Itinerary ✦ Field Guide
Tanzania · 9 Days / 8 Nights
A note before you go
Thank you for considering a journey with us. What follows is more than an itinerary: it is a field guide to the places you will come to know, the camps where you will rest, and the rhythm of nine days spent in the wildest corner of East Africa.
We were founded on a simple belief: a true safari is not about what you see, but what you feel. Our guides were born and raised here, and they will share not only the wildlife but the stories of their home.
Every detail in these pages can be shaped around you. Mark it up, dream a little, and tell us what you would change.
With warmth,
The Beyond Native Africa team
Nairobi · Arusha
01 — Overview
Synonymous with ‘safari,’ this journey is a front-row seat to the ‘World Cup of Wildlife’—the Great Wildebeest Migration. You will stand in awe of the Serengeti’s endless plains, descend into a vibrant volcanic caldera, and witness one of the “Seven New Natural Wonders of the World.”
Vast, ancient landscapes where nature is still the undisputed ruler.
Interlude
The route
| Day | Where | Highlight | Overnight | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Arusha | Arrival in Arusha | Arusha Hotel | Breakfast |
| 02 | Tarangire | Tarangire National Park | Nimali Tarangire | Full board |
| 03 | Tarangire | A Full Day in Tarangire | Nimali Tarangire | Full board |
| 04 | Ngorongoro | Ngorongoro Conservation Area | Lemala Ngorongoro | Full board |
| 05 | Serengeti | Serengeti National Park | Lemala Ewanjan | Full board |
| 06 | Serengeti | Predators of the Serengeti | Lemala Ewanjan | Full board |
| 07–08 | Ndutu | Following the Migration in Ndutu | Lemala Ndutu / Lemala Mara | Full board |
| 09 | Ndutu | Departure | — | — |
Field notes
Around two million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle move in a great clockwise loop through the Serengeti–Mara ecosystem, following the rains. Your camps are chosen to put you close to the herds.
An approximate guide — the herds follow the rain, not the calendar.
Chapter 02 ✦ The where
Gateway to the Northern Circuit
A green, coffee-scented town in the shadow of Mount Meru, and the starting line for Tanzania’s great northern parks.
Most safaris in northern Tanzania begin here. After the long flight in, Arusha is the place to slow down: an unhurried evening, a good night’s sleep and a first look at Mount Meru, whose cone rises above the town on clear mornings. From here the road west leads to Tarangire, the Crater Highlands and the Serengeti.
Arusha
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you will be greeted by a Beyond Native Africa Safaris representative and transferred to your hotel in Arusha. The day is yours to relax and acclimate.
Chapter 03 ✦ The where
Tarangire National Park
Ancient baobabs, red termite towers and, in the dry months, more elephants than anywhere else in Tanzania.
Tarangire is often the surprise of the northern circuit. As the dry season deepens, the Tarangire River becomes the only reliable water for miles and wildlife pours in: great herds of elephant, buffalo and zebra, the lions and leopards that follow them, and the elusive fringe-eared oryx. Its landscape of baobabs and sweeping savannah is unlike any other park in the north.
Tarangire
After breakfast, we depart for Tarangire National Park, arriving at Nimali Tarangire in time for lunch. This park is a haven for large mammals, including buffalo, elephant, lion, and the elusive fringe-eared oryx. Enjoy a thrilling afternoon game drive.
Tarangire
Spend a full day exploring the diverse landscapes of Tarangire with a picnic lunch. In the dry season, the Tarangire River becomes a sanctuary for Tanzania’s highest concentration of elephants. The park is dominated by ancient baobab trees, extraordinary termite mounds, and sweeping savannah plains.
Chapter 04 ✦ The where
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The world’s largest intact volcanic caldera: a sealed-off Eden 600 metres below the rim.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the crater is a self-contained world of grassland, swamp, forest and soda lake, home to a remarkable resident population of Africa’s big game, including the rare black rhino. Descending the crater wall in the early morning, with mist lifting off the floor below, is one of the great moments of any African journey.
Ngorongoro
After breakfast, the tour continues to the renowned Ngorongoro Conservation Area. We will arrive at Lemala Ngorongoro Camp, collect lunch boxes, and descend to the crater floor for an extended tour. This globally acclaimed conservation area is home to the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera and an extraordinary resident population of Africa’s big game.
Chapter 05 ✦ The where
Serengeti National Park
Endless plains. In the Maasai language, Siringet — “the place where the land runs on forever”.
Undeniably the greatest wildlife-watching destination on Earth. The first view of the grasslands from Naabi Hill at the park’s entrance stays with you for a lifetime. The central Serengeti is famous for its predators, above all its lion prides, and with over 500 bird species it is a paradise for birders too. Days end with sundowners in the Mukoma Hills.
Serengeti
This morning, we depart for the legendary Serengeti National Park. The view of the endless grasslands from Naabi Hill at the park’s entrance is a memory that will last a lifetime. Undeniably the greatest wildlife-watching destination on Earth, the Serengeti hosts thousands of ungulates constantly on the move. Enjoy an afternoon game drive.
Serengeti
Enjoy a full day in the Serengeti with a picnic lunch. Morning and afternoon game drives provide the best opportunity to experience the park’s famed predators, especially its lion prides. With over 500 bird species, the Serengeti is also an incredible destination for birders. We’ll end the day with sundowners at the Mukoma Hills.
Chapter 06 ✦ The where
Southern Serengeti ecosystem
Where the herds gather after the rains, and the drama of the migration plays out in every direction.
On the short-grass plains around Lake Ndutu, the wildebeest congregate after the rains, and the predators are never far behind. In the dry season, springs keep resident game in the area. Two full days give you time to follow the herds properly, at their pace rather than yours.
Ndutu
The tour follows the migration to the Ndutu region of the Serengeti. After the rains, the wildebeest congregate here. In the dry season, springs provide much-needed water, attracting resident game. You will spend two days on game drives, tracking the herds and the predators that follow them. The late morning of Day 8 is spent at leisure before an afternoon game drive.
Ndutu
After a final breakfast and check-out, you will be transferred to the local airstrip for a return flight to Arusha. On arrival, a Beyond Native Africa Safaris representative will assist with your transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your outbound departure.
Accommodation spotlights
Spotlight 01
Tarangire National Park
An intimate tented camp in Tarangire, placed for long days among the elephants and baobabs, with lunch on arrival and a first game drive the same afternoon.
Spotlight 02
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
A tented camp in the forest near the crater rim, positioned for an early descent to the crater floor while the morning light is soft.
Spotlight 03
Central Serengeti
A tented camp in the heart of the central Serengeti, the classic base for predator country and the open plains around it.
Spotlight 04
Following the migration
Seasonal camps that move with the story: Ndutu when the herds are in the south, Mara when they are in the north. We book whichever puts you closest to the action.
Investment & inclusions
| Season | When | Per person sharing |
|---|---|---|
| Low season | April – May | Quoted for your dates |
| Shoulder season | March | Quoted for your dates |
| High season | June, November – December | Quoted for your dates |
| Peak season | December – February, July – October | Quoted for your dates |
Included
Not included
Final inclusions and park fees are confirmed in your personalised quote.
Next steps
Your specialist
inquiry@beyondnativeafrica.com
Quote reference BNA-T01 · Prepared for you
Field notes · Keep it in your daypack
Tick them off as you go, and note where you saw them. Your guide will help with the tricky ones.
The Big Five
Plains game
Hunters & scavengers
Water & crater
Birds
Notes from the road
“A true safari is not about what you see, but what you feel.”
inquiry@beyondnativeafrica.com
Nairobi, Kenya · Arusha, Tanzania
beyondnativeafrica.com
© Beyond Native Africa Tours Ltd. Itinerary subject to availability; details confirmed at the time of booking.