13 Days The Great Migration Photo Safari to Tanzania

Day 1

Arusha – Your African Adventure Begins

You will land at Kilimanjaro Airport in Arusha to start your African adventure. On a clear day, the views from the lodge are outstanding, the snow-capped peaks of Kilimanjaro and Mt Meru towering over the surrounding savannah.

Tanzania’s indelible mammals make their first appearance with, giraffes, and zebras greeting you on a full day game drive through Arusha National Park. First day safaris are always a bit of a blur, the day racing by as Africa’s great wildlife is seen in the flesh for the first time.

Day 2 – 3

Tarangire National Park – Immersed in the Wonders

Tarangire has a raw and rugged landscape, scorched and dusty in dry season, fresh and vivid during the rainy season. And the views will continue all day and night, Tarangire Safari Lodge offering spectacular panoramas and quaint accommodation. Elephants regularly pass right by the lodge, joined by a congregation of oryx and zebra. So sit back, admire the wonders of untamed Africa, and listen to the unique sounds of nature. But don’t get too relaxed, two full days of thrilling safari will reveal all corners of Tarangire.

Day 4

Lake Manyara – The Majestic Lake Manyara

Each Tanzanian park is different, ensuring that every game drive brings a fresh perspective and new experience. A meandering trail takes you through the Lake Manyara forest, each turn revealing something that lurks in the shadows.

After leaving Tarangire you’ll first stop at Mto Wa Mbu, a traditional Maasai village full of endearing sights; it’s hard to leave without being energized by the color and imbued by their fierce continuation of tradition. More colors mark Lake Manyara, bright shocks of blue and red amongst the park’s remarkable concentration of bird species.

Day 5 – 6

Lake Eyasi – Nature and Culture

Tanzania’s remarkable residents don’t just come on four legs. Indigenous hunter-gatherer tribes still exist in East Africa and you’ll enjoy two days of memorable cultural immersion. The nimble Hadzape Bushmen sidestep through the trees, picking up on every clue as they stalk a small antelope. You can also see the clues; an upturned stone, a line of animal droppings, a slight indent in the grass. But the bushman spots them without breaking stride, eyes always scanning ahead, the path of the prey continually visualized. On day eight you’ll head out on a morning hunt, a haunting experience that reveals the phenomenal skills of these ancient people. And yes, they do still use a homemade bow and arrow.

Day 7

Ngorongoro Crater – The Coffee Farms of the Great Rift Valley

How many times have you bought coffee that claims to be “the freshest?” It can’t really come any fresher than the coffee from the charming coffee plantations of the Great Rift Valley. Enjoy lunch in a rustic farmhouse, reveling in the mystique of an old era and the enchanting smells of the plantations.

Day 8

Ngorongoro Crater – The Remarkable World

Ngorongoro Crater is a photographer’s dream, the wildlife appearing from all angles and at all times. It’s difficult to know which way to point the camera as the crater floor teems with unique scenes. Buffalo herds chew and chomp their way through the grass beside you. Flamingos cover the lake, shocks of pink wonderfully contrasted with the vivid blue water. But turn around quickly and a pride of lions are on the hunt, slowly walking through the grass as they target a large herd of watchful wildebeest. There’s a popular conception that great wildlife photography takes lots of patience. In many places it does. Ngorongoro wildlife is unlike anywhere else on the planet and because of the sheer concentration of wildlife, you need to be prepared at all times!

Day 9 – 10

Southern Serengeti – Spectacular Show

Few places in the world can stir the emotion like the Serengeti. The grass plains seem to stretch for eternity, going beyond the horizon and dotted with giant herds of wildebeest and zebra. This is where the Great Migration takes place, an annual journey of some two million mammals, dictated by the rains and followed by a hungry cast of predators. The migration is happening all year round, the animals always in search of fresh grazing land. For the next two days you’ll be in the south east of this immense park, staying at your next lodge, neatly situated just outside the park boundary and away from the tourist crowds.

Day 11 – 12

Western Serengeti – Exploring Western Corridor

Every journey in the Serengeti is a safari. A game drive on day 11 will take you across the park, passing lounging lions, roaming elephants, and the continual array of watchful antelopes. It takes a journey across the park to truly reveal the scale of the Serengeti. The grassland never stops; it just keeps going and going. The Kirawira Serena is idyllically situated, towering over the famous western corridor, on the route of the marauding wildebeest.

Day 13

Arusha – Return to Arusha and Depart from Tanzania

Savor your last morning waking up in the wilderness. Say goodbye to the wildlife that surrounds the camp, and then take some final photos as you’re transferred to the nearby airstrip. On the local scheduled flight you’ll get a new impression of the Serengeti’s scale, before landing in Arusha and enjoying a leisurely afternoon at the Mountain Village. Note that a maximum weight of 30 pounds is permitted on this flight. It’s possible to leave some of your luggage at the Mountain Lodge before you set off on safari on day four. At 5pm you’ll depart for Kilimanjaro Airport for your home-bound flight. How long will it be before you return for another Tanzanian safari adventure? Or, consider adding on to your adventure. Take a look at reviews for Tanzania luxury trips for additional ideas.

• This tour starts and ends in Arusha
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  Book your own international flights when using this operator
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  A transfer from and back to the airport (or hotel) is included
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  Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost