12 Days/ 11 Nights Photographic Safari (Arusha National Park, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Arusha)

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OVERVIEW

Embark on a 12-day photographic expedition through the heart of northern Tanzania, meticulously crafted to capture the region’s unparalleled natural beauty. This immersive safari begins in Arusha before traversing a circuit of iconic parks, each offering a unique photographic canvas: the lush forests and colobus monkeys of Arusha National Park, the elephant-rich landscapes and iconic baobabs of Tarangire, and the dense wildlife haven of the Ngorongoro Crater. The journey culminates in the legendary Serengeti, where you will spend ample time documenting its vast, sweeping plains and the spectacular drama of its resident wildlife. This itinerary is designed to provide photographers with a diverse portfolio of East Africa’s most stunning scenery and intimate wildlife encounters, from the caldera floor to the endless savannah

Detailed Photographic Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at the airport

After arrival at the airport (Kilimanjaro / Arusha), your private driver guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your accommodation for overnight awaiting for your photographic safari adventure to start on the following day.

Accommodation	Mtoni River Lodge
Meal Plan	Bed & Breakfast

Day 2: Arusha national park

In the morning, your driver guide will pick you up from your hotel in Arusha and take you to the Arusha National Park. The park has an incredible variety of fauna and flora, which cannot fail to impress. Hollywood also chose this region to film the movie “Hatari” in which Hardy Kruger starred alongside the legendary John Wayne.

At the Momella Gate, an armed ranger will be waiting for you to accompany you on your walking safari that will give you the chance to experience the wildlife up-close. Only a few other national parks in Tanzania give you such an opportunity and it is something that you should not miss.

Your day trip will include a visit to the Ngurdoto Crater. Especially compelling is that Buffaloes, waterbucks, giraffes, warthogs, zebras and baboons can be seen all year round as well as many different bird species. The park is also famous for the black & white colubus monkeys. The word colobus originates from a Greek word meaning “Thumb” since the monkeys have no thumb. Despite that they are particularly good at tree climbing and jumping from branch to branch.

Only a few other national parks in Tanzania give you such an opportunity and it is something that should not be missed. We will have lunch at a picnic place and in the afternoon, you will continue your tour in the safari vehicle through the Arusha National Park.

After plenty of time allocated for you to observe the wildlife, we will take you back to Arusha.

Accommodation	Mtoni River Lodge
Meal Plan	Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

Early morning after breakfast, we depart to Tarangire National Park. The Park got its name after the Tarangire River which runs through it. This ‘river of warthogs’ is the only source of water for wildlife in the region during the dry season. In places, the vegetation is quite dense, including elephant grass, acacia woodlands and lush groundwater forest. The Park is particularly attractive because of its elephant families, which you can often see congregating by the river. You may also see giraffe, bushbuck and hartebeest. These animals are closely followed by a range of predators, including lions and leopards. There are more breeding species of birds found in Tarangire National Park than anywhere else on the planet!

After Lunch and an extensive game drive, we head for our Tented partner lodges for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation	Lake Burunge Tented Lodge
Meal Plan	Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Tarangire National Park

Early after breakfast you will depart to Tarangire where you will enjoy full day game drive. With more chance of witnessing what you didn’t see the previous day you will visit the most remote areas of Tarangire National Park including Silale swamps. The Silale Swamps attract hundreds of elephants who come to feed on the lush grass, but it is not just the elephants that come here. A mix of animals in all shapes and sizes can be spotted at Silale Swamps – including cats! It is a great place to see the famous tree climbing lions of Tarangire as well as leopards. To add to the collection, the Silale Swamps are also known as a great place to see huge African Rock Pythons.

After Lunch and an extensive game drive, we head back for our accommodation for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation	Lake Burunge Tented Lodge
Meal Plan	Breakfast, Lunch & dinner + mineral water, soft drinks, beers & wine

DAY 5-8: Serengeti National Park

Early morning after breakfast, we depart to Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti is truly spectacular. It is famous for its vast open grasslands which allow for excellent sightings of wildlife. The Serengeti is Tanzania’s oldest National Park and it is also one of the oldest ecosystems on earth. Its climate and vegetation have remained largely untouched for millions of years. Whilst the Serengeti boasts abundant wildlife, it is perhaps best known for the annual Great Migration. Vast numbers of wildebeest; accompanied by large numbers of zebra and antelope move in an annual pattern, constantly seeking fresh grazing. The precise timing of the Migration is entirely dependent upon the rainfall patterns each year.

After Lunch and an extensive game drive, we head for our Midrange Tented partner lodges for dinner and overnight.

You will spend 4 full nights inside this incredible Place.

Accommodation	Embalakai Serengeti Camp
Meal Plan	Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 9: Serengeti National Park to Ngorongoro

Early morning after breakfast, we continue with our en-route drive inside the Serengeti National Park before we depart to Ngorongoro crater. We will arrive at Ngorongoro in the late evening, arriving at the crater we will have a sight of what to expect the following day.

Arriving at our accommodation in the late evening, we will have our dinner and overnight stay at one of our carefully selected lodges.

Accommodation	Ngorongoro Embalakai Camp
Meal Plan	Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 11: Lake Manyara National Park

Early morning after breakfast, we depart to Lake Manyara National Park which is an unspoilt paradise and is best known for its abundance of birds and tree-climbing lions. The dramatic western escarpment of the Rift Valley forms the Park’s western border. To the east is the

shallow, alkaline Lake Manyara. The lake covers a large area of the park, flooding and drying with the seasons and is home to thousands of flamingos during the rains. The name Manyara comes from the Maasai word ‘emanyara’, a popular plant which is used to build the protective enclosure around a family homestead (boma). The Park’s vegetation is diverse, ranging from savannah to evergreen forest. On your exploration of the park you may see giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, elephant and if you are lucky; lions lounging in the trees.

After Lunch and an extensive game drive, we head for our partner lodges in near the park for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation	Marera Valley Lodge
Meal Plan	Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 12: Onwards Travel to the airport

Depending on your departure flight time you will have Breakfast and Lunch before heading to the Airport where you will arrive in time to catch your flight to your next destination or home which marks the end of our epic photographic safari adventure.

If you liked our 12 Days/ 11 Nights Photographic Safari, you might also like our 12 Days High End Western Corridor Migration Safari (Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti).

Meal Plan

Breakfast & Lunch

End of Photographic Safari Itinerary

COST FOR 2025

	2 people	3 people	4-6 people
High Season	$4,900 per person	$4,500 per person (2 rooms)	$4,100 per person
Low Season	$4,470 per person	$4,080 per person (2 rooms)	$3,670 per person