Join Boundless Journeys for a small group or private custom, nine-day classic safari through the wild landscapes of northern Tanzania. Thoughtfully designed for curious travelers, this journey offers an immersive introduction to East Africa’s remarkable wildlife, sweeping savannas, and vibrant cultures.
Arrival Day
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you'll meet your guides and transfer to your hotel for a light bite to eat and a good nights rest.
Gran Melia ArushaArusha, Tanzania
This spectacular hotel is located between the Serengeti and Kilimanjaro National Parks, opening out onto all of Tanzania’s majestic natural beauty. An oasis of five-star comfort and elegance, with extensive, unbeatable facilities, exclusive suites, and international cuisine, including the outstanding The Grill restaurant. With spa, infinity pool and gym.
Arusha Cultural Day
Visit a nearby local village and primary school. Meet teachers and community members who assist kids on their educational journey, Learn from community members and school staff about challenges faced at the school,
A portion of the proceeds from your trip will help pay for healthy meals, school supplies, and tuition for children from local Chagga, Iraqw and Maasai tribes.
Next, tour a working coffee plantation to see how the coffee is grown, harvested, dried, and produced into the aromatic coffee that we drink every day. After lunch at the coffee lodge, head west into the savanna, enjoy the magical African sunset and a relaxing evening as you settle into your tented lodge.
Lake Burunge Tented LodgeTarangire National Park, Tanzania
Nestled between Lake Burunge and Tarangire National Park, this charming tented lodge combines safari adventure with lakeside tranquility. Spacious elevated tents, sweeping views, and warm Tanzanian hospitality create an inviting base for exploring one of northern Tanzania’s most wildlife-rich regions.
Tarangire National Park
Today you'll explore deeper into the wilderness, follow the winding river bank of the Tarangire River, an essential year around water source for all animals big and small that call Tarangire home. In the evening, enjoy the delicious meals prepared by the chefs at the lodge and reflect on the amazing sightings of the day.
Mto Wa Mbu Cultural Activities, The Great Rift Valley & Ngorongoro Conservation Area
After breakfast, we begin our ascent up The Great Rift Valley wall, along the way, make a stop in Mto Wa Mbu, where you’ll explore a bustling local market, sample fresh fruits such as pink bananas, and try traditional foods prepared at a restaurant. You will also watch local artisans make traditional wooden crafts, brew banana beer and carry on traditional farming practices. Then, get your eyes ready as you ascend the Great Rift Valley, making your way through the frontier town of Karatu and on to the breathtaking views of the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area.
Ngorongoro Serena Safari LodgeNgorongoro Crater Conservancy, Tanzania
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge is a luxurious, eco-conscious resort clinging to the western rim of Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater. Built from indigenous river stone and draped in local vines, it blends seamlessly with its lush, prehistoric surroundings. The lodge offers 75 cave-style rooms with private balconies showcasing sweeping views of the volcanic amphitheater below
Ngorongoro Crater
Rise in the morning to a view from a storybook, looking out over the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Climb aboard your safari vehicles and descend 2,000 feet to the crater floor for a once in a lifetime game drive, surrounded by the densest population of big game in all of Africa. This will also be your best chance to catch a glimpse of the rare and endangered black rhinoceros!
Ngorongoro Conservation Area to Serengeti National Park
Continuing deeper into the savanna, make your way into the endless plains of Ndutu in the mighty Serengeti. En route, visit Olduvai Gorge, one of the most important paleo-anthropological sites in the world, known for its immense significance as the "Cradle of Mankind," where you will see evidence of early human ancestors, learn about human evolution, and explore a landscape rich with fossils and stone tools. You’ll also visit a Maasai village where you’ll learn more about their culture and way of life.
As we enter the Serengeti, you'll see you first glimpses of the "endless plains" and begin seeing endless amounts of animals that call this one of a kind ecosystem, home.
The Singing Grass Bush CampSerengeti National Park, Tanzania
The Singing Grass Bush Camp is an intimate, eco-friendly luxury safari camp located in the heart of the Central Serengeti in Tanzania. It combines vintage African glamour with modern comforts, featuring spacious canvas tents, gourmet dining, and expert-led wildlife excursions right on the savannah.
Serengeti National Park
The wilderness and rhythm of the animals will dictate the course of our days as you traverse the gravel and two-track roads winding through the vast grass plains, woodland forests, kopjes (boulder fields) and wetlands to look for cheetahs, leopards, lions, cape buffalo and all the other incredible wildlife that inhabit the Serengeti plains. There will also be an optional sunrise hot air balloon ride available as an add on.
Serengeti National Park to Arusha
For your last morning in the mighty Serengeti National Park, you'll have a leisurely breakfast and we'll pack your bags into our Land Cruisers and game drive to Seronera airstrip, located in central Serengeti for a short (1hr) mid morning flight from Serengeti air strip to Arusha. Once in town (depending on flight departure times) either head straight to Kilimanjaro International Airport, or if there is time, we will make a few stops for some last minute souvenir shopping.
Please note that this is a typical itinerary, and actual activities may vary due to weather conditions, local events, and to allow serendipity to play a hand in your experience. Accommodations are as outlined in the itinerary, although we reserve the right to change these or the order visited should the need arise.
9 Days
Dec 12-21, 2026
Daily Departures on Request
From $8,395 Per Person
First two reserved:$1,600
Additional:$1,800
See single supplement policy below.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: Accommodations are based on double occupancy. A single supplement is paid by participants who specifically request single accommodations, subject to availability.
Single Supplement for Scheduled Group Departures. If you reserve at least 120 days prior to departure, you may be eligible for a reduced or free single supplement. This is generally limited to the first one or two solo travelers to reserve, and the reduction is outlined in the pricing for each trip. Free or reduced single supplements are not combinable with other offers or promotions.
If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, we will try to match you with a roommate of the same gender. If you reserve at least 120 days ahead and request a roommate but one is not available, you will receive a $500 reduction from the standard single supplement (unless otherwise noted in the detailed itinerary for your specific trip).
Single Supplement for Custom Tours. Custom Tour prices are generally based on two or more participants; therefore, single supplements for “solo” Custom Tours will vary and are available upon request.
Boundless Journeys' trips are designed for energetic and flexible individuals who like to be active and have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude. The Tanzania 9 day safari is rated 1, easy, on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the most strenuous). Our primary activities require little aerobic fitness, but some agility for getting in and out of vehicles and walking through some uneven terrain.
This trip can be enjoyed by anyone who is in reasonably good health. We will walk where possible, but this is often determined by the local area and country regulations. NOTE: These optional walks are at your own risk, and can take you close to potentially dangerous wild animals.
Arusha, Tanzania
East Africa
High: 82 Low: 62
High: 80 Low: 55
Most Convenient Airports:Arrival and Departure Airports: Kilimanjaro International Airport, Arusha, Tanzania (airport code JRO)
Meeting Time and Place:Upon arrival of your international flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha on Day 1 of the trip.
Departure Time and Place:Kilimanjaro International Airport in time to check in for your departing flight. To accommodate our return from the Ngorongoro Crater, please schedule your departing flight after 6 p.m. If this is an issue, alternative drop offs can be arranged at an additional fee.
Meals at on safari are often an unexpected highlight of the safari experience, featuring a delicious blend of international cuisine and locally inspired Tanzanian flavors.Our travelers can expect freshly prepared breakfasts, lunches, and three-course dinners made with seasonal ingredients, optional sundowner snacks, and accommodations for most dietary preferences. Whether dining in the lodge, under canvas, or beneath the African stars, every meal is thoughtfully prepared.
Tanzania offers exceptional wildlife viewing year-round, with each season providing a unique experience. June through October is the dry season and the most popular time to visit, offering cooler temperatures, minimal rainfall, and outstanding game viewing as wildlife gathers around rivers and waterholes. January through March is warm and ideal for witnessing the Great Migration calving season in the southern Serengeti, while November and December bring short rains that transform the landscape into a lush, green paradise with excellent bird watching and fewer visitors. The long rains typically occur from March through May, when some camps close, but the scenery is at its most vibrant and rates are often lower.
Seasons at a GlanceJanuary - March: Warm, calving season, excellent wildlife viewing, less busy than summer.April - May: Long rains, lush landscapes, fewer tourists.June - October: Dry season, peak safari season, best overall wildlife viewing, most visitors.November - December: Short rains, green scenery, migratory birds, fewer crowds.
A variety of activities can be included on our custom safaris in Tanzania, but the primary activity is usually game driving. The wildlife is typically most active early in the morning and late in the afternoon (these times also provide the best light for photography), and therefore we plan our activities accordingly.
Typically, one of the camp staff will knock at your tent door early in the morning, and the group will gather for a quick, light breakfast and coffee or tea before departing camp as the sun rises. We move slowly, and even when animals are not present, the landscape and sounds of the bush are entrancing. We spend a few hours exploring and observing animals at watering holes or on the move from one region to another.
As we come upon groups of animals, we allow plenty of time to simply observe and also take photographs. Our guides are experienced naturalists and will add greatly to your understanding of the animals. We keep a respectful distance - although the same cannot always be said about the animals and it is not unusual to come nose-to-car with baboons, zebras, wildebeest, gazelles, and elephants. By mid-late morning, we return to camp where a delicious midday meal awaits.
After brunch, we enjoy a few hours of down time, enjoying the amenities of camp, resting, bird watching, taking photos, or perhaps reading about the region you are visiting.
In the afternoon, we gather for hors d'oeuvres and drinks before heading out for the afternoon activity. Some days this will be another game drive, while other times we may explore the area on foot in the company of our guide and a ranger."Sundowners", a light snack and cocktails served in the bush, are an African safari tradition, and a great way to enjoy unforgettable sunsets. We then make our way back to camp, sometimes driving with a spotlight to look for nocturnal animals.
In the evenings, dinner may vary from seated meals ordered from the daily menu, to dining in the camp boma with a feast of traditional African foods and entertainment by the camp staff. These are joyful performances where it is often difficult to tell who is having more fun—the staff or the camp guests!
Custom Toyota Land Cruisers and Land Rovers are the go-to vehicles while on Safari. Upon arrival in Tanzania, your safari team will be waiting to welcome you at the airport. These vehicles are set up with large windows for optimal viewing and a raisable "pop top" roof for an unobstructed 360-degree view of your surroundings. Perfect for capturing that photo of a lifetime.
With a Boundless Journeys guide, your experience is that of friend and local adventurer. We believe strongly in working with local guides, experts in the areas to which we travel, and they hold the keys to unlocking the hidden delights of your chosen destination. Although you will never know they are at work—the mark of a truly great leader—our guides make magical things happen and add a dimension to your trip that you could not experience on your own. Over the years we have forged bonds with some of the best guides in the world, and we typically work with a small team of guides in each region. You will be informed of the guide for your trip one month prior to your departure.
Optional easy walks; games drives on bumpy terrain. Some agility required for getting in and out of boats and vehicles.
This trip can be your own adventure by taking over one of our scheduled dates, or we can request a fresh one.
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