Day-by-day itinerary

• Day

  01

  Arusha, Tanzania

  Welcome!

  A warm welcome awaits upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Your Born Free Safaris local host will escort you to your hotel.
  
  Relax and unwind tonight in the beautiful surroundings of your outstanding lodge. Your exciting safari adventure begins tomorrow!

  Dinner
• Day

  02

  Tarangire National Park

  On Safari

  You are greeted by your guide, board your safari vehicle, and head off on a 1.5-hour drive to Tarangire National Park. The landscape reveals its iconic, mystical baobab trees and sausage trees, giraffes roam on the open roads, and the Maasai can be seen going to market. As you enter the park, the wildlife begins to reveal itself, from large elephant herds to lions stalking game and warthogs running off into the bush. After lunch and a bit of time to unwind, head out again to explore Tarangire’s diverse ecosystems, where you may spot cheetah, sprawling herds of various antelopes, and possibly the rare leopard. As the sun sets over the Tarangire River, return to your lodging for dinner. Conclude your evening under a star-filled African sky, sharing stories around a glowing bonfire with fellow travelers as the sounds of the nocturnal bush come alive.

  Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day

  03

  Tarangire National Park

  On your second day in Tarangire, head out at dawn. This is the best time to see the wildlife in action. The plains are alive, the air is golden, and the sounds of Africa are all around you. Listen for the roars of lions, and keep your eyes peeled for leopards or even the occasional wild dog dashing through the grasslands. Giraffe noses pop out over the treetops, lesser kudu stand on the lookout to keep the herds safe, leopard stalk the riverine...and your excitement builds, not knowing what is around the next termite mound!

  Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day

  04

  Lake Manyara

  Today it's off on a short and scenic drive towards the Great Rift Valley Wall and Lake Manyara National Park.
  
  Lake Manyara is a small park whose waters bring thousands of pink flamingos flocking to the area. Ernest Hemingway called this “the loveliest place I have seen in Africa.” Relish in the enchanting beauty of the five very different vegetation zones. The area is inhabited by giraffe, monkeys, zebra, impala, and of course, elephant!
  
  See the park's forested area on the Treetop Walkway. Keep a look out for a few tree-climbing lions, which may be seen sleeping off the heat on a nearby branch.
  
  Stop at a small Maasai village where you'll hear about Maasai traditions and see their homes and public areas. Spend the night at Ngorongoro Crater rim.

  Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day

  05

  Ngorongoro Crater

  Rise early for breakfast and head out for a drive that descends 2,000 feet into the Ngorongoro Crater for prime-time game viewing in this designated UNESCO Heritage Site.
  
  Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera and often described as the “eighth wonder of the world.” The great caldera encompasses a high concentration of predators, along with zebra, wildebeest, gazelle, buffalo, warthog, and elephant. If you're lucky, you may be able to approach the resident rhino, as Ngorongoro is one of the few areas in East Africa where they may be seen. The small lakes in Ngorongoro draw thousands of flamingos, creating a luminous, feathery pink haze above the lake.
  
  Return to the rim of Ngorongoro in the late afternoon and settle in for a relaxing evening. Tomorrow, we head into the gem of all of Africa - the great Serengeti Plains.

  Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Days

  06-07

  Central Serengeti National Park

  A scenic flight transports you directly into the heart of the Serengeti, plunging you immediately into one of the most awe-inspiring wildlife spectacles on Earth. This is the stage for the Great Migration, where over two million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles move in an endless, dramatic, and ever-shifting loop in search of fresh green grasses. This is nature in its rawest form, with the massive herds driving a migratory pattern from the short-grass southern plains, following the scent of rain, and moving northward, pursued constantly by Africa’s most iconic predators—lions, cheetahs, and hyenas lurking in the shadows. Your accommodation locations are selected as to your travel date to maximize game viewing opportunities.

  Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

  Special Activity:
  Hot Air Balloon Safari
  We highly suggest the balloon safari at dawn over the Serengeti with a champagne bush breakfast, from $550 per person.
• Days

  08-09

  Serengeti National Park

  Fly deeper into the vast Serengeti hoping to get closer to the heart of the herds and closer to the predators. The scale of life here is staggering - a single sweep of your binoculars can reveal hundreds of elephants, pride of lions, cheetahs, and giraffes. While the animals follow an ancient daily rhythm, your experience will be anything but predictable—each sunrise brings a fresh, unscripted drama to your safari experience.

  Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
• Day

  10

  Your Journey Onwards

  Flight to Arusha

  As your final morning on safari in northern Tanzania concludes, the time has come to bid a heartfelt farewell to the African bush. These experiences will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression, as you board your flight to Arusha. Your host will meet you on arrival where you will have lunch, perhaps do last-minute shopping, and then board your onward flight.

  Breakfast / Lunch