10-Days Cheetahs Encounter Tanzania Safari

Ten days of wildlife wonders and incredible adventures, as we set out from Arusha and concentrate our safari first on magical Serengeti – the jewel of Tanzania – before enjoying a completely different, though equally impressive, setting at Ngorongoro.

These unmissable locations will get us up close to a host of animals: Wildebeest and Zebra, lion and cheetah, elephants and buffalo, plus many, many more and fascinating birdlife.

Day 1: Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha

Touch down at the Kilimanjaro International Airport, where your professional and personal driver guide will be waiting for you. Then, drive to Tulia Boutique Hotel & Spa in the bright and bustling city of Arusha – the gateway to Tanzania.

Arusha is the beating heart of the wild – the last port of civilisation before heading out into dense jungles and rich savannah plains. Numerous cafes sell dark and deliriously good coffee from the plantations. Close by the infamous National Park lures visitors to explore her evocative Maasai culture and exotic flora and fauna.

Today you can relax in Arusha, enjoy a quick briefing about your trip, recover from your journey, and soak up the vibrant atmosphere of Africa.

Day 2: Arusha to Mto Wa Mbu, Lake Manyara

After breakfast, drive southeast to Mto Wa Mbu Village for a cultural visit. Incredibly, this ‘village’ is home to over eighteen thousand inhabitants, drawn from 120 different tribes. Today is a superb opportunity to learn about their everyday lives, visiting their farms, huts, artisan shops, and the local market, with your expert driver-guide taking good care of you and sharing his detailed knowledge of tribal culture. Later in the afternoon, drive back to Africa Safari Lake Manyara (comfort tent) for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Lake Manyara National Park

Today your adventure starts after breakfast and when you drive to Lake Manyara for wildlife viewing—exploring the stunning landscape of the park, looking for wildlife on the plains, in the acacia woodlands, and by the shores of the shallow alkaline lake.

Lake Manyara is rightly famous for its tree-climbing lions. Still, they’re far from the only highlight: by the noon of an exhilarating afternoon, you could easily have spotted elephant, hippo, wildebeest, buffalo, giraffe, and many other species. Later drive back to the lodge for hot lunch and leisure stay on your leisure property. Afternoon nature walks through the escapement and learns about the Great Rift Valley, birds, and plant species; later, a leisure dinner awaits you at Africa Safari Lake Manyara (comfort tent).

Day 4: Manyara to Serengeti National Park

Today our journey continues as we head from the edge of the Serengeti to its very heart…. But now Serengeti beckons, and so we continue to run east Seronera to Ikoma into what is undoubtedly the world’s most excellent park.

At times this unsurpassable place is home to over 1.6 million herbivores and the thousands of predators who stalk them. Their fascinating habits and habitats will provoke questions, so do ask your driver guide to explain the fantastic creatures you see all around you. Later in the evening, drive back to your accommodation; Africa’s sights, sounds, and smells will continue to enchant you on this wilderness adventure. Dinner and overnight at Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma.

Day 5: Serengeti National Park 

Waking up in the Serengeti is something extraordinary. Africa’s sights, sounds, and smells are all around us, and ahead is a full day of adventure in the world’s most famous national park. Pick your packed breakfast and lunch with your morning section of game drive in Serengeti National Park, marvelling at the stunning scenery, ever-changing light, and entertaining wildlife, all explained by your expert driver-guide.

After our picnic lunch, we searched for wildlife in this awe-inspiring park again. Serengeti’s wonders evolve subtly as the day progresses. The myriad animals and birds are the ‘stars of the show’, and Nature’s dramas can unfold at any time. But, of course, the animals don’t work to any schedule so we may find a lion or a leopard, elephant, zebra, cheetah, and antelope on our drives. Later after African sunset, it’s time to drive back to the camp for a much-needed leisure dinner and overnight stay at Africa Safari Serengeti Ikoma.

Day 6: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The exciting sounds of Africa will rouse you from your sleep. We make the most of the day with a 08:00 start, heading off on our morning game drive. Later, the adventure will continue when we travel up to Ngorongoro, another African icon. It’s almost impossible to spend too much time in the Serengeti, and with more than 1.6 million herbivores – plus thousands of predators – there’s always something new and exciting to see. The changing seasons and natural light add to the diversity.

After a pleasant picnic lunch, it’s time to drive eastwards to visit another spectacular setting for Tanzania’s wildlife, the famous Ngorongoro Crater. On arrival at Octagon Lodge, Settle in while a tasty, hot dinner is prepared for you.

Day 7: Ngorongoro crater

Today there will be plenty of time to enjoy another true spectacle – Ngorongoro Crater is often referred to as a wonder of the world. First, the volcanic caldera (the world’s largest) is full of grassland, forest, and swamp, a setting of jaw-dropping beauty. Secondly, the permanent water of the Crater floor supports a resident population of more than 25,000 large mammals. Elephant, lion, leopard, hyena, jackal, wallowing hippo, waterbuck, baboons… even the rare black rhino finds shelter here.

Sharing this tremendous fantastic with the animals is the Maasai, grazing their cattle in an area that has been a separate conservation area since 1956 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978. This harmonious cohabitation of man and beast makes Ngorongoro unique in Tanzania, and your driver-guide will be pleased to explain this incredible co-existence to you. Then, it’s time to drive back to Octagon Lodge for dinner and overnight at the later end of the afternoon.

Day 8: Ngorongoro to Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, head south to stunning Tarangire National Park. Your afternoon game drive will reveal all the wonders of Tarangire, a National Park often referred to as the ‘Elephant Playground’.

Tarangire is home to buffalo, lion, wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle, while Gerenuk and fringe-eared Oryx are ‘local specialities. Lake Burungi’s marshy shores lure these mammals, and the waters attract many beautiful bird species. Look out for giant kingfishers, hoopoes, and the delightfully-named white-bellied go-away bird. In addition, Tarangire is noted for its splendid baobab trees, rolling savannah, and acacia woodland. After African sunset, it’s time to drive back to Tarangire Baobab Tented Camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 9: Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, head for early morning game viewing through the famed Tarangire National Park, home of Tanzania’s largest concentration of elephants. Tarangire is a dramatically beautiful and diverse ecosystem, boasting one of the largest concentrations of elephants in East Africa. These mobs of elephants are easily encountered, wet or dry—the swamp-tinged green year-round focus on 550 bird varieties, the most breeding species in one habitat anywhere. Finally, drive back to Tarangire Baobab Tented Camp for dinner and overnight stay at the later end of the afternoon.

Day 10: Tarangire to Kilimanjaro Airport

After a leisurely breakfast, your driver will take you once again to the road for a transfer to Arusha; you will be able to see the ever-changing landscape of the bush and the mountainous topography that reminds all who see it in Tanzania’s violent geological past. Arrived perfect time for hot lunch at the cultural heritage centre and the opportunity for shopping before transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight back home.