This classic six-day road safari sweeps you through three of Tanzania's most celebrated wilderness areas, each with its own distinct character and cast of wildlife. You will descend into the ancient caldera of Ngorongoro, cross the boundless golden plains of the Serengeti, and round off your adventure with an intimate afternoon in the lush habitats of Lake Manyara. Africompass pairs every journey with an expert multilingual guide, fluent in English, Spanish, Chinese, German or French, so the stories of the bush come alive in your language. From the moment we collect you at Kilimanjaro Airport to the moment we deliver you back for your flight home, every detail is taken care of.
Your Africompass driver-guide will meet you on arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer you through Arusha toward the Great Rift escarpment. The road will climb steadily up the forested slopes of Mt. Ngorongoro before reaching the breathtaking crater rim, where your luxury lodge sits perched some 2,000 feet above the crater floor. You will arrive in time for dinner, with sweeping views over one of Africa's greatest natural amphitheatres settling in as the light fades.
An early start will take you down the steep crater wall to the floor of this vast, self-contained ecosystem, packed with an extraordinary density of wildlife on open, flat terrain. You will have excellent opportunities to get remarkably close to lions, including the crater's famously photogenic black-maned males, as well as buffaloes, elephants, hyenas, flamingos and the rare black rhino. A picnic lunch on the crater floor will give you a chance to soak in the ancient caldera setting before a late-afternoon ascent back to the rim.
After breakfast you will depart the crater rim and head west toward the Serengeti, pausing at the world-famous Olduvai Gorge, where the Leakey family's discoveries of early hominid fossils, tools and ancient footprints helped establish Africa as the cradle of humankind. Continuing into Serengeti National Park, you will begin encountering the park's legendary wildlife at rocky granite kopjes, where lion cubs and their resting parents make for unforgettable photographs. The late afternoon drive through the Serengeti's golden light will set the tone for the days ahead.
A full day in the Serengeti will offer you some of the finest game viewing on the African continent, with early morning drives giving you the best chance of witnessing predator activity. The vast mosaic of short-grass plains, riverine forests, rocky kopjes and permanent hippo pools supports approximately three million animals, and from December through June the Great Wildebeest Migration brings over a million wildebeest and zebra sweeping across the plains. Your guide will share deep knowledge of animal behaviour and ecosystem dynamics throughout the day.
Your final Serengeti morning will begin with a sunrise game drive across the plains, and for those wishing to add an extraordinary memory, an optional hot air balloon flight over the Serengeti is available at an additional cost, followed by a celebratory champagne brunch in the bush. You will then depart overland toward Lake Manyara, arriving at your escarpment lodge in time to enjoy spectacular rift valley views before an afternoon game drive in the compact but species-rich Lake Manyara National Park. The park is renowned for its tree-climbing lions in the acacia woodlands, large elephant herds along the Ndala River, and colourful birdlife along the lakeshore.
After a leisurely breakfast with final views over the rift valley, you will depart Lake Manyara for the drive back to Arusha, arriving in time for a farewell lunch before your transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight. Your Africompass driver-guide will ensure you are checked in with time to spare, leaving you with memories of five remarkable days in Tanzania's greatest wilderness areas.
All rates are per person and vary by travel season. Choose your season below to view the applicable pricing.
| Per adult (6 days) | USD 2,341.40 |
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.
