11-Day Grand Tanzania Safari: Complete Northern Circuit & Crater Highlands

LUXURY SAFARI

This is our ultimate immersive journey through northern Tanzania. Over eleven days, you will bypass the rushed itineraries of shorter tours to thoroughly explore five distinct national parks and conservation areas. From the hidden canopy walk of Arusha National Park to two full dedicated days on the Serengeti plains and a wilderness trek into the remote Empakaai Crater, this expedition offers an uncompromising look at Africa’s greatest wildlife sanctuaries.

 

Itinerary

Close-up portrait of a majestic lion with a lush mane, capturing its regal essence in the wild.

Day 1 of 11

Arrival in Tanzania (Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha)

  • Activity: Airport pickup and property transfer.
  • Accommodations: Mount Meru Game Lodge.
  • The Daily Story: Welcome to Tanzania. Our team will meet you right outside the arrivals terminal at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), load your luggage into our private vehicle, and transfer you to your lodge in Arusha. Unwind from your journey, enjoy a fresh dinner, and rest before your expedition begins tomorrow morning.

Day 2 of 11

Arusha National Park Exploration

  • Activity: Guided game drive and Ngurdoto Crater viewing.
  • Accommodations: Mount Meru Game Lodge.
  • The Daily Story: We pick you up after breakfast for a short drive to Arusha National Park. This gem features incredible volcanic landscapes and lush forests. We will explore the floor of the Ngurdoto Crater and the Momella Lakes, tracking black-and-white colobus monkeys, giraffes, buffaloes, and a massive variety of waterfowl. After a picnic lunch in the wild, we return to your Arusha lodge for dinner.

Day 3 of 11

Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park

  • Activity: Afternoon game drive in the Great Rift Valley groundwater forest.
  • Accommodations: Maramboi Luxury Tented Camp.
  • The Daily Story: Today we drive toward Lake Manyara National Park, positioned below the dramatic cliffs of the Great Rift Valley. This park is an ornithologist’s dream, famous for thousands of flamingos and pelicans. On the ground, we track the park’s legendary tree-climbing lions, large baboon troops, and forest elephants. In the evening, we head to our luxury tented camp overlooking the Manyara plains for dinner.

Day 4 of 11

Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park (Central Plains)

  • Activity: Travel day with an en-route game drive across the savannah.
  • Accommodations: Kubukubu Luxury Tented Camp.
  • The Daily Story: We depart early, climbing through the Ngorongoro highlands before entering the vast plains of the Serengeti via Naabi Hill Gate. Enjoy a panoramic picnic lunch on the hilltop before starting an extended afternoon game drive. We track resident predator prides and migratory herds on our way to a luxury tented camp nestled deep within the central Seronera valley.

Day 5 of 11

Central Serengeti (Full-Day Game Drive)

  • Activity: Morning and afternoon game drives with a midday lodge rest.
  • Accommodations: Kubukubu Luxury Tented Camp.
  • The Daily Story: Your day begins at dawn, the optimal time to witness big cats active on the hunt. After tracking wildlife through the river valleys, we return to the lodge for a hot lunch and a brief midday siesta during the heat of the day. In the late afternoon, we head back out into the grasslands to photograph the abundant wildlife against the backdrop of a classic Serengeti sunset.

Day 6 of 11

Serengeti Deep Exploration (Full-Day Tracking)

  • Activity: Full-day tracking game drive with a packed picnic lunch.
  • Accommodations: Kubukubu Luxury Tented Camp.
  • The Daily Story: We dedicate another full day to uncovering the deep biodiversity of the Serengeti. Armed with a packed lunch, your private guide can navigate deeper into the migratory corridors to track massive herds of wildebeest and zebras, crocodile colonies along the rivers, and hidden prides of lions. Return to camp in the evening for a hot shower and a freshly prepared dinner.

Day 7 of 11

Serengeti Plains to Ngorongoro Crater Rim

  • Activity: Sunrise game drive and traditional Maasai cultural visit.
  • Accommodations: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge.
  • The Daily Story: Take a final look at the Serengeti plains during a morning game drive. After lunch, we journey toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, stopping at an authentic Maasai Boma. Here, you will spend time with the community, observing their traditional dances and learning about their ancient pastoralist culture. We conclude the day at a lodge built directly on the volcanic rim of the crater.

Day 8 of 11

Ngorongoro Crater Floor Tour

  • Activity: Full-day volcanic caldera safari.
  • Accommodations: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge.
  • The Daily Story: We descend early into the 600-meter-deep caldera of the Ngorongoro Crater. This enclosed haven allows you to see an unmatched density of wildlife, including hyenas, lions, jackals, and the endangered Black Rhino. After a hot lunch back at the lodge or a scenic picnic by the hippo pool, enjoy a relaxed, open afternoon to gaze out over the world’s largest unbroken volcanic caldera.

Day 9 of 11

Remote Trekking at Empakaai Crater to Tarangire

  • Activity: Guided wilderness crater hike and transfer to Tarangire.
  • Accommodations: Maramboi Tented Lodge.
  • The Daily Story: Leave the tourist crowds behind to visit Empakaai Crater, a hidden volcanic gem within the conservation area. Accompanied by an armed ranger, you will hike down the forested caldera walls to the lake floor, watching for pink flamingos, buffaloes, and rare bird species. In the afternoon, we drive out of the highlands to our lodge near Tarangire National Park.

Day 10 of 11

Tarangire National Park Game Drive

  • Activity: Full-day elephant tracking and return to Arusha.
  • Accommodations: Mount Meru Game Lodge (Arusha).
  • The Daily Story: We spend the day exploring Tarangire National Park, highly celebrated for its giant baobab trees and massive elephant populations. During the dry months, the Tarangire River serves as the only water source for miles, drawing thousands of zebras, giraffes, wildebeests, and buffaloes directly to its banks. Following an afternoon game drive, we return to Arusha before sunset for a final evening.

Day 11 of 11

Departure Day (Arusha to Kilimanjaro Airport)

  • Activity: Morning at leisure and international airport transfer.
  • The Daily Story: Your 11-day grand safari concludes today. Take the morning to pack and relax at the lodge. Room checkout is at 10:00 AM. Our team will coordinate your pick-up and private transfer directly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to align smoothly with your international departure flight home.

Pricing (Private Tour Tiers)

  • Vehicle Type: Exclusive Private 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser (Never shared with strangers)
  • Base Accommodation: Luxury Lodges & Camps (Double/Twin Sharing Basis)

PRICING

Number of Travelers
2 Travelers
3 Travelers
4 Travelers
7 Travelers
12+
Price Per Person
$7,401
$6,744
$6,415
$5,993
$6,087
Single Room Supplement: +$615 USD (Applies only to solo travelers or individuals requesting their own private room.)

Include

Private 4×4 customized Land Cruiser, professional English-speaking guide, all national park fees, crater service fees, concession fees, all meals on safari, and unlimited purified drinking water inside the vehicle. *Wine and premium soft-drinks on the cooler; courtesy of Magical Hearts of Africa

Excuded

International flights, Tanzanian entry visa, travel insurance, alcoholic beverages at the lodges, and crew tips (discretionary).

Fill the form below to request a booking

Pick your favorite quote and let's work together on making really your holiday

Please select at least one safari package.
Please choose a start date.
Please choose an end date.
Adults
Childrens ( 0-13 )
Please tell us how many people are traveling.
Please tell us your requirements.
Please enter a valid email address.
Please enter your phone number.