How to Do an African Safari in One Week
For Americans like me, the two-week vacation policy can be a real bummer. Whether you’re short on vacation days or just prefer a quicker trip, you’re in luck. It IS possible to visit Tanzania is a week, and here’s the scoop on how to do it. These sample itineraries were provided by Congema Safaris, the tour company I traveled with, so you can get a sense of what you’ll be able to see + do.
4 FULL DAYS IN TANZANIA
04 DAYS TANZANIA SIMBA ADVENTURE (Fly In – Drive Out Safari)
Ideally this is perfect program for those with little safari days (and landing into Dar es salaam) but want to see as much wildlife with regards to chasing the Migration of Wildebeest and other animals in a no rush style.
Day 1:
Fly Dar es salaam / Serengeti National Park – Fly in
Connect on morning flight from Dar es salaam airport to Serengeti National Park where our driver guide will be waiting to pick you up proceed with game drive in the rest of the day. Depending your time of travel we will focus on chasing the Migration Of Wildebeest. Drive to your Tented Camp / Lodge for diner and overnight on Full Board Basis.
Day 2:
Serengeti NP – Full day game drive
Spend full day doing spectacular game drives in Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti is famous for abundance of Big Cats which include; Cheetah, big prides of Lions, Leopard, Cerval Cats amongst other game. Proceed with afternoon game drive as you drive to your Camp for diner and overnight at Tented Camp / Lodge on full board Basis.
Day 3:
Serengeti NP / Ngorongoro Area -145km/4hrs
We wake up early and depart for Ngorongoro Conservation Authority Area with game drive en route. You will stop at a Maasai village en route and experience their culture before driving to your lodge on the Crater rim or at the nearby town of Karatu for diner and overnight at on full board Basis.
Day 4:
Ngorongoro / Arusha Airport / Kilimanjaro International Airport – 245 km / 5 hrs.
After breakfast, descend into the crater floor for game drive. In Ngorongoro you have a big chance of spotting the big five including the white rhino. After lunch, drive back to Arusha for a transfer to Kilimanjaro International airport for connection to your evening international flight home.
End of services.
5 FULL DAYS IN TANZANIA
CTS - 5 DAYS SERENGETI WILDLIFE MIGRATION (FLY IN / FLY OUT)
Tired of experiencing long drives to Majestic Serengeti on the bumpy roads? This is your solution. Fly into Serengeti and spend your time at leisure maximizing every minute of your day in game viewing and fly out feeling younger than when you came into these amazing plains.
Day 1:
Fly Dar es Salaam / Serengeti National Park – Fly in
Connect on morning flight from Dar es Salaam airport to Serengeti National Park where our driver guide will be waiting to pick you up proceed with game drive in the rest of the day. Depending your time of travel we will focus on chasing the Migration of Wildebeest (Central /North/South Serengeti). Drive to your Tented Camp / Lodge for diner and overnight on Full Board Basis.
Day 2:
Serengeti NP – Full day game drive
Spend full day doing spectacular game drives in Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti is famous for abundance of Big Cats which include; Cheetah, big prides of Lions, Leopard, Cerval Cats amongst other game. Proceed with afternoon game drive as you drive to your Camp for diner and overnight at Tented Camp / Lodge on full board Basis.
Day 3:
Serengeti NP – Full day game drive
Spend another full day in Serengeti NP. Meals and overnight at your Tented Camp / Lodge on Full Board Basis.
Day 4:
Fly Serengeti / Arusha / Departure
After breakfast, you will check out of your Tented Camp / Lodge and drive towards the airstrip where you will connect onto a morning flight to Arusha where you will be picked up and transferred to Kilimanjaro International airport for connection on your international flight out.
End of services.
9 FULL DAYS IN TANZANIA
09 DAYS NDUTU MIGRATION DRAMA SAFARI
If you can plan your safari during the Months of January and February, then rest assured to witness the Great Migration that normally roams the plains of Northern Ngorongoro / Southern Serengeti in a place called NDUTU. These millions of animals attract a large number of prey with them. This is the best spot to witness the cats in action.
Day 1:
Arrival JRO /Arusha: 55km / 01 hour
We will pick you up at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer you to your hotel in Arusha for overnight.
Day 2:
Arusha / Tarangire National Park: 120 km / 2.5 hours
After breakfast take your packed lunch for a day game viewing in Tarangire National park a home to Lion, Leopard, Elephant, buffalo, Python, Zebra, Oryx, Impala and more? Over 450 species of birds have been observed. This park is known as the park of Elephants and Baobabs as are scattered everywhere in the park while the Tarangire River is source of the living animals in the park. Later drive to Manyara area for dinner and overnight at your Lodge / Camp on Full Board Basis.
Day 3:
Lake Manyara National Park: Full Day Game Drive
Enjoy a full day game drive on this park has the largest concentration of baboons in North Tanzania, tree climbing lions and others. It is also the best place to see flamingos and other birds. In the late afternoon continue to your Camp / Lodge for dinner and overnight on Full Board Basis.
Day 4:
Manyara / Ngorongoro Crater: 60 km / 01 hour
After breakfast drive to Ngorongoro crater with picnic lunch for a full day of game viewing. This is the best place to see the endangered black rhino (less than 1000 black rhinos are left in the wild in the world). You will also have opportunities to see hippos, zebras, wildebeests, gazelles, warthogs and many more animals. In the late afternoon continue to your camp / lodge for dinner and overnight on Full Board Basis.
Day 5:
Ngorongoro Crater / Ndutu: 150 km / 5 hours
After breakfast drive to Ndutu Area at your camp / Lodge for lunch, with a short stop on a traditional Maasai village (if interested) then continue with game drive in Ndutu area. Ndutu is the area between South east Serengeti and North West Ngorongoro where the great migration will be from January to late April. This short grassland area has highly nutritious grass due to the minerals found in the area and it is where the great migration calve in February. It is one of the very few places in the parks where off-road game drive is permitted and the best place to see hunting cats (lions and cheetahs). Other animals in the place include hyenas, warthogs, elephants, giraffes and many more. In the evening you will return to camp / Lodge for dinner and overnight on Full Board Basis.
Day 6:
Ndutu: Full Day Game Drive
Morning and afternoon game drives in Ndutu area exploring the great migration while looking for hunting lions and cheetahs. All meals and overnight will be at your Camp / Lodge on Full Board Basis.
Day 7:
Ndutu / Central Serengeti National Park: 80km / 01 hour
After breakfast drive to the endless plains of the Serengeti and proceed with game drive in Serengeti national
Park. Then drive to your camp / lodge for dinner and overnight. Serengeti is the park with the largest concentration of big mammals in the world. Here you will see most of your animals in your trip including lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, impalas, giraffes and many more. Dinner and overnight will be at your camp / lodge on Full Board Basis.
Day 8:
Serengeti National Park: Full Day Game Drive
Full day game drive in this wonderful National park the Serengeti national park with early departures, trying to look for active cats/hunting predators. All meals and overnight at your camp / lodge on Full Board Basis.
Day 9:
Serengeti/Arusha.
Very Early Morning game drive in Serengeti NP as we drive back to Arusha for and onward transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for connection onto your international flight out.
End of services.
