11-Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro, Deep Guide (with 3 nights in Northern Serengeti + Walking Safari)

Upon landing at Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be welcomed by your driver-guide and transferred to Gran Melia Hotel Arusha, a luxury base with panoramic views of Mount Meru. This first evening allows you to rest after your flight, enjoy fine dining, and prepare for the adventure ahead.

After breakfast, transfer to Arusha Airport for a scenic flight into the Northern Serengeti. The northern region is famous for the Great Wildebeest Migration (seasonal, June to November) and the dramatic Mara River crossings. On arrival, enjoy your first game drive en route to your camp. Overnight at Mara Mara Tented Lodge or Ole Serai Luxury Camp, both offering an immersive wilderness setting with elegant comfort.

Spend the entire day exploring this pristine wilderness. The Northern Serengeti is home to elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, leopards, and vast herds of wildebeest and zebra. If traveling during migration season, you may witness one of nature’s most breathtaking spectacles—the river crossing—where thousands of animals brave crocodile-infested waters. Return to your luxury camp for a sundowner and dinner.

Another full day of safari offers more opportunities to track big cats, observe predators on hunts, and enjoy the tranquil landscapes away from the more crowded central plains. The region’s rolling hills, woodlands, and riverine areas provide a scenic contrast to the open grasslands. Overnight again at Mara Mara Tented Lodge or Ole Serai Luxury Camp.

After breakfast, enjoy a game drive as you head south to the Central Serengeti, the heart of the park. This area is famous for year-round wildlife activity and offers the classic Serengeti landscapes—endless plains dotted with acacia trees and rocky kopjes. Stay at the Melia Serengeti Safari Lodge or the Four Seasons Safari Lodge, both offering panoramic views and top-level luxury.

A full-day safari in central Serengeti allows you to immerse yourself in the park’s diverse ecosystems. This region is particularly known for large prides of lions, as well as cheetahs and leopards. Resident herds of elephants, buffalo, and antelope ensure that wildlife sightings are plentiful year-round. With your experienced guide, you will learn about predator-prey interactions, bird species, and the delicate balance of the ecosystem.

Today you travel from the Serengeti toward Ngorongoro, stopping at Olduvai Gorge, one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world. Here, the discovery of early human fossils tells the story of mankind’s origins. Continue to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, arriving at your lodge on the crater rim. Overnight at Ngorongoro Melia Safari Lodge or the exclusive andBeyond Crater Lodge, both offering spectacular views into the crater.

Descend 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater for a full-day safari. Known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” the crater floor is home to over 25,000 large animals in a relatively small area. Spot black rhinos, large tusker elephants, hippos, flamingos, and abundant predators including lions and hyenas. A picnic lunch on the crater floor makes this day especially memorable. Return to your luxury crater rim lodge for dinner and relaxation.

In the morning, set out for a guided walking safari along the crater rim or designated conservation areas. Led by armed rangers and professional guides, this activity offers a completely different perspective, allowing you to learn about tracks, plants, and smaller creatures often missed on game drives. After the walk, you return to Central Serengeti for another overnight at Melia Serengeti Safari Lodge or Four Seasons Safari Lodge.

Enjoy a final early morning game drive before flying back to Arusha. On arrival, transfer to Gran Melia Hotel Arusha for your last overnight stay. Spend the evening at leisure, perhaps enjoying a spa treatment or a farewell dinner overlooking Mount Meru.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your outbound flight. This marks the end of your unforgettable Tanzania safari adventure.