Map of Premium Tanzania including Tanzania, United Republic Of

Journey through the wild landscapes of Tanzania

Buckle up for an in-depth exploration of Tanzania’s natural wonders on an eight-day Premium adventure. Enjoy a front row seat as the spectacular landscapes and wildlife of Tarangire National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park unfold in front of you on an exciting series of four-wheel drive game drives. Stay in the heart of these incredible national reserves, returning to a welcoming camp after days exploring the plains with local guides who have grown up on the land. Dine beneath the stars, sip drinks at sunset and fall asleep to the sounds of East Africa.


Start
Arusha, Tanzania
Finish
Arusha, Tanzania
Destination
Tanzania
Style
Premium
Theme
Wildlife
Code
YGPT
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

premium accommodation

Our best accommodation and highest level of service.

premium experiences

Unusual, exceptional and authentic on-trip experiences.

premium knowledge

Led by our most experienced and highest rated local leaders.

  • Seek out the best wildlife viewing experiences available while you explore the diverse Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park on an exciting series of morning and afternoon 4x4 game drives. Look out for zebras, elephants, lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, hippos and more!

  • Spend two amazing nights at your Feature Stay in the heart of the Serengeti. With no fences, this magnificent eco-friendly camp allows you to connect with your wild surroundings without sacrificing modern comforts.

  • Venture through the spectacular World Heritage-listed Ngorongoro Crater in open top 4x4 vehicles. Be astounded by a vast array of wildlife and enjoy a bush picnic lunch on the crater floor.

  • Stay at a diverse variety of accommodations to experience Tanzania uniquely. From tented camps in the heart of Tarangire and Serengeti National Parks, to cozy cottages on an active farm, these eco-lodges, camps, and fine hotels will give you access to nature, wildlife, and comfort in equal measure.

  • Get a glimpse of local life when you explore a farmers market and taste local in-season fruits, and learn all about coffee production on a tour in the Karatu highlands.

Is this trip right for you?

  • Purpose-built 4WD Safari Landcruisers are used for the duration of the trip.

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

  • 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.

Itinerary

Welcome to Tanzania! Your adventure begins in Arusha, your gateway to the incredible national parks of Tanzania. On arrival to Kilimanjaro Airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel. There will be an important welcome meeting here at 6pm this evening, where you will meet your local leader and the rest of your small group. Nestled on the woodland slopes of Mount Meru in the heart of a traditional coffee farm, your hotel offers fantastic views of Lake Duluti. If you arrive with time to spare, you may like to visit the Natural History Museum or head to the Ngaramtoni Market for some exceptional handicraft shopping. After your meeting, join your leader and fellow travellers with a toast to the beginning of a new adventure and enjoy your stunning surroundings over dinner.
Accommodation
  • Arusha Serena Hotel (or Similar) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Arusha - Welcome Dinner
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
The arrival 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 14 days prior to travel, as we may not be able to confirm a request made within 14 days of travel.
After breakfast, drive on to Tarangire National Park, dotted with soaring baobab trees and varied wildlife. The area experiences its own small-scale migration, as animals travel from Tarangire to Lake Manyara in search of water and grass. Your accommodation here is a permanent tented camp in the heart of the park with wonderful views of the Tarangire River. During the migration periods, you may be lucky enough to witness zebras, wildebeest and elephants passing by the veranda of your tent – a true African bush experience. In the afternoon, set out into the park for a four-wheel drive (4x4) game drive in search of wonderful wildlife.
Accommodation
  • Ang'ata Tarangire Permanent tented camp (or similar) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Tarangire National Park - Afternoon 4x4 Game Drive
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 3 hours.
Rise early for a thrilling 4x4 game drive. Tarangire National Park is populated with elephants, herds of cape buffalo, gazelles, Burchell’s zebras, giraffes and warthogs. Their predators also roam the park – look out for lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas, jackals and even African wild dogs. If you look to the skies you’ll see the park’s abundant array of birdlife. Return to your camp for breakfast, then continue your journey to the Ngorongoro Highlands. Along the way, stop at a local farmers’ market for a look at local life. Watch traders and buyers haggle over the prices of a colourful array of fruits and vegetables – your leader will pick up some seasonal fruits for you to try yourself. Arrive at your lodge, located in the verdant Marera Valley. Here you’ll enjoy cosy cottages with a veranda and fireplace, a beautiful swimming pool and organic gardens. This afternoon, you may like to relax poolside, or perhaps head out for an optional bike ride, village walk or coffee tour. Speak to your leader for tips on how to get the most out of this wonderful area.
Accommodation
  • Pamoja Africa Lodge (or similar) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Tarangire National Park - Morning 4x4 Game Drive
  • Mto Wa Mbu - Market Visit
Optional Activities
  • Karatu - Bicycle tour - USD30
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 3 hours.
Today you will make your way to the wide-open plains of the Serengeti. Travel through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, skirting the mighty volcanic Ngorongoro Crater. Arrive at the 'Endless Plains' of the Serengeti; they span some 14,700 square kilometres, but their main claim to fame is 3 million or so animals. The game most likely to be seen in the Serengeti are the wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, lion, cheetah, warthog, hyena, hippo and ostrich. This afternoon, head out on a 4x4 game drive in the southern regions of the Serengeti for your first look at the park’s unbelievable wildlife. In the evening, retire to your Feature Stay accommodation – a permanent tented camp in the central Seronera part of the park. With no fences, this magnificent eco-friendly camp allows you to really connect with your wild surroundings without sacrificing modern comforts. Each tent boasts a four-poster bed and en suite bathroom, and the gorgeous lounge area and dining tent are the perfect spots to gather with your fellow travellers. Tonight you will enjoy dinner to a soundtrack of the wild Serengeti, in your hotel’s dining tent.
Accommodation
  • Ang'ata Serengeti Permanent tented Camp (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Serengeti National Park - 4x4 Game Drive
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 4 hours.
The interactions between the many species of the Serengeti plains often provide some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the world. You may like to spend the morning game viewing on a hot air balloon safari over the great plains. Hot-air ballooning in East Africa can be an unforgettable experience and we strongly recommend booking this extra activity prior to departure if you're interested. Enjoy a full day of 4x4 game drives in the magnificent Serengeti. Watch the landscape change within the park from the vast treeless central plains to thick scrub and forest in the north. Linking these areas is the savannah, punctuated by acacia trees and magnificent rock outcrops. Start at sunrise with a morning game drive, then return to the camp in the middle of the day to escape the midday sun. Take some time to relax and enjoy a meal, then when it’s cooled down and the animals are more active, set out again for an afternoon game drive. Pull up in the park and enjoy a refreshing 'sundowner'; an iconic part of traditional safari life. Dating back to the great safaris of the 1920’s, there’s no better way to finish up an exciting day of wildlife viewing than gathering for drinks and nibbles while watching the sun go down. Return to camp in the evening for dinner.
Accommodation
  • Ang'ata Serengeti Permanent tented Camp (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Serengeti National Park - Sundowner in the Park
  • Serengeti National Park - Afternoon 4x4 Game Drive
  • Serengeti National Park - Morning 4x4 Game Drive
Optional Activities
  • Serengeti National Park - Balloon Ride (from price) - USD599
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Depending on wildlife movements and opportunities for sightings, the morning game drive may continue through lunch and last all day. In this case, you will return to camp in the late afternoon.

The balloon ride is offered as a pre-booked service which will guarantee you a place. If you would rather wait and try to get a better price by booking this locally on the ground, you are welcome to, but keep in mind that this is a popular activity and places are limited.
This morning you will depart the Serengeti National Park and travel back to the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area; one of Africa's most beautiful nature reserves and the world's largest intact caldera. Within this crater lies every type of ecosystem, including riverine forests, open plains, freshwater and alkaline lakes. The scenery is awe-inspiring as you descend almost 600 metres down to the crater floor. Within its 300 square kilometres lies a remarkable concentration of wildlife, so on your game drive you may see some, or all, of the 'big five' creatures that rule here, including the highly endangered black rhinoceros. On the crater floor, grassland blends into swamps, lakes, rivers, woodlands and hills. The Maasai are permitted to water their cattle at the permanent lake and can be seen leading their animals in and out of the crater. Enjoy a bush picnic lunch on the crater floor before continuing with your game drive. After your game drive, return to the Ngorongoro Highlands.
Accommodation
  • Marera View Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Ngorongoro Crater - 4x4 Game Drive
  • Ngorongoro Crater - 4WD Game Drive
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s drive is long and bumpy. You will depart around 7am for a 3-4 hour bumpy drive to the Ngorongo Crater, where you will spend about 5 hours. After your game drive, the drive to the Ngorongoro Highlands is about 1 hour.
Enjoy a morning at leisure. Today you'll learn all about coffee, with a hands on tour covering the coffee process from seed, to bean, to cup. In the afternoon, spend some time relaxing by the pool, or speak to your leader about the other activities available.
Accommodation
  • Marera View Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Karatu - Coffee Tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
This morning, depart the lodge and make the drive back to Arusha. You should expect to arrive back in Arusha by lunchtime, at which point your adventure comes to an end. Please do not book any international flights departing before 6pm this evening to allow for any unexpected delays. If you would like to extend your stay in Arusha, additional accommodation can be booked in advance (subject to availability).
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 4 hours. A departure transfer can be booked, at an additional expense, to either Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK).

Meals

7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners

Transport

4x4 Safari Vehicle, Private vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (3 night), Permanent tented camp (2 nights)

Included activities

  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Arusha - Welcome Dinner
  • Tarangire National Park - Afternoon 4x4 Game Drive
  • Tarangire National Park - Morning 4x4 Game Drive
  • Mto Wa Mbu - Market Visit
  • Serengeti National Park - 4x4 Game Drive
  • Serengeti National Park - Sundowner in the Park
  • Serengeti National Park - Afternoon 4x4 Game Drive
  • Serengeti National Park - Morning 4x4 Game Drive
  • Ngorongoro Crater - 4x4 Game Drive
  • Ngorongoro Crater - 4WD Game Drive
  • Karatu - Coffee Tour

Premium Inclusions

  • Arrival airport transfer
  • Tipping for accommodation, activities and transport
  • Luggage transfer
  • Daily breakfast and signature local meal experiences
  • 24/7 on-ground support

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Premium Tanzania trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. 
2. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
3. An optional sunrise balloon rides in the Serengeti 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 after lunch in Arusha on Day 8. Please do not book any flights departing before 6pm this evening. A departure transfer can be booked for an additional cost.
5. Departures in July 2022 will stay at alternative feature stays.
6. Travel is always an adventure and, as destinations reopen, there are a few challenges as everyone gets back up to speed and adjusts to the new normal. Our leaders are experts when it comes to dealing with anything unexpected along the journey, so pack your understanding and flexibility, sit back and relax while they take care of the rest.
7. The departures YGPT230722 and YGPT230812 will feature the following hotels in Tanzania: Palace Arusha, Acacia Tarangire Luxury Camp, The Castle at Ngorongoro, Feature Stay Mbalageti Tented Camp Serengeti, and Karatu Simba Lodge.

Essential trip information

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