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9-Day Northern Tanzania Classic Safari + Hot Air Balloon
Tanzania Safari

9-Day Northern Tanzania Classic Safari + Hot Air Balloon

Safari price
From $6,460
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Safari Escort journey

Trip Overview

The 9-Day Northern Tanzania Classic Safari + Hot Air Balloon starts and finishes in Arusha. Its route includes Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, and Serengeti, 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
Cheetah in the grasslands of the Serengeti ecosystemSerengeti Wildlife
Moments along the route
Safari Highlights

Your Journey Highlights

  • Touchdown in Tanzania – Arrival and Welcome in ArushaMeet the local team, complete the planned transfer and settle in before the active part of the journey begins.
  • Into the Wild – Journey to Tarangire, Land of GiantsExplore Tarangire’s river valley, baobab country and wildlife habitat on a guided game drive.
  • Full Safari Immersion – Full-Day Exploration of TarangireExplore Tarangire’s river valley, baobab country and wildlife habitat on a guided game drive.
  • Highland Horizons – Morning Safari & Scenic Drive to NgorongoroDescend into the Ngorongoro Crater for guided wildlife viewing across grassland, woodland and wetland habitats.
  • Wonder of the Crater – Safari Inside Ngorongoro & Onward to SerengetiDescend into the Ngorongoro Crater for guided wildlife viewing across grassland, woodland and wetland habitats.
  • Serengeti Sunrise – Game Drives Across the Central 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

Touchdown in Tanzania – Arrival and Welcome in Arusha

  • Activity: Arrival
  • Meals Included: Dinner

After arriving at Kilimanjaro International Airport, meet your guide for the transfer to Masailand Safari Lodge in Arusha. Check in and take time to rest after the flight, with no game drive scheduled for the arrival evening. Your guide will confirm the next day’s departure and explain the route through the northern parks, including how the balloon experience fits into the later itinerary. Enjoy a settled first night before the safari begins.

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

Into the Wild – Journey to Tarangire, Land of Giants

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

After a relaxed breakfast, you head southwest into Tarangire National Park. The drive itself is scenic, passing through small villages and Maasai lands. Once inside the park, the landscape changes with giant baobab trees and the winding Tarangire River. Known for hosting some of Africa’s largest elephant herds, the park bursts with wildlife like giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, and big cats. Your afternoon game drive takes you deep into the park where animals roam freely.

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

Full Safari Immersion – Full-Day Exploration of Tarangire

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

Today is dedicated to fully exploring Tarangire. Start early to catch predators while they’re active. You’ll visit different ecosystems—from acacia woodlands to river valleys—where elephants splash in water and lions nap in the shade. Tarangire is also home to over 550 bird species. Midday, enjoy a picnic under the shade of a baobab before continuing your adventure through the golden landscape.

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

Highland Horizons – Morning Safari & Scenic Drive to Ngorongoro

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

Your last morning in Tarangire begins with a game drive just after sunrise—one of the best times to see wildlife. After breakfast, leave the park and begin a beautiful drive northward. The land slowly rises into the Ngorongoro Highlands, a cool, green area with forests, farms, and misty hills. Along the way, you’ll pass Maasai villages, waving children, and herds of cattle grazing near volcanic slopes.

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

Wonder of the Crater – Safari Inside Ngorongoro & Onward to Serengeti

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

At sunrise, descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to nearly 30,000 animals. The crater floor is like a wildlife paradise with rich grasslands, swamps, and a soda lake. Look out for lions, spotted hyenas, massive elephants, buffaloes, and possibly a rare black rhino. After a picnic near a hippo pool, leave the crater and drive toward Serengeti National Park. As you approach, the landscape opens into wide, flat grasslands—an iconic image of wild Africa. You may spot wildlife before even entering the park gate.

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

Serengeti Sunrise – Game Drives Across the Central Plains

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

Start your day early with a sunrise drive—one of the best times to see wildlife movement. You’ll explore the Seronera area, rich with resident predators and home to countless zebras, gazelles, elephants, and giraffes. Follow the riverbanks where leopards hide and lions patrol. The open plains offer unforgettable wildlife viewing, and your experienced guide will help track rare sightings. Relax at sunset with stories around the campfire.

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 07

Balloon Safari & All-Day Game Drive Adventure

  • Activity: Hot Air Balloon Safari & Game Drive
  • Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

Begin your day with a breathtaking balloon safari over the Serengeti at sunrise—a truly unforgettable way to witness the vastness of the plains and spot wildlife from above. After landing, enjoy a champagne breakfast in the bush. From there, continue with your all-day game drive, venturing deep into the heart of the Serengeti. Depending on the season, you may witness part of the Great Migration—a spectacular movement of wildebeest and zebras across the plains. Your guide will take you to prime viewing spots, including potential river crossing points where predators often lurk. As the terrain shifts from rocky outcrops to open grasslands and wooded areas, keep your eyes open for big cats, elephants, and an abundance of birdlife. Pause midday for a scenic bush lunch, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the wild.

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 08

Final Safari Scenes – Morning Game Drive & Farewell to the Serengeti

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

Enjoy one last full day in Serengeti, starting early for the best light and wildlife. This is your chance to revisit favorite areas or look for any animals you may have missed. Take photos, enjoy the peace, and soak in the vast views one last time. The day is paced around your confirmed onward schedule, leaving enough time for final preparations and the planned transfer. Your guide will reconfirm the departure point, expected travel time and check-in requirements before setting out. Keep essential documents and valuables accessible during the journey, while the team assists with luggage and routing. The service concludes after you reach the agreed airport, ferry terminal or city drop-off for the next stage of your travels.

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

Farewell to the Wild – Morning Game Drive & Road Transfer to Arusha or Airport

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

Your final morning begins with one last safari through Serengeti’s magical morning light. After breakfast, begin your long but scenic drive back eastward. You’ll pass through Ngorongoro once more, see the highlands roll by, and descend toward Arusha. Along the way, stop for lunch and photos, and reflect on all you’ve seen. You’ll arrive in Arusha by evening or be dropped directly at the airport, depending on your travel plans.

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
  • 8 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,
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9 days / 8 nights. 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 $6,460 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 – Small city with green surroundings, Tarangire National Park – Known for elephants and baobab trees, Ngorongoro Crater – A natural crater filled with animals, Serengeti National Park – Endless grasslands and big wildlife herds, Karatu Highlands – Cool highlands with farms and forests

Masailand Safari Lodge, Serian Tarangire Camp by Acacia Collection, Ngorongoro Naserian Safari Camp by Acacia Collection, Enkirari Wilderness Camp, None – End of Tour. 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.