Day 1 - Arrival to Moshi / Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO)
Today has no planned activities and is only an arrival day to reach Kilimanjaro airport or Moshi. Early arrivals can include a safari in Arusha National Park, waterfall / coffee experience in Moshi or a day hike on Mount Kilimanjaro.
- Accommodation options
- Basic camping: None, budget lodge in Moshi instead
- Budget range: Bristol Cottages
- Mid range: Chanya Lodge, Pink flamingo hotel
- High range: Kilimanjaro Luxury camp, Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel
- Approx driving distance: 1-2 hours
- Expected game drive: Afternoon
- Optional activities: Walking safari, canoeing safari
- Meals usually included: Lunch, dinner
- Commonly seen: Giraffe, buffalo, zebra, warthog, impala, flamingo, waterbuck
- Occasionally seen: Elephant, jackal, hyena, 400+ bird species
- Rarely seen: Leopard, Lion
Day 2 - Moshi to Mkomazi National Park to Moshi
Today you start early morning from Moshi at 07:00am to 09:00am and proceed to Mkomazi National Park with ascenic drive including Mount Kilimanjaro to the northwest, the Pare and Usambara Mountains form a dramatic backdrop to the south, and, to the north, Kenya’s vast Tsavo National Park sharing it's border with Mkomazi, making common ground for migratory herds of elephant, oryx and zebra during the wet season. Towards the late afternoon you will take a short walk to see the African wild dogs in the park as you wait for the TANAPA vehicle which takes you to a nearby watering hole within the Rhino Sanctuary (approx. 16:00pm). In the early evening you drive back to Moshi.
- Accommodation options
- Basic camping: None, budget lodge in Moshi instead
- Budget range: Bristol Cottages
- Mid range: Chanya Lodge, Pink flamingo hotel
- High range: Kilimanjaro Luxury camp, Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel
- Approx driving distance: 2-3 hours to Mkomazi / 2-3 hours back to Moshi
- Expected game drive: Late morning, afternoon (around Rhino sanctuary visit)
- Optional activities: Walking safari
- Meals usually included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Commonly seen: Zebra, wildebeest, black rhino
- Occasionally seen: Buffalo, giraffe
- Rarely seen: Lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, wild dog, hippo, elephant
Day 3 - Moshi to Tarangire National Park
Depart from Moshi to Tarangire National Park for your game drive today. Tarangire is famous for it's herds of elephants and giant Babobab trees. You will spend your afternoon exploring these savannah plains and spend your night in and around Tarangire
- Accommodation options
- Basic camping: Tarangire campsite
- Budget range: Tarangire View Camp, African Manyara Camp
- Mid range: Tarangire Simba lodge, Maramboi Tented lodge, Tarangire safari lodge, Mbali Mbali lodge
- High range: Tarangire Kuro Treetops, Tarangire eco-science lodge, Olivers camp, Tarangire Treetops
- Approx driving distance: 2-3 hours
- Expected game drive: Afternoon
- Optional activities: Walking safari
- Meals usually included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Commonly seen: Elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, lion, jackal, vulture, warthog, impala, ostrich, hyena, waterbuck, blue monkey.
- Occasionally seen: Hyena, marabu, caracal, leopard.
- Rarely seen: Cheetah, wild dog
Day 4 - Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park
Today you drive to Lake Manyara National park – situated at the bottom of the western wall of the spectacular Great Rift Valley. You will spend your day exploring this small safari park with a variety of habitats and slightly varied scenery to the usual savannah based parks. Later proceed towards your overnight location in Mto wa Mbu, Karatu or on the Ngorongoro crater rim.
- Accommodation options
- Basic camping: African Manyara Campsite, Karatu campsite
- Budget range: Farm of Dreams, Octagon Lodge
- Mid range: Karatu Simba Lodge, Pembeni Africa, Ngorongoro Farmhouse, Bougainvilla safari lodge
- High range: Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge, Ngorogoro Oldeani Lodge
- Distance from previous location: 2-4 hours
- Expected game drive: Morning, afternoon
- Optional activities: Cultural walks, canoeing safari, night game drive
- Meals usually included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Commonly seen: Elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, vulture, warthog, impala, flamingo, marabu, hyena, waterbuck, dik-dik, blue monkey.
- Occasionally seen: Lion, serval, mongoose.
- Rarely seen: Cheetah, leopard.
Day 5 - Manyara to Serengeti National Park
Proceed for an en-route game drive in Serengeti National Park, the home of the largest wildlife sanctuary in the world. You will spend the afternoon exploring the central Serengeti plains and spend a night in central Serengeti.
- Accommodation options
- Basic camping: Seronera Campsite, Lobo campsite
- Budget range: Thorntree camp, Embalakai Camp, Serengeti Kati Kati Camp, Serengeti Whispers Camp
- Mid range: Serengeti Sopa Lodge, Serengeti Kubu Kubu Lodge, Serengeti Sametu Camp
- High range: Serengeti Serena Lodge, Ole Serai Serengeti camp, Dunia Camp
- Approx driving distance: 3-4 hours
- Expected game drive: En-route, Afternoon
- Optional extras: Olduvai Gorge Museum visit
- Meals usually included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Commonly seen: Elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, lion, cheetah, hyena, warthog, kudu, leopard, ostrich, mongoose, hyrax, dik-dik.
- Occasionally seen: Crocodile, caracal, serval, klipspringer.
- Rarely seen: Black rhino, wild dog.
Day 6 & 7 - Serengeti National Park
Two full days in Serengeti National Park where you can spend the day searching for the big 5. Large open plains on the Serengeti offer plenty of different circuits and game viewing opportunities and you could never finish exploring the serengeti even with weeks inside of the park!
- Accommodation options
- Basic camping: Seronera Campsite, Lobo campsite
- Budget range: Thorntree camp, Embalakai Camp, Serengeti Kati Kati Camp, Serengeti Whispers Camp
- Mid range: Serengeti Sopa Lodge, Serengeti Kubu Kubu Lodge, Serengeti Sametu Camp
- High range: Serengeti Serena Lodge, Ole Serai Serengeti camp, Dunia Camp
- Approx driving distance: 3-4 hours
- Expected game drive: En-route, Afternoon
- Optional extras: Hot air balloon safari
- Meals usually included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Commonly seen: Elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, lion, cheetah, hyena, warthog, kudu, leopard, ostrich, mongoose, hyrax, dik-dik.
- Occasionally seen: Crocodile, caracal, serval, klipspringer.
- Rarely seen: Black rhino, wild dog.
Day 8 - Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro Crater Rim
You will spend your morning today continuing to explore the central Serengeti plains. An optional early morning hot air balloon safari can be included to offer views of the Serengeti from up high. Towards the early afternoon you will start your journey back to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and spend your night inside of the Conservation area near the crater rim.
- Accommodation options
- Basic camping: Simba Campsite
- Budget range: None
- Mid range: Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge, Ngorongoro Lions Paw Camp
- High range: Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, The Highlands Lodge
- Approx driving distance: 3-4 hours
- Expected game drive: Morning, en-route
- Optional extras: Hot air balloon safari, Olduvai Gorge Museum visit
- Meals usually included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Commonly seen: Elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, lion, cheetah, hyena, warthog, kudu, leopard, ostrich, mongoose, hyrax, dik-dik.
- Occasionally seen: Crocodile, caracal, serval, klipspringer.
- Rarely seen: Black rhino, wild dog.
Day 9 - Ngorongoro Crater to Moshi / Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) / Arusha
Your final day on safari starts with an early departure down into the Ngorongoro Crater where it's not uncommon to find all of the Big 5 in one day, and likely where you will spot a black Rhino if you didn't find one in the Serengeti. You can spend a maximum of 6 hours inside of the crater in one day and you will end your safari this evening at Arusha, Moshi or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for night flights.
- Accommodation options
None included but you can add pre / post tour accommodation to any of our safaris on request in Arusha, Moshi or around Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
- Distance from previous location: 4-6 hours
- Expected game drive: Maximum 6 hours
- Optional extras: None, speak to your consultant
- Meals usually included: Breakfast, lunch
- Commonly seen: Elephant, hippo, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, lion, hyena, jackal, vulture, warthog, impala, flamingo, ostrich, waterbuck.
- Occasionally seen: Black rhino, cheetah, dik-dik
- Rarely seen: Leopard, caracal, serval.
- Parks and reserves:
Mkomazi National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area - Activities included:
Wildlife safari (game drives), Rhino sanctuary visit - Optional extras:
Hot air balloon, walking safari, night game drive, canoeing safari, Olduvai gorge museum - Pre/post safari accommodation:
Not included, can be added as an extra - Best months for this tour:
December to February or June to October - Commonly seen animals:
Elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, cheetah, vulture, warthog, impala, flamingo, marabu, hyena, waterbuck, dik-dik, kudu, blue monkey, lion, leopard, jackal, hyrax, ostrich, mongoose, waterbuck, black Rhino, 400+ bird species - Occasionally seen animals:
Crocodile, Serval, caracal, klipspringer - Rarely seen animals:
Wild dog
Standard packages usually include...
- Accommodation as stated in the itinterary with all taxes and fees included
- National park, Conservation area or Wildlife Management Area fees as applicable to your itinerary
- Game drives as indicated in the itinerary with a dedicated (private) 4x4 Land Cruiser operated by our English speaking safari-guides and sanitized between uses.
- Meals as indicated in your itinerary
- Domestic flights if indicated in your personal itinerary
- In vehicle sanitizers and complimentary face masks
- In vehicle safari WiFi subject to network connectivity
Optional extras you can add...
- Airport or other transfers
- Pre and post safari accommodation if not already included
- Hot air balloon safaris if available on your planned route
- Night game drives if available on your planned route
- Walking safaris in Arusha or Tarangire National Parks
- Extra activities such as museums, snake parks, cultural or nature walks if avaialble on your planned route
- Canoeing safaris in Arusha or Lake Manyara National Parks (subject to water levels)
- Kilimanjaro scenic flight
- Special bush meals if available at your planned activity
Standard packages usually exclude...
- Tips / gratuities
- Beverages such as soft drinks, alcohol etc.
- International flights
- Insurance
- Items of a personal nature
When to visit
These recommendations are based on weather predictions and trends.
Excellent time
January, February, July to October, December
Good time
March, June, November
Mixed time
April, May
Related topics

Latest COVID entry requirements for tourists arriving into Tanzania (updated 12 January 2023)

Tripadvisors Travellers’ Choice for Kilimanjaro and safaris in 2020

COVID-19 and updated safety measures for your journey
Why choose us?
Here are some of the top reasons thousands have chosen Shah Tours.
