10 Days Tanzania Safari Itinerary 2026

Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport and Transfer to Arusha

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha Airport, or another agreed location, meet your safari representative and transfer to your hotel in Arusha.

Arusha is the main starting point for Tanzania's Northern Safari Circuit. Depending on your arrival time, you may relax at the hotel, explore the property, or purchase final travel supplies.

Your safari guide or representative will explain the itinerary, expected driving times, accommodation plan, park procedures, luggage arrangements, and general safari safety.

Enjoy dinner according to your confirmed hotel meal plan and rest before the wildlife safari begins.

Arusha to Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, meet your professional safari guide and begin the journey to Tarangire National Park. The drive passes through towns, farming areas, villages, and open countryside.

Tarangire National Park contains ancient baobab trees, acacia woodland, open grassland, seasonal wetlands, and the Tarangire River.

Search for elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, impalas, waterbuck, warthogs, baboons, lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, and numerous birds.

Enjoy lunch inside the park and continue with an afternoon game drive. Later, travel to your lodge or tented camp in the Tarangire, Lake Manyara, or Karatu area.

Lake Manyara National Park Game Drive

After breakfast, travel to Lake Manyara National Park. Located below the Great Rift Valley escarpment, the park contains groundwater forest, grassland, wetlands, acacia woodland, hot springs, and seasonal lake habitats.

Wildlife possibilities include elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, impalas, warthogs, hippos, baboons, blue monkeys, and many bird species.

Lions and leopards may also occur in the park, although sightings depend on vegetation, animal movements, and conditions during the game drive.

Enjoy lunch at an authorized picnic area and continue the safari during the afternoon. Later, travel to your lodge in the Lake Manyara or Karatu area.

Karatu to Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, depart for Serengeti National Park. The journey normally passes through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, offering views of highland farms, mountain forest, volcanic landscapes, Maasai communities, and open plains.

Depending on weather and time, a short viewpoint stop may be arranged near Ngorongoro Crater before continuing toward the Serengeti.

After entering Serengeti National Park, begin a game drive toward your lodge or tented camp. Search for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, hyenas, hippos, and birds.

Arrive at your accommodation during the late afternoon or early evening for dinner and overnight.

Full-Day Central Serengeti Game Drive

Wake early and enjoy breakfast before departing for a full-day game drive in Central Serengeti. This region is known for reliable year-round wildlife and resident predator populations.

Explore open plains, rocky kopjes, woodland, seasonal streams, and riverine habitats. Lions may rest near kopjes, while leopards are sometimes seen in trees along river systems.

Cheetahs may scan open areas for gazelles. Other wildlife may include elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, wildebeest, zebras, topi, hartebeest, impalas, hyenas, and jackals.

Enjoy lunch during the game drive and continue exploring during the afternoon before returning to your camp.

Serengeti Predator and Photography Safari

Begin another full day of game viewing in Serengeti National Park. Early morning hours may provide opportunities to observe predators before temperatures rise.

Search for lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, jackals, servals, and other carnivores. Your guide will use recent wildlife reports and knowledge of established territories to select the route.

The Serengeti's open landscapes also provide excellent opportunities to photograph elephants, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, buffaloes, hippos, antelopes, birds, and dramatic scenery.

Enjoy lunch during the safari and continue with the afternoon game drive before returning to your lodge or tented camp.

Serengeti Great Migration Safari

After breakfast, depart for another full day of wildlife viewing. The day's route may focus on the seasonal Great Migration or resident Serengeti wildlife.

The migration is a continuous movement of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles through the wider Serengeti ecosystem. Herd locations depend on rainfall, water availability, fresh grass, and natural animal behavior.

During different months, migration herds may be found in southern, central, western, or northern Serengeti. Exact locations and animal movements cannot be guaranteed.

When migration herds are far from your accommodation, your guide will focus on productive resident wildlife areas.

Flexible Full-Day Serengeti Wildlife Exploration

This additional Serengeti day gives your guide flexibility to revisit productive wildlife locations or explore areas that could not be reached on previous days.

You may choose an early morning game drive followed by a midday rest, or remain in the park throughout the day with a packed lunch.

Search for lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, hyenas, jackals, antelopes, and birds.

A hot-air balloon safari may also be arranged on this day, subject to additional cost, weather, availability, and the location of your accommodation.

Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Enjoy breakfast and begin your final morning game drive in Serengeti National Park. Morning hours provide another opportunity to search for active predators and species not encountered during previous game drives.

Your guide may revisit productive wildlife areas or follow a different route toward the Serengeti exit.

After lunch, continue toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The landscape gradually changes from open plains to volcanic highlands and mountain scenery.

Arrive at your lodge near the crater rim, inside the conservation area, or around Karatu. Carry warm clothing because temperatures may become cold.

Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive and Return to Arusha

After an early breakfast, travel toward the Ngorongoro Crater descent road. Complete the required park procedures and descend approximately 600 metres to the crater floor.

The crater contains grassland, forest, swamps, springs, streams, and a seasonal soda lake. These habitats support a high concentration of resident wildlife.

Search for lions, elephants, buffaloes, wildebeest, zebras, spotted hyenas, hippos, warthogs, gazelles, jackals, flamingos, storks, eagles, and other wildlife.

Black rhinos may occasionally be seen, although sightings are uncommon and cannot be guaranteed. Enjoy lunch inside the crater and continue the game drive before ascending.

Begin the return journey to Arusha and arrive during the late afternoon or evening. Transfer to your hotel, residence, airport, or another agreed location.