Indeed, it feels strange to start planning an 8 Days Tanzania Safari without having set foot on the land. You can talk to friends who have been there before, watch videos, or even study the different maps. Regardless, none of them truly prepares you because this is the kind of adventure that reveals itself like a tale rather than a timeline.
From the warmth of Arusha or Moshi, you will make your way into the bisected baobab groves of Tarangire, through the Serengeti’s golden plains, descending into the hidden basin Ngorongoro Crater, all the way to the Lake Manyara and Mto Wa Mbu village. Over the span of eight days, there is an agglomeration of distinct yet interconnected journeys filled with sheer astonishment and inexpressible delight.
Your safari mode begins with an arrival night, which helps you acclimate before proceeding towards Tarangire’s elephant territory. You then spend two nights in the Serengeti, where you can relax and truly immerse in the surroundings. Next is the Ngorongoro Crater, which looks too symmetrical to be a result of natural forces. You finish with a night at Lake Manyara, famed for its tree-climbing lions and the verdant groundwater forest. Lastly, you stop at Mto Wa Mbu to get a glimpse of more commonplace Tanzanian life before heading back to Arusha.
Under what seems to define the Tanzania sky, you can either arrive by air through Kilimanjaro International Airport or through road via Arusha or Moshi. A driver holding a sign with your name is waiting for you, a gesture that always feels reassuring.
The drive to your lodge is short, yet gives you a first glimpse into Tanzania’s lifestyle dichotomies like modern stores next to open fields and children herding goats in the mountain’s presence.
Once you check into your hotel, you can “exhale.” Perhaps witnessing the sunset while sitting outdoors, the only thing on your mind are your bags which are waiting to be unpacked. Although some eager travelers go looking for adventures straight away, they reveal a lot by not being able to simply stay put.
Accommodation:
Ilboru Safari Lodge
Outpost Lodge
Arusha Serena Hotel
Arusha Coffee Lodge
After breakfast, you leave the small part of Arusha and head west. With time, the land begins to open and the air grows warmer. Chances are, you will start to be more “present,” paying attention to watching for patterns in the grass and horizon.
Many people tend to underestimate Tarangire. It possesses an ancient kind of appeal due to the life-giving river and the baobabs which holds life in the dry season. The number of elephants that gather here are staggering as they move with a deliberate calmness that feels ritualistic.
Throughout the journey, your guide makes sure the vehicle is progressing slowly. You may stop for a long time observing a herd of elephants crossing the road or a lone lion relaxing in the shade.
Having lunch means a picnic underneath an acacia. The food is simple; and while tasting the food, a person somehow feels more satisfied when they’re half distracted by the possibility of a short stroll just beyond the trees.
As the clock strikes late afternoon, you leave the park and head towards your lodge located near Lake Manyara. The day leaves you both tired and a wee bit more awake than you expected.
Accommodation
Migombani Public Campsite
Manyara Safari Camp
Marera Valley Lodge
Gibbs Farm
You feel more energized in the morning. Setting off early is a good idea. The drive to the Serengeti requires quite a bit of time. The route takes you through highlands, where you pass small farms and Maasai villages with herders watching over their cattle.
Around noon, the land flattens and grass stretches as far as the eye can see. Even with picturing it, the Serengeti always surprises with its emptiness. It’s more accurate to call it fullness, but without the clutter.
Lunch is always a packed meal eaten with the doors of the vehicle wide open.
Seeing the expansive plains for the first time allows you to abstractly grasp the true meaning of safari. You may spot herds that look like blurry outlines in the distance. On other occasions, a cheetah or hyena “sitting” way too near will catch your attention.
You’re almost welcomed to your camp or lodge with soft, golden rays showering the landscape. While this may be the serengeti many people are familiar with, its comforting silence is something that strikes you unexpectedly.
Accommodation
Seronera Public Campsite
Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp
Kati Kati Tented Camp
Melia Serengeti Lodge
The serene beauty of dawn in the Serengeti is exquisite. You leave early so that you can fully utilize the beautifully pale sunlight, guiding you to new textures that await for the next day.
Your guide can bring you to either river systems or the open plains. During that time, wildlife activity will guide their decisions. For those who want to take advantage of predator sighting, they usually tend to be active shortly after dawn. Even if the only thing you discover are old paw prints, embrace the journey.
Breakfast is offered either at camp or as a packed meal which can be eaten outdoors. Throughout this venture, you’ll find impressive yet simple sights like a lone giraffe, endless rows of wildebests, or an elephant crossing the view sluggishly.
Winding down the morning drives from camp is a quieter, more relaxed experience. But as you partake in the afternoon drives, you are still getting a sense that the barren settings are more vast than you had expected until this point.
Accommodation
Seronera Public Campsite
Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp
Kati Kati Tented Camp
Melia Sereengeti Lodge
After having breakfast, you can now explore the linked roads outside the camp, as you zoom past the rough acacia covered landscapes in the east. For some reason, during this period this is the most peaceful experience, especially after the unraveling of the last two days.
Olduvai Gorge does have its own share of captivating history since it is considered to be the origin of humanity. However, its perfectly normal if you want to keep on moving faster as long as you take in the serene scenery.
As you are trying to absorb the stunning rolling hills and pristine woodlands, for some time you will be reaching the forested portion of one of the largest craters in the world.
Accommodation
Simba A Campsite
Eileen’s Trees Inn
Acacia Farm Lodge
By the end of day 6 despite the heater roaming in different locations, when distinct regions crisscross within the crater, it forms streams of water marking the days where you waited till today as the mnemonic of memories.
Within it, life feels almost compressed. Occasionally, you may spot a grazing rhino, along with elephants, hippos, and buffaloes in shallow pools. All of these creatures create a sense of intimacy as the walls of the crater capture and echo sound.
The picnic hippo pool is simplistic, yet the view surpasses expectations.
After lunch, you continue your drive toward Lake Manyara, which is linked by a road. The climb feels more steep than it should.
Accommodations
Migombani Public Campsite
Manyara Safari Camp
Kirurumu Manyara Lodge
Lake Manyara Serena Lodge
You can spot flamingoes shimmering at the lake’s edge while sparring with baboons in Lake Manyara National Park. The groundwater forest leads to the rest of the park.
You elevate toward Mto Wa Mbu, where it is best known for its small, shop-filled markets. A local guide will walk you through, stopping for fresh cut mango or craftsmen.
Lunch consists of locally sourced ingredients while eaten at a stall.
Accommodation
Migombani Public
Campsite
Manyara Safari Camp
Kirurumu Manyara Lodge
Lake Manyara Serena Lodge
Your last morning feels unhurried. You retrace the road to Arusha, the landscape slipping past in a sequence that already feels familiar.
Some journeys end quietly. This Tanzania Safari may leave you with more questions than answers, but that’s part of what makes it worth taking. If you’d like help fine-tuning the details or choosing exactly the right lodges, just ask.
Step into the heart of Africa. Witness Tanzania’s wild wonders up close. Your soul-stirring safari begins here.
Address: 7th Floor, Market Street, Arusha – Tanzania
Phone: +255 767-837-026
Email: book@ngorongorocratersafaris.com
