Embrace the wonders of Tanzania on an extraordinary 6-day budget safari, where adaptability is key. This thoughtfully designed itinerary will take you on a thrilling adventure through Tanzania's renowned national parks, providing an incredible opportunity to witness majestic wildlife and jaw-dropping landscapes. From the magnificent herds of elephants in Tarangire National Park to the heart-pounding spectacle of the Serengeti, where wildebeest bravely face crocodile-filled rivers, every moment of this safari will leave you in awe. As we explore the diverse habitats of Ngorongoro Crater, known for its abundant wildlife you will be immersed in the true essence of Tanzania's untamed beauty. With adaptable camping accommodations and experienced guides, this 6-day budget safari ensures an unforgettable journey into the heart of the wild. Join us on this adventure and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Your incredible 6-day Tanzania safari begins with an arrival in Arusha, where you will be greeted by our friendly team. After settling in at your accommodation, take the opportunity to relax and prepare for the exciting days ahead.
Embark on a thrilling game drive in Tarangire National Park, known for its spectacular herds of elephants and the iconic baobab trees.
Depart immediately after breakfast for Tarangire National Park, which is located about 100 km from Arusha city along the route to Manyara, Ngorongoro.
The park covers an area of 2,600 square kilometers, about 100 km from north to south and about 25 from east to west but fits within a much larger ecosystem that includes Lake Manyara, Lake Natron and West Kilimanjaro, the Maasai steppes, some controlled hunting areas and the Tarangire Conservation Area that attempts to coexist human settlements and wildlife.
Huge, centuries-old baobab trees provide a backdrop to the wild natural landscape, yet play a very important role both in the park's ecosystem and for local tribal communities who use seed shells as containers for water, make medicines from the leaves and pulp of the fruit, and make rope, paper and cloth from the bark.
Elephants in turn find refreshment, in the dry season, in the whips of these large trees in when they use the trunks of the trees as water reservoirs.
While it is true that Tarangire is always associated with elephants we would like to mention that bird lovers will find more than 500 species here.
Witness the incredible diversity of wildlife as you navigate through the park's lush landscapes. Keep your eyes peeled for lions, zebras, giraffes, and a variety of bird species.
Depart immediately after breakfast for an incredible experience, today you will take Game drive inside the world's largest crater!
In fact, you will head to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, whose crater was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.This is the best known and most frequented area of the entire Ngorongoro Conservation Area, but also the most scenic part with a concentration of animals unparalleled in the entire African continent. If that were not enough, let us also mention that it is the only place in Tanzania where you can easily spot the Big 5.
It is actually a large, non-flooded caldera that was formed by the collapse about 3 million years ago of a volcano originally estimated to be 4500 to 5800 meters high. The crater is 2200 meters above sea level and has a diameter that measures 19km in width and 16km in length and is 610 meters deep, while the base area measures 265km; the walls are intact and covered with dense forest and reach an altitude of 3200 meters above sea level.
This is the caldera with intact walls and the largest non-flooded bottom in the world and is a splendor from a geological point of view.
Within it, as a result of the microclimate that has been created and the isolation from the rest of the area, there is a unique ecosystem; animals live here as if it were a small Eden on earth, partly because the soil is very rich in mineral salts that make the grasses that grow there very nutritious.
Heavy rains contribute to the formation of small ponds, marshes, streams and help replenish the waters of Lake Magadi present in the crater. Rain and fog, which form as a result of the temperature difference between the crater floor, rim, and surrounding plateaus, are responsible for the unique microclimate on the slopes and within the caldera itself.
A dense forest grows on the inner and outer slopes of the crater and exists thanks to the moisture-laden fog that has created the ideal climate; fog that also forms thanks to the evapotranspiration of the forest trees.
Savannah, on the other hand, occupies the innermost part of the crater, here small swamps, groves of yellow acacia, grasslands of low and high grasses, and semi-desert clearings alternate; there is also Lake Magadi, which, with its shallow and salty waters, is home to various animals, including colonies of greater and lesser pink flamingos that live on the edges of the salt lakes.
Inside the crater is an impressive concentration of fauna, one of the highest on the entire African continent; in fact, an estimated 25. 000 large animals, including numerous herbivores such as large herds of wildebeest and zebra, buffalo, Thomson's gazelles, Grant's gazelles, topi antelopes, baboons, hippos, and black rhinos; this is the only place in Tanzania where it is possible to spot them, thanks to the small size and bare landscape of the crater base. In truth, black rhinos also live within the Serengeti National Park but it is very difficult to spot them because, in addition to the vastness of the park, they are in a protected area where they cannot roam freely.
There is, of course, no shortage of predators such as: lions, spotted hyenas, cheetahs, caparison jackals, golden jackals, caracals, otocions and African catbirds.
The lion population is very large and registers the highest density in Africa, it is not difficult to spot them thanks to the open spaces of the crater floor one is facilitated by the fact that these felines are accustomed to the presence of off-road vehicles to the point that they use them to hide during hunting and ambush prey or to shelter from the scorching sun of the middle hours of the day.
Elephants and leopards are also present, but they prefer to stay in the forest growing on the slopes or in the Lerai Forest, numerous bird species, about 400.
Missing from the roll call are giraffes and impalas, the cause probably being the absence or scarcity of bushes, a favorite habitat and food for these animals.
Inside the crater it is possible to stay a maximum of 6 hours.
After the game drive you will ahead to the Serengeti National Park. In about 3 hours drive you will arrive to Central Serengeti where you will spend the night
Experience an entire day of thrilling game drives in the Serengeti ecosystem, home to some of the most diverse wildlife in Africa. With over 1.5 million wildebeests, 300,000 zebras, 500,000 Thompson's gazelles, plus more than 2,700 lions, 1,000 leopards, and 500 cheetahs, the Serengeti is a haven for animal lovers. The ecosystem also has large populations of other animals such as huge herds of elephants, eland, impala, water antelope, giraffes, ostriches, genets, crocodiles, and hippopotamuses. In addition, the region boasts of over 400 species of birds - making it a paradise for birdwatchers.
Covering an area of 15,000 square kilometers, Serengeti National Park constitutes only one part of a large ecosystem that also includes the Ngorongoro Plains and the Maasai Mara. The orography, soil composition, and vegetation type provide a unique setting for unparalleled wildlife sightings.
Due to its subsoil composition consisting mainly of volcanic rocks, tall trees grow sparingly across most parts of the Serengeti, and grasslands dominate - increasing the already high chances of coming face-to-face with the animals. Witness the impressive Great Migration of the Serengeti, as wildebeest and zebras traverse the region in search of new pastures and water.
Get ready for an unforgettable experience in the Serengeti ecosystem and come face-to-face with some of Africa’s most majestic and awe-inspiring creatures.
Half day game drive in the Serengeti National Park. At given time you will drive back to Karatu, about 5 hours, where you will spend the night. On the way to Karatu you can stop by a Maasai Village (entrance not included).
After breakfast you will drive for about 4 hours to arrive at Kilimanjaro airport where you will take the (evening) flight to Zanzibar. End services.
We recommend buying a flight departing after 12Pm. If you book an evening flight we can include, at extra cost, Mto Wa Mbu bike tour, a community tour, or Lake Manyara game drive.
As a reminder, the daily fee for the parks are valid for 24 hours after which you will have to pay extra fees (for any delays at the request of the client as the timings are designed to fit within the 24 hours) which will be the responsibility of the traveler.
Rates are per person and exclude international flight from/to your home country. This tour is offered in US dollars (USD).
All prices are indicative and might change according to the season and lodges availabilities. Please contact us for more details and prices.