11 Days Self Drive Safari in Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater

Self Drive Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive – Arusha Town

Arrive Kilimanjaro international Airport, met with our representative and transfer to our office in Arusha for signing the contract and drop all other required documents then handled the vehicle. Depends with the time you may opt to overnight in Arusha waiting for the next day.

Recommended Hotels: Arusha planet Lodge, Maasai lands Hotel

Day 2: Self Drive Adventure Safari in Tarangire

Today you will start the self-drive adventure safari by driving to Tarangire National Park which is located an approximately 150 kilometers south west from Arusha town. There is a paved road from Arusha to Minjingu area and the remaining portion of about 30 kilometers from Minjingu to Tarangire is trypical rough road. While on the way you may enjoy to see the beautiful landscapes, the maasai steppe and some small maasai villages scattered along the road. You may arrive maasai people will also be seen stand alongside the road but you shouldn’t take them a picture until you ask for their permission. Arrive Tarangire for lunch then embark in the afternoon game drive till evening when you will drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Option Accommodation: Roika Tented Lodge, Lake Burunge Tented camp, Tarangire Osupuko Lodge.

Day 4: Self Drive Adventure Safari Lake Eyasi

Today you will drive for about 125 kilometers from Tarangire to the small town of Karatu via Mto wa Mbu. As you pass mto wa Mbu you may at the Lake Manyara view point which is located on rift valley escarpment. At this point you will enjoy the panoramic view of the Lake Manyara National Park and the Lake. From Karatu you will then follow the dirty road for about 72 kilometers towards Lake Eyasi area then the Yaeda valley which is the home to the Hadzabe and Datoga people.

The Hadzabe community live in a primitive ways of life and they depends of jungle fruits, honey and wild animals for their daily meals. The local Hadzabe guide, will take you to their homes and you will learn about their traditional ways of life. Furthermore you will go hunting with the Hadzabe men and enjoy the traditional dance with the Datoga tribe. In addition to this the Traditional barbeque (Goat Meat) will be prepared for you.

Optional Lodge: Lake Eyasi Safari Lodge, Kisima Ngeda Camp

Day 5: Self Drive Adventure Safari Ngorongoro

Today you at morning hours you will continue with some cultural activities with the Hadzabe bushem. After taking lunch you will then depart to Karatu area where you will overstay.

Optional Lodge: Octagon Safari Lodge, Country Lodge Karatu, Bougainvillea Lodge.

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater Tour

After breakfast leave the lodge for self-drive adventure safari to Ngorongoro crater drive through the natural and evergreen forest of the Ngorongoro highland. As you arrive descend 600m into this magnificent crater for a morning, half-day game drive. The crater is estimated to host about 30,000 animals including the remaining Tanzania’s black rhino. The common seen animals in Ngorongoro Crater include herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African elephants. The crater is also host the largest population of predators which include lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and the ever-elusive leopard, which sometimes requires a trained eye to spot. You will enjoy a picnic lunch in the crater and then ascend the crater rim back to Karatu.

Optional Lodge: Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge

Day 7 – 9: Self Drive Adventure Safari Serengeti

Today you will continue with the self-drive adventure safari to the world famous park “The Serengeti” via the Olduvai Gorge. After tour of Olduvai Gorge continue to Serengeti National Park and enjoying an exciting game drive along the way. Arrive Serengeti in the afternoon and continue with the game drive till evening. Continue with the game viewing for the next day in the Serengeti national park searching for the herds of the wildebeest migration. In addition to that you will have a high chance to see lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and many other wild animals including hippo, zebra, wildebeest, cheetah, hyena, Thomson gazelle, just to mention a few.

Note: For the month of July and August you will have to spend one night at in Central Serengeti and 2 nights in northern Serengeti

Optional Accommodation:

December – February: Lake Ndutu Safari Lodge, Lake Ndutu Luxury Tented camp, Ang’ata Migration Camp, Tanzania Bush Camps.

March – June: Serengeti Safari Lodge, Angata Migration Camp, Serengeti Heritage Camp, Seronera Wildlife Lodge.

July – August: Angata Migration Camp, Tanzania Bush Camps etc.

Day 10: Serengeti to Karatu  

Enjoy leisure breakfast at the lodge, then depart for game drive with packed lunch en-route to Karatu. You may also opt to stop in one of the Maasai boma located in Ngorongoro Conservation area for a cultural tour. Continue with the journey and arrive Karatu in the late afternoon hours for leisure stay, dinner and overnight.

Optional Lodge: Octagon Safari Lodge, Country Lodge Karatu, Bougainvillea Lodge.

Day 11: Karatu Town – Lake Manyara – Arusha Town

After breakfast you will check-out and take off with a picnic lunch to enjoy along the drive to Lake Manyara National Park. This lake is famous for its green scenery, varied bird life, tree-climbing lion, hippo, baboon and many more wild animals. Later in the afternoon you will drive to Arusha Town then to the airport for your onward flight back home. You will meet our representative at the office and drive with him to the airport where you will handle the vehicle back to him.

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