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FROM US$7,440-US$10,740

Firefinch Drive-Fly Safari

Enjoy a combination of privately guided and shared game drives during this good-value exploration of northern Tanzania. Explore game-dense regions from three comfortable bases which offer a variety of activities.

Firefinch Drive-Fly Safari: Day-by-day

More detailed information of what each day entails, and the various places you’ll stay on the Firefinch Drive-Fly Safari. Everything we do is completely tailor-made so while this is an idea which works well, we’ll always design an itinerary just for you.


Day 1

Starts: Kilimanjaro International Airport

On arrival at the airport, you will be greeted by a guide with a name board after you've collected your bags.

Day 1

Kilimanjaro to Oliver's Camp by 4WD

Today’s four–five-hour journey takes you from Kilimanjaro Airport through the vibrant town of Arusha, where you might stop for coffee or to explore the local shops. You then continue past rural farmlands and grazing Maasai cattle to Tarangire National Park, and a final game drive to Oliver's Camp.

Oliver's Camp
Days 1-4

Oliver's Camp

3 nights
Full BoardTarangire National Park, Tanzania

In the quiet south-east of Tarangire National Park, beside Silale and Lormakau marshes, Oliver's Camp is a lovely tented camp set on a low, sandy ridge. It is particularly good for wildlife in the height of the dry season, when the marshes attract huge herds of buffalo, zebra and wildebeest. It originally started off as a temporary camp, but was made permanent in 2008.

Oliver's Camp

In the quiet south-east of Tarangire National Park, beside Silale and Lormakau marshes, Oliver's Camp is a lovely tented camp set on a low, sandy ridge. It is particularly good for wildlife in the height of the dry season, when the marshes attract huge herds of buffalo, zebra and wildebeest. It originally started off as a temporary camp, but was made permanent in 2008.

"beautiful location and accommodation… extraordinary catering "

BrydonfromUK

Arrived 18 Jan 2024, 3 nights

Oliver's is a lovely tented camp with a great location in the far south of the park. Even though it is now a permanent camp with a luxurious edge, it still retains a real bush camp feel, and has a rustic charm. The food, service and guiding here are very good and the camp offers a great wilderness experience. See our full report on Oliver's Camp

96%
60 reviews of Oliver's Camp by travellers since August 2007

Activities

4WD Safari

Birdwatching

Cultural excursion

Guided walking safari

Hot air ballooning

Night drive

Day 4

4WD drive: Oliver's Camp to Plantation Lodge

Departing Oliver's, relax into a game drive to the northern end of Tarangire National Park, passing the rural village of Mto Wa Mbu as well as the bustling, dusty town of Karatu. After around four hours you will arrive at Plantation Lodge, nestled amidst coffee plantations and neighbouring farmlands.

Lake Manyara Safari
Day 4

Lake Manyara Safari

Set against the spectacular backdrop of the Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara National Park makes a great safari destination. Here, along with elephant herds and plains game, you’ll find jungle-like forests that are home to blue monkeys, a soda lake tinged pink by flamingos and some of Tanzania’s best birding. Read all about Lake Manyara Safari

Plantation Lodge
Days 4-7

Plantation Lodge

3 nights
Full BoardNgorongoro Crater, Tanzania

The privately run Plantation Lodge, first opened in 1998, lies between Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Lake Manyara National Park, a short distance from the bustling Tanzanian market town of Karatu. Set in three hectares (seven acres) of beautifully maintained gardens, it is staffed entirely by local residents. The lodge is mainly used by visitors travelling with their own guide and vehicle, as a base for visits to the Ngorongoro Crater and sometimes to Lake Manyara National Park.

Plantation Lodge

The privately run Plantation Lodge, first opened in 1998, lies between Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Lake Manyara National Park, a short distance from the bustling Tanzanian market town of Karatu. Set in three hectares (seven acres) of beautifully maintained gardens, it is staffed entirely by local residents. The lodge is mainly used by visitors travelling with their own guide and vehicle, as a base for visits to the Ngorongoro Crater and sometimes to Lake Manyara National Park.

"The property was beautiful and we had the best time with the staff. "

Gina DaifromNYC

Arrived 8 Oct 2023, 2 nights

We have always been impressed by the attention to detail and personal care at Plantation Lodge. It is comparatively affordable compared to many of the lodges on the rim of the crater and we feel it offers excellent value for money. Conveniently located, it makes a lovely, tranquil base from which to explore both the Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara areas. See our full report on Plantation Lodge

94%
45 reviews of Plantation Lodge by travellers since August 2007

Activities

4WD Safari

Birdwatching

Cultural excursion

Guided walking safari

Mountain biking

Safari in Ngorongoro Crater
Day 5

Safari in Ngorongoro Crater

To drive into the Ngorongoro Crater is to immerse yourself in a renowned wildlife park. Prides of lion and clans of hyena patrol amongst herds of zebra, wildebeest and Thomson’s gazelle, whilst flocks of crowned cranes keep out the way of jackals. Come for elephants with big tusks, too. And then there are the rhino… Read all about Ngorongoro Crater safari

Day 7

Ngorongoro to the Serengeti by 4WD & light aircraft

After an hour's drive to Lake Manyara Airstrip, board your light aircraft for the Serengeti. Depending on the location of the great migration, you'll land in the south after about 30 minutes, or the north after 1½ hours. Then enjoy a final game drive to Ubuntu, taking 30–60 minutes.

Ubuntu Camp
Days 7-10

Ubuntu Camp

3 nights
Full BoardSerengeti Migration Area, Tanzania

Ubuntu Camp is a small, mobile camp in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, which moves two times a year to optimise the chance of witnessing the great wildebeest migration. Between mid-November and mid-March, it is situated on the open southern plains, where the annual migration spreads out to graze. From mid-June to October it is located in the northern Serengeti, where it is perfectly positioned to witness the wildebeest crossing of the Mara River. The camp closes from mid-March to mid-June.

Ubuntu Camp

Ubuntu Camp is a small, mobile camp in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, which moves two times a year to optimise the chance of witnessing the great wildebeest migration. Between mid-November and mid-March, it is situated on the open southern plains, where the annual migration spreads out to graze. From mid-June to October it is located in the northern Serengeti, where it is perfectly positioned to witness the wildebeest crossing of the Mara River. The camp closes from mid-March to mid-June.

"our expectations were already high and we were not disappointed"

MW&JSfromUK

Arrived 4 Feb 2020, 7 nights

Ubuntu’s small size, unfussy layout, good service and reasonable price tag make it a great choice for those who enjoy a simple, bushcamp set-up and want a good-value base from which to see the migration at various stages. See our full report on Ubuntu Camp

99%
23 reviews of Ubuntu Camp by travellers since August 2007

Activities

4WD Safari

Birdwatching

Hot air ballooning

Day 10

Serengeti to Kilimanjaro by 4WD & light aircraft

This morning, savour your final game drive of 30–60 minutes to the airstrip. If Ubuntu is located in the north, it's then a flight of around three hours to Kilimanjaro; from the south it's 1½ hours. Either way, you'll have time to enjoy the views as you cross the Ngorongoro Highlands.

Day 10

Ends: Kilimanjaro International Airport

You'll arrive at Kilimanjaro in time to catch your onward flight.

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Experiences you can add to this trip.

Optional extra day-trips and excursions possible whilst staying at lodges on this trip. These are usually best arranged in advance so talk to us.


Mto Wa Mbu Village Walk

Mto Wa Mbu Village Walk

Two to three hours

Discover the nuances of day-to-day life in the large Tanzanian village of Mto Wa Mbu with a knowledgeable local guide. This is not a village set up for tourists – Mto Wa Mbu is a real community and offers a chance to see a side of Tanzania that many visitors pass by.

More about Village Walk
90% (6 reviews)
Balloon Safari over the Serengeti

Balloon Safari over the Serengeti

Three hours - approx. one hour flight

As the sun rises over the Serengeti National Park in Northern Tanzania, climb aboard for an extraordinary adventure. For an hour you’ll float in a hot air balloon over beautiful savannah and woodland and a diversity of plains wildlife.

More about Balloon Safari
100% (17 reviews)
Empakaai Crater Hike

Empakaai Crater Hike

Half day, two - three hour walk

Spend a half day hiking through the Empakaai Crater, in the Highlands area of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), led by an experienced guide and accompanied by a ranger.

More about Empakaai Crater Hike
100% (1 reviews)
Olmoti Crater walk

Olmoti Crater walk

Half day - two to three hour walk

Follow an ancient Maasai cattle trail on this private hike up the Olmoti Crater, led by an experienced guide and accompanied by an armed ranger. The crater may not compete in size with the neighbouring Ngorongoro Crater, but the birding is good, the mountain views wonderful, and the array of ferns is a botanist’s dream.

More about Olmoti Crater walk
90% (2 reviews)
Crater Rim Walk

Crater Rim Walk

Half day - two hour walk

For some fantastic views, and the chance to see flora and fauna up close, take a walk along the rim of the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. Led by an experienced safari guide and accompanied by an armed ranger, you will be able to take in the scale and beauty of the landscape from a different perspective.

More about Crater Rim Walk
100% (3 reviews)
Olduvai Gorge visit

Olduvai Gorge visit

One - two hours

See for yourself the renowned archaeological site of Olduvai (or Oldupai) Gorge, which lies en route between the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti National Park. Famed for the discoveries of early hominin remains as well as the Laetoli Footprints, the site offers beautiful views, an engaging museum and potentially the opportunity to visit an active dig.

More about Olduvai Gorge visit
93% (15 reviews)
Lake Manyara Treetop Walkway

Lake Manyara Treetop Walkway

Usually one hour

Experience the forest of Lake Manyara National Park from a whole new perspective – high up in the trees. The first suspended walkway in Tanzania, it stretches underneath the canopy for 370m between the mahogany and fig trees, giving intrepid visitors a unique view of the surrounding flora and fauna.

More about Manyara Treetop Walk
75% (4 reviews)

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