Custom Safaris - Tanzania ** This page is currently under revision! Please call us for more information about our Tanzania safari itineraries. These tours can operate on any days, subject to availability at the camps & lodges included in your customized itinerary. All tours are put together individually based on your interests, time & budget.
Costs are approximate subject to camps and lodges being used and depending on season. April & May low season rates are in affect and may be lower then those rates quoted. High season includes January-March and June-October. Children under 12 sharing with adults may qualify for discounted rate. Cost includes private safari vehicle with roof hatch and driver /guide, accommodations, meals, park and entrance fees, taxes including Tanzania VAT of 17.5%. Hotel and airport transfers in Arusha or Nairobi have to be added to costs. Tanzania visas are available on arrival for US $100 per person.
NOTE: See the Kenya Custom Safaris page for safaris operating in both Tanzania and Kenya.
7 DAY NORTHERN CIRCUIT BASIC SAFARI
Arusha, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater
Day 1 – Leave Arusha in the morning and drive (130K and 2 hours driving) to Manyara for lunch. Overnight at Manyara Serena Lodge or similar.
Day 2 – Morning game drive at Lake Manyara. Continue to Serengeti (250K and 5 hours driving) with game drive enroute. Dinner and overnight at Seronera area lodge such as Serengeti Serena Lodge.
Day 3 & 4 – Spend two full days in Serengeti with morning and afternoon game drives. Meals & overnights at Serengeti Serena Lodge or similar.
Day 5 - Drive to Ngorongoro via Olduvai Gorge with picnic lunch enroute (195K and 4 hours driving). Afternoon game drive in the Crater. Dinner and overnight at one of Ngorongoro Crater lodges.
Day 6 – Half-day Crater safari with a picnic lunch. Overnight at lodge.
Day 7 - Drive to Arusha for lunch at Impala Hotel. 200K and 3 hours driving. Cost: Low Season: two trip members from $2400 per person; four trip members $1980 per person.
High Season: two trip members from $3400 per person; four trip members from $2650 per person. Using a 4 x 4 Landcruiser or Landrover add $200 to the per person rate {standard vehicle is safari minivan with roof hatch}.
SPECIAL FLYING OPTION: For added comfort, less driving and more time in the wildlife areas we recommend our flying option. This is possible by staying the same number of nights at the same lodges, but changing the order of accommodation to begin with Lake Manyara followed by Ngorongoro and finishing with the Serengeti, and then flying back from Serengeti to Arusha. Add a supplement of $350 per person, which includes the flight from Serengeti to Arusha and the transfer from Arusha Airport to Arusha Town. 9-Day TANZANIA UNDER CANVAS
Arusha - Tarangire - Lake Manyara - Serengeti - Ngorongoro - Arusha
Day 1 • Tarangire - CAMP
On arrival in Arusha, met by private guide & safari vehicle. Drive to Tarangire for lunch, afternoon game drive and dinner in camp (LD). 150 kms/2½ hours.
Day 2 • Tarangire - CAMP
Full day in Tarangire with morning and afternoon game drives. Meals and overnight in camp (BLD).
Day 3 • Lake Manyara - LODGE
After breakfast, drive to Lake Manyara arriving in time for lunch and afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at lodge (BLD). 125 kms/2 hours.
Day 4 • Serengeti - CAMP
After breakfast, morning game drive and lunch at Lake Manyara. After lunch, continue to Serengeti with game drive en route to the camp. Dinner and overnight in camp (BLD). 250 kms/5 hours.
Day 5 & 6 • Serengeti - CAMP
Spend two full days in the Serengeti with morning and afternoon game drives each day. All meals and overnight in camp (BLD).
Day 7 • Ngorongoro - LODGE
After breakfast drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area visiting Olduvai Gorge en route. Lunch and afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight at lodge (BLD). 195 kms/3 hours.
Day 8 • Ngorongoro - LODGE
After breakfast, enjoy half day game drive in the famous Crater. Return for lunch at the lodge with afternoon at leisure and optional activities available at extra cost. Dinner and overnight at lodge (BLD).
Day 9 • Return to Arusha
Depart for Arusha after breakfast arriving in time for lunch. 200 kms / 3½ hours.
Cost for 4 guests: from $3215-4400 pp, using 7-seater 4x4 safari vehicle, depending on choice of accommodations and season of travel.
Add about $350 per person for high season rates.
9 DAY TANZANIA MOBILE TENTED CAMP & LODGE SAFARI
Traditional Africa Style Safari - First Class Mobile Camp With Staff Arusha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater.
Best January through April to coincide with migration.
Day 1 - From Arusha drive to Tarangire National Park {150K and 3 hours driving}. Private mobile camp with staff for two nights.
Day 2 - Game viewing in area.
Day 3 - Drive to Lake Manyara National Park {125K and 2 hours driving}. Afternoon game drive. Ovenight at lodge.
Day 4 - Drive into Serengeti National Park {250 K and 5 hours driving}. Private mobile camp with staff.
Day 5 & 6 - Game drives in area.
Day 7 - Drive via Olduvai Gorge to Ngorongoro Crater {185 K and 3 hours driving}. Overnight at one of crater lodges.
Day 8 - Full day crater safari with picnic lunch. Day 9 - Return drive to Arusha {200 K and 3 hours driving}. Cost: Ask about availability and costs.
TANZANIA SOUTHERN CIRCUIT SAFARIS
Safaris on Southern Circuit do not operate during April and May.
Safaris normally start in Dar es Salaam using scheduled flights that make stops at the diferent parks. Ideally it's best to make this a full safari of about 8 to 12 days.
15 DAY SOUTHERN CIRCUIT WILDERNESS SAFARI & SWAHILI COAST
Mikumi National Park, Udzungwa National Park, Katavi National Park, Ruaha National Park, Swahili Coast on Lazy Lagoon Island. By Safari Train, Overland & Short flights.
Day 1 - Friday - In morning met and transferred to TAZARA station for the 10:00am departure of the SAFARI EXPRESS train to Mikumi National Park. The Safari Express private train is old style train travel through the Selous Game Reserve, leisurely winding its way through the spectacular Tanzanian countryside. An experience in itself, lunch and bar on board, there is nothing else like it in Tanzania. For the comfort of passengers straight from an overnight flight there is a shower on board as well as usual bathroom facilities. You will arrive at Kidatu station at approximately 17:30 to transfer by road to camp in Mikumi National Park. The central feature of Mikumi National Park is the fertile Mkata flood plain whose lush pastures attract wildlife from the surrounding mountains. Foxes Safari Camp is located on a rocky hill on this plain offering 360 degree panoramic viewing of game across the plain and Mwanambogo waterhole with the highest concentration of game in the park.
Day 2 - On Saturday you will have the day to explore and discover Mikumi National Park with morning and afternoon game drives in specially adapted open game viewing vehicles accompanied by expert guides and driver.
Day 3 - On Sunday you will be transferred to Udzungwa Mountain National Park so that you can trek underneath the rainforest canopy with its endemic primates and endemic birds to come out at Sanje water falls with breathtaking views over the Rift Valley below. The guided walk is quite steep and takes 3-4 hours without allowing for stopping time and your picnic at Sanje falls. The Udzungwa rainforest is a remnant of the ancient Eastern arc rainforest that stretched along the eastern rift. It has similarities with forests in Madagascar and West Africa. However, Madagascar split from the mainland 165 million years ago and the Udzungwa forests have remained isolated from those in West Africa for the last 5 million years. So that there exists a high degree of endemism with 25% of the plant species unique only to Udzungwa, 4 species of endemic primate, and several recently discovered endemic bird species.
Day 4 to 7 - On Monday morning depart from Mikumi National Park and fly to Katavi National Park. Described by Travel Africa and Africa Geographic magazines as "Africa's best kept secret", this is for the connoisseur Africa traveler. A recent survey at Katavi recorded the highest concentration of game in all the parks of Tanzania which in this country is quite a statement! The northern parks are visited by 120,000 people while less than 200 people reach Katavi and you will feel very privileged when you look through the visitor book to see who the last person to come was. So you can experience the highest concentration of game in Tanzania and share it with the lowest number of people! Katavi has the same climate as Ruaha but with a completely contrasting topography comprising of a series of secret flood plains fringed by woodlands and teaming with wildlife (many species of which are not found in Ruaha eg.Topi). You are surrounded by wildlife the moment you arrive and as you pass through the fringed woodland these vast flood plains, teaming with game, open up in front of you totally unexpectedly. Its remoteness and vast ecosystem has meant that the lush floodplains attract a very large biomass and huge herds of wildlife; it is not uncommon to see herds of 1600 Buffalo! Along with large herds of Topi and Zebra the Buffalo graze the plains during the day when they are less vulnerable to predators preferring to return to the relative safety of the woodland at night. Their predators maintain the balance by ambushing them as they return to the woodland. Katavi Wildlife Camp is very exclusive with only six tents luxurious in size and furnishings and cunningly set back in amongst the trees that line the floodplain, providing both shade and camouflage in the prime game viewing area of the park, where the wildlife are unaware of your presence.
Day 7 to 10 - On Thursday you will leave Katavi and fly to Ruaha National Park. The central feature of Ruaha National Park is the Great Ruaha River that is the lifeline of the park. During the long 6 month dry season wildlife is drawn to this river from the surrounding hills. Ruaha River Lodge is located in a unique position in a bend of the Great Ruaha River where you can observe natural animal behavior as wildlife is attracted to the river. From the comfort and safety of your natural stone and thatch bandas you can watch the drama unfold as game comes down to drink and the predators lie in wait.Ruaha National Park is special because it is topographically varied (from grassland plains, to the Great Ruaha River, rocky kopjes, mountains and the escarpment plateau) with a correspondingly varied number of habitats and consequently wildlife species. Altitude varies from 1000m to 1850m. More importantly Ruaha National Park lies in the convergence zone between northern and southern hemisphere where you find plant, animal and bird species from both hemispheres. So for instance there are 1650 plant species found in Ruaha while only 600 plant species are found in the Serengeti and Selous.You therefore can find species less common in the northern parks such as Sable and Roan antelope and also both species of Kudu: Greater and Lesser Kudu. All the predators are present including larger populations of hunting dog, lion, leopard and cheetah. Your 4 night stay at Ruaha River Lodge will be hosted by Peter and Sarah Fox who have lived in Ruaha National Park for most of the last two decades and will give you unparalleled knowledge of this special park. Stay includes morning and afternoon game drives {and / or walking safaris} in specially adapted open game viewing vehicles accompanied by expert guides and driver with radio backup.
Day 10 to 14 - Leave Ruaha and fly back to Dar to transfer by road and boat to Lazy Lagoon Island. 9 km of white beach, shared between just 12 individual beach cottages makes Lazy Lagoon one of the most exclusive beach hotels in Tanzania.
Day 15 - Return to Dar es Salaam for onward arrangements.
Cost per person about $5400. Includes all accommodations, meals, overland connections, safari train, flights within program, park fees, professional guides, laundry and Tanzania 17.5% VAT.
8 DAY SOUTHERN CIRCUIT
Dar es Salaam, Selous Game Reserve - Ruaha National Park
Day 1 – Met and assisted at Dar airport onto Coastal Air flight to Selous game reserve. Met by camp vehicle and proceed for lunch followed by an afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at Sand Rivers Camp.
Day 2 - Full days of game activities in Selous Game Reserve. Meals and overnights at Sand Rivers Camp.
Day 3 - After breakfast transferred to Selous Safari Camp with en route game drive. Lunch at Selous Safari Camp followed by an afternoon game activity in Selous. Dinner and overnight at Selous Safari Camp.
Day 4 - Full days of game scheduled activities in Selous game reserve. Meals and overnights at Selous Safari Camp.
Day 5 - After breakfast transferred to Siwandu airstrip for Coastal Air flight to Ruaha. Arrive at Ruaha airstrip and transferred by camp vehicle to Mwagusi Camp for lunch. Morning and afternoon game activities in Ruaha National Park. Dinner and overnight at Mwagusi Camp.
Day 6 & 7 - Full days of activities in Ruaha National park. Meals and overnights at Mwagusi Camp.
Day 8 – After breakfast transferred to Ruaha airstrip for Coastal flight to Dar departing about noon. Met in Dar and assisted with onward arrangements.
CLIMBING KILIMANJARO
Long streneous climb although not techically difficult. Need to be in good condition and training program is advised for some months before climb. We provide a detailed dossier including maps, daily program, clothing and equipment list, health bulletin, supplementary food list and reading and reference list.
8 DAY KILIMANJARO MACHAME ROUTE
Day 1 – From Nairobi or Arusha drive to Machame Village. Overnight at Protea Hotel Aishi 3 star. Note the cost of transfers from Arusha or Nairobi is not included. Cost depends on number of trip members sharing transfer.
Day 2 – Machame. Transfer to Park Gate at Machame and trek to Machame (3000m). Overnight in your tented camp.
Day 3 – Shira Camp. Trek to reach Shira (3800m). Overnight in your tented camp.
Day 4 – Barranca. Trek to Barranca (3900m.). Overnight in your tented camp.
Day 5 – Barranca Acclimatization Day.
Day 6 – Barafu. Ascend to Barafu (4600m). Overnight in your tented camp.
Day 7 - SUMMIT – Mweke. An early start to a long day of walking to reach the crater rim at Stella Point in time for sunrise. Then to Uhuru Peak (5896m), the highest point in Africa. Afterwards descend to tented camp at about 10,000 feet.
Day 8 - Base Hotel. Descend to Mweke gate, from where you are transferred back to Protea Hotel Aishi or hotel in Arusha. Cost: About $1500 per person for 2 more trip members. Cost of transfers on day 1 and 8 not included and need to be amortized over number of members. Cost includes hotels as noted and your own tents on the mountain, National Park entrance and use fees {about $500}, guides and porters on the mountain, food and cook staff, Tanzania VAT tax of 17.5% and transfers as noted.
7 DAY KILIMANJARO STANDARD MARANGU HUT ROUTE
Day 1 - Moshi Base Hotel. Transfer from airport or Arusha to overnight at Springland Hotel in Moshi.
Day 2 - Mandara Hut. Transfer to Park Gate at Marangu and trek to Mandara Hut (2750m). Stay overnight.
Day 3 - Horombo Hut. Trek along a good path to reach Horombo Hut (3700m). Stay overnight.
Day 4 – Horombo Hut – Acclimatization Day.
Day 5 - Kibo Hut. Continue ascending to The Saddle between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. Overnight at Kibo Hut (4700m.).
Day 6 - Summit - Horombo Hut. Early start to Gilman’s Point (5681 m) in time for sunrise. It is possible to continue to Uhuru Peak (5896m), the highest point in Africa. Afterwards descend to Horombo Hut. Stay overnight.
Day 7 - Moshi Base Hotel. Descend to the park gate and transfer to Springland Hotel in Moshi {or alternately to Arusha at an extra cost}. Cost: about $1275 per person for 2 or more trip members. Cost includes hotels as noted and huts on the mountain as noted, National Park entrance and use fees, guides and porters on the mountain, food and cooking staff, Tanzania VAT tax of 17.5% and transfers as noted.Cost of transfers on day 1 and 8 not included.
"Our family had a magnificent trip to Kenya and Tanzania. Everything went smoothly and the attention to detail was really appreciated. Even though living in England, Next Adventure’s communications were fantastic. Our three week private safari couldn’t have been better."GC, London Custom Tours - Zanzibar Three to eight day programs can be worked into your safari for visiting island of Zanzibar. There are daily flights from Arusha, Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.Usually one spends two or three days in Stone Town and three or more days at one of the beach resorts.Serena Hotels has the lovely Serena Zanzibar Inn on the waterfront. A number of fine beach resorts are located on the east shore of the island. Tanzania Scheduled Safaris Inquire for scheduled safaris that may be operating at time of your visit.
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