Tanzania – Serengeti and Beyond
Seasonal Information
Shimmering lakes awash with birdlife, endless plains travelled by herds in the world’s greatest migration and an ancient crater that sustains its own vast ecosystem… welcome to Tanzania. This is the quintessential safari experience, in some of the world’s best locations for game viewing as well as some of the most beautiful natural landscapes Africa has to offer. Moving from Arusha to Lake Manyara, followed by Ngorongoro Crater and finally the Serengeti, you’ll get a taste of the diverse ecosystems that make up this incredible place.
- Viewing the thundering herds of the great migration
- Big Five game drives and lunch in the African bush
- Spectacular scenery at Lake Manyara
- Standing atop the rim of Ngorongoro Crater
- Exploring Lake Manyara by bike
- Bush walks
- Night game drive in the Serengeti
You’ll land in Arusha to start your adventure in the gateway of Tanzania. This colourful city is alive with culture and history, as well as having its fair share of nature at hand. Explore the museums and markets that populate streets bubbling with indigenous African, Arab and Indian influences. Your stay is amongst the leafy surrounds of Arusha Coffee Plantation, offering a peaceful and fragrant environment to relax and prepare for the safari ahead. Arusha National Park lies nearby on Mt. Meru, and is home to an exciting variety of wildlife as well as beautiful scenery.
The next stop and beginning of your expedition into the bush is Lake Manyara National Park. This beautiful park is renowned for the lake that gives it its name, thronged with flamingos, hornbills and hundreds of other bird species – it is an ornithologist’s paradise. But the soda ash lake also attracts other beasts, and the national park itself is home to a great variety of game – including the rare tree-climbing lion, which only exist in two locations in Africa. Elephants, giraffes and buffalos roam freely too. A bicycle ride along the shores of the lake is a refreshing way to take in the glittering views, while stopping at a local village.
Following Lake Manyara is the fantastical Ngorongoro Conservation Area, set in the sunken crater of an ancient volcano. Mystery and beauty cloak this incredible wildlife spot, home to a great concentration of game and excellent Big Five viewing. In particular, it is one of the best locations to meet the endangered black rhino. The crater floor is vast and traverses woodland and grassland, while the rim offers spectacular hikes with excellent views. This huge caldera is roamed by a large population of Maasai pastoralists and is referred to by some as the cradle of human evolution, due to the significance of archaeological discoveries made at Olduvai Gorge. Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the earth’s largest intact caldera.
Your final destination is no less dramatic than the last – the majestic Serengeti. While Ngorongoro seems like a world of its own, the Serengeti seems like a world without end – sweeping plains stretch for miles, blanketed each night in spectacular African sunsets. This is arguably the home of safari, and the location of the breath-taking great migration of millions of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle searching for food and water. No spectacle on earth is quite like it. Meanwhile, the Serengeti also provides habitats to countless resident species that make any game drive a delight. Large herds of grazers, big cats, rhinoceros and rarer predators can all be found here. Choose between a lodge overlooking a valley busy with wildlife and an intimate tented camp based on the location of the migration.
Disembark for a warm welcome at Kilimanjaro Airport from an andBeyond team member who will transfer you to Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge.
Arusha is bursting with culture and energy. The central market, Soko Kuu, is an adventure for the senses, showcasing Maasai handicrafts, freshly cooked foods and striking textiles. Meanwhile the Natural History Museum is impressive and unmissable for anyone interested in the city’s colonial history or the importance of local archaeology in understanding human evolution.
A little further afield is Arusha National Park, perfect for a day trip and home to Africa’s largest giraffe population. Cruise Lake Duluti on a canoe safari and spot the bright flamingos and frolicking hippos. This reserve will whet your appetite for the safari ahead!
Recommended activities (at an additional cost):
- Coffee Estate Tour
- Natural History Museum
- Arusha National Park
- Cultural Heritage Centre
Feel like a part of the ecosystem in your stilted tree house at andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge. Dine beneath the stars in the traditional boma and interact with a friendly Maasai warrior who might teach you some bush skills! Warm afternoon hours can be passed in the bliss of the pool while you let the sounds of the forest carry you away.
Natural beauty takes on new meaning in this environment shared by glimmering lakes, dense woodland and dramatic mountains. Witness flamingos on the shores of Soda Lake, track down the park’s tree-climbing lions and feel the earth rumble beneath the great herds of elephants as you embark on game drives across the landscape.
Night-time drives allow guests to experience the nocturnal side of life in the park, witnessing predators that prefer the cool of the evening. Aside from day and night game drives with your private guide, your stay also offers a guided bike ride through the scenic Mayoka community, giving you the chance to interact with locals and perhaps even meet the nomadic Mang’ati tribe.
After breakfast, it’s time to migrate to the North of the country to andBeyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge. Overlooking the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, this is a special location with spectacular views. Mist swirls over the crater as if independent of the outside world, and vast numbers of creatures roam the expanse within the walls of the world’s largest intact caldera.
Explore the immense crater floor on game drives suited to your specific interests and the animals you wish to see. Giant tusked elephants roam the forest, while the lion is king of the grassland. The endangered black rhino can also be found wandering the plains.
Devour a delicious picnic out in the reserve, surrounded by wildlife. Hikes are a fantastic option for the energetic, leading to magnificent crater viewpoints and taking in every sight, smell and sound of the environment on the way. Learn to create beadwork back at the camp with a Maasai teacher, watch the resident zebra drink from the tap or explore lion conservation with KopeLion.
Additional recommended activities (at an extra cost):
- Crater view walk
- Olduvai Gorge & Shifting Sands tour
- Crater floor banquet
- Private sundowners on the rim
- Wine store pairing dinner
Eat a fantastic breakfast before being driven back to Manyara Airstrip, where you will be flown to Lobo Airstrip. A scenic game drive will take you to andBeyond Klein’s Camp.
Klein’s Camp is beloved of many safari adventurers for its unparalleled location and access to wildlife. Sat on the Kuka Hills, this camp of only ten gorgeous wood and stone cottages looks over a valley that teems with animals.
Take advantage of the private concession that Klein’s Camp is located on, affording exclusive game drives and undisturbed animal encounters. Follow the great migration in the Serengeti, choosing between shorter twice-daily safaris or an all-day drive with a picnic. Or venture out on a night drive to experience the sensations of the bush at night, while witnessing predators and nocturnal animals in action.
Bush walks are a favourite, allowing guests to escape the confines of a vehicle and feel the ground beneath their feet as they explore the environment close-up. This is the land of the Maasai, who can be met daily. An authentic boma lies near to the camp and cultural village tours are possible, giving an insight into the daily lives of the people that have roamed the land here for thousands of years.
Alternatively, stay at Serengeti Under Canvas. This is a unique adventure in a Bedouin style tent, based at a camp that moves five times per year to track the great migration, thus offering the best proximity to this incredible phenomenon possible.
Tents are kitted out luxuriously with chandeliers, crystal and silverware and sumptuous beds, and are served by a private butler. Feel completely surrounded by nature and let your cares ease away in the beauty of the bush. Dinners under the sky, stargazing and campfire storytelling make for a truly intimate experience.
Additional recommended activities (at an extra cost):
Klein’s Camp:
- Visit to authentic Maasai boma
Serengeti Under Canvas (location dependent):
- Tour of Olduvai Gorge & Shifting Sands
- Lake Victoria excursion
- Hot air balloon safari
After a final early morning game drive and breakfast, you will be driven back to the airstrip and fly to Kilimanjaro Airport to catch your outbound flight.
Dates are flexible so please make an enquiry and tell us a range of dates you are considering so we can check availability.
Lake Manyara National Park
andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge’s nine treehouse suites were made with minimal environmental impact as a focus, constructed from local timber and makuti palm fronds. The lodge centres a connection with nature and sustainable practices, such as dining on locally produced foods (including delicious fresh smoothies and juices). Lake Manyara National Park supports a wide variety of habitats with nine rivers, giving rise to a symphony of species to be found.
Ngorongoro Crater
It is believed that no giraffe lives in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area due to the slopes of the crater being too steep. But there are plenty of other animals to see, including cheetahs, leopards and spotted hyenas! And don’t miss Olduvai Gorge for a look back into the past of humankind – excavations there have provided scientists with critical information about our early evolution.
andBeyond Klein’s Camp
Like all of andBeyond’s locations, Klein’s Camp actively promotes sustainability. Delicious, fresh vegetables are picked from the organic garden and the camp has eliminated plastic water bottles. 92% of staff are locally employed and andBeyond has invested in community schools and a clinic.
andBeyond Serengeti Under Canvas
As well as tracking migrating wildebeest, these camps offer the chance to meet all kinds of animals – from rhino in the north and cheetah in the south to baboon, impala, buffalo and great elephant herds. Each camp is unique but offers its own concentration of wildlife along the food and water-rich path of the migrators.
- Meet and greet service at Kilimanjaro Airport
- Accommodation with breakfast at Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge; three meals daily, house drinks, refreshments on game drives and laundry at Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge and Klein’s Camp/Serengeti Under Canvas
- Dinner at The Bistro or The Grill Room while staying at Arusha Coffee Lodge
- All scheduled road transfers:
Kilimanjaro Airport / Arusha Coffee Lodge
Arusha Coffee Lodge / Arusha Airport
Manyara Airstrip / andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge / Manyara Airstrip
Manyara Airstrip / andBeyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
andBeyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge / Manyara Airstrip - All scheduled air transfers:
Arusha Airport / Manyara Airstrip
Manyara Airstrip / Serengeti Airstrip
Serengeti Airstrip / Kilimanjaro Airport - Tanzania National Park fees / camping fee / crater / concession & conservancy fees
- Tanzania Tourism Development Levy
- Explore more of Lake Manyara: One complimentary night game drive and a scenic bicycle ride exploring Lake Manyara
- Emergency medical evacuation insurance
- Administration fee
- All flights
- Visa costs
- Vaccinations
- Health insurance
- Travel insurance
- Additional travel requirements outside of included transfers
- Gratuities
- Carbon Offsetting through Climate Care
Particularly suited to:
- The conservation conscious
- Keen safari-goers
- Luxury travellers
- Couples
Suitable for ages 8 to 80
andBeyond Serengeti Under Canvas does not permit children under the age of 5.
Seasonal Information
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