Tanzania

African Wildlife Foundation is excited to offer an exclusive safari to Northern Tanzania during the height of the great wildebeest-calving and zebra-foaling season. February is the ideal time to visit Tanzania, when immense migratory herds of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelle congregate on the Serengeti’s short-grass plains, feeding and calving. This incredible spectacle, involving one to two million animals, is a sight not to be missed.

In addition to Serengeti National Park, during this 12-day safari, you will explore the unspoiled landscapes of Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater, and AWF’s Manyara Ranch. You will see some of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife, including lions, elephants, cheetahs, giraffes, rhinos, and more. During the safari, you will visit AWF's flagship conservation projects like Manyara Ranch, a Primary School, and a local women’s cooperative. Whether you are spotting a leopard, learning about local culture, or sharing conservation stories around a campfire, Tanzania is the ultimate safari destination. Accompanied by an AWF safari leader and local naturalist guides, this is the ideal adventure.

Space on AWF’s Ultimate Tanzania Safari is limited, so please reserve your space soon.

Schedule & Map

• Day 1

  Arusha, Tanzania

  Karibu! Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and join your fellow travelers.

  Overnight: Rivertrees Country Inn; Snack

   

• Days 2–4

  Tarangire National Park

  Explore Tarangire National Park, best known for its large elephant herds and massive baobab trees. You will have two-and-a-half days to explore the park, spotting giraffes, lions, and maybe the occasional leopard.

  Overnight: Tarangire Nyumba ("Nyumba" is Swahili for home) ; B, L, D
   

• Day 5:

  Manyara Ranch

  Depart Tarangire for AWF’s flagship project, Manyara Ranch, a 45,000-acre conservation area in the wildlife corridor connecting Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks. Since AWF acquired this land, elands, elephants, wildebeest, and other large mammals are again traversing the landscape. Here, you will see how local communities are benefiting from wildlife conservation, including a visit to the local school. Enjoy a tour of the ranch and school with AWF staff before settling into your eco-lodge set on an organic farm.

  Overnight: Gibb’s Farm; B, L, D
   

• Days 6–7

  Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Ngorongoro Crater

  Spend a relaxing morning enjoying the farm and bird watching, followed by lunch. Next stop is your camp, perched high on the crater rim, where you can hear the distant jangling of Maasai cow bells. Spend the next full day exploring the crater floor where you’ll find hippos wallowing in shallow pools, ostriches running across the savanna, and all of Africa’s Big Five: elephants, rhinos, leopards, lions, and buffalo.

  Overnight: Ngorongoro Nyumba; B, L, D
   

• Days 8–11

  Serengeti National Park

  Leaving Ngorongoro, you’ll drive through the famous Olduvai Gorge, where the Leakey family has made so many important archeological discoveries. Continue to drive to Serengeti National Park to witness a wildlife spectacle like no other on Earth. Almost two million wildebeest and zebra will be on the shortgrass plains during the calving season, so you will likely spot many newborn animals. Over the next three days, you will explore the Serengeti’s varied ecosystem, observing lions, baboons, giraffes, elephants, impalas, hippos, ostriches, crocodiles, warthogs, and so much more. From your camp, you will not only have excellent access to wildlife, but you’ll also have an opportunity to take an optional hot-air balloon excursion.

  Overnight: Serengeti Nyumba; B, L, D
   

• Day 12

  Arusha and Beyond

  After breakfast on your final day, fly back to Arusha in time for a farewell lunch at River House. At the adjoining arts center, browse through boutique Tanzanian jewelry and crafts created by disabled artisans whose training and support are funded through River House. Rest and relax in your day room before your flight home.

  Day Room: Mount Meru Hotel; B, L, Snack
   

• Extending Your Safari

  For those interested in extending their safari with an additional adventure, join AWF in Ruaha!

  The day after your safari concludes; fly to the remote southern wilderness of Ruaha National Park, the largest and one of the least explored parks in East Africa. Over four days, explore uncharted territory and learn wildlife tracking tips from expert guides. This is a different style of wildlife viewing than in northern Tanzania, where wildlife is more densely concentrated. Spot leopard, cheetah, and African wild dog in comfortable open-sided vehicles. In the afternoon, relax on your private veranda with a drink and savor torch-lit dinners on the banks of the Mwagusi Sand River.