Private Multi day Safari tour in Tanzania

The most unusual part of this safari is the mix of classic game drives with walking beside an armed ranger and canoeing on Lake Momella. You are not simply sitting in a vehicle for nine days. You get closer to the smaller details of the bush, then return to the vehicle for big wildlife and long-distance viewing.

I like the range of parks, from Arusha’s mountain scenery to Serengeti’s open plains and Tarangire’s elephant country. I also like the private format, which gives your group more say over stops and photo time. The tradeoff is clear: this is a demanding camping trip, with long drives and two separate 17-kilometer walking days on the Ngorongoro rim.

Key points to know before booking

• Armed-ranger walks and canoeing: Begin with a four-hour walk in Arusha National Park and a canoe safari on Lake Momella.
• Night wildlife drive: Lake Manyara adds an evening game drive, a rare chance to look for nocturnal activity.
• Two full Serengeti days: Sunrise viewing, sunset time, hippos, lions, kopjes, and possible migration sightings are all built in.
• Ngorongoro on foot and by vehicle: Descend 610 meters into the crater, then walk 34 kilometers along the rim over two days.
• Camping is central to the experience: Camping gear, sleeping bags, meals, drinks, transport, park fees, and a professional driver-guide are included.
• A serious physical commitment: You need moderate fitness, especially for the long rim walks and early starts.

What nine days on Tanzania’s Northern Circuit really gives you

At $3,900 per person, this is not a quick safari designed to tick off two parks and return to Arusha. It is a broad Northern Circuit trip with time for several kinds of wildlife viewing.

You spend time in Arusha National Park, Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire. That variety matters. Each park has a different mood, habitat, and style of viewing, so the experience does not depend on one famous destination alone.

The package includes transportation, a professional driver-guide, camping equipment, sleeping bag, meals, drinks, taxes and VAT, parking fees, and listed park activities. Eight lunches and dinners, plus seven breakfasts, are included. That makes the price easier to judge, since many of the large safari costs are already covered.

You still need to budget for international flights, tips, personal items, bath towels, airport transfers, extra accommodation before or after the tour, and possible government increases in taxes or park fees. Confirm exactly where pickup will occur, since the tour information refers to Arusha town or an airport pickup, while the main location is given as Moshi.

Day 1: Arusha National Park on foot and by canoe

Pickup is scheduled for 8:30 in the morning from an Arusha hotel or airport. The drive leads to Arusha National Park, where you spend about four hours walking with an armed ranger.

This is a fine way to begin. On foot, you notice tracks, plants, bird calls, and smaller animals that are easy to miss from a safari vehicle. The wildlife list includes giraffes, zebras, antelope, buffalo, and black-and-white colobus monkeys. Elephants may also be seen near the trail.

The walking pace and animal distance can vary, so this is not a guaranteed close encounter. The armed ranger is there for safety and guidance, but you should still follow instructions carefully and wear practical walking shoes.

After lunch, you take a canoe safari on Lake Momella. Hippos, buffalo, giraffes, waterbucks, and many bird species may be seen around the water. Canoeing gives you a quiet view of the shoreline, although animal sightings depend on conditions and location.

The day also brings views toward Mount Meru and, in suitable conditions, Mount Kilimanjaro. After roughly eight hours of activity, you go to Mc Ellys Hotel for dinner and the night. This first night is less rugged than the camping nights that follow.

Day 2: Lake Manyara from morning to night

You meet the guide at Mc Ellys Hotel at 8:30 in the morning and drive to Lake Manyara National Park with packed lunches. The morning and early afternoon are given to a game drive.

Lake Manyara can be especially rewarding for general wildlife viewing. Lions, hippos, antelopes, impalas, and zebras may all appear close to the road or vehicle. During flamingo season, the lake shore can be covered with feeding flamingos, though the timing of that spectacle depends on natural conditions.

After lunch, you leave the vehicle for a guided walk inside the park, normally accompanied by an armed ranger. This creates a welcome change after the morning drive. It also means the day is not just a series of long hours in a vehicle.

After an early dinner, the group leaves around 8 p.m. for a night game drive lasting about three hours. This is one of the more distinctive parts of the trip. You may look for creatures and behavior that are not active during daylight, but night viewing is naturally less predictable than a daytime drive.

The whole day lasts about seven hours of listed activities, but the early dinner and evening drive make it feel longer. Plan for a late return and keep a headlamp or small flashlight handy if your camping arrangements require walking around after dark.

Day 3: The long road into Serengeti

After breakfast, you travel toward Serengeti National Park. This is a long day, listed at about ten hours, with game viewing and photography beginning in the afternoon.

The route passes through striking open country and includes views of Ngorongoro Crater. The plan is to see the crater from the route rather than conduct a crater game drive that day. Lunch is expected around 2:30 p.m. near Nabi Hill Gate while entrance arrangements are completed.

That timing tells you something important: this is a transfer day as well as a safari day. You should expect considerable time on the road, with wildlife sightings along the way rather than nonstop viewing.

Later in the afternoon, the vehicle enters the Serengeti for game viewing until sunset. The sunset stop gives the day a strong finish before dinner and a night at a public campsite. Camping in the Serengeti brings you closer to the setting than a hotel room does, but it also requires comfort with basic facilities, dust, changing temperatures, and sounds from the surrounding bush.

Day 4: Sunrise, migration country, and Serengeti’s kopjes

The fourth day begins early, at about 5:45 a.m., with breakfast and picnic lunch boxes. You then spend a full day on a Serengeti game drive, with sunrise viewing at the front of the schedule.

This is the day with the best chance to enjoy the Serengeti’s variety. Your guide chooses routes based on current wildlife locations and the season. If the wildebeest migration is moving through the area, the guide will adjust the search accordingly. The migration is not a fixed attraction in one spot, so no responsible operator can promise a particular sighting.

The itinerary includes time around a hippo pool, where hippos may rest in the water alongside crocodiles. You might also encounter large lion prides, including adults and cubs, depending on the day’s conditions.

The wide plains are only part of the story. Rocky outcrops called kopjes break up the grassland and provide shelter for animals. They are also useful lookout points for predators. A full day here is valuable because Serengeti wildlife is spread across a huge area, and the extra hours improve your chances of seeing different habitats.

The downside is the schedule. A sunrise start followed by a full day in the vehicle can be tiring. Bring sun protection, water, spare camera batteries, and a warm layer for the early morning.

Day 5: From Serengeti to the Ngorongoro rim

After breakfast, you continue toward Ngorongoro with a game drive en route and a picnic lunch. The route includes the option of stopping at the Dr. Leakey Museum at Olduvai Gorge.

Olduvai adds an archaeological and human-origins dimension to the trip. It is optional, so you can decide if you want the museum visit or prefer to keep moving toward the crater area. The day is listed at about ten hours, so choosing the stop may affect the pace.

The route passes through Serengeti plains and the Seronera River Valley, with possible sightings of lions, cheetahs, leopards, flamingos, water birds, lovebirds, and kingfishers. The exact animals depend on the route and season, but the point of this day is that wildlife viewing continues during the transfer.

You spend the night at Simba Campsite on the Ngorongoro rim. The campsite’s position prepares you for the next day’s crater descent, but rim temperatures can be cooler than on the plains. Pack a warm layer where you can reach it easily.

Day 6: Six hours on the floor of Ngorongoro Crater

You descend 610 meters into Ngorongoro Crater for about six hours of game viewing, with a picnic lunch. This is one of the trip’s most concentrated wildlife days.

The crater floor can bring sightings of black rhinos, lions, elephants, zebras, buffalo, and wildebeest. Lake Magadi adds flamingos and other water birds. These animals support a full food chain, including lions, leopards, hyenas, and jackals.

The crater is compact compared with the Serengeti, so you may see several species in a shorter period. It is also a busy destination, and sightings can involve other vehicles. The private tour gives your own group a vehicle and guide, but it cannot remove the practical limits of a popular protected area.

After the game drive, you return to Simba Campsite on the rim for dinner and another night. This makes the following walking section possible without rushing to a distant hotel.

Days 7 and 8: Two demanding days on the crater rim

The walking portion is the most unusual and physically demanding feature of the experience. On Day 7, you drive about one kilometer from camp to the starting point on the northern rim, then walk 17 kilometers through acacia forest.

A Maasai warrior, donkeys carrying luggage, and an armed ranger accompany the walk. You get views into Ngorongoro Crater from above and may see giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, bushbuck, and many bird species.

You spend the night at Leianai Bush Campsite. The next morning, after breakfast, you walk another 17 kilometers from Leianai to Ilkiepusi. This second crossing takes about six to seven hours and again follows the crater rim through acacia country.

The combination of Maasai guidance, ranger support, and donkeys carrying luggage gives this section a more traditional walking-safari feel than a short park stroll. It also means you should take the distance seriously. Two 17-kilometer days are a substantial commitment, especially after several early mornings and long vehicle drives.

Wear broken-in walking shoes and bring sun protection. The tour specifies moderate physical fitness, but I would treat that as a minimum for the rim section. If you have knee, ankle, or stamina concerns, ask the operator before paying.

The nights at Leianai and Ilkiepusi Bush Camps are part of the appeal, but camping standards may feel basic compared with a lodge. You receive camping equipment and sleeping bags, while bath towels are not included.

Day 9: Tarangire’s elephants and giant trees

After breakfast, you walk about half a kilometer before the vehicle collects you. The route then leads to Tarangire National Park for a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch.

Tarangire covers about 2,600 square kilometers and is especially noted for strong animal concentrations during dry periods. The listed numbers include large populations of zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, elephants, giraffes, and fringe-eared oryx.

Elephants are a major reason to include Tarangire. The park also offers chances to see lions, cheetahs, and leopards, along with unusual birds such as green wood hoopoes, Fischer’s lovebirds, white-bellied go-away birds, and giant kingfishers.

This final park gives the trip a different closing note from Serengeti. Instead of ending with another identical plains drive, you get a new habitat and another chance at wildlife before returning to an Arusha hotel in the late evening.

The day is listed at about seven hours, but the return drive means you should not plan a tight onward connection that night.

Is $3,900 per person good value?

The value depends on what kind of safari you want. For nine days, six protected areas or conservation zones, a private vehicle, guide, camping gear, meals, drinks, taxes, park fees, and a mix of drives, walks, canoeing, and night viewing, the package covers a great deal.

You are paying for variety and duration, not luxury. The camping format helps keep the trip from becoming a lodge-based premium safari, while the private setup avoids joining an unknown group. It also allows the guide to shape wildlife drives around your interests, within park rules and current conditions.

The price is less attractive if you want spacious lodges, short transfers, or a relaxed pace. It is also important to clarify the room and camping arrangements at Mc Ellys Hotel, the public Serengeti campsite, Simba, Leianai, and Ilkiepusi before booking.

The company has received a listed rating of 4.9 from 20 ratings, with particular praise for organization, food, camp quality, communication, and guides such as Peter, Sanga, Josef Igombe, and Emily on different trips. Jalala is also identified as a responsive trip organizer. Those names do not guarantee who will lead your safari, so ask for your assigned guide in advance.

Who should book this safari?

I would recommend it to you if you want a serious, active safari with more than standard vehicle viewing. It suits people who value walking, camping, varied parks, and long days over polished lodge comfort.

It is also a strong fit for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts who want two substantial days in Serengeti, a full crater drive, and a final Tarangire game drive. The private format is useful for couples, families, and small groups with shared interests.

I would hesitate if you dislike early starts, rough camping, long road transfers, or extended walking. The two 17-kilometer Ngorongoro rim walks are not a minor add-on. They shape the whole character of the trip.

Pickup is offered, but airport transfers are listed separately as not included. Cancellation is allowed for a full refund up to three full days before the start time. Inside that window, the amount paid is not refunded, and late changes are not accepted.

Should you book it?

Book this safari if you want Tanzania’s Northern Circuit with a real active element, and if you are ready to trade lodge comfort for a fuller range of experiences. The canoe trip, night drive, crater descent, Serengeti sunrise, and two rim walks give the nine days a clear sense of purpose.

Choose a different plan if your main goal is luxury, minimal driving, or easy access to every activity. Before confirming, get written details on the exact pickup point, campsite facilities, assigned guide, and how the 17-kilometer walks will be handled. For a fit and adventurous group, this is a broad, wildlife-heavy introduction to northern Tanzania at a price that covers the major safari costs.

FAQ

Where does the safari begin?

Pickup is offered from a hotel in Arusha town or from an airport at 8:30 a.m. The experience location is listed as Moshi, so confirm the exact pickup arrangement before booking.

How long is the tour?

The safari lasts approximately nine days.

Is this a private safari?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private tour or activity.

Which national parks and conservation areas are included?

The route includes Arusha National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Crater, and Tarangire National Park.

Are meals included?

Yes. The package includes eight lunches, eight dinners, and seven breakfasts. Picnic lunches are used on several game-drive days.

Is camping equipment provided?

Yes. Camping equipment and a sleeping bag are included. Bath towels are not included.

Are airport transfers included?

Roundtrip airport transfer is not included. Pickup is offered, but the exact airport or hotel arrangement should be confirmed.

How far in advance can I cancel for a full refund?

You must cancel at least three full days before the experience start time, based on local time. Cancellations within three full days are not refunded, and late changes are not accepted.