Tanzania's most iconic wilderness areas come together in this perfectly paced five-day safari designed for travellers who want the very best of East Africa without compromise. You will journey from the bird-rich shores of Lake Manyara through the legendary Ngorongoro Crater, one of the natural wonders of the world, before settling into the vast, golden expanse of the Serengeti. Each destination delivers its own signature wildlife encounters, from tree-climbing lions and flocks of flamingos to the thundering wildebeest migration on the endless plains. Africompass takes care of every detail, so you can arrive, breathe in the African air, and focus entirely on the experience ahead.
After breakfast at your Arusha hotel your safari vehicle will collect you and transfer you to Lake Manyara National Park, arriving in time for lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon you will explore this compact yet remarkably diverse park, where groundwater forest, open grassland, swamp and acacia woodland provide habitat for the famous tree-climbing lions, a wide variety of mammals, and hundreds of bird species.
An early breakfast at around 06:30 will set you up for the transfer to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where you will descend into the magnificent crater floor for a full day of game viewing. The Ngorongoro Crater is home to all of the Big Five alongside hippos, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, antelopes and flocks of flamingos on the soda lake, making it one of Africa's most concentrated wildlife arenas. In the evening you will ascend the steep crater walls and return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay on the crater rim.
After breakfast you will depart the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and make your way to the Serengeti, stopping en route at Olduvai Gorge, the prehistoric site made famous by archaeologist Dr. L.S.B. Leakey and considered one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world. On arrival in the Serengeti you will discover why its name means 'endless plains' in Maasai, as you embark on your first game drive across the 12,944 square kilometres of open savannah and rocky kopjes teeming with wildlife.
Today you will enjoy an immersive full day in the heart of the Serengeti, with game drives in both the morning and afternoon separated by a midday lunch and leisure break at the lodge. The central plains are prime territory for lions, leopards, hyenas and cheetahs, while the skies above fill with an impressive variety of bird species. If the timing aligns, you may also witness sections of the iconic annual wildebeest and zebra migration that sweeps between the Serengeti and Kenya's Maasai Mara.
After a final breakfast at the lodge you will enjoy one last game drive through the Serengeti as you check out and begin the drive back to Arusha, arriving in time for lunch. Your guide will transfer you directly to Kilimanjaro International Airport or your preferred Arusha hotel, bringing your unforgettable Tanzania safari to a close.
All rates are per person and vary by travel season. Choose your season below to view the applicable pricing.
| Per adult | USD 1,362 |
Tell us your dates and dream, and a local specialist will craft your trip.
It depends on what you want to see. For the Great Migration river crossings in the Maasai Mara, visit between July and October, when the herds cross the Mara River in search of fresh grazing. For calving season and dense predator activity, January to March is excellent, particularly around the southern Serengeti. Kenya's two dry seasons (June to October and January to February) generally offer the clearest skies and easiest game viewing across Amboseli, Tsavo, and Samburu, since animals gather around limited water sources. The 'green season' (November and April to May) brings lush scenery, migratory birdlife, and lower rates, though some rural roads can be muddy. Tell us your travel dates and priorities, and we will recommend the destinations that fit best.
Most nationalities need a Kenya eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation), applied for online before you fly; Tanzania and Zanzibar require their own separate visa, available online or on arrival depending on your nationality. Entry requirements change from time to time, so confirm the current rules for your passport a few weeks before departure. A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is mandatory if you are arriving from, or have transited through, a Yellow Fever risk country, and we recommend it in general along with being up to date on routine vaccinations (MMR, tetanus, hepatitis A and B). Most safari areas are malaria zones, so antimalarial medication is strongly advised. Always check final requirements with your doctor or a travel health clinic, and ask us for the latest entry rules when you book.
Every itinerary we build is private and tailor-made by default: your own vehicle, driver-guide, and schedule, with no strangers added to your trip. That means you can linger an extra morning at a favourite lodge, adjust the route on the go, or add a visit to the Emmanuel New Hope Rescue Centre we support. If you would rather share costs or travel as a solo guest, we can also arrange a scheduled group departure and match you with other travellers on similar dates. Either way, your safari is planned by our Nairobi-based specialists around your budget, dates, and interests, not a fixed package.
Safari costs vary widely depending on where you stay and how you travel. Budget camping safaris in parks like Amboseli or Lake Nakuru can start from around USD 150 to 250 per person per day, mid-range lodge safaris typically run USD 250 to 450 per day, and luxury tented camps in the Maasai Mara or Serengeti can exceed USD 750 per day. Your quote always includes a private vehicle, driver-guide, park fees, and accommodation as specified in your itinerary. Since every trip we build is tailor-made, tell us your budget and travel dates and we'll show you exactly what it buys, with no hidden extras.
Pack light, neutral-coloured clothing (khaki, olive, beige) for game drives, since bright colours and dark blue can attract tsetse flies in some regions. Bring layers for early morning drives, which can be cold even near the equator, plus a hat, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen. A good pair of binoculars, a camera with a zoom lens, and a portable charger make a real difference to the experience. Comfortable closed shoes are more useful than sandals, and most lodges offer laundry service, so you rarely need more than a week's worth of clothing even on a longer trip. We send a full packing checklist tailored to your specific itinerary and season once you book.
Yes. Alongside our guided safaris, we offer both self-drive car hire and chauffeur-driven vehicles for clients who want more flexibility around Nairobi, the coast, or shorter road trips. Self-drive suits experienced drivers comfortable with Kenyan road conditions, while a chauffeur-driven car is the better choice for game-viewing routes, night driving, or if you'd simply rather relax and let a local expert handle the roads. All our vehicles are well-maintained 4x4s suited to both tarmac and rougher safari tracks. Let us know your route and dates and we'll recommend the right option.
Millions of visitors travel safely to Kenya and Tanzania every year, and the main tourist circuits, national parks, and coastal resorts are well-established and closely monitored. As with any international travel, sensible precautions apply: use a reputable operator (we're KATO-verified), avoid displaying valuables in cities, and follow your guide's advice in wildlife areas, where the real risk is animals, not crime. We stay in regular contact with our clients throughout their trip, and our drivers know the routes and current conditions well. If you have specific safety questions about your itinerary, we're happy to talk them through before you book.
Absolutely, it's one of our most popular combinations. A typical itinerary pairs 4 to 7 days on safari in the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, or Serengeti with 3 to 5 days unwinding on the beach in Zanzibar or Diani Beach, taking advantage of short connecting flights between the two. We handle all the logistics, including domestic flight bookings and airport transfers, so you go straight from game drives to the Indian Ocean without the stress of planning it yourself. Tell us how many days you have and we'll suggest a balance between wildlife and beach time that fits your trip.
