8-Day Lake Natron, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari

Karibu Tanzania. Our team meets you at the airport and drives you about an hour to your hotel in Arusha. Your guide talks you through the route, which is less common than our classic safaris, and explains what to pack for the walk to the Natron waterfall. The afternoon is free to rest or walk around town.

Where you sleep: Budget: Gold Crest Hotel · Mid-range: Four Points by Sheraton Arusha · Luxury: Gran Meliá Arusha

Meals: Breakfast

Guide's tip: Pack sandals or water shoes you do not mind getting wet. The walk to the Ngare Sero waterfall crosses the river several times.

After breakfast you leave the tarmac at Mto wa Mbu and drive north on a rough road through Maasai country, about 4 to 5 hours. On the way you pass Engaruka, a ruined stone-age farming settlement, and the great cone of Ol Doinyo Lengai rises ahead. Lake Natron's colours change from pink to red and green thanks to its minerals and the algae that feed the flamingos. You arrive in the afternoon and finish the day with a sundowner overlooking the lake.

Where you sleep: Budget: Lake Natron Tented Camp · Mid-range: Maasai Giraffe Eco Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Guide's tip: There are no luxury lodges at Natron. The camps are simple and clean; the landscape is the luxury here.

A full day at Lake Natron. In the morning, a local Maasai guide walks you to the lake shore to see the flamingos and the strange salt crusts. Later you walk up the Ngare Sero river gorge to a waterfall where you can swim in a cool pool. You can also visit the human footprints at Engare Sero, left in volcanic mud thousands of years ago. The evening is free, with the volcano glowing pink at sunset.

Where you sleep: Budget: Lake Natron Tented Camp · Mid-range: Maasai Giraffe Eco Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Guide's tip: Natron is very hot at midday. Do the lake walk early and the waterfall walk in the afternoon, when the gorge is in shade.

After breakfast you drive west into the Serengeti through the Klein's gate area, about 5 to 6 hours on a remote road with game viewing on the way. This quiet north-eastern corner of the park sees few other vehicles. You continue into the central Serengeti in the afternoon, where lion, cheetah, elephant and big herds of plains game are common, and arrive at your tented camp for dinner.

Where you sleep: Budget: Into Wild Africa Tented Camp · Mid-range: Arukore Simba Camp · Luxury: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Guide's tip: This is a long road day. Bring a book or download a podcast for the bumpy stretch before Klein's gate.

A full day in the Serengeti with morning and afternoon game drives. Your guide follows the latest sightings: lions on the kopjes, leopards in the trees along the Seronera River and cheetahs on the open plains. From June to October the migration herds are in the western and northern Serengeti, and your guide will tell you if they are close enough for a long drive. Lunch is a picnic or a hot meal at camp.

Where you sleep: Budget: Into Wild Africa Tented Camp · Mid-range: Arukore Simba Camp · Luxury: Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Guide's tip: Sunset at the Serengeti is fast, about 20 minutes. Ask your guide to find a good spot early and switch the engine off.

After breakfast you drive out of the Serengeti and up to the Ngorongoro highlands, about 3 hours, and descend into the crater for a game drive. The crater floor holds lion, buffalo, elephant, zebra, wildebeest, hyena and the rare black rhino, with flamingos on Lake Magadi. After a picnic lunch you climb back to the rim and drive to Karatu, a green farming area, for the night.

Where you sleep: Budget: Marera Valley Lodge · Mid-range: Ngorongoro Coffee Lodge · Luxury: Ngorongoro Meliá Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Guide's tip: Many Karatu lodges are working coffee farms. Ask for a short walk through the plantation before dinner.

After breakfast you drive about 2 hours to Tarangire National Park for a final full day of game viewing. From June to October Tarangire is at its very best, with huge elephant herds along the river, plus lion, giraffe, zebra and many birds. Tonight you stay inside the park, so your last evening is spent with the sounds of elephants and lions around camp.

Where you sleep: Budget: Tarangire Safari Lodge · Mid-range: Mbali Mbali Tarangire River Camp · Luxury: Tarangire Kuro Treetops Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Guide's tip: Staying inside the park means you can be on a game drive at dawn tomorrow before the drive to the airport.

After an early game drive and breakfast, you drive about 3 hours to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight home. We can also arrange a short flight to Zanzibar if you want to add a few days on the beach.

Where you sleep: No overnight: transfer to the airport

Meals: Breakfast

Guide's tip: Leave the dust behind: most Tarangire camps have a quick shower you can use before the airport drive.