7 Days Luxury Classic Big 5 & Wildlife Tour in Tanzania

Immerse yourself in the heart of Africa with our week Luxury Classic Tour in Tanzania, an exclusive journey that blends the thrill of East Africa’s legendary safaris with the elegance of world-class hospitality. Designed for the discerning traveler, this curated itinerary invites you to experience Tanzania’s most iconic destinations from the sweeping plains of the Serengeti to the ancient caldera of Ngorongoro all while indulging in the refined comforts of luxury lodges and tented camps that redefine the art of safari living.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha, Karibu Tanzania!

Arrival in Arusha – Kilimanjaro International Airport: customs formalities (entry visa is required before departure from Italy through the website: https://visa.immigration.go.tz/ – to be requested at least 3 weeks before departure). Our Nyumbu Beyond Journeys guide will pick you up and transfer you to your lodge for relaxation and briefing about the journey ahead.

Day 2 : Transfer from Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast, meet your guide and depart by 4X4 vehicle in the direction of Manyara National Park. Along the way you cross the town of Mto Wa Mbu, a colorful and lively center where there is an extraordinary ethnic mixing, the local population is in fact represented by about fifty tribes. The park is quite small, about 360 square kilometers, part of which is occupied by the lake, but it offers very varied landscapes: Thanks to the presence of underground water springs, the northern part is occupied by a dense rainforest with imposing mahogany, tamarind, fig trees; the lake area, on the other hand, opens up with an arid savannah with little vegetation and behind it it is possible to see the heights formed by the Great Rift Valley. Another peculiarity is the presence of lions called ‘arboreal’, because they usually climb the branches of acacias as umbrellas and spend hours relaxing, an unusual attitude for these animals. Manyara is also one of the most interesting places for birdwatchers thanks to the presence of more than 380 species of birds, in the lake it is easy to spot flocks of pelicans and flamingos. After the photo safari inside the park, stop for a picnic lunch and in the afternoon continue to Karatu. This small town is the gateway to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which includes the entire area of volcanic plateaus between the western escarpment of the Great Rift Valley and the vast plains of the Serengeti; it is immersed in the typical forest of the area and dotted with small lodges and old farm houses (today mostly used as accommodation facilities) surrounded by thick vegetation and tea and coffee plantations, an area that is certainly worth a stop; Many lodges organize guided tours of the plantations. Arrival at the lodge in the late afternoon, dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Transfer guided game drive to Serengeti National Park

Breakfast and departure in the direction of the Serengeti park. A day entirely dedicated to safaris inside the park. Picnic lunch during the safari, dinner at the camp. The Serengeti National Park has an extension of 14,763 km² and is the largest park in the country; it is the scene of the largest mammal migration on the African continent which sees the annual movement of about 2 million wildebeests, of a million zebras and herbivores of various species that make a journey of about 800 km in search of new pastures and water. It is one of the most spectacular natural events on the whole continent! The great rivers Grumeti and Mara are undoubtedly the most difficult obstacles on this journey, the herds cross these waterways in terror, their bodies writhe, trample on each other, often becoming victims of lions and crocodiles, only the strongest and luckiest manage to reach Kenya. There are no precise times and times to determine migration, it takes place depending on the rainfall; in fact, the animals move following the seasonal rains. From a morphological point of view, the southern part of the park is characterized by vast plains on which it is often possible to admire rock formations called ‘kopjes’, large granite blocks of volcanic origin which, shaped by the wind, have taken the shape of huge spherical boulders over the centuries; the central one is crossed by various rivers, while the north is characterized by hills covered with acacia forests. All a true paradise for nature lovers and safaris!

Day 4 : Full day Safari in Serengeti National Park

Enjoy the days of pure bliss in Serengeti National Park. As you advance into the park, you will understand the meaning of the word Serengeti, which is Swahili for endless plains. As the plains extend into the horizon, your perception and senses will be defied.

This park is home to the Great Migration, when over 1.5 million wildebeests, hundreds of thousands of zebras, and all kinds of antelopes start their ever-moving journey. And with such a large number of animals, it’s only expectable to observe many big cats and other large predators, attracted to their prey. So, take this opportunity to look out for lions, cheetahs, leopards, and hyenas. Many other smaller animals reside here too, not to mention over 500 species of birds. After this immersion in the wild, drive to the selected campsite/lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 5 :Transfer guided game drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After breakfast we continue towards the Ngorongoro crater first entering the area of forest that characterizes its slopes and then climbing up to the edges with a stop at the ‘Crater View Point (2,216 m above sea level) from where you can admire a wonderful panorama that allows (weather and clouds permitting) to have an overall view of the immense caldera and to perceive its vastness! Descent into the caldera for a day dedicated to safaris (the local authorities allow safaris of up to 6 hours); 600 m deep and 19 km in diameter, Ngorongoro is the largest uninterrupted and intact caldera in the world, a natural amphitheater of exceptional beauty that occupies an area of about 300 square kilometers. Between 25,000 and 35,000 mammals live inside it (wildebeest, zebras, buffaloes, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles, antelopes, hippos, elephants and a small population of black rhinos, not easy to spot as they are few and unfortunately endangered due to poaching), including predators such as lions, easily spotted during the dry season, cheetahs and leopards, more difficult to find. Part of the crater is occupied by Lake Magadi, whose size depends on rain, often you can admire hundreds of flamingos going there to feed. Picnic lunch at one of the sites of rest and continuation of the safari; accommodation at the lodge, dinner and overnight stay.

Ngorongoro-Conservation-Area

Day 6: Transfer from Ngorongoro Crater to Tarangire National Park

Breakfast and departure in the direction of Tarangire National Park, the most loved park by elephants. Stop for picnic lunch along the way and depending on the time available, stop at Olduvai Gorge to visit the small museum that collects evidence of the passage of man dating back to about 1.8 million years ago, discovered by the Englishman Leakey during the first explorations on the continent. Arrival in Tarangire in the afternoon and departure for a first safari to discover the park, dinner and overnight at the selected camp. The Tarangire National Park has an area of 2,600 km² and is crossed by the Tarangire River which guarantees the presence of numerous animals and especially herds of elephants, as well as mammals such as oryx, kudu, lions, cheetahs and leopards. During the dry period (our summer) it is very interesting to see the numerous animals that go to drink around the few pools of water along the river, it is the most suitable period for sightings. On the other hand, during the wet season (our winter), the course of the river fills with water, thus attracting many animals; the rich surrounding vegetation acts as a hiding place for predators who are able to hunt more calmly. In some areas, imposing baobabs dominate the savannah.

8 Days Nyumbu Signature Tanzania Safari — Elephants in Tarangire

Day 7: Guided game drive in Tarangire National Park & Transfer to Arusha for Departure

After breakfast last morning safari and departure to Arusha, from here continue to Kilimanjaro airport. Arrival, customs formalities and departure by scheduled flight to Italy (the stopover depends on the chosen airline). Meals and overnight on board.

7 Days Luxury Classic Big 5 & Wildlife Tour in Tanzania

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