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Experience Tanzania's most iconic parks under canvas

Bursting with wildlife, the national parks of Tanzania will have you continually reaching for your camera. Travelling across the undulating plains of the Serengeti, go in search of the iconic Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffaloes. Descending into the dramatic Ngorongoro Crater, a microcosm of famous east African scenery and wild game, lose yourself in the herds of zebra and wildebeest. You'll head home invigorated by this perfect combination of adventure and relaxation.

Start
Arusha, Tanzania
Finish
Arusha, Tanzania
Destination
Tanzania
Style
Comfort
Theme
Overland, Wildlife
Code
YGKZ
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 15

Why you'll love this trip

  • Experience the thrill of sleeping 'Under Canvas' and drift off to sleep to the sounds of the African night.

  • Be astounded by the vast array of wildlife in Ngorongoro Crater in open top 4x4 vehicles.

  • Try to spot a rare tree-climbing lion at Lake Manyara National Park.

  • Travel across the endless grasslands of the Serengeti searching for large herds of wildebeest and zebra.

  • Stay in permanent tented camps across Tanzania's most iconic National Parks without sacrificing the creature comforts of home.

  • Learn the story of the large baobab trees at Tarangire National Park.

Is this trip right for you?

  • We use our purpose-built overland vehicles for the duration of this trip. It is important to note that while our vehicles are not air-conditioned, all windows do open to allow for fresh air. But please be aware that road travel in Africa comes with its fair share of dust, so while curtains are fitted to minimize the sun shine, it can get hot and windy.

  • This itinerary features some long travel days which can be exacerbated by bumpy African roads. It is recommended that you pay close attention to our given approximations of distance and driving hours.

  • Our overland safaris do not necessitate exceptional fitness levels, but a general level of physical movement is required. For example, you need to judge yourself physically fit enough to handle.

  • Some passengers on this trip may have been travelling together prior to the start of your trip. To see what you're missing out on check out our Kenya & Tanzania Safari Under Canvas trip.

  • As the early bird catches the worm, the early camper sights the animals. There will be many early starts either to make use of the better safari time or to beat the morning traffic on long travel days.

Map of Tanzania Safari under Canvas including Tanzania, United Republic Of
Safari through Tanzania with Intrepid Travel
Lioness in Serengeti NAtional Park Tanzania, Africa
Zebras in Serengeti National Park Tanzania, Africa
Your mode of transport in Tanzania with Intrepid Travel
Giraffes in Serengeti National Park Tanzania, Africa
Enjoy a night in the wilderness in a Kati Kati tented camp in Tanzania

Itinerary
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This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 Jan 2018 to 31 Dec 2018.
 View the 2019 itinerary

On arrival in Kilimanjaro Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel by an Intrepid representative. There will be a trip briefing at the hotel at approximately 6.00pm this evening.

The rest of the day will be at your leisure. Please note this is an arrival day and there are no excursions planned, so you may arrive at any time.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
An airport arrival transfer is included. This transfer is only valid if arriving on day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through Intrepid. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 15 days prior to travel (note - we may not be able confirm request made within 15 days of travel). Once you have provided your details a transfer representative will be booked to meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.

This morning we will visit the village of Tengeru. Walk through the narrow village roads and chat with the locals about their every day lives. You will hear all about their crops and watch them being farmed. You may even get the opportunity to roast and grind your own coffee.

After lunch we head off on a three-hour drive through the village of Mto Wa Mbu and before you climb up part of the Great Rift Valley to your lodge.
Keep an eye out for spectacular views of Mt Meru as you leave Arusha and head towards Lake Manyara permanent tented camp. All safari tents have hot showers, toilet, built-in fly screens and a private front verandah that is great for watching the sunset. There is also a pool for a late afternoon or early morning dip.

Lake Manyara National Park is renowned for its black-maned, tree-climbing lions and large herds of buffaloes and elephants, not to mention the flocks of flamingos and pelicans that can be found on the shores of the lake itself.
Accommodation
  • Permanent tented camp (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Tengeru - Local family farm visit and community walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Our campsite is powered by generators and you will be able to charge cameras and batteries both in your tent and in the common areas.

Today you will wake early for a game drive of the Lake Manyara area before leaving for the wide open plains of the Serengeti. To reach the Serengeti you must travel through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, skirting the Ngorongoro Crater before entering into the Serengeti.

You will spend the afternoon on a game drive covering the more southern regions of the Serengeti before reaching your camp site for the evening.

Your tented camp for the next 2 nights is set against a backdrop of savannah and skies. Traditional Meru tents, each have ensuites, and private verandahs overlooking the impressive plains of the Serengeti. The camp has a cozy dining room tent, with interior and exterior areas, and also organises camp fires to unwind under the stars.
Accommodation
  • Permanent tented camp (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Serengeti National Park - Overland Vehicle Game Drive
  • Lake Manyara - Game drive
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
The tented camp runs on generator and there will be charging opportunities up until 11pm over the next 2 days.

The seemingly endless Serengeti Plains capture the essence of Africa. They are home to massive numbers of grazing animals and also various predators, and the interaction between the many species often provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the world.

Today you will start around sunrise for a morning game drive and follow that up later on with an afternoon game drive, as the animals tend to be more active in the cooler hours of the day. You will usually return to camp during the hotter hours in the middle of the day, where you will enjoy a hearty meal, relax and maybe take a siesta.

Depending on wildlife movements and opportunities for sightings, the drive may continue through lunch and last all day. In this case, you will return to camp in the late afternoon.
Accommodation
  • Permanent tented camp (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Serengeti National Park - Overland Vehicle Game Drive
Optional Activities
  • Serengeti National Park - Balloon Ride (from price) - USD599
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

This morning you will have time to further explore the Serengeti and perhaps visit Simba Kopjes, an outcrop of rocks favoured by lion and cheetah, who can often be seen basking in the morning sun.

You will spend your time game viewing and will stop for a picnic lunch on the drive from Serengeti National Park back toward the Ngorongoro Conservation area.

Located on a hilltop with beautiful views of the valley, the permanent tented camp is built out of locally sourced materials. Each tent has private facilities and balcony.
Accommodation
  • Permanent tented camp (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
This tented camp is powered by generators so you will also have the chance to charge your cameras, laptops and phones prior to 11pm.

Today you will explore the world-renowned Ngorongoro Crater, widely regarded as a microcosm of natural habitats in Africa and often touted as a veritable Garden of Eden. Within this crater lies every type of ecosystem, including riverine forests, open plains, freshwater and alkaline lakes.

Ngorongoro Crater is the remnants of an ancient volcano caldera, and within its 300 square kilometres is a remarkable concentration of wildlife. The scenery is spectacular as you descend almost 600 metres down to the crater floor. There is every chance that you will see a considerable variety of wildlife in this compact area, including the highly endangered black rhinoceros.

In the afternoon you will leave the crater and return to camp for a second night. (National park regulations stipulate that vehicles are only allowed a maximum of six hours in Ngorongoro Crater.) The late afternoon can be spent relaxing at the camp, soaking up the wonderful scenery.
Accommodation
  • Permanent tented camp (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Ngorongoro Crater - 4x4 Game Drive
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Head to Tarangire National Park passing through Mto Wa Mbu before reaching - your final Tanzanian national park.

Tarangire National Park lies to the south of the Masailands and is defined by large open savannahs dotted with acacia woodland and large baobab trees. With the presence of the Tarangire River, this park forms a refuge during the dry season for many migratory animals, ensuring that Tarangire's wildlife concentration is second only to that of Ngorongoro Crater.

This morning, armed with a lunch box, we head to Tarangire National Park. At Tarangire you will enjoy an afternoon game drive en route to your tented camp set in a typical African thorn-tree bush landscape, right next to the Kwakuchinja Wildlife Corridor. The corridor is used by the animals to migrate from Tarangire to Lake Manyara in search of water and grasses. During the migration periods, you may be lucky enough to witness the migration of zebras, wildebeest and elephants right from the veranda of your tent.
Canvas tents with permanent thatched ramadas have ensuite bathrooms with each shower being fed by 15L tank filled manually by lodge staff. This is the real African bush experience!
Accommodation
  • Permanent tented camp (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Tarangire National Park - Game Drive
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
You will have the opportunity to charge belongings at this camp.

This morning we depart for Arusha. A departure transfer can be booked, at an additional expense, to either Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK). Please esnure you do not book flights to depart prior to 5pm.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Meals

7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners

Transport

Overland vehicle, 4x4 Safari Vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night), Permanent tented camp (6 nights)

Included activities

  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Tengeru - Local family farm visit and community walk
  • Serengeti National Park - Overland Vehicle Game Drive
  • Lake Manyara - Game drive
  • Ngorongoro Crater - 4x4 Game Drive
  • Tarangire National Park - Game Drive

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available on this trip. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. An airport arrival transfer is included. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 15 days prior to travel.
3. An optional sunrise balloon ride in the Serengeti National Park is possible on this itinerary. Please see the itinerary above for full details of this activity. As the balloon only holds 16 people, places are limited and we recommend you book in advance. Please inquire when booking your trip to book this optional activity.
4. This trip finishes in Arusha, after lunch, on Day 8. Please do not book any flights out of JRO International Airport until after 5pm this afternoon.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

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