve

Day 10 continues with a game drive in the Pololeti Game Reserve, a private reserve known for its wildlife diversity and tranquility. Your 12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari driver-guide will tailor the experience according to animal movements, providing opportunities to spot a variety of species in a less crowded setting.

Enjoy a picnic lunch amidst the reserve’s peaceful surroundings, soaking in the sounds and sights of nature. This day deepens your connection with Tanzania’s wild heritage, offering a chance to observe animals at a relaxed pace with fewer vehicles around.

Return to Africa Safari Maasai Boma in the evening for comfort and rest, readying you for the final full day of your safari adventure.

• Main Destination: Pololeti Game Reserve
• Accommodation: Africa Safari Maasai Boma (Safari Comfort Bungalow)
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included; drinks not included

Full-day Game Drive in Serengeti National Park

On Day 11 of your 12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari, enjoy an extensive game drive back in Serengeti National Park. This day allows you to witness the annual migration phenomenon if your timing coincides with the wildebeest and zebra crossings—a spectacular event that epitomizes the Serengeti’s natural wonders.

Exploring the vast grasslands and river valleys, you will likely see large herds of giraffes, hippos, elands, and elephants. The park’s well-preserved ecosystems support healthy populations of predators and prey, providing dramatic safari moments at every turn.

After a full day immersed in Tanzania’s wilderness, return to Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma Lodge for your final night in the park. Reflect on the extraordinary encounters and prepare for your departure the next day.

• Main Destination: Serengeti National Park
• Accommodation: Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma (Safari Comfort)
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included; drinks not included

Safari Transfer to Seronera Airstrip – Flight to Arusha

On the final day of your 12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari, after a last morning game drive, you will be transferred to Seronera Airstrip for your scenic flight back to Arusha. As the plane takes off, you will have one last chance to gaze over the sprawling Serengeti below, a spectacular farewell to the African wilderness.

Landing in Arusha marks the end of your safari journey with Decisive Safaris Africa Tours Limited, filled with countless memories and photos to share. Whether you continue your travels or return home, your 12-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari has offered an unforgettable immersion into one of the world’s most celebrated safari destinations.

• Main Destination: Serengeti National Park / Arusha
• Accommodation: None (End of tour)
• Meals & Drinks: Breakfast included; lunch and dinner not included; drinks not included