Tailor Made Holidays & Honeymoons to Tanzania

If you want to experience all the wildlife and natural beauty of a traditional safari in Northern Tanzania, but get off the beaten track and stay active, this is a great safari for you!  9 or 11 day itineraries take you through a range of scenery from the lush mountains of Arusha National Park to the deserted shores of Lake Natron, through Maasai lands (with your own Maasai guide) of Longido walking around the area learning about traditional Maasai ways of life.

This tailor made safari is run by a lovely company based in Arusha who pride themselves in authentic holidays, have wonderful relationships with the local tribes people and use eco-lodges and camps wherever possible.

The best of Tanzania’s north, game viewing by vehicle, by canoe, on foot and by bicycle. These adventures include time in the Serengeti plus a visit to Lake Eyasi, home to some of Africa’s last hunter-gatherers, the Hadzabe.  This is a perfect safari to include children too!

Prices in low season start from £2,250 per person for 9 days or £2,820 per person for 11 days. High season from £2,338 pp for 9 days or £2,925 pp for 11 days (based on 2 people sharing the itinerary and a room).  The more people travelling together the lower the price. Low season = March, April, May, June, October, November, December (til 15th).

Here is the detailed itinerary - ask us for a full quote for your required dates and party numbers (this trip can be run as a group or private tailor made), we can add on beach extensions and international flights too. 

Day 1  Full day in Arusha National Park with morning game drive. Great opportunity to see several primate species including Black and White Colobus Monkeys. Also here you will find Cape Buffalo, Warthogs and Maasai Giraffe. After a picnic lunch continue to Momella Lake were you will enjoy a guided canoe excursion. Dinner and overnight at an Arusha area lodge (not included in the price). Arusha 1 night

Day 2 Drive from Arusha to Longido (1.5 hrs) and meet with Sambeke, your Maasai guide. A briefing introduces you to the Maasai language (Kimaa) and customs.  Lunch at the campsite.  Afternoon visit a Maasai boma and experience the daily routine of the traditional villages.  You will be warmly welcomed into the dung and stick houses and visit the local school.  Sambeke will show you healing plants that have been used for centuries by the Maasai. Return to your tented camp for dinner. (see below description). Longido Maasai camp x 2 nights

Day 3 Full day in Longido.  Walk from the camp to communal water collection point, a place which is always busy with the meeting of people and animals. Water is the basis of life here. Pass through the village on the walk back to camp where you have lunch. Afternoon walk on the Mount Longido slopes to waterfalls and the Olpul (a 'retreat' where the Morani - young warriors) go to slaughter cows and gorge themselves with meat.  The Morani also make soup with local herbs. There is an option for a longer walk to the acacia scrublands where you can see giraffes, kudu, gerenuk, zebras and gazelles and plenty of bird life, meeting Maasai along the way.  Return to camp, following the young Maasai boys herding their goats and cattle back to the boma for the evening.

Day 4  Depart for the Lake Manyara area (2.5 hrs drive) stopping at Mto wa Mbu village.  (Cycling tour can be included here). Mto wa Mbu is the melting pot of culture in Tanzania, a fascinating and fertile area that brings together over 120 different tribes, each practising their own eclectic cottage style industries, such as wood carving, banana beer brewing and artists, which can be seen here and in the local market.  Take a guided walking tour of the banana and rice plantations. We take a guided cycling tour along the lake, culminating at an authentic Swahili lunch at Moma's boma. Afternoon game drive in Lake Manyara national park, with opportunities to see elephants, hippos and lots of lake shore birds. Overnight in a lodge in the nearby Ngorongoro Highlands (1 hr drive from Manyara). Ngorongoro Highlands, Bougainvillea Safari Lodge 1 night. 

Day 5 Early morning departure for Ngorongoro Crater, stunning views from the crater rim before descending to the plains full of wildebeest, zebra and several prides of lions. Elephants wander the forest areas and if you are lucky you may spot the endangered Black Rhino who life here. In the afternoon continue by road to the Serengeti Plains. Evening at a seasonal camp inside the national park, listening to the sounds of the African bush in a classic canvas tent but with the comforts of a lodge.  Serengeti Kati Kati Camp x 2 nights

Day 6 Game viewing in the Serengeti.

Day 7 Drive north to Loliondo, Maasai lands to Lake Natron (6 hours) with picnics on the way. In the late afternoon visit the small waterfall a 30 minute walk up the Ngare Sero River Gorge, take the chance to cool off after the long dusty drive. Dinner and overnight at Lake Natron Halisi Camp. Lake Natron x 2 nights

Day 8 Morning walking excursion up the Ngare Sero River Gorge to the 'source of the waterfall' a day hike of 5-7 hours with a picnic lunch.  Early evening excursion to the shores of Lake Natron for a walk on the salt flats, opportunity to see the massive flocks of Lesser Flamingos.  Dinner and overnight at the camp.

Day 9 Drive back to Arusha (5 hours) for a late lunch at Shangaa/Riverhouse. Onward arrangements.

An 11 day option would include 2 nights at Lake Eyasi (days 5 & 6)

Day 5  Depart for Lake Eyasi, to the area with some of Africa's last remaining hunter-gathers. Once we reach camp, have lunch then afternoon excursion to see a Datoga settlement.  The Datoga consider themselves the oldest tribe in Tanzania. It is known they migrated about 3000 years ago from the Highlands of Ethiopia. The Datoga are farmers specialising in onion plantations, but share similarities to Maasai in some traditions. The camp here is on the shores of the lake, offering warm hospitality, a pool and one of the best sundowner spots in Tanzania.  Kisima Ngeda, Lake Eyasi x 2 nights

Day 6  Early morning visit to a Hadzabe settlement. The Hadza are true hunter gatherers. The scope of the excursion is largely decided at the whim of circumstance which depicts a hunter gathererer lifestyle - seizing opportunites as they arise! Children are encouraged to join a hunt, practice their bow skills or learn how to find wild tubers. A picnic lunch is taken to allow flexibility of the day and experience these ancient cultures.

This safari can be followed by some time on the coast, if you prefer somewhere in keeping with the eco feel of this tour we suggest a stay at Saadani National Park with Tent With A View.

 Call us on 01728 748209 or complete the enquiry form or talk to us on Live Chat  for a full quote with international flights on dates to suit your requirements.