Signature Tanzania

Giants of Tanzania

Elephant country, then the plains

4 days · 3 nights Tarangire · Serengeti For Elephant & wildlife lovers Starts Arusha From $395 pp / night From $1,185 pp (3 nights)

Two days with the Tarangire elephants, then a night in the Serengeti.

Elephant & wildlife lovers From $395 pp / night From $1,185 pp (3 nights)

The story of this trip

Some guests come for the Big Five list. Others come to spend time with elephants, and this trip is for them. In the dry months Tarangire can hold some of the largest elephant gatherings in Tanzania. We give it two days, then cross the highlands into the Serengeti without going down into the Ngorongoro Crater, so your time stays with the wildlife and not on the crater rim road.

What this safari is for

Elephant herds in Tarangire
Baobab country at first light
A night in the Serengeti
Two parks at an unhurried pace
A relaxed four-day schedule

Route map

Route

From Arusha to Arusha.

Start: Arusha End: Arusha

Tracing safari roads…

Tanzania

Start Arusha (Start)
Tarangire National Park (Day 1) Land Cruiser
Serengeti (Day 3) Land Cruiser
End Arusha (Day 4) Land Cruiser

Day by day

This is a working route. We confirm the camps and pace on your quote, within 24 hours.

Day 1

Arusha to Tarangire

Leave after breakfast. The park is at its best along the river in the dry months, and it is still a strong elephant park when it is green. We stay close to the park, so you are inside the gate at dawn.

Day 2

A full day in Tarangire, then the highlands

We visit a different sector of the park and have a picnic lunch, then climb towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. We do not go down into the crater today, so you save the fee and the hours for the Serengeti.

Day 3

Serengeti

We stay in the central Serengeti unless your dates need a seasonal camp. You can expect big cats, kopjes and open space. You sleep in the park and are not making a day trip from the crater rim.

Day 4

Serengeti morning, then back to Arusha

You take a last cool morning drive, then head back. Flying out costs more but saves most of the day, while the road is the cheaper option. You can start Zanzibar the same afternoon only if seats are available.

What’s included

Park and conservation fees, as set out on your quote
Private 4×4 with pop-up roof and driver-guide
Lodges or camps in your chosen class, named on your written quote
Meals on safari, as provided by the camp or lodge
Bottled water in the vehicle
Airport meet-and-greet, as set out on your quote

What’s not included

International flights
Tanzania visa
Drinks at lodges and camps
Hot-air balloon safari
Tips for guides and camp staff
Travel insurance (you arrange it; we recommend it on every safari, and it is required for Kilimanjaro). We can add a medical policy to your quote on request
Laundry

When to travel

July to October for the largest elephant herds along the Tarangire River. The trip works all year. It leaves out the crater on purpose.

Why this route

A short safari works best when it stays within two parks. The crater makes a different kind of trip, so we have left it out. See The Big Five Signature if you want it.