Tanzania: Safari, Serengeti & Maasai Heartlands

Group Tour

Overview

Every year the endless plains of the Serengeti play host to the Great Migration, one of nature’s most unforgettable events. Against the backdrop of some of Africa’s most spectacular landscapes, millions of wildebeest cross the savannah in search of fresh grazing, bringing in their wake an array of equally hungry predators.

Enriching the classic northern Tanzanian safari circuit, we'll combine authentic Maasai exchanges and opportunities to get out of our vehicle and closer to breathtaking ...

Read More

HIGHLIGHTS

At a glance

MEALS

9 x Breakfasts
9 x Lunches
9 x Dinners

TRANSPORT

Safari vehicles and a domestic flight

GROUP SIZE

Maximum: 12

EXPERT TEAM

The full services of a Wild Frontiers Tour Leader with local guides where appropriate

ACCOMMODATION

8 nights x Premium
1 night x Superior

ENTRANCE FEES

All entrance fees for sights mentioned in the itinerary

FITNESS RATING

Low

WILD MILES

This tour will earn you 8738 Wild Miles

ACCOMMODATION

Wherever possible we aim to use characterful accommodation that enhances the overall travel experience. This can obviously vary greatly across both countries and tours. On this particular trip we will stay in a combination of traditional safari-style tents and eco-lodges. Please note that the accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is intended as a guide only and is always subject to availability.

FITNESS RATING

LOW: You should be comfortable walking around towns and cultural sites. May include some optional walks (typically 1-2hrs).

LOW/MODERATE: May be of a long duration and/or involve numerous border-crossings. May include easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-3hrs/day). You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle.

MODERATE: May include several easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-5hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle. Previous experience of similar trips helpful.

MODERATE/HIGH: May involve several days of moderate hiking (up to 3-6 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.

HIGH: May involve several days of moderate/strenuous trekking (up to 4-7 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a very fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.

Wild Miles Club

When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:

Blue More than 10,000 points 2.5% discount
Bronze More than 30,000 points 5% discount
Silver More than 45,000 points 7.5% discount
Gold More than 60,000 points 10% discount

Positive Impact of this Trip

Tree
Ten trees are planted per passenger on this trip
Community
Supports Wild Frontiers Foundation community projects
Wind Turbine
A contribution to renewable energy projects

Map & Itinerary

Individual departures may vary so please refer to the information in the tour specific links in the Dates and Prices section below

Tanzania: Safari, Serengeti & Maasai Heartlands
EXPAND ALL ITINERARY DAYS
COLLAPSE ALL ITINERARY DAYS

Day 1 Tour starts in Arusha

Day 1 Tour starts in Arusha

The tour begins at Arumeru River Lodge, our home for the next two nights. Tucked away behind an old coffee plantation, close to the centre of Arusha, the lodge provides an ideal spot to begin our journey. On a clear day the beautifully kept gardens afford views out towards the iconic heights of Kilimanjaro, whilst the solar heated pool offers a chance to unwind from the flight.

Arumeru River Lodge or similar
Dinner

Day 2 Arusha: Rainforest Walks & Canoeing

Day 2 Arusha: Rainforest Walks & Canoeing

Occupying the eastern edge of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, our lodge lies close to the Duluti Forestry Reserve affording an ideal opportunity for two very different excursions today. We will enjoy a guided walk through the nearby rainforest after breakfast today, before returning to the lodge for some downtime and lunch. The afternoon then provides us with a chance to explore something of the nearby crater lake by canoe. Surrounded by dense rainforest, Lake Duluti is home to a number of bird species, as well as impressive monitor lizards often found basking along the shores of the lake.

Arumeru River Lodge or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 Arusha - Tarangire National Park: Game Drives

Day 3 Arusha - Tarangire National Park: Game Drives

Departing Arusha this morning we take the road southwest, towards the breathtaking setting of the Tarangire National Park. Lying between the meadows of the Maasai Steppe and the lakes of the Great Rift Valley, Tarangire is home to large herds of elephants, as well as lions, hyenas and nearly 550 species of birds. After enjoying a game drive, followed by lunch at one of the park's lodges, we will continue this afternoon to our camp at Maweninga. Spectacularly located within the park itself, our overnight camp is perched on top of an imposing granite kopje overlooking Lake Manyara.

Maweninga Camp or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 Tarangire - Karatu: Morning Game Drive & Coffee Plantation

Day 4 Tarangire - Karatu: Morning Game Drive & Coffee Plantation

Covering an area of some 2,600 square kilometres, Tarangire is the sixth largest of Tanzania’s national parks. In spite of its vast array of wildlife though, it sits slightly apart from the more popular northern safari circuit, affording us a more authentic and less crowded experience. After an early morning game drive we continue on towards Karatu and the forested slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater, where we break our journey with lunch at the historic sanctuary of Gibb’s Farm. Continuing on to our next lodge, we'll take some time to settle in, before visiting a nearby coffee plantation for a tour this afternoon.

Bashay Rift Lodge or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Karatu: Downtime or Optional Activities

Day 5 Karatu: Downtime or Optional Activities

Located on top of a steep hill in the heart of the fertile Karatu region, our lodge sits amongst beautiful terraces which offer views out over Lake Eyasi and the surrounding Rift Valley. Today has been set aside for optional activities and personal exploration, which might include mountain biking through the nearby villages or simply relaxing and enjoying the breathtaking panoramas from the lodge’s pool. The lodge also has its own farm, which provides it with everything from tea and coffee, to honey and fresh vegetables.

Bashay Rift Lodge or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Karatu - Ngorongoro Crater: Meet the Maasai

Day 6 Karatu - Ngorongoro Crater: Meet the Maasai

Our journey of superlatives continues today, as we head for the unparalleled spectacle of the Ngorongoro Crater. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this remarkable volcanic caldera is home to a staggering array of wildlife that includes over 25,000 large animals, 26 black rhinos and Africa’s densest known population of lions. After a game drive and a private picnic lunch in the crater, we then head to our Maasai camp at Olduvai this afternoon, where a sunset walk out to a nearby kopje presents us with a unique opportunity to enjoy some priceless interaction with our Maasai hosts.

Olduvai Camp or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 Ngorongoro Crater - Serengeti National Park: The Great Migration

Day 7 Ngorongoro Crater - Serengeti National Park: The Great Migration

The next three days sees us enjoying some truly unforgettable encounters amongst the vast and rich landscapes of the Serengeti National Park. This is wild Africa at its most majestic, where the Great Migration plays out against some 15,000 square kilometres of the Serengeti Plains. The specific day of our Great Migration experience will depend on the month of travel, but we can certainly be sure of some exceptional game drives, beginning today with a morning drive to lunch. Later we will drive on to the Togoro Plains, our tented lodge in the northern part of the Serengeti.

Togoro Plains or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 Serengeti National Park - Serengeti Grumeti: Game Drives

Day 8 Serengeti National Park - Serengeti Grumeti: Game Drives

One of the first places in the world to be proposed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Serengeti National Park  provides the ultimate African safari experience. Aside from the unforgettable spectacle of the Great Migration and the iconic sightings of the Big Five, it also boasts over 500 species of birds, some 500-600 cheetahs, giant crocodiles and riverine forests. After an early morning game drive we will drive on to our final camp, located in the Grumeti Hills. This afternoon will then be at leisure to enjoy these beautiful surroundings, or perhaps partake in an optional game drive around the camp.

Grumeti Hills or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 Serengeti Grumeti: Walking Safari, Bush Breakfast & Night Game Drive

Day 9 Serengeti Grumeti: Walking Safari, Bush Breakfast & Night Game Drive

Venturing out in the company of experienced Wildlife Department rangers we begin the day with a unique walking safari down to the banks of the Grumeti River, where a delicious bush breakfast will be served. After lunch back at the lodge, the afternoon has again been set aside for some personal time, before we set out this evening on a night game drive. An opportunity to witness the nocturnal hunters and their prey against the backdrop of the sounds of an African night, a nighttime drive provides a completely different view of the bush and its inhabitants.

Grumeti Hills or similar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 Serengeti Grumeti - Depart Arusha

Day 10 Serengeti Grumeti - Depart Arusha

A morning transfer to the Ikoma Airstrip for the flight back to Arusha, where we will be met on arrival and transferred to a spot for lunch. For those on the group tour flight, they will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Breakfast, Lunch

ACCOMMODATION USED ON THIS TOUR

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Hotel Rating

Ultra
The best of the best, the ultimate in luxury
Luxury
Outstanding service and facilities, giving you the 5* experience
Premium
Excellent standards offering a higher-end experience
Superior
Good quality service and overall comfort
Simple
No frills, basic accommodation, but often in the most exciting of places

Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. *Please refer to the Detailed Itinerary of your individual departure for more information.

PRIVATE HOLIDAYS: DATES DON’T FIT?

All group tours can be taken on a private basis.

Additional Details

Responsible Travel

With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.

When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats. 

Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.

Reducing Single Use Plastic

We recognise the environmental issues and challenges around single-use plastic in many countries we visit and are actively working with our partners on the ground to reduce plastic waste on our tours and within the hotels and restaurants we visit. You can help to reduce your personal plastic waste by taking a refillable, filtered water bottle with you on your trip. Filtered water bottles can be refilled from water sources including your hotel room and restaurant taps, drinking fountains and refill stations. Every time you refill your bottle without the use of single-use plastic, you will be helping to reduce waste and protect the environment. Filtered Water Bottles | Wild Frontiers (wildfrontierstravel.com)

Sustainable Lodges & Camps

We’ll be staying in a collection of outstanding sustainable lodges and camps each boasting state-of-the-art technology, such as electric-powered vehicles and new generation solar heating and electricity, as well as the latest practices in rainwater collection and borehole use for water consumption.

Planting a Tree

During our stay at Arumeru River Lodge in Arusha, we will be enjoying a walk through a nearby rainforest and the opportunity to join a tree planting project. Since the rainforest is close to many human settlements, people from local villages are constantly collecting firewood from the forest, putting it under threat of deforestation. 50% of the fees from this tour go towards securing the salary of the rainforest rangers and our clients are encouraged to help plant indigenous tree seedlings during the tour.

Supplementary Information

Seasonality

Seasonality

Green Season:
A favourite time for photographers, the rainy season also brings lush, green scenery in the bush, plenty of wildlife and fewer other visitors. Visitors should expect rain most days, which tend to fall in the afternoons and evenings. Camps offer their best rates at this time.

Shoulder Season:
Transitional months just before and after the flurry of the ‘High Season’, means a lower chance of rain and crowds and better visibility than the rainy season, and some reasonable discounts on accommodation still to be had.

High Season:
Also known as the ‘Dry Season’, the end of June through to September is the busiest time to travel to Tanzania, offering lots of sunshine and little chance of rain. All accommodation and tourist services have higher rates during this time

Peak Season:
July and August are considered the height of the dry season with the most consistent good weather. Being well into the dry season, wildlife starts to migrate to the permanent water sources providing excellent sightings in smaller concentrations of areas. This is the most popular and expensive time to travel.

Getting There

If you would like us to send you a quote for the suggested tour flights or on any alternative flight that may suit you better, please let us know, noting that for our US clients, we will most likely refer you to one of our preferred partners. For this trip our suggested flights from the UK (subject to change) are shown below.

If you wish to arrange your own flights you are completely free to do so and in this case we can arrange any transfers or supplementary accommodation that you may require. However please note that if you are planning on making your own flight arrangements, we recommend that you first check with us to see if the trip is guaranteed. We then suggest that you purchase flights that are flexible and ideally refundable as due to the nature of adventure travel, itineraries and destination accessibility can change at any time. For more information, please refer to our booking conditions.
 

Flight Code Departing Arriving
ET 701 London Heathrow (LHR) 21:00 Addis Ababa Airport (ADD) 06:45
ET 815 Addis Ababa Airport (ADD) 10:35 Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) 13:10
ET 814 Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) 19:05 Addis Ababa Airport (ADD) 21:35
ET 700 Addis Ababa Airport (ADD) 00:45 London Heathrow (LHR) 07:00

Visas & Vaccinations

VISAS

Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact a reputable visa agency. More details can be found here - https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/visa

For this tour UK passport holders currently require an e-visa for Tanzania.

Passports should ideally be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the end of your tour.

Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.

VACCINATIONS & ADDITIONAL TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

There are no mandatory vaccination requirements for travellers to Tanzania unless arriving from a country with a risk of Yellow Fever transmission, in which case a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required.

For all destinations, please make sure you are up-to-date with any standard vaccinations (e.g. MMR, Hepatitis A, Tetanus) as recommended by your local health care provider. 

Malaria is present in most parts of Tanzania and precautions are essential.

For the most up-to-date information on all vaccination requirements and the most suitable anti-malarial tablets, we strongly suggest that you seek advice from your local travel centre or consult an official travel health website such as www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.travelhealthpro.org.uk

Covid Testing: No mandatory testing is currently required for vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers.

If necessary further details will be sent out to you upon booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas & vaccinations are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.

Extensions

If you have more time available, why not arrive early to adjust to a new time zone or just to get a feel for the country before your tour starts? Alternatively, you might choose to allow a few extra days after the tour to relax or to undertake some further exploration.

The choice is completely yours and we can usually arrange anything from simply additional accommodation and transfers to full tailor-made itineraries*. Please contact the office for more details and to discuss your requirements.

*Please note bespoke, tailor-made itineraries need to be a minimum of 7 days and we can only offer them in countries where we have a tailor-made expert

ZANZIBAR POST-TOUR EXTENSION

ZANZIBAR POST-TOUR EXTENSION

Why not extend your time in Tanzania to include some time by the beach in Zanzibar at the end of the tour? Please speak to your consultant about flying to the famed ‘Spice Island’ and enjoying 3 nights at a wonderful oceanfront hotel.

Governmental Travel Advice

Many governments issue advice which highlights potential hazards their citizens might experience when travelling abroad. We strongly suggest you refer to your country’s particular advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. Click to follow links to the advice of the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the US State Department.

Non-UK citizens should consult the travel advice of their respective governments.

Key Information

CLIMATE

Just below the equator, Tanzania is considered to have a tropical climate, characterised in general by a long dry season, and shorter and longer rainier seasons broken up by a short dry season. Boasting access to three of Africa’s ‘Great Lakes’, Africa’s tallest mountain, some of the continent’s richest wildlife parks and exquisite beaches, the country has a varying topography and regional climate zones exist. This tour is concentrated in the northwestern highlands which tend to have cooler temperatures (in the 20Cs) than the tropical east coast and more arid centre and south which tend to produce the hottest temperatures. For the classic northern safari circuit, peak months (June – September) bring cooler temperatures in the lower to mid 20Cs and little rain, with the low (April & May) and shoulder (March & October-February) seasons offering hotter temperatures in the mid to higher 20Cs and more rain, as well as their own benefits such as lush and greener landscapes and fuller rivers and streams.

IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?

It may sound obvious but Wild Frontiers tours are not always for everyone and it is important to us that the tour you choose is the most suitable. All our tours have a fitness rating as a guideline but you should check the day-by-day itinerary carefully. In certain instances we may ask you to complete a travel questionnaire before confirming your booking in order to ensure your suitability. Should you have any concerns about your ability to partake in any aspect of the tour then please contact the office.

KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER

Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, however, please note that a lot of time will be spent in safari vehicles with more than three hours of driving on most days. This itinerary is best suited for those with a keen desire and the patience for spotting wildlife in the wild.

For the stay at Bashay Rift Lodge, there are a number of optional activities that guests can take part in. These tend to range in price from around $15-$30pp and should be paid for at the lodge. *Prices subject to change.

RECCE TOURS

As we all know, the world is a constantly changing place - destinations & routes that were once cutting-edge now regularly find themselves appearing in mainstream brochures. Coming up with truly original tour ideas is a constant challenge but at Wild Frontiers we are committed to offering you a real alternative to the mainstream and each year we run a handful of new and original adventures. These are our so-called Recce Tours and since the very beginning have proven incredibly popular with those of you who like to act as our “guinea pigs” and join us on these tours. Fantastic fun and highly rewarding, Recce Tours will assuredly not go 100% to plan and it is not uncommon for clients to take an active role in tweaking the itineraries along the way. More challenging than our normal tours, these will often require a greater degree of flexibility...they will not be for everyone.

THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE TRAVEL

We feel that it’s worth pointing out that while we will always strive to stick as close to the stated itinerary as possible, it may be necessary from time to time to make changes to our itineraries or services (due to weather, political and religious influences etc.) and this can happen with little or no notice. This unpredictability can be one of the most exciting aspects of adventure travel and for many of our clients often leads to unexpected highlights as the tour-leader necessarily adapts the tour to the changing conditions. However we are aware that this lack of assuredness may not suit everyone. As such, with the greatest respect, if you are someone who needs to know that everything will happen exactly as planned, we would kindly suggest that perhaps our tours are not for you. Adventure travel can be infectious and once you’ve caught the bug, it is likely to never leave you, but especially if this is your first such tour we would strongly urge you to give us a call if you have any concerns whatsoever about your suitability for this trip.

TRAVELLING SOLO AND SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS

As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!

Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip. On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights of the tour.

Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.

INSURANCE

Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.

General Information

TOUR PRICE

All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour.

DEPOSIT

A 10% deposit is required to confirm your booking.

PROTECTION FOR YOUR MONEY

For further details please see our travelling with peace of mind page

WILD MILES

This tour will earn you 8738 Wild Miles

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.

Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs

WILD FRONTIERS COMMUNITY

If you’re still not sure if this trip is right or just want to see get some different perspectives, then why not have a look at the wide variety of resources we have on our website? Browse our community section to read our blogs, watch videos and find out about our events. 

WHY WILD FRONTIERS?

We are frequently asked what makes Wild Frontiers different from other tour operators. Visit our Why Wild Frontiers page to find out.