8 Days Tanzania Safari Holiday Itinerary

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you will be welcomed by your personal guide from Terenga Safaris. With a warm “Karibu Tanzania” greeting, you will instantly feel the heartfelt hospitality that defines Tanzanian culture. Your 8 Days Tanzania Safari Holiday guide will assist with your luggage and drive you through the scenic outskirts of Arusha to your first accommodation. Depending on your arrival time, you may have the opportunity to enjoy an optional city tour of Arusha or simply relax and recover from your journey.

Your lodge for the night is selected based on your comfort preference. Each option provides a peaceful environment surrounded by lush gardens, offering sweeping views of Mount Meru or the surrounding countryside. Enjoy a welcome drink, relax by the pool, and have your first taste of Tanzanian cuisine. A detailed safari briefing will also be provided by your guide in preparation for the adventures that await.

• Accommodation Options:
  Silver – Ahadi Lodge
  Gold – Arusha Villa
  Platinum – Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge

Game Drive in Tarangire National Park

After a delicious breakfast, your 8 Days Tanzania Safari Holiday journey begins with a drive to Tarangire National Park, located about 2-3 hours from Arusha. Known as the “Kingdom of Elephants,” Tarangire is celebrated for its large herds of elephants, ancient baobab trees, and diverse landscapes that include woodlands, acacia forests, swamps, and grasslands. It is particularly spectacular during the dry season (June to October), when animals congregate around the Tarangire River, the park’s only permanent water source.

Once inside the park, your 8 Days Tanzania Safari Holiday guide will lead a full-day game drive where you may encounter elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeests, and over 500 species of birds. The views of the vast plains dotted with baobabs create a truly cinematic scene. Your guide will share stories about the animals and the ecological systems that sustain them, offering a rich and educational safari experience.

You will enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the scenic picnic sites, often accompanied by cheeky vervet monkeys or the occasional monitor lizard. In the late afternoon, you’ll exit the park and transfer to your accommodation located on the edge of the Great Rift Valley.

• Accommodation Options:
  Silver – Manyara Best View Lodge & Spa
  Gold – Ang’ata Tarangire Camp
  Platinum – Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge by Wellworth

Immersive Safari in Serengeti National Park

After an early breakfast, you will travel to the legendary Serengeti National Park. The drive takes you through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, offering beautiful scenery and the chance to spot wildlife even before entering the park. Serengeti is the crown jewel of Tanzania’s wildlife destinations and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The next three days will be dedicated to exploring this iconic landscape. Famous for the annual Great Wildebeest Migration, the Serengeti is home to over 2 million wildebeest, 500,000 zebras, and hundreds of thousands of gazelles that follow the rains in search of greener pastures. This incredible movement draws predators such as lions, cheetahs, and hyenas, creating dramatic wildlife encounters.

Morning and afternoon game drives allow you to explore the central, western, or eastern regions of the park depending on the season. The central Seronera region is known for its year-round wildlife and stunning kopje formations where lions often bask in the sun. Your 8 Days Tanzania Safari Holiday guide will take you to the best spots for photography, close wildlife viewing, and unforgettable moments in nature.

Your evenings will be spent in luxurious tented camps or lodges that provide a true African safari ambiance. Expect to fall asleep to the distant calls of hyenas or the soft rustle of the grasslands in the wind.

• Accommodation Options:
  Silver – Sueños de África Luxury Camp
  Gold – Asanja Moru
  Platinum – Serengeti Sametu Camp by Karibu Camps & Lodges

Ngorongoro Crater Exploration

Today, you will head out early from Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, descending into the famous Ngorongoro Crater – the world’s largest unbroken caldera. Often called the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” this natural amphitheater is home to a unique ecosystem that sustains nearly 25,000 large mammals.

The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the best places in Africa to see the Big Five: lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and buffaloes – all in one place. The crater floor features a diversity of habitats, from swamps and rivers to open grasslands and acacia woodlands. Flamingos often line the alkaline Lake Magadi, and hippos bask in freshwater pools.

Your game drive will last the majority of the day, giving you ample time to search for rare black rhinos and perhaps witness a lion hunting its prey. A picnic lunch will be served at a safe and scenic spot overlooking a hippo pool. In the afternoon, you will ascend the crater wall and proceed to your lodge in the Karatu area for a restful evening.

• Accommodation Options:
  Silver – Manyara Best View Lodge & Spa
  Gold – Manyara Best View Lodge & Spa
  Platinum – Ngorongoro O’ldeani Mountain Lodge by Wellworth

Relaxation and Departure from Kilimanjaro International Airport

On Day 7, you have the option to relax and unwind at your lodge, reflecting on your incredible 8 Days Tanzania Safari Holiday experiences. Some travelers may choose to take a short walk through nearby coffee plantations or visit a local cultural village for a deeper insight into Tanzania’s rich traditions and ways of life. If your flight is later in the evening or the following day, Terenga Safaris can arrange optional activities like a visit to Mto wa Mbu village or a cultural heritage center in Arusha.

Day 8 marks the end of your Tanzanian adventure. After breakfast, your driver will transfer you back to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your flight home. Depending on your departure time, you may have the chance to stop for lunch or souvenir shopping in Arusha.

If you’re not ready to end your journey, consider extending your holiday with a beach escape to Zanzibar, Mafia Island, or Pemba Island. Ask us about tailored extensions for diving, snorkeling, or pure beach bliss.