9-day adventure through the heart of Tanzania

Arusha

Day 1: Welcome to Tanzania!

Welcome to Tanzania! After landing at Kilimanjaro Airport near Arusha, your friendly guide will greet you at the airport and drop you off at your hotel. If you aren't too tired, you can go on a short safari briefing with your guide to learn what you have in store for the rest of the trip! 

The remainder of the day is free for you to spend at your leisure. Enjoy the hotel and relax, with the next day awaiting you with lots of exciting activities.

Arusha National Park

Day 2: The Hidden Gem of Tanzania: Arusha National Park

Your first full day will be action-packed, starting with a walking safari to Tululusia waterfall in Arusha National Park. The tall and beautiful Tululusia waterfall is located deep inside Arusha National Park and on the slopes of Mount Meru. The hike takes you along a small river that originates from the waterfalls further upstream. On the way there, you can see a lot of wildlife, including buffalo, warthogs, and giraffes, and you can even get the opportunity to take a picture with them in the background.

Later, it's time for a game drive in Arusha National Park! Enjoy wonderful views of the mountains from a plateau as you drive. Deep in the jungle, you will find year-round green vegetation and diverse fauna. While giraffes stretch their necks through the trees, baboons, buffaloes, or elephants may block your way.

Arusha

Day 3: Learn All About Coffee in Arusha

Today you will be in close contact with the locals and the culture of Tanzania at Tengeru Cultural Project. During the coffee farm tour, you will gain an insight into coffee production from fruit to cup.

After a short hike over Tengeru's coffee and fruit plantations, you will be shown how coffee is made. Roasting, grinding, sieving, packing – of course, you can lend a hand at any point and then finally taste the coffee you made yourself.

Meanwhile, you will be accompanied by your guide and the friendly locals of the Tengeru Cultural Project. After a typical African lunch, head to Lake Duluti for an exciting guided canoe tour in wooden boats, where you will see many different species of birds and amphibious animals. Your guide will then take you back to your hotel for a relaxed evening.

Mount Kilimanjaro - Arusha

Day 4: Hike Mount Kilimanjaro, the Roof of Africa

Start your day by driving to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. From there, your guide will take you up to a high altitude, where you start your full-day hiking tour, which will take about 3-4 hours. You will follow the trail in the savannah of tall grasses, heather and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards.

As you ascend through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams, you reach the Shira Ridge before dropping down with a gentle walk to Shira 1 Camp. Here you can catch a glimpse of Kibo across the Shira Plateau, which is, with an altitude of 3600 meters, one of the highest plateaus on earth. After enjoying the stunning landscape, make your way back to the car.

Tarangire National Park

Day 5: Baobas and Elephants in Tarangire National Park

Today you'll spend time in Tarangire National Park, a short drive away. On the way there, you will get a sense of the impressive vastness of Tanzania. In addition, you will pass through several small villages where locals sell their goods in small markets or by the roadside. If you wish, the trip can be interrupted at any time for a short stop at a stall or for a tour of a market. 

In the afternoon, you will drive into the Tarangire National Park, which has the highest concentration of wildlife after the Serengeti. During the dry season, the Tarangire River is a magnet for thirsty wildlife. Whether wildebeests, zebras, lions, elephants, impalas, buffaloes, giraffes, or gazelles – the Tarangire National Park is not only home to migratory herds and various predators, but also hundreds of impressive bird species. So it's worth keeping your eyes open for the little things, too!

Lake Eyasi - Karatu

Day 6: Experience the Life of the Local Tribes

You'll spend the day paying a visit to the Hadzabe and Datoga tribes. On this day, one of the most impressive experiences of our cultural program will await you. The Hadzabe, an indigenous ethnic group in Tanzania, live near the shores of Lake Eyasi and in the southern Serengeti. You will be impressed by the way in which these people live with nature. The tools are carved by hand, they hunt with a bow and arrow, and live in makeshift huts made of branches, leaves, clay, and manure. You will also have the opportunity to try your hand at using a bow and arrow, and if you want, you can also take part in the traditional tribal dance.

After lunch at the nearest lodge, head to the Datoga tribe. They are a semi-nomadic people, who ensure their survival mainly through cattle and livestock. Visit the dwellings and experience the culture of these people first-hand.

Empakaai Crater - Karatu

Day 7: The Stunning Landscape of the Empakaai Crater

The stunning but relatively unknown Empakaai Crater lies some 40km north-east of its famous neighbor, the Ngorongoro Crater. From the moment you arrive at Empakaai, you will be treated to splendid views of the Empakaai Crater as well as a glimpse of Oldoinyo Lengai, Tanzania’s most active volcano.

Then, accompanied by a park ranger, you’ll begin the descent into the crater through the thick, mountainous forest. Down on the crater floor, there’s superb birding around the lake, and the chance to see flamingos as well as some big game like buffaloes, hyenas, and elephants.

In the late afternoon, visit a local market. There are very few things as exciting as walking through a street market in a Tanzanian city. Not only will you mingle with the most authentic locals, but you will also get to see some of the most indigenous and rare products you can find in Africa.

Ngorongoro Crater - Karatu

Day 8: The Ngorongoro Crater, Largest Caldera in the World

A full-day safari in the largest volcanic crater in the world promises unique experiences! The crater also has the highest predator density in Africa. Elephants hide in the thickets of the jungle on the crater walls, which can reach up to 600 m in height, while zebras, wildebeests, antelopes, and buffaloes frolic in the unique landscape on the crater floor. The grasslands are crisscrossed by lakes, swamps, rivers, forests, and mountains – all in all, a paradise for wildlife.

The Ngorongoro Crater is also the place you are most likely to see all the Big Five – elephant, black rhino, buffalo, lion, and leopard. You will be particularly lucky if you discover one of the endangered black rhinos because, apart from in the crater, there are only a few of them living in the Serengeti. You'll also meet the incredible Maasai tribe.

Arusha

Day 9: Goodbye to Tanzania!

On your last morning, you will drive from Karatu back to Arusha. Once again, you can enjoy the impressive expanse of the landscape or the hustle and bustle on the roadside in the small villages.

After an eventful and relaxing holiday in Tanzania, it's now time to say goodbye, unfortunately. You will be driven to the airport where you will start your journey home. We hope you thoroughly enjoyed your stay in Tanzania.

Perhaps we'll meet again soon in Tanzania! There's so much more to discover!