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10-Day Ultimate Northern Tanzania Wild Experince + Hot Air Balloon
Tanzania Safari

10-Day Ultimate Northern Tanzania Wild Experince + Hot Air Balloon

Safari price
From $5,890
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Safari Escort journey

Trip Overview

The 10-Day Ultimate Northern Tanzania Wild Experince + Hot Air Balloon starts and finishes in Arusha. Its route includes Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, and Lake Manyara, following the destination order and transfers set out in the day-by-day itinerary.

The journey is shaped around a sunrise balloon safari, with each overnight stop positioned for the next stage of the route.

Every safari day brings a different perspective on Tanzania’s landscapes and wildlife. Explore the route below to see how activities, journeys between destinations and overnight stays fit together. Our local team can help you consider seasonal wildlife movements, the time available and accommodation preferences before you make a decision.

Where every day follows the rhythm of the journey
Elephant habitat and baobab landscape in Tarangire National ParkTarangire
Zebra and wildlife habitat inside Ngorongoro CraterNgorongoro Crater
Wildebeest moving across the plains of Serengeti National ParkSerengeti
Flamingos and lakeshore scenery in Lake Manyara National ParkLake Manyara
Moments along the route
Safari Highlights

Your Journey Highlights

  • Arrival in Arusha – A Gentle BeginningMeet the local team, complete the planned transfer and settle in before the active part of the journey begins.
  • Elephant Lands – Arusha to Tarangire National ParkExplore Tarangire’s river valley, baobab country and wildlife habitat on a guided game drive.
  • Baobabs & Beasts – Full Day Safari in TarangireExplore Tarangire’s river valley, baobab country and wildlife habitat on a guided game drive.
  • Into the Highlands – Morning Game Drive & Transfer to NgorongoroDescend into the Ngorongoro Crater for guided wildlife viewing across grassland, woodland and wetland habitats.
  • Crater of Life – Safari in Ngorongoro Crater & Drive to SerengetiDescend into the Ngorongoro Crater for guided wildlife viewing across grassland, woodland and wetland habitats.
  • Timeless Serengeti – Game Drives Across the Great PlainsTravel across the Serengeti with time for game viewing, adapting the day’s route to current wildlife activity and seasonal conditions.

Your Itinerary

Day 01

Arrival in Arusha – A Gentle Beginning

  • Activity: Arrival & Transfer
  • Meals Included: Dinner

Your guide will meet you at the confirmed arrival point and accompany you to Masailand Safari Lodge near Arusha. After check-in, the day is deliberately light: rest, enjoy the grounds and recover from your journey before the first safari departure. Your guide will review the route, pickup time and any practical questions, including what to keep close at hand for the days ahead. Enjoy a calm first evening in Tanzania.

Accommodation

Masailand Safari Lodge

Masailand Safari Lodge is an Arusha-area property used as a comfortable staging point before or after safari. Its rooms, gardens and shared facilities provide more space to settle than a brief airport stop, while remaining connected to city services and road transfers. On-site dining supports early departures and relaxed arrival evenings according to the booked meal plan. The lodge’s role in these itineraries is to bridge international or domestic travel with the northern parks without altering the safari route.

LocationArushaStay styleSafari lodge
Day 02

Elephant Lands – Arusha to Tarangire National Park

  • Activity: Game Drive
  • Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, your journey begins as you drive into the wild terrain of Tarangire. Known for its ancient baobabs and large elephant herds, Tarangire is one of Tanzania’s most scenic parks. You’ll spend the afternoon on safari, exploring riverbanks, open plains, and thick woodlands where wildlife is abundant. Your guide will shape the route around current wildlife activity, road conditions and the best available viewing areas. Stops are unhurried, allowing time to observe animal behaviour, photograph the landscape and understand how the park’s habitats connect. Rather than chasing a checklist, the day follows the rhythms of the ecosystem and the guide’s local knowledge. Breaks are arranged at suitable points while keeping the experience comfortable, focused and respectful of the wildlife.

Accommodation

Serian Tarangire Camp

Serian Tarangire Camp by Acacia Collection is a tented property in Tarangire National Park overlooking the park’s elephant country. Safari tents and central lounge, dining and campfire areas are arranged to preserve the connection with baobab woodland and dry savannah. The in-park setting limits unnecessary transfers between morning and afternoon game drives. It suits routes that want a deeper Tarangire experience before continuing toward Karatu, Ngorongoro or the Serengeti on the northern circuit.

LocationTarangireStay styleTented safari camp
Day 03

Baobabs & Beasts – Full Day Safari in Tarangire

  • Activity: Game Drive & Transfer
  • Meals Included: Lunch & Dinner

Enjoy a full day discovering the hidden corners of Tarangire. This park is rich in life, with elephants gathering by the river and predators like lions, leopards, and cheetahs often seen hunting in the grasslands. Break for a picnic lunch under a baobab tree, then continue your game drive. Your guide will shape the route around current wildlife activity, road conditions and the best available viewing areas. Stops are unhurried, allowing time to observe animal behaviour, photograph the landscape and understand how the park’s habitats connect. Rather than chasing a checklist, the day follows the rhythms of the ecosystem and the guide’s local knowledge. Breaks are arranged at suitable points while keeping the experience comfortable, focused and respectful of the wildlife.

Accommodation

Serian Tarangire Camp

Serian Tarangire Camp by Acacia Collection is a tented property in Tarangire National Park overlooking the park’s elephant country. Safari tents and central lounge, dining and campfire areas are arranged to preserve the connection with baobab woodland and dry savannah. The in-park setting limits unnecessary transfers between morning and afternoon game drives. It suits routes that want a deeper Tarangire experience before continuing toward Karatu, Ngorongoro or the Serengeti on the northern circuit.

LocationTarangireStay styleTented safari camp
Day 04

Into the Highlands – Morning Game Drive & Transfer to Ngorongoro

  • Activity: Game Drive & Transfer
  • Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Start the morning with one last drive through Tarangire’s golden landscape. Watch wildlife stir as the light changes. After breakfast, begin your journey toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. As you climb into the highlands, the air cools and the views change to farms, forests, and misty ridges. Your guide will shape the route around current wildlife activity, road conditions and the best available viewing areas. Stops are unhurried, allowing time to observe animal behaviour, photograph the landscape and understand how the park’s habitats connect. Rather than chasing a checklist, the day follows the rhythms of the ecosystem and the guide’s local knowledge. Breaks are arranged at suitable points while keeping the experience comfortable, focused and respectful of the wildlife.

Accommodation

Naserian Safari Camp

Naserian Safari Camp is an intimate Acacia Collection camp near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Its highland position keeps guests close to crater access while offering an under-canvas alternative to a larger Karatu hotel. En-suite rooms and central dining and campfire spaces create a compact base for cooler evenings. The camp is particularly useful on routes linking the Serengeti with Ngorongoro, allowing the next day to begin near the conservation area rather than farther down the escarpment.

LocationNgorongoro highlandsStay styleTented safari camp
Day 05

Crater of Life – Safari in Ngorongoro Crater & Drive to Serengeti

  • Activity: Game Drive & Transfer
  • Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater at sunrise—a place often called the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” Here, you may spot the endangered black rhino, massive bull elephants, and proud lion prides. After a scenic picnic near a hippo pool, drive across the vast conservation area to reach the Serengeti plains. Wildlife may greet you even before you officially enter the park.

Accommodation

Enkirari Wilderness Camp

Enkirari Wilderness Camp is an under-canvas property in the heart of the central Serengeti. Its location among open plains and scattered acacia keeps guests close to the Seronera region’s varied game-drive circuits. En-suite safari tents, a mess area and campfire space provide the essentials for a comfortable wilderness stay without separating guests from the sounds of the park. The camp is a practical base for consecutive Serengeti days and for routes continuing toward Ngorongoro or the migration regions.

LocationSerengetiStay styleTented safari camp
Day 06 - 8

Timeless Serengeti – Game Drives Across the Great Plains

  • Activity: Game Drive & Transfer
  • Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Spend the next three days exploring the heart of Serengeti. Mornings begin with the golden sunrise and the sounds of nature waking up. Drive across woodlands, river valleys, and wide open grasslands where you may find lions hunting, elephants roaming, and large herds of wildebeest and zebras. Depending on the season, you may witness the Great Migration – one of nature’s most awe-inspiring events.

Accommodation

Enkirari Wilderness Camp

Enkirari Wilderness Camp is an under-canvas property in the heart of the central Serengeti. Its location among open plains and scattered acacia keeps guests close to the Seronera region’s varied game-drive circuits. En-suite safari tents, a mess area and campfire space provide the essentials for a comfortable wilderness stay without separating guests from the sounds of the park. The camp is a practical base for consecutive Serengeti days and for routes continuing toward Ngorongoro or the migration regions.

LocationSerengetiStay styleTented safari camp
Day 09

From the Wild to the Hills – Morning Safari & Transfer to Karatu

  • Activity: Game Drive & Transfer
  • Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Wake early for your final game drive in Serengeti, soaking in the magic of the early hours. After a relaxed breakfast in the bush, begin your journey back eastward. Your guide will shape the route around current wildlife activity, road conditions and the best available viewing areas. Stops are unhurried, allowing time to observe animal behaviour, photograph the landscape and understand how the park’s habitats connect. Rather than chasing a checklist, the day follows the rhythms of the ecosystem and the guide’s local knowledge. Breaks are arranged at suitable points while keeping the experience comfortable, focused and respectful of the wildlife.

Accommodation

The Castle at Ngorongoro

The Castle at Ngorongoro is a distinctive lodge-style property in the Karatu and Ngorongoro highlands. Its architecture gives the overnight stop a strong identity, while the cooler agricultural landscape separates it from the tented camps of the open plains. Guest rooms, dining and lounge spaces provide a settled base after long northern-circuit drives. The location supports access to Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara and the road onward to the Serengeti or Arusha.

LocationNgorongoro highlandsStay styleBoutique safari lodge
Day 10

Forests & Flamingos – Lake Manyara Safari & Return to Arusha

  • Activity: Game Drive & Transfer
  • Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

On your final day, head to Lake Manyara, a small yet diverse park known for its tree-climbing lions, flamingo-filled shores, and green forest canopy. Enjoy a leisurely game drive, spotting monkeys, elephants, and countless birds. In the afternoon, drive back to Arusha, where your safari concludes—hearts full, cameras loaded, and memories for a lifetime.

  • End of Tour in Arusha
Plan your safari
Your Safari Package

Included & Excluded

Included

Included in the published itinerary

  • All national park and conservation area entry fees
  • Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
  • Professional English-speaking safari guide
  • All scheduled game drives and crater descent
  • 9 nights’ midrange accommodation in specified lodges and camps
  • All meals during the safari (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
  • Bottled drinking water and soft drinks during game drives
  • Transfers to/from Arusha or airport (if arranged)
Not included

Additional costs

  • International and domestic flights
  • Visa fees and travel insurance
  • Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Tips and gratuities for guide and lodge staff
  • Alcoholic beverages unless specified
  • Personal expenses (laundry, souvenirs, etc.)
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Before you go

Safari Questions,
Simply Answered

Ask our safari team

Advertised as 10 days; 8 itinerary days are currently listed. Please confirm the complete schedule. The day-by-day itinerary shows where each overnight falls. Check arrival and departure flight times before arranging onward travel, and ask us if you would prefer a slower pace or an extra night.

From $5,890 per person. Ask for a quote for your dates and group size. The final quote depends on travel dates, group size, room choice and any flights or extras. Request a written breakdown of park fees, accommodation, meals, transfers and exclusions before you book.

Arusha – Gateway city surrounded by forests and foothills, Tarangire National Park – Home to large elephant herds and towering baobabs, Ngorongoro Crater – Lush volcanic caldera with dense wildlife, Serengeti National Park – Iconic savannas and the Great Migration, Karatu Highlands – Peaceful hill country with coffee farms and cool air, Lake Manyara National Park – Tree lions, flamingos, and forested landscapes

Masailand Safari Lodge, Serian Tarangire Camp by Acacia Collection, Ngorongoro Naserian Safari Camp by Acacia Collection, Enkirari Wilderness Camp, The Castle at Ngorongoro by Acacia Collection. Exact properties and room types depend on availability. Ask us to confirm each stay, its location, meal plan and any proposed alternative in writing before paying a deposit.