Day 1: Arrival Kilimanjaro International Airport

Pick up from the airport and transfer to the lodge.
Overnight: African View Lodge or similar. (-/-/D)

Day 2: Mkomazi National Park

On clear days, the route to Mkomazi National Park offers magnificent views of the snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro. Mkomazi is still little known but it is home to all the Big Five and offers spectacular scenery. In addition to the over 400 bird species found here, there is a chance to observe some species that are very rare elsewhere in Tanzania – e.g., wild dogs, oryx, gerenuks, and vulturine guineafowl.
Overnight: Mkomazi View Camp or similar. (F/M/A)

Day 3: Mkomazi Nationalpark & Rhino Sanctuary

Game drives and a visit to the Mbula Rhino Sanctuary, which offers a rare opportunity to experience these fascinating pachyderms up close. The neighboring wild dog breeding station prepares these captivating hunters for their reintroduction into the wild.
Overnight: Mkomazi View Camp or similar. (B/L/D)

Day 4: Mkomazi National Park & Usambara Mountains

After another morning game drive in Mkomazi National Park, you will travel to the Usambara Mountains. An afternoon hike leads to the rocky cliffs of the Irente Viewpoint. The Usambara Mountains drop almost 1000 m vertically here onto the Maasai Steppe, which stretches beyond the horizon – a majestic view!
Overnight: Lawns Hotel or similar, Lushoto. (B/L/-)

Day 5: Usambara Mountains

The surroundings of the bustling mountain town of Lushoto offer a variety of hiking options. With your guide, you will discover traces of the colonial era in Lushoto and hike through villages and fields to the Magamba rainforest. Here, an impressive lush vegetation with tree ferns and other rainforest giants awaits, as well as a variety of small, hidden natural wonders, such as the numerous chameleons found in the region.
Overnight: Lawns Hotel or similar, Lushoto. (B/L/-)

Day 6: Nguru Mountains

Today’s drive follows a scenic route south eastwards. Along the way, there are interesting insights into everyday life along the country roads and tracks. In the afternoon, you will reach your hotel at the foot of the Nguru Mountains. A short hike leads to the nearby waterfalls formed by the river rushing down in cascades over rocky slabs.
Overnight: Budget hotel. (B/L/-)

Day 7: Mikumi National Park

Proceed to Mikumi National Park. In the afternoon, you will take your first game drive. Mikumi is home to four vegetation zones with over 1200 plant species, 400 bird species, and 60 mammal species including lions, elephants, buffalo, and elands.
Overnight: Camp Bastian (chalet) or similar. (B/L/D)

Day 8: Mkumi National Park

Full-day game drive in Mikumi NP. The floodplain of the Mkata River in the northern part of the national park allows for great wildlife observations.
Overnight: Camp Bastian (chalet) or similar. (B/L/D)

Day 9:  Ruaha National Park

Drive along the TanZam Highway to Ruaha National Park. The lunch break in Iringa allows time for a short market stroll before continuing on tracks through tobacco fields to Ruaha NP. First game drive on the way to the lodge. Ideally located on the seasonally dry riverbed of the Ruaha, there are often opportunities for wildlife observation from the breakfast table or your own room.
Overnight: Ruaha River Lodge or similar. (B/-/D)

Days 10 & 11: Ruaha National Park

Two full-day game drives in Ruaha NP. In Tanzania’s largest national park, the flora and fauna of eastern and southern Africa overlap, resulting in a unique biodiversity. In addition to elephants, lions and giraffes, one may, with some luck, also see kudus, sable and roan antelopes. There are various vegetation zones: from open grasslands to swamps to miombo forests. Mighty baobab trees shape the landscape. Along the river beds grow acacias and fig species, tamarinds and palms. The Great Ruaha River is home to numerous hippos and crocodiles. Ruaha has one of the largest elephant populations in East Africa.
Overnight: Ruaha River Lodge or similar. (B/L/D)

Day 12: Departure

Transfer to Msembe Airstrip and flight to Dar es Salaam or extension program. (B/-/-)

Pre & Post Programs

A) Dodoma, Kolo Rock Paintings, Tarangire NP

Day 12: Dodoma

Short morning game drive on the way out of Ruaha National Park. Long drive to Dodoma. Along the way, you pass the Mtera Dam whose turbines provide electricity for the metropolis Dar es Salaam on the coast. Near Dodoma, Tanzania’s capital, is the only significant wine-growing area in the country.
Overnight: Domiya Estate. (B/L/-)

Day 13: Kolo Rock Paintings / Tarangire National Park

Today you continue along the ‘Great North Road’, the old Cairo-Cape Town route, heading north. The town of Kolo is the starting point for visiting the rock paintings that have been protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006. Hidden under rock overhangs, many drawings can be discovered in the surrounding area that has hardly been visited so far, some of which are up to 3800 years old. Depictions of wild animals such as giraffes, antelopes, elephants, hyenas, human figures with peculiar headdresses as well as geometric patterns transport the viewer to a long-gone era. After a drive through picturesque mountainous landscapes, you will reach Tarangire National Park. Wildlife observations on the way to the accommodation.
Overnight: Tarangire View Tented Lodge or similar. (B/-/D)

Day 14: Tarangire National Park

Game drives in Tarangire National Park. Huge baobab trees dominate the landscape here and create a spectacular backdrop. The Tarangire River and the swamps in the southern part of the park attract a variety of wildlife during the dry season. Especially large herds of elephants, for which Tarangire is famous, gather here at that time.
Overnight: Tarangire View Tented Lodge or similar. (B/L/D)

Day 15: Departure

Morning game drive in Tarangire National Park. Drive to Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) for evening return flights or departures from Arusha Airport (ARK) to Zanzibar in the late afternoon. (B/L/-)

B) Selous/Nyerere National Park

Day 12: Selous/Nyerere National Park

Transfer to Msembe airstrip and flight to Selous/Nyerere NP – Africa’s largest wildlife reserve. In the late afternoon, you will take part on a boat tour on the Rufiji (together with other guests of the camp) and observe numerous birds, crocodiles, and hippos.
Overnight: Rufiji River Camp, or similar (B/L/D)

Day 13: Selous/Nyerere National Park

During morning and afternoon game drives, you often follow the course of the Rufiji River or its numerous loops as this is where many animals can be spotted. Selous/Nyerere is home to elephants as well as the rare wild dogs, crocodiles, hippos, buffalo, giraffes, kudu, and about 440 species of birds.
Overnight: Rufiji River Camp, or similar (B/L/D)

Day 14: Departure

In the morning, you can participate in a walking safari. Your guide will explain the tracks and behavior of the animals to you. With a bit of luck, you may spot giraffes, zebras, gazelles, warthogs, monkeys, and numerous birds. Alternatively, another game drive is possible in the morning. Transfer to Mtemere Airstrip and flight to Dar es Salaam. Return flight or extension program on the mainland coast, Zanzibar, Mafia Island. (B/-/-)

C) Beach stay

Dar es Salaam south coast, Bagamoyo, Mafia Island or Zanzibar

Beach hotels on request.

D) North & South Combination

“Big Tanzania Safari”

For almost all dates, you can book our add-on safari in the north, ‘Safari Highlights’ (Tour Code: FDSNCI) as a pre-program. An intermediate overnight at the African View Lodge will be provided free of charge on B&B basis.