Tanzania Safari & Balloon Experience

Your Tanzania safari begins after breakfast with a warm welcome and pick-up from your hotel in Arusha. After a short briefing by your guide, you’ll drive through the scenic landscapes of northern Tanzania, passing Maasai villages and wide savannahs, heading toward Tarangire National Park.

As you enter the park, the striking presence of giant baobab trees and wide river valleys sets the tone for adventure.

Later in the afternoon, you’ll continue your journey toward the highlands and reach the peaceful town of Karatu. Here, you’ll check into your hilltop lodge, surrounded by lush gardens and views over the valley.

After a relaxed breakfast, your journey continues as you ascend into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You’ll pass through breathtaking highlands and Maasai territory, stopping at a viewpoint overlooking the Ngorongoro Crater rim. As you descend toward the Serengeti, the landscape transforms into open savannahs — golden plains that seem to stretch endlessly.

Game viewing begins even before you reach your camp. As you drive deeper into the Serengeti, you may spot cheetahs surveying the plains, elephants grazing quietly, and large herds of wildebeest and zebra on the move.

As the sun begins to dip, your guide will take you on a sunset game drive — one of the best times to see wildlife come alive. You’ll then head to your comfortable lodge inside the park where you can unwind with dinner and a quiet evening under the stars.

Start your day early to catch the fresh morning light and the stirring of wildlife across the plains. The Serengeti is home to the “Big Five” — lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo — as well as countless other species including giraffes, jackals, hyenas, hippos, and over 500 types of birds.

Your guide will lead you to different habitats — riverine forests, rocky outcrops (kopjes), and open grasslands — in search of thrilling sightings. You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch in a shaded area, surrounded by nature. In the afternoon, continue your search, perhaps following a pride of lions or witnessing a dramatic chase.

Return to the lodge in the evening for a hearty meal and stories shared around the campfire.

Today offers one of the most unforgettable experiences of your journey. Before dawn, you’ll transfer to the balloon launch site for a sunrise flight over the Serengeti. As the sky glows with soft colors, you’ll float silently above the plains, spotting animals from above — elephants, giraffes, hippos, and even big cats — as the morning light spreads across the land.

After landing, enjoy a bush breakfast with champagne in the heart of the wild — a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Later, return to camp for a short rest. In the afternoon, head out for more game viewing, focusing on areas you’ve yet to explore. Your guide will tailor the drive based on sightings and wildlife movements.

After a relaxed breakfast, you’ll set out on your final game drive through the Serengeti. This is your chance to find animals missed earlier — perhaps a leopard resting in a tree, or a group of hyenas patrolling the bush.

As you exit the park, the road climbs into the Ngorongoro highlands. Along the way, enjoy views of distant hills, farmlands, and glimpses of local Maasai life. By late afternoon, you’ll arrive near the crater rim and settle into your tented camp nestled in the forested slopes.

Today is dedicated to exploring the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most extraordinary wildlife havens on Earth. After an early breakfast, descend into the 600-meter-deep caldera where fertile grasslands, swamps, and forests create a perfect home for animals.

You’ll spend the day inside the crater spotting lions, elephants, flamingos, hippos, jackals, and — with some luck — the endangered black rhino. Enjoy a packed lunch at a scenic picnic site near a hippo pool before continuing your safari through different zones of the crater.

In the afternoon, ascend back up and drive to Karatu for your final overnight stay.

Your final safari day begins with a short drive to Lake Manyara National Park — a small yet biodiverse park known for its dense forest, soda lake, and surprising wildlife. Here you may see elephants walking through the forest, baboons in large troops, hippos wallowing in the water, and if you’re lucky, lions resting in the trees.

After a calm and refreshing game drive, begin the drive back to Arusha. Arrive in the afternoon with your safari adventure behind you and lifelong memories ahead.