Tarangire / Ngorongoro

Your three-day safari begins with a drive to Tarangire National Park. Often overshadowed by the Serengeti, Tarangire is a revelation — the Tarangire River is the only water source for miles, pulling in staggering numbers of elephant, giraffe, zebra, and wildebeest. The landscape of giant baobabs is iconic and photogenic. After a full afternoon game drive, dinner and overnight at your camp or lodge. Drive: 3-4 hours from Moshi | Meals: picnic lunch, dinner

A morning game drive in Tarangire, then a cultural detour through the village of Mto wa Mbu — a fascinating, colourful market town at the base of the Rift Valley escarpment where dozens of Tanzanian tribes live side by side. In the late afternoon you enter the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for the night, gaining altitude as you drive up to the crater rim. Activity: morning game drive + Mto wa Mbu cultural walk | Drive: 2.5-4 hours to NCA | Meals: breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner

The Ngorongoro Crater — the highlight of the entire safari. A 4-5 hour game drive inside this UNESCO World Heritage Site puts you face to face with one of the densest wildlife populations on earth. Lion, elephant, buffalo, hippo, black rhino, cheetah, and hyena all live permanently within the crater walls. After the game drive you ascend the rim and make the drive back to Moshi. Activity: crater game drive | Drive back to Moshi | Meals: breakfast, picnic lunch