9-day Great Plains Tented Safari

Great Plains is predominantly a luxury mobile tented safari that visits the main wildlife areas across northern Tanzania. Departing Arusha with a private guide and 4x4 vehicle, this safari is extremely flexible, according to the guests' personal tastes, though the main focus is on close contact with wildlife and an in-depth look into the country's wonderful cultural elements.

There are many opportunities to experience the cultural elements of Tanzania as well as the wildlife. These may include: having a look round a Masai village and eating a traditional meal, meeting local people, visiting a church, private home, school or farm or shopping in one of the country's vibrant markets.

Highlights: Lake Manyara, Serengeti National Park, Ngorogoro
Group Size: Minimum 2 people | Maximum 7 people
Type of Safari: Luxury Tented safari
Vehicle: 4WD

Price:  from USD$5140 per person sharing*

Includes:  Meet and greet services, assistance at the airport, depart by modern 4x4 vehicle with an English speaking driver-guide, guaranteed window seat in a shared vehicle, game drive in Ngorongoro Crater by 4x4 vehicle, all park fees, meals and itinerary as specified, flight Serengeti / Arusha, soft drinks, local beers and wines whilst at tented camps

Excludes:  visas, airport tax (pay direct), driver guide or local escort gratuities, other drinks and dining rooms tips, porterage, personal travel and baggage insurance, telephone bill, laundry and any items of a personal nature.

Day 1 - Arusha to Tarangire National Park (approximately 2 hours)
Heading south from Arusha towards Tarangire during the early afternoon, you will pass through many picturesque African villages as well as maize, coffee and banana plantations. Arriving late afternoon into Tarangire National Park, you continue the journey to your tented camp viewing game en route. Deriving its name from the Tarangire River which winds its way through the park, Tarangire is a complex mixture of grasslands, flood plains and scenic river, as well as thousands of baobab trees.  Overnight at Private Mobile Tented Camp on a full board basis.

Day 2 - Tarangire National Park
Moning and afternoon game drives.  Overnight at Private Mobile Tented Camp on a full board basis.

Day 3 -  Tarangire to Lake Manyara (approximately 2 hours)
From your lodge in the Tarangire area, you depart to the border of the park viewing game en route. At the town of Makuyuni you turn west and continue the journey up through a scenic escarpment that brings you to your lodge, perched on the edge of the Rift Valley with stunning views over the distant Lake Manyara. After lunch, the afternoon will be on a game drive.  Overnight at Kirurumu Tented Camp on a full board basis.

Day 4 -  Lake Manyara to Ngorongoro Crater (approximately 2 hours)
After a leisurely breakfast, you'll depart Mto wa Mbu village for a great guided tour before continuing to Olmoti Crater and some gentle walking. With a picnic lunch, guests will be able to enjoy this looking out over hopefully a vast plain of Masai cattle and antelope. From here, the journey continues to Ngorongoro Crater. Reaching your lodge on the edge of the Crater late afternoon, you'll be able to spend the last part of the day on the balcony overlooking the stunning wilderness area within the Crater.  Overnight at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge on a full board basis.

Day 5 - Ngorongoro
A highlight awaits you this morning as you depart by 4x4 to explore what is commonly referred to as the World's largest wildlife zoo. After breakfast, you'll descend through the early morning mists and 2,000 feet into the crater for a game drive with picnic lunch. Ngorongoro Crater is the World's largest intact volcanic caldera and is also one of the World's seven natural wonders. Due to its size and diversity, the crater floor is comprised of several distinct habitats, ranging from forest, swamps, lakes and springs, to open grassland and some sandy dunes. It's an awesome wildlife experience. The afternoon will be spent on a gentle walk or visiting a Maasai village.
Overnight at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge on a full board basis.

Day 6 - Ngorongoro to Serengeti (approximately 4 hours)
After breakfast you depart for the Serengeti by travelling around the Crater rim, stopping off at Olduvai Gorge en route. The Gorge acquired its name from the Sansevieria bush that grows profusely in the area, named Olduvai by the Maasai. The Gorge is about 50km long and in some places around 90m deep and is found between the Crater and the Serengeti. It was first discovered by a German entomologist named Professor Kattwinkel, who instigated an expedition just before the First World War. Later, the exploration was continued by Dr Louis Leakey and his wife, who in 1959 found humanoid remains of Zinjanthropus, later renamed Australopithecus Boisei, an early form of man. You will have time to walk through the simple small museum at the gorge, where you can view copy displays of some of the finds as well as pictures of what life was like for the gorge's earliest inhabitants. From here, continue into the vast Serengeti arriving at your camp in time for lunch. After lunch and time to settle down, your guide will run through all of the fundamental ‘do's and don'ts' one has to consider when staying at a tented camp, before you depart on an afternoon game drive. When you return to camp as the sun sets, the fire will be lit and you'll be able to enjoy a nice warm shower before settling down to a relaxing evening taking in the night sounds of the bush.  Overnight at mobile tented camp on a full board basis.

Days 7 and 8 - Serengeti
Morning, afternoon, or full day game drives with a picnic lunch.  Overnight at mobile tented camp on a full board basis.

Day 9 - Serengeti - Arusha
This morning after a game drive and breakfast, you'll be transferred to the airstrip to connect with the flight back to Arusha. Here you'll be met and transferred for your onward arrangements.