Safari Kamili
JRO -> Tarangire -> Karatu -> Lake Eyasi -> Ngorongoro Crater -> Central Serengeti -> Seronera -> Arusha -> JRO/ARK

Safari Kamili

Tarangire, Karatu, Lake Eyasi, Ngorongoro Crater, and Central Serengeti in 7 nights

8 Days / 7 Nights

Safari Overview

Safari Kamili is an 8-day private northern Tanzania journey that moves from Tarangire into the Karatu highlands, adds a Lake Eyasi cultural day with the Hadzabe and Datoga communities, descends into Ngorongoro Crater, and then opens into three nights in Central Serengeti before flying back to Arusha. It is built for travelers who want the classic wildlife circuit with one strong cultural stop and flexible lodge upgrades along the route.

Stay style

Lodge-led private safari with classic and upgraded camp options at each main stop

Meals

Mostly full board during safari days, with property-specific inclusions noted by overnight

Vehicle

Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof and English-speaking driver-guide

Route finish

Early game drive, Seronera airstrip transfer, included flight to Arusha, then JRO/ARK transfer

Safari Highlights

  • Tarangire arrival and game drives among elephants, baobabs, and dry-country wildlife
  • Karatu highlands base with en-route Lake Manyara viewing on the transfer day
  • Lake Eyasi cultural visit with Hadzabe and Datoga experiences
  • Full Ngorongoro Crater descent with picnic lunch on the crater floor
  • Three nights in Central Serengeti with two full wildlife days
  • Seronera to Arusha flight included at the end of the safari
  • Flexible standard, mid-range, and upgraded lodge options across the route

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day01

Day 01

Arrival in Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer into Tarangire National Park for the first overnight of the safari. The day is kept simple so the trip begins smoothly, with time to settle in and start in one of northern Tanzania's strongest elephant landscapes.

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park, situated in Tanzania's Manyara Region, combines granite ridges, river valleys, mixed vegetation, and broad wildlife movement. During the dry season the Tarangire River draws elephants, wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, gazelle, hartebeest, and eland, while predators follow closely behind. The park is also known for its giant baobabs, wide views toward the Maasai Steppe, and regular sightings of species such as oryx and gerenuk.

Flow of the day

  • Transfer from JRO to Tarangire National Park.
  • Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Overnight

Tarangire Simba Lodge

Lodge preview

Tarangire Simba Lodge

Selected overnight stay

Tarangire Simba Lodge sits near the Sangaiwe Gate of Tarangire National Park, bordering both the park and a wildlife management area. Resident wildlife includes lion, zebra, bushbuck, impala, porcupine, monkeys, warthog, and mongoose, while elephant, buffalo, ostrich, and giraffe often pass through and birdlife is prolific.

Accommodation is in spacious classic canvas safari tents built on raised platforms with wooden floors. Each tent has an en-suite bathroom, attached dressing room, indoor shower, outdoor shower, private veranda with bush views, handcrafted African hardwood furnishings, and solar-powered electricity and hot water. Common areas include a reception, lounge, dining room, outdoor dining deck, swimming pool, and an elevated tree-top viewing platform.

Alternate stays

Nyikani Tarangire Camp

Nyikani Tarangire Camp

Opened in 2017, this permanent camp inside Tarangire has a termite-mound-inspired design, gourmet Swahili cuisine, and a quieter location with strong access to the river, swamp, and other less crowded wildlife areas.

Mbali Mbali Tarangire River Camp

Mbali Mbali Tarangire River Camp

A river-facing camp set on a large concession close to the main entrance, with elevated lounge and dining decks, a bonfire area, and good wildlife-viewing access along a branch of the Tarangire River.

Tarangire Kuro Treetops Lodge

Tarangire Kuro Treetops Lodge

A more luxurious in-park lodge set on an elevated kopje with wide views over the Tarangire River, Silale Valley, and Silale Swamp from tree-top style tents.

Board basis

Bed and breakfast with tea and coffee included.

Included with selected stay

  • Tarangire Simba Lodge: full board, tea, coffee, and bottled water in the room.
  • Nyikani Tarangire Camp: full board accommodation with tea, coffee, and drinking water during meals.
  • Mbali Mbali Tarangire River Camp: meal of the day, local beers, selected spirits and house wines, soft drinks, water, and laundry.
  • Tarangire Kuro Treetops Lodge: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day02

Day 02

Tarangire game drives and transfer to Karatu

Karatu

Spend the morning on game drives in Tarangire National Park, then continue toward Karatu and the Ngorongoro highlands. The transfer shifts the safari from baobab country into greener farming landscapes, with additional wildlife viewing around Lake Manyara en route.

Karatu

Travelers heading for Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater pass through the town of Karatu in the green hills of Tanzania's northern highlands. Presided over by Ol Deani Volcano, it serves as a comfortable safari stop with market-town energy, coffee-country scenery, access to the Ngorongoro Forest, cultural visits, and reliable lodge options before or after crater days.

Flow of the day

  • Morning game drives in Tarangire National Park with picnic lunch.
  • Later drive to Karatu and the Ngorongoro area with en-route game viewing around Lake Manyara National Park.
  • Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Overnight

Karatu Simba Lodge

Karatu Simba Lodge

Karatu Simba Lodge offers a rural Tanzania atmosphere close to the Ngorongoro Forest, about thirty minutes from the Lake Manyara gate and a short distance off the main road toward Ngorongoro. The lodge combines an eco-friendly setup with solar power, a pool, forest views, campfire evenings, and easy access to both Manyara and the crater highlands.

Accommodation is in individual twin, double, or triple cottages and rondavels with canvas walls, attached bathrooms, handmade African hardwood furniture, and private decks with safari chairs overlooking the pastoral setting.

Alternate stays

Acacia Farm Lodge

Acacia Farm Lodge

A romantic country lodge on an active mixed farm high on the Rift escarpment, known for panoramic Karatu farmland views, mature trees, coffee plants, and a refined, quiet atmosphere.

Lodge preview

Kitela Lodge

Selected overnight stay

Kitela Lodge

A small, exclusive lodge overlooking a coffee plantation, the eastern wall of Ngorongoro, and a waterfall, with spacious suites, gardens, a pool, and spa facilities.

Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge

Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge

A colonial-style hilltop lodge with broad views toward Oldeani, the crater rim, Lake Eyasi, and Lake Manyara, designed for a more upscale highlands stay.

Board basis

Bed and breakfast with tea and coffee included.

Included with selected stay

  • Karatu Simba Lodge: full board, tea, coffee, and bottled water in the room.
  • Acacia Farm Lodge: accommodation, full board, butterfly and bird walk, coffee farm tour, and bike ride in the lodge area.
  • Kitela Lodge: accommodation, full board, tea and coffee, mineral water, soft drinks, and house wine.
  • Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day03

Day 03

Lake Eyasi cultural day

Lake Eyasi

Leave early for Lake Eyasi and spend the day around the cultural landscapes of the Hadzabe and Datoga communities. This gives the itinerary a different rhythm between park days, adding a strong human story to the wildlife route before returning to Karatu in the afternoon.

Flow of the day

  • Early morning drive to Lake Eyasi.
  • Experience activities with the Hadzabe and Datoga communities.
  • Return to the lodge later in the afternoon.

Overnight

Karatu Simba Lodge

Karatu Simba Lodge

Returning to Karatu Simba after the Lake Eyasi excursion keeps the safari pace balanced, with a familiar highlands base before the Ngorongoro Crater day.

Alternate stays

Acacia Farm Lodge

Acacia Farm Lodge

A polished country-lodge alternative for guests who prefer a quieter and more elevated Karatu stay.

Lodge preview

Kitela Lodge

Selected overnight stay

Kitela Lodge

A stronger comfort-focused alternative for travelers who want a more polished lodge and spa atmosphere in Karatu.

Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge

Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge

A more upscale highlands stay with larger suites, stronger amenities, and expansive views from the lodge setting.

Board basis

Bed and breakfast with tea and coffee included.

Included with selected stay

  • Karatu Simba Lodge: full board, tea, coffee, and bottled water in the room.
  • Acacia Farm Lodge: accommodation, full board, butterfly and bird walk, coffee farm tour, and bike ride in the lodge area.
  • Kitela Lodge: accommodation, full board, tea and coffee, mineral water, soft drinks, and house wine.
  • Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day04

Day 04

Full day in Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro Crater

Descend into Ngorongoro Crater for a full safari day with picnic lunch on the crater floor. This is one of the densest wildlife-viewing days of the trip, concentrating plains game, predators, wetlands, and dramatic volcanic scenery into one remarkable landscape.

Ngorongoro Crater

Located in northern Tanzania, Ngorongoro Crater is renowned for its natural beauty and dense wildlife populations. This UNESCO-listed caldera is the world's largest intact volcanic crater and one of the best places in East Africa to combine broad landscapes with strong chances of seeing the Big Five in a single day.

Flow of the day

  • Descend into the crater for full day game drives.
  • Picnic lunch at the Ngorongoro Crater picnic site.
  • Return to the lodge in the late afternoon.

Overnight

Karatu Simba Lodge

Karatu Simba Lodge

Karatu Simba Lodge remains the standard base after the crater descent, giving the itinerary a comfortable and familiar return in the highlands after a long game-drive day.

Private decks, simple hardwood furnishings, attached bathrooms, and the forest-edge setting make this a practical base before continuing to Serengeti.

Alternate stays

Acacia Farm Lodge

Acacia Farm Lodge

A polished country-lodge alternative for guests who prefer a quieter and more elevated Karatu stay.

Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

A crater-rim lodge built into the landscape with rock-lined balconies, Maasai-inspired interiors, and uninterrupted views into Ngorongoro below.

Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge

Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge

A more upscale highlands finish with larger suites, stronger amenities, and expansive views from the lodge setting.

Board basis

Bed and breakfast with tea and coffee included.

Included with selected stay

  • Karatu Simba Lodge: full board, tea, coffee, and bottled water in the room.
  • Acacia Farm Lodge: accommodation, full board, butterfly and bird walk, coffee farm tour, and bike ride in the lodge area.
  • Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge: full board with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
  • Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day05

Day 05

Transfer into Central Serengeti

Central Serengeti

Leave the highlands and continue into Central Serengeti, where the safari opens into wider plains and a more immersive in-park rhythm. The source itinerary included the overnight details but not the transfer bullets, so this day is structured as the drive into Serengeti with en-route game viewing before settling into camp.

Flow of the day

  • Drive from Karatu and the Ngorongoro area into Central Serengeti.
  • Game viewing continues en route as you enter the central plains.
  • Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Overnight

Serengeti Simba Lodge

Lodge preview

Serengeti Simba Lodge

Selected overnight stay

Serengeti Simba Lodge is situated high on a hill with endless views over the Serengeti plains. The migration passes near the lodge at key times of year, and the setting is known for birdlife, sunrise and sunset views, and the classic sounds of elephant, hyena, and lion after dark.

Accommodation is in tented rondavels with solid foundations, thatched roofs, sliding glass doors, attached bathrooms with bathtubs, outdoor stone showers, wooden decks, mosquito nets, safes, torch and umbrella, and charging access during generator hours.

Alternate stays

Nyikani Central Serengeti Camp

Nyikani Central Serengeti Camp

A permanent Central Serengeti camp at Banagi Hill near Seronera, positioned for year-round wildlife access in one of the park's strongest safari zones.

Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

A ridge-top lodge of stone-built thatched rondavels with broad plain views, a pool, and a strong sense of classic East African safari architecture.

Ole Serai Luxury Camp Turner Springs

Ole Serai Luxury Camp Turner Springs

A more secluded tented luxury option near Seronera, surrounded by water catchments and acacia trees in a productive game-viewing setting.

Board basis

Bed and breakfast with tea and coffee included.

Included with selected stay

  • Serengeti Simba Lodge: full board with tea, coffee, and bottled water in the room.
  • Nyikani Central Serengeti Camp: full board accommodation with tea, coffee, and drinking water during meals.
  • Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
  • Ole Serai Turner Springs: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day06

Day 06

Full day dedicated to Serengeti

Central Serengeti

Enjoy a full day dedicated to the discovery of Serengeti National Park, one of Tanzania's strongest wildlife landscapes and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The day is kept flexible so it can stretch around sightings, photography, and the pace you want in the park.

Flow of the day

  • Spend the full day on game drives in Serengeti National Park.
  • Take picnic lunch during the game drive or return hot lunch at the lodge according to the day's pace.
  • Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Overnight

Serengeti Simba Lodge

Lodge preview

Serengeti Simba Lodge

Selected overnight stay

A second full safari day from Serengeti Simba Lodge gives the central plains enough time to feel rewarding rather than rushed.

Alternate stays

Nyikani Central Serengeti Camp

Nyikani Central Serengeti Camp

A strong in-park tented option for guests who prefer a more intimate bush-camp atmosphere.

Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

A larger lodge option with broad views and more substantial facilities for travelers who prefer a classic lodge setup.

Ole Serai Luxury Camp Turner Springs

Ole Serai Luxury Camp Turner Springs

An upgrade for travelers who want a more secluded and more premium Serengeti finish.

Board basis

Bed and breakfast with tea and coffee included.

Included with selected stay

  • Serengeti Simba Lodge: full board with tea, coffee, and bottled water in the room.
  • Nyikani Central Serengeti Camp: full board accommodation with tea, coffee, and drinking water during meals.
  • Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
  • Ole Serai Turner Springs: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day07

Day 07

Full day game drive in Serengeti

Central Serengeti

Keep one more full day for Serengeti National Park with packed lunch. This gives the route proper depth in the central plains and improves the chance to follow movement, predator sightings, and slower wildlife moments without compressing the end of the trip.

Flow of the day

  • Full day game drive in Serengeti National Park with packed lunch.
  • Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Overnight

Serengeti Simba Lodge

Lodge preview

Serengeti Simba Lodge

Selected overnight stay

The third night in Central Serengeti gives the itinerary a stronger in-park finish before the airstrip transfer on departure day.

Alternate stays

Nyikani Central Serengeti Camp

Nyikani Central Serengeti Camp

A strong in-park tented option for guests who prefer a more intimate bush-camp atmosphere.

Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

A larger lodge option with broad views and more substantial facilities for travelers who prefer a classic lodge setup.

Ole Serai Luxury Camp Turner Springs

Ole Serai Luxury Camp Turner Springs

An upgrade for travelers who want a more secluded and more premium Serengeti finish.

Board basis

Bed and breakfast with tea and coffee included.

Included with selected stay

  • Serengeti Simba Lodge: full board with tea, coffee, and bottled water in the room.
  • Nyikani Central Serengeti Camp: full board accommodation with tea, coffee, and drinking water during meals.
  • Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
  • Ole Serai Turner Springs: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day08

Day 08

Departure via Seronera and Arusha

Seronera Airstrip -> Arusha -> JRO/ARK

Start with an early morning game drive, then transfer to the airstrip for the scheduled flight back to Arusha. Lunch in Arusha is followed by the final airport transfer, bringing the safari to a close after seven nights across Tarangire, Karatu, Ngorongoro, and Central Serengeti.

Flow of the day

  • Early morning game drives.
  • Transfer to the airstrip for flight to Arusha.
  • Lunch in Arusha and later transfer to JRO or Arusha Airport.

Plan This Safari

What's Included

What's Included

  • Transportation in a 4x4 vehicle with a pop-up roof for easy game viewing and photography
  • Services of an English-speaking driver-guide
  • Game viewing drives and park entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary
  • All government taxes and levies
  • All meet and greet services
  • 24-hour standby contact number
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary
  • Two-way long-range high-frequency radio communication in each vehicle
  • Two bottles of water per person per day during game drives
  • Safari accessories in each vehicle including first-aid kits, wildlife books, cool box, and fire extinguisher
  • VAT and concession fee
  • Flight from Seronera to Arusha with 20 kg luggage allowance

Not Included

  • All items of a personal nature such as telephone call bills, fax or email bills, and incidental expenses
  • Gratuities and tips to hotel, lodge, camp, and driver-guide staff
  • Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks unless specifically listed under a selected property plan
  • Any local or international flights, departure taxes, and other flight-related taxes beyond the included Seronera to Arusha sector
  • Laundry services
  • Any new concession or park fees introduced without prior notice
  • Any other item not included in the itinerary
  • Visa fees
  • Optional Flying Doctors coverage at 50 USD per person
  • Hospital bills and personal travel insurance

Frequently Asked Questions

It is structured as a private safari with your own vehicle, guide, and pacing. That works well for travelers comparing different lodge levels and wanting flexibility around game-drive timing, lunch style, and cultural activities.

Safari Kamili includes three nights in Central Serengeti, with one transfer-in day, two full game-drive days, and a final morning game drive before the flight back to Arusha.

Yes. Day 3 is dedicated to Lake Eyasi and includes the Hadzabe and Datoga cultural experience before returning to Karatu for the night.

Yes. The itinerary includes the Seronera to Arusha flight at the end of the safari, with a stated luggage allowance of 20 kilograms.

The standard routing uses Tarangire Simba Lodge, Karatu Simba Lodge, and Serengeti Simba Lodge, with alternate options including Nyikani camps, Acacia Farm Lodge, Kitela Lodge, Ngorongoro Serena, Ngorongoro Oldeani, Serengeti Serena, and Ole Serai Turner Springs depending on the final quote.

Pack lightweight neutral-colored clothing for game drives, a warm layer for chilly evenings, a hat, sun protection, comfortable walking shoes, and a universal power adapter for Type G, C, and D sockets. Bottled water is widely used during safari days, and modest dress is recommended in towns and cultural areas.