Hadeda Ibis Guided Safari: Day-by-day
None of our trips are alike: all are designed around our travellers’ wishes. This is an example of a Tanzania safari using a private guide and 4WD. Ask us to design your perfect trip.
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.
Kilimanjaro to Tarangire by private 4WD
As you set off on your private guided safari, take the opportunity to talk to your guide about the plans for your journey. You'll come first to the bustling town of Arusha, where Cultural Heritage could be the perfect stop for a coffee or to get a feel for traditional and contemporary arts. If you prefer to continue straight to Tarangire, typically taking about four hours in total, that's fine too. Watch out for the park's famed elephants before arriving at Tarangire Safari Lodge, set in a scenic location overlooking the plains.
Tarangire Safari
Tarangire Safari Lodge is a substantial family-owned and managed lodge set 10km inside the main gate of Tarangire National Park. Originally built in 1970, it is the oldest lodge in the park, and its position on the escarpment ridge gives it impressive views over the baobab and acacia woodlands down to the Tarangire River; it also places it in the heart of the park's busiest area.
Tarangire Safari Lodge is a substantial family-owned and managed lodge set 10km inside the main gate of Tarangire National Park. Originally built in 1970, it is the oldest lodge in the park, and its position on the escarpment ridge gives it impressive views over the baobab and acacia woodlands down to the Tarangire River; it also places it in the heart of the park's busiest area.
"View from the tent was gorgeous."
PuchtofromBuffaloArrived 13 Feb 2024, 2 nights
The size of Tarangire Safari Lodge means it is impersonal compared with some of the smaller bush camps, especially as it is a popular choice with some larger tour groups. However, the lodge is considerably less costly than other options in the park, and so offers a good choice for those on a budget. The tents are basic but comfortable and the atmosphere is relaxed. It has a lovely location with stunning views – but this is a busy area where you'll see a lot of other vehicles and visitors. It is well geared for children, so could be a great option for families on a budget. See our full report on Tarangire Safari Lodge
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Guided walking safari
Hot air ballooning
Night drive
Tarangire to the Ngorongoro by 4WD
Today's journey could take anything from four hours to a full day, so discuss the options with your guide before setting off. Leaving Tarangire after a final game drive, you’ll pass through the village of Mto Wa Mbu, near the northern tip of Lake Manyara. You may wish to stop here for lunch, or a guided tour of the village, or even a short detour to the lake itself, before climbing from the floor of the Great Rift Valley over the scenic escarpment. Continuing on, you come to the dusty highland town of Karatu before approaching the Ngorongoro Crater, where Farmhouse Lodge occupies a peaceful location below the crater rim.
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
Farmhouse Lodge
Ngorongoro Farmhouse Lodge is a lovely lodge just outside of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Set in 750 acres of private farmland, it is comfortable, well laid out and has some excellent views over the farm and across to Oldeani Volcano. The lodge offers good-value accommodation, and is a good base for visiting both the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park.
Ngorongoro Farmhouse Lodge is a lovely lodge just outside of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Set in 750 acres of private farmland, it is comfortable, well laid out and has some excellent views over the farm and across to Oldeani Volcano. The lodge offers good-value accommodation, and is a good base for visiting both the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara National Park.
"The Lodge was comfortable, the staff was friendly, and the food good. "
RJKfromMichiganArrived 27 Jun 2024, 4 nights
Ngorongoro Farmhouse has a rustic, countryside feel, which is very appealing. We felt that the interiors do not quite live up to the promise of the exterior, but the lodge is still a welcoming and friendly, and comparatively affordable, spot to base yourself to trips to the crater. See our full report on Ngorongoro Farmhouse Lodge
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Guided walking safari
Mountain biking
Private activities
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
Ngorongoro to the Serengeti by private 4WD
Leaving Farmhouse Lodge, you'll drive up to the rim of the crater before descending on to the open plains, where antelope graze and Maasai herdsman keep watch over their goats. You'll pass the Olduvai Gorge, too, before the wildlife-rich grasslands of the Serengeti, and the rustic Kati Kati camp. With so many options during the journey, do chat to your guide about your choices: this trip is unique to you.
Kati Kati Camp
In the heart of the Serengeti, the no-frills Kati Kati feels very much at one with its environment. Backed by a tree-covered hill, its 11 tents look out over the plains, their views unobstructed by vegetation, their canvas walls blending almost seamlessly into the soft greens and browns all around.
In the heart of the Serengeti, the no-frills Kati Kati feels very much at one with its environment. Backed by a tree-covered hill, its 11 tents look out over the plains, their views unobstructed by vegetation, their canvas walls blending almost seamlessly into the soft greens and browns all around.
The simplest of creature comforts – solid cast-iron beds, subdued lighting, an en-suite flushing toilet and a basin of warm water on your veranda – set the scene, with a couple of directors’ chairs so you can soak up the view, and a cooling breeze courtesy of numerous vented tent flaps.
That said, time in camp is minimised; Kati Kati is very much a base to come back to after a full day exploring the plains by 4WD, as part of a privately guided safari; the camp has no guides of its own.
The perfect spot for seeking out wildlife, the central Serengeti is particularly known for its cheetah, for whom the vast open spaces are an ideal hunting ground.
"...right in the middle of the migrating wildebeest and Zebra"
Mr & Mrs SfromE SussexArrived 7 Feb 2022, 3 nights
Come the evening – perhaps after a hot bucket shower – it’s time to gather around the campfire to chat over the day’s adventures before settling down to a hearty dinner in the small mess tent. And then to a comfortable bed. See our full report on Kati Kati Camp
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Hot air ballooning
Private activities
Serengeti to Kilimanjaro by 4WD & light aircraft
The last day of your safari is one to savour, starting with a game drive of around 90 minutes through the Serengeti to Seronera Airstrip. On board your light aircraft, which may stop for other passengers to alight or board, you have plenty of time to take in the views of the Ngorongoro Highlands, or even one of the crater's volcanoes, before landing at Kilimanjaro after around two hours.
Ends: Kilimanjaro International Airport
You'll arrive at Kilimanjaro in time to catch your onward flight.
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Inspire meExperiences 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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