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Duration
9 Days
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Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro & Serengeti Family Fun Serengeti Calving & Crater The Woven Experience

Feel the red dust of the Maasai steppe on your skin, taste roasted goat under a million stars, and watch warriors leap higher than your heart can handle – this is not a safari with a cultural “add-on”; it is a living, breathing celebration of Tanzania where wildlife and warriors share the same ancient stage.
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What's included

Destination
Lake Manyara National Park , Ngorongoro Conservation Area , Serengeti National Park , Tarangire National Park Discover Destinations
Departure Location
Arusha
Return Location
Arusha
Tour Start Date & Time
Everyday at 06:30
Price includes
  • Unlimited bottled water
Price does not include
  • Visa arrangements
Additional Prices
Hot Air Balloon Safari over Serengeti – (Day 3 dawn, replaces morning drive): $599 Olduvai Gorge Museum Stop en route – Price per group: $40 Maasai Boma Cultural Visit – Price per group: $50

 

Elephant Giants & Baobab Warriors

Tarangire delivers Africa’s largest dry-season elephant herds – 3,000+ animals parade past ancient baobabs. Leopards own sausage-tree thrones while Maasai cattle drink at the same river just outside the park. Perfect blend of wildlife power and warrior heritage.

Tree-Climbing Lions & Rift Valley Beadwork

Lake Manyara boasts the planet’s most reliable tree-climbing lions lounging 10 m high. Flamingo-pink soda lakes mirror Maasai necklaces. Blue monkeys crash through forests that echo warrior songs from nearby villages.

Black-Maned Kings & Maasai Grazing Lands

Seronera plains host the darkest-maned lions on Earth. Leopards hang kills in daylight while cheetahs sprint across grass shared seasonally with Maasai cattle. Endless horizons where wildlife and warriors coexist exactly as centuries ago.

Africa’s Densest Big Five & Crater-Rim Bomas

Ngorongoro packs 25,000+ animals into one volcanic bowl. Black rhinos graze openly beside tusker elephants. Black-maned crater lions rule year-round while sunset visits to rim bomas feature sky-high jumping dances and roasted goat around the fire.

Authentic Maasai Boma Experiences – Real Warrior Welcome

Two private boma visits include the legendary adumu jumping dance that makes hearts race. Hold spears, taste fresh milk, learn beadwork secrets from women whose jewellery tells life stories. Firelit evenings with elders sharing lion-hunt tales under the same moon.

Mid-Range Comfort with Cultural Soul

Permanent lodges and tented camps feature pools, hot showers, and gourmet meals infused with Maasai flavours. Every night ends with warrior songs or stories while lions roar in the distance – pure Tanzania magic.

  • Day 1
  • Day 2
  • Day 3
  • Day 4
  • Day 5
  • Day 6
  • Day 7
  • Day 8
  • Day 9
Day 1

Arusha – Planet Lodge – The Red Shuka Welcome

Sunset bleeds across Mount Meru as you arrive at Arusha Planet Lodge. A circle of tall Maasai warriors in crimson shukas greets you with warrior songs that vibrate in your chest. Children receive tiny beaded bracelets while adults sip honey-infused welcome drinks. Your private guide – part ranger, part storyteller – spreads a hand-drawn map under lantern light and whispers tomorrow’s promise: elephants older than empires, lions darker than midnight, and a boma where the fire never dies.

Overnight:   

Meals: Dinner (D).

Day 2

Arusha to Tarangire – Baobab Cathedrals & Elephant Rivers

The road dissolves into red earth and sky-high baobabs that look like God turned trees upside-down. In Tarangire, elephant matriarchs lead parades of floppy-eared babies to the river while leopards melt across branches like liquid gold. Your Maasai spotter teaches children how warriors once tracked these giants with nothing but spears and silence. Picnic beneath a 2,000-year-old baobab whose hollow trunk could hide a bus. Night at Tarangire Sopa Lodge – pool glowing sapphire, distant lion roars rocking you to sleep.

Overnight: Lodge. 

Meals: Full board (B/L/D).

Day 3

Full Day Tarangire – Where Leopards Write Their Names in Dust

Dawn paints the savannah rose-gold. Follow fresh leopard drag marks to a fresh impala kill still steaming in a sausage tree. Watch lion cubs practise tackle on dad’s tail while Maasai warriors explain how cattle and wildlife share the same grazing songs. Kids earn “elephant whisperer” badges for counting 100 elephants before lunch. Sunset turns the sky Maasai-red as you return dusty, sun-kissed, and utterly alive.

Overnight: Lodge – permanent tents with migration-view verandas, communal firepit, and starlit calving tales. 

Meals: Full board (B/L/D).

Day 4

Tarangire to Serengeti via Maasai Village – The Real Jumping Dance

Drive across the Rift Valley wall with views that steal breath. Stop at a living Maasai boma: warriors explode skyward in the adumu jumping dance, women’s necks heavy with beads sing like wind chimes. Hold a spear, milk a cow, taste fresh blood-and-milk straight from the gourd if you dare. Then plunge into Serengeti’s endless golden ocean where the horizon forgets to end. First lion pride before lunch. Sleep at Serengeti Kati Kati Camp – canvas walls trembling with hyena whoops.

Overnight:  Lodge. 

Meals: Full board (B/L/D).

Day 5

Full Day Central Serengeti – Pride Rock is Real

Live the Lion King in real time. Black-maned kings survey kingdoms from kopjes that look carved by giants. Leopard cubs dangle from branches like spotted ornaments. Cheetah brothers sprint 100 km/h across grass that sings under tyres. Your Maasai guide teaches children to read tracks the way warriors read weather. Picnic on a kopje with 360° forever views. Sundowner gin & tonic while the sky explodes tangerine and violet.

Overnight:  Lodge. 

Meals: Full board (B/L/D).

Day 6

Serengeti Morning Drive – Big Cats & Endless Sky

One last Serengeti sunrise – honey light, hot-air balloons floating like lanterns, leopard dragging breakfast up a tree while cubs beg like kittens. Say goodbye to the plains that stole your heart. Drive south with windows down, wind carrying the scent of wild sage and distant rain.

Overnight: Lodge. 

Meals: Full board (B/L/D).

Day 7

Serengeti to Ngorongoro – Descent into Eden

Drop 600 metres into the crater that time forgot. Black rhinos graze like prehistoric tanks. Lion prides own the fever-tree forests. Flamingo lakes shimmer pink against emerald grass. Picnic beside hippos yawning pink caves. Ascend the rim to Ngorongoro Farm House, where fireplaces crackle, and organic coffee smells like heaven.

Overnight: Ngorongoro.

Meals: Full board (B/L/D).

Day 8

Full Day Ngorongoro Crater + Private Maasai Boma Evening

Morning crater magic – serval cats ghosting through grass, golden jackals teaching pups to hunt butterflies. Afternoon: exclusive sunset visit to a private Maasai boma on the crater rim. Warriors teach fire-making with sticks, women show beadwork secrets, and children jump until their legs give out. Roast goat around the fire while elders tell stories of lion hunts under the same moon. Return to Farm House with stars dripping like diamonds.

Overnight: Ngorongoro.

Meals: Breakfast at lodge, picnic lunch (B/L).

Day 9

Ngorongoro to Lake Manyara & Arusha – Tree-Climbing Lions & Farewell

Final safari in compact, crazy-beautiful Lake Manyara: lions asleep in trees like giant house cats, 1,000 buffalo thundering past, soda lake flamingo-pink. Maasai guide sings a farewell blessing in the Maa language. Picnic under mahogany trees before the gentle drive back to Arusha. Drop off at Kilimanjaro Airport or your hotel wearing new beaded bracelets and carrying memories heavier than any suitcase.

Overnight: Ngorongoro.

Meals: Breakfast at lodge, picnic lunch (B/L).

More about Lake Manyara National Park Discover Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park, a compact 330 km² rift-valley jewel 120 km west of Arusha, enchants with its soda-ash Lake Manyara covering two-thirds of the terrain and the dramatic 600 m Gregory Rift escarpment rising sharply behind. This UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve blends alkaline waters, groundwater forests, and acacia woodlands into a photographer’s paradise, best known for tree-climbing lions and massive flamingo flocks. Vegetation zones shift from evergreen forest fed by underground springs—home to mahogany, sausage trees, and wild fig—to open grasslands and fever-tree swamps, creating layered habitats that support dense wildlife year-round. Weather patterns mirror the Northern Circuit: the June–October dry season delivers clear skies, 25–30°C (77–86°F) days, and crisp 15°C (59°F) nights, concentrating animals at the lake. Short rains (November–December) bring afternoon showers and lush regrowth, while the long wet season (March–May) sees 20–28°C (68–82°F) temperatures and occasional road challenges. January–February offers warm, dry calving-season viewing with minimal crowds. Geologically, the park sits on the active East African Rift, where tectonic stretching formed the escarpment and hot springs bubble along fault lines, feeding the lake’s alkaline chemistry (pH 9–10). Seasonal flooding from rift rivers creates hippo pools and mudflats, while ancient volcanic ash enriches soils for baobab and doum palms. Iconic animals include tree-climbing lions lounging in acacias, large elephant troops, buffalo herds, and blue monkeys swinging through the canopy. Resident giraffes, zebras, warthogs, and dik-diks roam the plains, with baboon troops dominating the forest. Over 400 bird species make Lake Manyara a birding hotspot. Resident pink-backed pelicans, yellow-billed storks, and thousands of lesser flamingos form rose-colored carpets on the lake. Forest dwellers include silvery-cheeked hornbills, crowned eagles, and Narina trogons. Migratory visitors arrive from November–April, including Eurasian waders, pallid harriers, and great white pelicans, turning the soda shores into a global avian spectacle.

More about Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning 8,292 km² in Tanzania's Northern Circuit, stands as a living laboratory of nature and human evolution just 180 km west of Arusha. This multi-use protected zone harmonizes wildlife, Maasai pastoralism, and archaeology, with the iconic 260 km² Ngorongoro Crater—a 600 m-deep volcanic caldera—as its centerpiece. Beyond the crater, the vast highlands encompass Olmoti and Empakaai craters, the Gol Mountains, and Olduvai Gorge, offering diverse Tanzania safaris from high-altitude forests to arid plains, ideal for cultural tours and paleoanthropological insights. Vegetation across Ngorongoro varies dramatically: the crater floor hosts short-grass savannah with fever trees and yellow-barked acacias around soda Lake Magadi, while crater rims (2,200–3,600 m) feature montane forests of croton, olive, and podocarpus draped in old man's beard lichen. Highland plateaus bloom with giant lobelias and red-hot pokers in moorlands, transitioning to open grasslands and acacia woodlands on the eastern plains toward Serengeti. Lerai Forest's groundwater thickets provide evergreen shade, creating layered habitats that support year-round biodiversity in this volcanic Eden. Weather in Ngorongoro Conservation Area follows highland patterns: the June–October dry season delivers crisp 20–25°C (68–77°F) days and near-freezing nights on the rims, concentrating wildlife in the crater. Short rains (November–December) bring misty afternoons and wildflower carpets, while the long wet season (March–May) cloaks the area in emerald with 15–22°C (59–72°F) temperatures and occasional fog—perfect for lush photography, though roads slick. January–February offers warm, dry calving-season viewing with fewer crowds. Geologically, Ngorongoro formed 2–3 million years ago when a massive volcano rivaling Kilimanjaro collapsed into its emptied magma chamber, creating the world's largest intact caldera. The active East African Rift continues to shape the area through faulting and uplift, with Olmoti's breached crater and Empakaai's soda-filled basin evidencing ongoing volcanism—fumaroles still steam in remote vents. Alkaline soils from ash deposits enrich grasslands, while rift valleys carve dramatic escarpments, fostering isolated ecosystems. Beyond the crater, attractions abound: Olmoti Crater's waterfall hike reveals Munge River cascades; Empakaai Crater's flamingo-filled lake invites rim walks with views to active Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano. The shifting sands of the Gol Mountains—dune-like ash deposits—offer surreal landscapes, while Nasera Rock provides climbing and hyrax spotting. Olduvai Gorge, the "Cradle of Mankind," preserves 1.9-million-year-old hominid footprints at Laetoli and Zinjanthropus fossils, tracing human evolution from Australopithecus to Homo habilis amid layered sedimentary strata. Maasai bomas allow cultural immersion with livestock herding and beadwork demonstrations, blending conservation with indigenous livelihoods. Wildlife density in Ngorongoro Crater is legendary—25,000 large mammals, including black rhinos, high-density lions, elephants, and the Big Five, year-round. Golden jackals, serval cats, and spotted hyenas patrol the floor, while buffalo herds and wildebeest dominate the plains. Outside, the highlands host eland, mountain reedbuck, and leopards in forests; the conservation area's vastness supports migrating herds linking to the Serengeti. Over 500 bird species enrich Ngorongoro, with crater residents like lesser flamingos carpeting Lake Magadi, ostriches striding grasslands, and Schalow's turaco in rim forests. Raptors, including augur buzzards and Verreaux's eagles, soar the caldera walls. Migratory Palearctic species arrive from  November–April, with white storks, Abdim's storks, and European rollers joining resident flocks, turning wetlands into a seasonal birding spectacle in this evolutionary hotspot.

More about Serengeti National Park Discover Serengeti National Park

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania’s crown jewel and a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning 14,750 km², delivers the planet’s greatest wildlife spectacle—the annual Great Migration of over 1.5 million wildebeest. Stretching from the Ngorongoro highlands to Kenya’s Maasai Mara, this endless plain (“Serengeti” in Maasai) features classic acacia-dotted grasslands, riverine forests along the Grumeti and Mara rivers, and rocky kopjes rising like islands. Vegetation shifts from short-grass plains in the south—perfect for grazing—to tall savannah and thorny scrub in the west, with sausage trees and fig groves lining waterways that sustain life year-round. Weather follows a classic East African rhythm: the June–October dry season brings golden landscapes, 25–30°C (77–86°F) days, and chilly 14°C (57°F) nights, concentrating herds at rivers. Short rains (November–December) spark fresh grass and calving, while the long wet season (March–May) cloaks the plains in emerald with 20–28°C (68–82°F) temperatures and dramatic thunderstorms. January–February offers prime migration viewing on the southern plains with minimal rain. Geologically, the Serengeti lies on the stable Craton plateau edged by the active East African Rift, where ancient volcanic activity from the Ngorongoro highlands deposited nutrient-rich ash. Granite kopjes—billion-year-old outcrops—dot the horizon, providing lookout posts for lions and leopards. Seasonal rivers carve dramatic gorges, and soda lakes like Magadi attract flamingos, while underground aquifers feed oases during droughts. Home to the Big Five, the park hosts 3,000 lions, dense leopard populations in riverine thickets, and cheetahs sprinting across open plains. Resident elephants, buffalo, giraffes, and rhinos roam alongside hyenas, jackals, and over 70 large mammal species. The Great Migration—wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle—cycles clockwise, with dramatic river crossings June–July and calving on southern plains January–March. Over 500 bird species thrive here, from resident ostriches, secretary birds, and kori bustards striding the grasslands to lilac-breasted rollers and grey-crowned cranes in acacia groves. Raptors like martial eagles and vultures circle kopjes. Migratory species arrive November–April, including European storks, Abdim’s storks, and steppe eagles, joining resident flocks at seasonal pans for a birding bonanza unmatched in Africa.

More about Tarangire National Park Discover Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park, Tanzania’s sixth-largest park spanning 2,850 km², captivates visitors with its dramatic baobab-studded savannah and the life-giving Tarangire River. Located 140 km southwest of Arusha in the Northern Circuit, this underrated gem offers year-round wildlife viewing, especially during the June–October dry season when massive elephant herds converge on the river. The park’s diverse vegetation includes open grasslands, acacia woodlands, riverine forests, and ancient baobab groves—iconic “upside-down trees” that store water and provide shade for animals. Swampy areas near Silale and Gursi support lush palms and fever trees, creating perfect habitats for birdlife and big game. Weather in Tarangire National Park varies distinctly: the dry season (June–October) brings sunny days with temperatures of 25–30°C (77–86°F) and cool nights around 15°C (59°F), ideal for dust-free game drives. The short rains (November–December) refresh the landscape with brief afternoon showers, while the long wet season (March–May) transforms the park into a green paradise with temperatures 20–28°C (68–82°F) but muddy roads. January–February offers warm, dry conditions perfect for calving season sightings. Wildlife thrives here, with Tarangire boasting Tanzania’s highest elephant density—up to 3,000 individuals forming multi-generational herds. Resident animals include lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, and elusive species like fringe-eared oryx and gerenuk. Predators patrol the riverbanks, while hyenas and jackals scavenge the plains. Birdwatchers flock to Tarangire for over 550 resident species, including yellow-collared lovebirds, rufous-tailed weavers, and the endemic ashy starling. Raptors like bateleur eagles and martial eagles soar overhead, while waterbirds—Egyptian geese, pelicans, and herons—gather at swamps. Migratory birds arrive November–April, with Eurasian rollers, white storks, and Abdim’s storks joining the chorus, making Tarangire a top Tanzania birding destination year-round.
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Location Overview
This immersive 9-day cultural-wildlife odyssey circles the entire UNESCO World Heritage Northern Circuit, weaving authentic Maasai life into every sunrise and sunset. All destinations lie 120–250 km west and northwest of Arusha (1,400 m/4,600 ft), the vibrant safari capital cradled beneath Mount Meru. The journey merges classic Big Five parks with living Maasai bomas, red-shuka warriors, and cattle trails that have existed for centuries – delivering the deepest cultural safari experience in East Africa.

Tarangire National Park (2,850 km²): 140 km southwest of Arusha. Rolling baobab-studded hills and the seasonal Tarangire River create Tanzania’s ultimate elephant kingdom – super-herds of 3,000+ animals (June–October peak) share ancient grazing routes with Maasai cattle outside park borders.

Lake Manyara National Park (330 km²): 120 km west of Arusha. A narrow, lush rift-valley jewel squeezed between the shimmering pink soda waters of Lake Manyara and the dramatic 600 m Gregory Rift escarpment. Famous for tree-climbing lions, blue monkey troops, and seasonal flamingo carpets that mirror Maasai beadwork colours.

Serengeti National Park – Central/Seronera sector (14,763 km² total): 200–250 km northwest of Arusha. The legendary “endless plains” dotted with granite kopjes and acacia woodlands. Year-round home to black-maned lions, leopards, and cheetahs, while neighbouring Maasai communities continue centuries-old grazing traditions just beyond the boundaries.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area (8,300 km²): 180 km west of Arusha. A unique UNESCO multiple-use landscape where 80,000 Maasai live alongside wildlife. Includes the iconic 260 km² Ngorongoro Crater floor – the world’s largest intact caldera and Africa’s densest large-mammal population (25,000+ animals including black rhinos) – plus highland bomas on the crater rim where warriors still leap skyward in the traditional adumu dance.

Geography & Access
Terrain: Baobab savannah, rift-valley lakes, acacia grasslands, granite kopjes, short-grass plains, highland forests, and active Maasai manyattas.
Altitude Range: 950–2,400 m (3,100–7,870 ft.
Travel Times (from Arusha, private 4×4): Tarangire 2 hrs; Lake Manyara 1.5 hrs; Central Serengeti 4.5–5.5 hrs; Ngorongoro Crater & rim bomas 3–3.5 hrs.
Gateway: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) → Arusha (45 min private transfer).
Year-round access via private pop-up roof 4×4 with Maasai spotter; dry season (June–October) offers dust-free visibility and peak wildlife/maasai cattle movement, while green season (January–March) brings newborn calves, lush landscapes, and intimate cultural festivals.

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      9-Day Full Circuit: Tarangire, Serengeti, Crater – Inclusive Maasai Culture with The Woven Experience

      Price
      $490 per person
      Duration
      9 Days
      Destination
      More than 1
      Travellers
      1+
      Book this Tour Enquiry about the Tour

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