Safari

15-Day Budget Camping Safari Off the Beaten Track

Kilimanjaro, Arusha National Park, Chemka, Tarangire, Lake Natron, Serengeti, Ndutu, Ngorongoro, Lake Eyasi, Lake Manyara

Duration
15 days · 14 nights
Group
Private guided
Pace
Active
Best season
Year-round; June to October is driest

your journey

Overview

This is our longest camping safari, and it goes well beyond the usual game-drive loop. The first days are spent around Arusha: a day hike on the Machame route into Kilimanjaro's rainforest, a walk and game drive in Arusha National Park, and a lazy day at the Chemka hot springs. Then you head out on safari, with two days in Tarangire before a drive off the beaten track through Maasai country to Lake Natron and the Ngare Sero waterfalls.

From Lake Natron you enter the Serengeti from the north at Klein's Gate, spend two nights in the central Serengeti, and drive through the Ndutu plains to the Ngorongoro Crater. After a day on the crater floor you set off on foot for two days along the crater rim with a Maasai guide, an armed ranger and donkeys to carry the luggage.

The last part of the trip is about people as much as wildlife: an afternoon with Datoga families at Lake Eyasi, an early morning with Hadzabe hunter-gatherers, and a night game drive in Lake Manyara. The final day is a game drive in Lake Manyara before the drive to Kilimanjaro Airport. Apart from three nights at Mc Ellys Hotel in Arusha, you sleep at campsites and bush camps.

Who it suits

Active, curious travellers with two weeks to spare who want wildlife, walking and cultural visits in one trip, are reasonably fit, and are happy with simple camping.

Parks visited

Mount Kilimanjaro · Arusha National Park · Tarangire National Park · Lake Natron & Ol Doinyo Lengai · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Crater · Lake Eyasi · Lake Manyara National Park

what makes it special

Highlights

day by day

The itinerary

the price

What is included

Included

Not included

Prices

Price on request

before you ask

Common questions

You can go on safari here all year. The dry season from June to October is the easiest time for game viewing, because animals gather near rivers and the grass is short, but it is also the busiest. From November to May the parks are green, quieter and excellent for birds, with short rains around November and the long rains in April and May. Where the wildebeest migration is depends on the month, so tell us your dates and we will plan the route around them.

Our safaris use 4x4 safari vehicles with a pop-up roof, so you can stand up for game viewing and photography. On a private safari the vehicle and driver-guide are yours alone for the whole trip.

Each tour page lists exactly what is included and excluded. On our northern circuit safaris, such as the 7-day Lake Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire trip, national park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area entrance fees are included. If you are not sure, ask your specialist before you book.

Yes. Every itinerary on this site is a starting point. We can add or remove days, swap parks, or change the accommodation to suit your budget, and your specialist will send you a revised plan and quote.

Bring light, neutral-coloured clothes, a warm layer for early mornings and for the Ngorongoro Crater rim, which is cold at night, comfortable shoes, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellent. Binoculars and a camera with spare batteries and memory cards make a big difference. Soft bags pack into safari vehicles more easily than hard suitcases.

Most visitors need a visa. Apply online in good time through the official Tanzania Immigration website at eservices.immigration.go.tz, and do not use unofficial agents. Your passport should be valid for at least six months after arrival. Requirements differ by nationality, so check the official site for your country.

Enquire

Ask about this itinerary

Every AAA Express Adventure trip can be changed to suit you: the pace, the lodges, the number of days. Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and our team in Arusha will come back to you with a plan and a price.

Your journey

Price on request

15 days · 14 nights

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Ready to plan your trip?

Call us on +255 784 281316, email sales@aaaexpressadventure.com or send an enquiry. Our team in Arusha will get back to you.

Price on request