09-Day Northern Tanzania Luxury Fly-in Safari

Karibu Tanzania! Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), a warm welcome awaits you from a Buffalo Grass Safari representative. You will be transferred to your elegant accommodation in Arusha, a vibrant gateway city nestled beneath Mount Meru. Depending on your arrival time, unwind in your hotel’s lush gardens or enjoy a sundowner overlooking the distant peaks.

Accommodation: Gran Meliá Arusha or similar

After breakfast, your private safari guide will pick you up for the scenic two-and-a-half-hour drive to Tarangire National Park. This hidden gem offers classic savannah landscapes and is famed for its enormous baobab trees and large herds of elephants. As you explore, you may encounter lions resting under acacias, graceful giraffes browsing the treetops, or colorful birdlife flitting through the bush. A picnic hot lunch in the park offers a moment to soak in the sights and sounds of the African wilderness.

Accommodation: Elephant Springs Camp or similar

Begin your day with a relaxed morning game drive through Tarangire, when animals are most active and the lighting is magical for photography. Keep your camera ready for early-morning elephant encounters or predator sightings. After exiting the park, you’ll drive to Karatu for a farm-to-table lunch at the lush and tranquil Gibb’s Farm—known for its gourmet meals and botanical gardens. In the afternoon, ascend the verdant highlands toward the Ngorongoro Crater rim, where sweeping views await.

Accommodation: Melia Ngorongoro Safari Lodge or similar

Today, descend 600 meters into the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest unbroken caldera on Earth. Often called "Africa’s Eden," the crater hosts nearly every species found in East Africa. You’ll have a chance to spot all Big Five, including the elusive black rhino, while hippos wallow in freshwater pools and flamingos line the soda lakes. Enjoy a picnic hot lunch on the crater floor before ascending back to the rim for a well-earned evening of rest.

Melia Ngorongoro Safari Lodge or similar

After breakfast, transfer to Manyara Airstrip for your scenic bush flight to the Central Serengeti. Flying over the highlands and into the Serengeti gives you a bird’s eye view of the vast plains that await. Upon landing, your guide will greet you for an en route game drive through this iconic region, known for its big cat population and dramatic landscapes. After checking in at your luxury tented camp and enjoying a hot lunch, head out again for an afternoon game drive beneath the golden Serengeti skies.

Nyota Luxury Camp or similar

Spend the full day exploring the Central Serengeti, the beating heart of the park and home to abundant resident wildlife. In the early morning, track prides of lions or spot cheetahs scanning the horizon. After lunch at camp, enjoy another game drive in search of leopards lounging in acacia trees or herds of elephant crossing the savannah. The day ends with a beautiful Serengeti sunset and dinner under a starlit sky.

After an afternoon game drive, you will drive to your accommodation in Karatu.

Accommodation: Nyota Luxury Camp or similar

Today, venture westward into the Serengeti’s Western Corridor—a region shaped by the Grumeti River and its lush riverine forests. This area comes alive with action during the migration months, when massive herds attempt dangerous river crossings, often stalked by crocodiles and predators. Enjoy game drives through varied terrain with a packed bush lunch en route. This part of the Serengeti feels more remote and untamed.

Accommodation: Lahia Tented Lodge or similar

Wake early for another thrilling day of wildlife exploration. Today’s game drives focus on the Grumeti region’s unique habitats, from wide plains to dense woodland. Watch out for migratory wildebeest herds, topi antelope, and perhaps even elusive wild dogs. Break for a leisurely hot lunch before continuing your search for iconic predators and rare sightings in this quiet corner of the Serengeti.

Accommodation: Lahia Tented Lodge or similar

After breakfast and a final Serengeti sunrise, transfer to Grumeti Airstrip for your bush flight back to Arusha. On arrival, a Buffalo Grass Safaris driver will meet you for your transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). If your flight departs later in the evening, a day room at Gran Meliá Arusha can be arranged (optional, with additional cost).

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch (depending on flight time)