Day 1
Kilimanjaro – Tarangire
After flying into Kilimanjaro International Airport, you’ll be met by a driver-guide and transferred to Sanctuary Swala Camp in Tarangire - it's an enjoyable drive taking approximately four hours. This is your chance to drink in the views of Tanzania’s seemingly never-ending plains, looking out for majestic elephant sauntering and grazing in the sun. Please note to enjoy your itinerary to the full, we recommend early morning flights into Tanzania.
Once you’ve checked in at the camp a delicious lunch will be waiting for you. You'll have some time to relax and enjoy the camp before your first afternoon game drive. Tarangire is well-known for its jaw-dropping population of elephants, which roam alongside zebra, wildebeest, buffalo and impala, giving you a multitude of incredible sightings during your trip. Due to the camp's secluded location you are unlikely to see many vehicles as you venture out into the National Park.
Return to the the camp for dinner and your first night in the African bush. Each of the twelve tents is shaded by tall acacia trees and ancient baobabs and is within sight of the well-frequented waterhole. Huge herds of elephant, greater kudu, impala and zebra are all easily spotted whilst leopard lurk in the trees.
Overnight: Sanctuary Swala Camp
Day 2
Tarangire
After breakfast at the camp, you will have the choice of doing a morning and afternoon game drive with lunch and some down time at the camp or going out on a full day game drive with packed lunches.
Here, you’ll be amongst some of Africa’s biggest and greatest wildlife. Huge herds of elephant swing their trunks in unison as they search for the nearest watering hole, whilst ginormous wildebeest graze in the shade. Elegant giraffe wander through the baobab trees – their heads poking out of the canopies, and you may even see a stealthy leopard waiting in the bush. After your day of exploration, you will head back to Sanctuary Swala Camp for dinner.
Overnight: Sanctuary Swala Camp
Day 3
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
This morning you will enjoy one more game drive followed by breakfast at camp before checking out and driving to Sanctuary Ngorongoro Camp.
This camp offers ten classic safari tents - each with its own en-suite bathroom and indoor bucket shower, with a personal tent attendant filling your bucket shower to the perfect temperature whenever required from the outside. The tents also feature hairdryers and plug points and a small sitting area in front of each of the tents where early morning coffee and biscuits can be enjoyed before starting the day of incredible game viewing. The main common areas include a dining area, bar area and lounge area as well as comfortable sofas placed in specially-selected locations around the camp.
This camp is ideally situated in the crater rim valley with easy access to the crater floor. Once you have checked in you will be treated to a sumptuous lunch. The rest of the afternoon and evening you will have at leisure.
Overnight: Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp
Day 4
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
This morning rise early and enjoy breakfast before descending into the Crater for a half day game drive.
The Crater is an ancient volcano which three million years ago imploded leaving one of the world's largest intact caldera, and is now one of the most beautiful settings for a safari in the whole of Africa. Here there is a wealth of wildlife where you will be treated to sightings of huge buffalo herds, elephants, black rhinos, spotted hyenas, rare wild dogs, and cheetahs. It is also known to have the densest population of lions. You may also be lucky enough to spot the elusive leopard as they like to spend their days around the rim and can often be seen around the Lerai Forest.
After your fun packed morning head back to camp in time for lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure reminiscing about your morning sightings.
Overnight: Sanctuary Ngorongoro Crater Camp
Day 5
Serengeti National Park
Today after breakfast you will say goodbye to Ngorongoro as you head for Serengeti National Park. On route you will enjoy a game drive and packed lunch in Lake Manyara National Park, the smallest of the four parks which make up the Northern Circuit. The beautiful lake here is a photographer's dream with a myriad of birds including pelicans, flamingos and egrets, but there is so much more to see with the diverse landscape ranging from evergreen forests to savannah and marshland. You will have the chance to see plenty of zebra, wildebeest, buffalo and impala as well as the infamous tree-climbing lions.
Later you will transfer to the Manyara airstrip for your scheduled flight to the Serengeti. (North Serengeti between 1st June and 14th November and South Serengeti between 30th November and 5th January). On arrival you will be met by your driver guide who will drive you to your new home for the next three nights with game viewing on route.
Kichakani translates from Swahili as 'in the bush'. The luxury tents at Sanctuary Kichakani Serengeti Camp can be packed up and moved along just as the pioneering explorers of the 19th century did, yet these have all the modern and portable comforts such as handcrafted luggage, easy chairs and characterful cabinets and desks, a modern collection of first-class furniture bringing the charm of centuries-ago safari living bang up to date. In addition the camp also features a grand central canopied area where the main tent flows into lounges and dining wings. Promising awe-inspiring panoramas, the tents can be opened on the sides to reveal the soul-stirring landscape. After dinner, gather around the fire pit and exchange stories under the starry skies of wildlife encounters so far. Sanctuary Kichakani Serengeti Camp’s three set locations throughout the year are based on the natural migration path.
Overnight: Sanctuary Kichakani Serengeti Camp
Day 6
Serengeti National Park
After breakfast you may choose to partake in a full day game drive into the heart of the Serengeti with a picnic lunch or remain close to the camp with morning and afternoon game drives.
With an impressive expanse of over 30,000 sq Kilometres, Serengeti is the heart of any northern circuit safari within Tanzania. The endless grassy plains and diverse terrain here supports a huge array of wildlife. Cheetahs, lions, buffalos, zebras and wildebeest to name just a few. And if you are a bird lover you will be thrilled by the 500 different species of birdlife recorded here.
Overnight: Sanctuary Kichakani Serengeti Camp
Day 7
Serengeti National Park
Again today you may choose to either partake in a full day game drive into the heart of the Serengeti with a picnic lunch, or remain close to camp with morning and afternoon game drives. Enjoy your last night by the firepit contemplating your extraodinary African adventure.
Overnight: Sanctuary Kichakani Serengeti Camp
Day 8
Departure
Enjoy a leisurely morning relaxing at camp or venture out early for one last morning game drive, before transferring to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight to Kilimanjaro via Arusha. Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro connect with your onward flight.
Add a luxurious beach stay
After the excitement of staying in luxury tents and exploring the vast wilderness of northern Tanzania, we'd suggest adding on an indulgent stay in the Seychelles or Zanzibar.
