10-Day Tanzania Safari — Arusha, Lake Natron, Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Lake Eyasi
This itinerary is designed to give you time to experience Tanzania beyond the classic safari circuit, combining major wildlife destinations with unique local and natural experiences.
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Arusha National Park
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Tarangire National Park
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Lake Manyara National Park
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Lake Natron
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Serengeti National Park
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Lake Eyasi
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Ngorongoro Crater
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10 Day/9 Nights
Tour Overview
Experience a diverse northern Tanzania safari that combines wildlife, dramatic landscapes, cultural encounters, and some of the country’s lesser-visited destinations. This 12-day journey takes you from Arusha National Park and Tarangire to the remote landscapes of Lake Natron, followed by several full days exploring the Serengeti. The adventure continues through the Ngorongoro Highlands before ending with a cultural experience around Lake Eyasi.
This itinerary is designed to give you time to experience Tanzania beyond the classic safari circuit, combining major wildlife destinations with unique local and natural experiences.
Itinerary Summary
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha – Tanzania
Day 2: Arusha National Park
Day 3: Tarangire National Park, Karatu
Day 4: Lake Natron
Day 5: Lake Natron – Serengeti National Park
Day 6: Full Day Serengeti National Park
Day 7: Full Day Serengeti National Park
Day 8: Full Day Serengeti National Park
Day 9: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Highlands
Day 10: Ngorongoro Crater to Lake Eyasi
Day 11: Lake Eyasi to Arusha
Day 12: Departure Day
Route and stop positions are indicative. The line connects itinerary stops directly and is not a turn-by-turn road route. The Lake Natron–Serengeti leg enters through the park\u2019s north-east and relies on seasonal road conditions.
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha - Tanzania
Embark on an enchanting wildlife safari adventure with your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Esikar Tour and Safaris warmly welcomes you and ensures your smooth transfer to a cozy accommodation in Arusha. Take the afternoon to relax or explore the town. In the evening, enjoy a delightful dinner at the lodge, setting the tone for the exciting safari ahead.
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Kilimanjaro International Airport
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Hotel in Arusha
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Meals Plan: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: Arusha National Park
After breakfast, depart for Arusha National Park, located close to Arusha city at the foot of Mount Meru.
The park offers a remarkably varied landscape within a relatively small area. Depending on the day’s activities, you may explore forested areas, open grasslands, the Momella Lakes, and the slopes of Mount Meru.
Enjoy a game drive searching for giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, warthogs, antelopes, and a variety of bird species. Arusha National Park is also known for its populations of monkeys, including black-and-white colobus monkeys.
Depending on your selected arrangement, the day can also include a guided walking experience in the park, providing a different perspective of the landscape and wildlife.
After exploring the park, return to your accommodation for dinner and relaxation.
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Budget Camping, Mid Range or Luxury
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Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Tarangire National Park – Karatu
After breakfast, leave Arusha and drive towards Tarangire National Park.
Tarangire is particularly famous for its impressive baobab trees and large elephant populations. The Tarangire River and seasonal water sources attract wildlife, especially during drier periods.
Spend the day exploring the park on a game drive. Look for elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, impalas, warthogs, and numerous bird species. Predators such as lions may also be encountered.
After the game drive, leave Tarangire and continue towards Karatu in the Ngorongoro Highlands.
The journey takes you through changing landscapes and agricultural areas before reaching the cooler highlands around Karatu.
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Budget Camping, Mid Range or Luxury
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Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Karatu – Lake Natron
After breakfast, begin the journey towards the remote and dramatic landscape of Lake Natron.
The route takes you away from the main northern safari circuit and towards the Great Rift Valley. As you approach Lake Natron, the landscape becomes increasingly rugged, with volcanic terrain and views of the surrounding mountains.
Lake Natron is a shallow, alkaline lake famous for its striking landscapes and importance as a breeding area for lesser flamingos.
Depending on your arrival time and selected activities, you can explore the area around the lake and enjoy views of the surrounding volcanic landscape.
You will spend the night near Lake Natron, giving you the opportunity to experience one of northern Tanzania’s more remote destinations.
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Budget Camping, Mid Range or Luxury
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Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Lake Natron – Serengeti National Park
Wake up in the Lake Natron area and continue your journey towards the Serengeti National Park.
This is an exciting transition from the dramatic Rift Valley landscape into the vast plains of the Serengeti. The journey can take several hours, but wildlife viewing begins as you approach and enter the national park.
Once inside the Serengeti, your transfer becomes a game drive. Keep watch for zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, elephants, antelopes, buffaloes, and predators.
Depending on your arrival time, your guide will make the most of the remaining daylight for wildlife viewing before continuing to your accommodation.
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Budget Camping, Mid Range or Luxury
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Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Full-Day Serengeti National Park
Today is dedicated entirely to exploring the Serengeti.
After breakfast, head out with your guide for a full-day game drive. Having an entire day without a major transfer allows you to explore different areas of the park and spend more time observing wildlife.
The Serengeti supports a remarkable variety of animals, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, and many bird species.
Your guide will use knowledge of the area, recent sightings, seasonal conditions, and wildlife movements to determine where to explore.
Enjoy a picnic lunch in an authorised area before continuing the afternoon game drive.
Return to your accommodation in the evening.
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Budget Camping, Mid Range or Luxury
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Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Full-Day Serengeti National Park
Enjoy another full day of wildlife exploration in the Serengeti.
A second full day gives you more flexibility to explore areas you may not have reached on the previous day. The Serengeti’s wildlife and landscapes change considerably from one area to another, so each game drive can offer something different.
Your guide will look for active wildlife and may focus on areas where large herds of wildebeest and zebra are concentrated. Predators often follow these herds, creating opportunities to observe lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and other carnivores.
Depending on the season and your location, you may also encounter elephants, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, and a wide variety of birds.
Return to camp or lodge in the evening after another day in the wilderness.
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Budget Camping, Mid Range or Luxury
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Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Full-Day Serengeti National Park
Your third consecutive full day in the Serengeti gives you another opportunity to explore the park without rushing to another destination.
Set out after breakfast for a full-day game drive. The route will depend on current wildlife activity and the area where you are staying.
The Serengeti is home to resident wildlife throughout the year, while seasonal movements of wildebeest, zebra, and other grazing animals can change the character of the safari.
Your guide will help you understand the ecosystem and identify animals, tracks, behaviours, and different habitats throughout the day.
Enjoy a picnic lunch during the safari before continuing your exploration into the afternoon.
Return to your accommodation for your final evening in the Serengeti.
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Budget Camping, Mid Range or Luxury
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Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Serengeti – Ngorongoro Highlands
After breakfast, begin your journey from the Serengeti towards the Ngorongoro Highlands.
The journey provides another opportunity for wildlife viewing as you travel through the Serengeti. Depending on your route and wildlife activity, your guide may stop for sightings along the way.
As you approach the Ngorongoro Highlands, the landscape changes from the open Serengeti plains to greener, cooler highland scenery.
Arrive at your accommodation and enjoy the remainder of the day relaxing and taking in the views.
If time allows, you may explore the surrounding area or simply rest in preparation for the following day’s Ngorongoro Crater experience.
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Budget Camping, Mid Range or Luxury
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Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: Ngorongoro Crater – Lake Eyasi
Rise early for one of the highlights of your Tanzania safari: a game drive inside the Ngorongoro Crater.
Descend into the crater and explore its remarkable ecosystem, where grasslands, wetlands, woodland, and permanent water sources support a high concentration of wildlife.
During your game drive, look for lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, hyenas, gazelles, and other wildlife. With luck, you may also encounter the endangered black rhinoceros.
After exploring the crater and enjoying lunch, ascend and continue towards Lake Eyasi.
Lake Eyasi is a very different experience from the major national parks. The area is known for its local communities and traditional ways of life, offering an opportunity to experience another side of Tanzania.
Depending on your arrival time and chosen activities, you may visit local communities and learn about traditional livelihoods and daily life.
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Budget Camping, Mid Range or Luxury
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Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: Lake Eyasi – Arusha
After breakfast, spend some time exploring the Lake Eyasi area before beginning your journey back towards Arusha.
Depending on your selected experience, the morning can include a cultural visit with local communities. Lake Eyasi is particularly known for the Hadzabe and Datoga communities, and a guided cultural experience can provide insight into traditional hunting, gathering, craftsmanship, and other aspects of local life.
Cultural visits should always be conducted respectfully and through appropriate local arrangements.
After the experience, begin the drive towards Arusha. The journey provides a final opportunity to enjoy the changing landscapes of northern Tanzania.
Arrive in Arusha later in the day and check into your accommodation.
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Arusha city
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Hotel in Arusha
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Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12: Departure Day
On your departure day, Esikar Tour and Safaris organizes a timely transfer from your lodge to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Reflect on your unforgettable safari as you bid farewell to the enchanting landscapes and wildlife of Tanzania.
Depart with cherished memories and a heart full of the African spirit, marking the conclusion of your safari adventure.
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Kilimanjaro International Airport
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Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
Plan My Trip
Have questions about this tour or want to customise your itinerary? Chat with Esikar Tour & Safaris on WhatsApp.
INCLUDED
- Pick up and drop off from Kilimanjaro International airport.
- 2 nights of hotel Accommodation before and after safari (breakfast included)
- Transportation in a 4×4 Toyota Land cruiser with pop-up roof
- Professional and Experienced English-speaking safari guide
- All national park fees;
- All accommodation in safari lodges under your program
- Three meals per day on safari;
- Bottled drinking water throughout the tour
- Medical kit;
- Binocular
- All mentioned activist as per itinerary
EXCLUDED
- International Flights
- Personal spending money for souvenirs etc
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees
- Optional activities
- Tips and gratuities to driver/Safari guide (20usd/day – recommended)
