Essence of Tanzania
Destinations
Tanzania
Duration
9 days
Price
Starting from
$11,070
Overview
Highlights
- The largest concentration of lions in Africa
- Large elephant herds of Tarangire
- Tree-climbing lions of Manyara
- Chances to discover the Big Five and Great Migration
- Otherworldly Maasai village visit
- Safaris on the crater floor of Ngorongoro, the “Eighth Wonder of the World”
- Abundant wildlife on the endless Serengeti Plains
- Options for hot air balloon rides over the plains and a champagne breakfast, bush dinners, and more
- Classic and intimate luxury safari camps brimming with romantic charm
“To witness that calm rhythm of life revives our worn souls and recaptures a feeling of belonging to the natural world. No one can return from the Serengeti unchanged, for tawny lions will forever prowl our memory and great herds throng our imagination.”
Itinerary

Days 1: Arrive in Arusha
Days 2-3: Tarangire
the most beautiful in Tanzania and is second only to Ngorongoro in its density of Tanzanian wildlife. At your luxury tented camp—where relaxation and romance dance together in one of the most beautiful settings imaginable—soak up all of the wide-open breathing space that is often lost in our usual day-to-day existence back home.
There are animals including lions, leopards, giraffes, impalas, gazelles, waterbucks, buffaloes, and zebras, which can often be seen in abundance. The name of the park originates from the Tarangire River that crosses through the park and is the lifeline for wild animals during dry seasons. Tarangire National Park is the sixth-largest national park in Tanzania and it is located in the Manyara Region. Thousands of animals migrate to Tarangire from Manyara National Park during the dry season (June through October), although visiting Tarangire during the rest of the year is a great experience. There are over 500 bird varieties—the most in one habitat in the world.
Days 4-5: Ngorongoro Crater
Drive down the 1900-foot crater wall from the rim of this spectacular extinct volcano. Here you will find Africa’s largest permanent concentration of wildlife. Ngorongoro has been referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World.” Ngorongoro towers above the Northern Serengeti Plain and it is celebrated as containing some of the most magnificent scenery in the world. Ngorongoro’s 105-square-mile crater is the largest unbroken crater on Earth and is packed with just about every species of wildlife found in East Africa. It is possible that we will see the Big Five—all of them—in one day. Large plains game permanently inhabit the area and the scenery is sensational. Some 30,000 animals live in the crater and, because the grasses are short, game is easily spotted and can often be approached quite closely. It is also one of the few parks in Africa where rhinos are relatively easy to locate. Enjoy the awe-inspiring views from your lodge of the crater below (weather permitting), spying herds of buffalo and wildebeest that look like ants from the distance.
En route to Ngorongoro and before you enter Lake Manyara National Park, we come to Mto Wa Mbu, a thriving village that lies at the entrance to beautiful Lake Manyara National Park. The deep rusty brick-red colored earth seems to dust everything. It lightly covers the brightly colored storefronts and the whistling thorn and acacia trees, making everything seem from a different time. Cultures from across Tanzania are represented here and it is fascinating to walk through the village and shop for local crafts. You will need to hone your bargaining skills in Mto Wa Mbu. Lake Manyara National Park is a lovely scenic park famed for its tree-climbing lions, bountiful birdlife, and large numbers of hippos and baboons. Elephants are easily seen and its varied landscape supports other game, including zebras, giraffes, warthogs, impalas, dik-diks, waterbucks, and flamingos, which come to the park intermittently. The park is a combination of mahogany forest, marsh, and grasslands. Manyara is two-thirds water, one-third dry land and home to a spectacular concentration of game. The park is a flash of green amid an otherwise parched landscape. Over 350 species of birds populate the park.
Days 6-8: Serengeti
On the Serengeti Plain lives an estimated 2,500 lions and there are more cheetahs here than anywhere else in Africa. Hyenas, wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, ostriches, hippos, and other animals can be seen in abundance. Covering more than 5,700 square miles, the Serengeti is breathtaking terrain composed of acacia savannah, grass plains, and dense woodland grouped around kopje rock formations standing in a sea of grass. The kopjes provide shelter to a great variety of plants and animals, from the elusive leopard to the tiny dik-dik. It is estimated that one million animals live in the area with more than one-third of them being wildebeests.
Day 9: International flight onward
What’s Included
- All airport arrival welcomes and departure farewells with private transfers
- Double occupancy accommodations
- All meals
- Wildlife safari game-viewing drives
- Services of English-speaking guides and drivers
- All park and conservancy fees
- Membership in Flying Doctors Society
- All internal flights
- Customary tipping of guides
- Gratuities to lodge staff
- Bottled water while on safari
- Storage and organization of gear, baggage, and personal affects
- Services of our management team in the USA and Africa
- Guaranteed departures with just two guests
Dates
2020
December 24 – January 1
2021
January 5 – January 13
January 22 – January 30
February 2 – February 10
March 2 – March 10
June 1 – June 9
June 16 – June 24
July 3 – July 11
July 19 – July 27
August 2 – August 10
September 3 – September 11
October 13 – October 21
October 26 – November 3
December 22 – December 30
2022
January 6 – January 14
January 22 – January 30
February 2 – February 10
March 1 – March 9
Pricing
Low-Season | Mid-Season | High-Season | |
Adult | $11,070 | $12,580 | $13,510 |
Child | $8,900 | $9,960 | $11,060 |
Single Supplement | $13,610 | $15,900 | $17,290 |
Common Questions
What is special about this journey?
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If you had to say what the highlight of the trip will be, what would you say?
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Extensions
For those who don’t want to miss out on any aspect of Africa.

Zanzibar Extension
Tanzania
Duration
4 days
Price
Starting from $3,950
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