Overview & Summary
This safari is designed for those who want to spend more time in Tanzania's two most legendary parks and less time on the road. Journey into the Serengeti, where endless plains host the greatest wildlife spectacle on earth. Spend two full days exploring Central Serengeti's predator rich Seronera Valley, home to lions, leopards, and cheetahs year-round. Drift above the savannah on an optional sunrise hot air balloon safari, then descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, a natural amphitheater teeming with over 25,000 animals including the endangered black rhino. With expert BMC TOURS & SAFARIS guides, comfortable accommodations, and a pace that lets you linger where the wild is thickest, this is immersion at its finest.
Full Itinerary
KIA Airport Meet & Greet, Mount Meru views & Private Safari Briefing
Your journey begins the moment you step off the plane. Your BMC TOURS & SAFARIS driver greets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport with a heartfelt karibu, the Swahili word for welcome. As you drive toward Arusha, he shares stories of the land, pointing out the silhouette of Mount Meru rising through the morning mist. Your hotel, tucked amid luxury gardens, offers a peaceful sanctuary to unwind.
Perhaps you stroll through the vibrant local markets, where the scent of spices fills the air and artisans display their crafts, or simply sink into a lounge chair by the pool. As evening falls, your safari guide arrives for a private welcome briefing—a conversation between new friends. He learns your hopes for the journey and shares a taste of the adventure ahead. Dinner is served under the stars, a delicious introduction to Tanzanian hospitality.
Dinner and overnight at Mount Meru Hotel
Ngorongoro Highlands Viewpoints, Maasai Homesteads & Serengeti Plains Game Drive
After an early breakfast, you set out on the scenic drive toward the legendary Serengeti National Park. The journey takes approximately 7 to 8 hours, but the time passes effortlessly as you travel through the breathtaking Ngorongoro Highlands. Your guide pauses at viewpoints overlooking the Great Rift Valley and traditional Maasai homesteads dotting the landscape.
As you descend onto the vast plains, the horizon stretches into eternity. A stop is made for a picnic lunch, allowing you to stretch your legs and soak in the surroundings. Upon entering the park, your first game drive begins—spot giraffes browsing acacia trees, elephants moving across open grasslands, and perhaps lions resting in the shade. Arrive at your comfortable camp in Central Serengeti in the late afternoon, settle in, and enjoy a delicious dinner under a blanket of stars.
Dinner and overnight at Baobab Central Serengeti Camp
Sunrise Seronera Valley Game Drive, Big Cats Tracking & Kopjes Safaris
Wake before dawn for an early morning game drive as the Serengeti awakens in golden light. Today is dedicated to exploring Central Serengeti's Seronera Valley, one of Africa's most predator rich regions. With permanent water sources attracting wildlife year round, this area boasts high concentrations of lions, leopards, and cheetahs.
Your expert guide navigates the acacia woodlands, open grasslands, and rocky kopjes where predators laze and leopards hide. Beyond the big cats, spot elephants, giraffes, buffalo, and vast herds of zebras and wildebeests. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush, surrounded by the sounds of the wild, then continue your exploration through the afternoon. Return to camp as the sun sets, sharing stories of the day's wonders over dinner.
Dinner and overnight at Baobab Central Serengeti CampOptional Hot Air Balloon Sunrise Drift & Seronera River Valley Safaris
Rise before dawn for an optional sunrise hot air balloon safari—a truly unforgettable way to experience the Serengeti from above. Drift silently above golden plains as wildlife awakens below. From this breathtaking vantage point, spot elephants, giraffes, and perhaps lions on the move. After landing, celebrate with a champagne breakfast in the heart of the wilderness.
If you choose not to balloon, your guide will lead you on an early morning game drive, tracking predators as they begin their day. After breakfast, set out for another full day of exploration in Central Serengeti, following the Seronera River Valley's resident predators or discovering hidden corners of the ecosystem. Pause for a picnic lunch at a scenic spot, then continue your wildlife encounters through the afternoon. Return to camp in the early evening, where a delicious dinner awaits under the vast African sky.
Dinner and overnight at Baobab Central Serengeti CampMorning Serengeti Plains Game Drive, Highlands Ascent & Caldera Views
After a final morning game drive in Central Serengeti, enjoy a leisurely breakfast before beginning your scenic journey toward the Ngorongoro Highlands. Travel through changing landscapes, from endless grasslands to acacia woodlands, stopping at viewpoints that offer sweeping panoramas of the Great Rift Valley.
Your guide shares stories of the land as you ascend into cooler, greener highlands dotted with traditional Maasai homesteads. Arrive at your comfortable lodge perched on the Ngorongoro Crater rim in the late afternoon, where you are welcomed with breathtaking views of the caldera below. Settle in, then enjoy a delicious dinner as the sun sets over this ancient volcanic landscape, anticipation building for tomorrow's descent into Africa's Garden of Eden.
Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Serena Lodge
600-Meter Caldera Game Drive, Big Five Safari & Ngoitokitok Springs Picnic
After an early breakfast with spectacular crater views, descend 600 meters onto the Ngorongoro Crater floor for a final half day game drive. This natural wonder, formed over two million years ago, teems with over 25,000 animals—lions stalk zebras on open grasslands, elephants graze near hippo pools, and the endangered black rhino browses peacefully in the distance.
Explore Lake Magadi's shimmering flamingos and the lush Gorigor Swamp before enjoying a picnic lunch at scenic Ngoitokitok Springs, watching hippos surface just meters away. After lunch, ascend the crater wall and begin your scenic drive back to Arusha. Your guide takes a route offering beautiful views of the Great Rift Valley, with stops at viewpoints overlooking Lake Manyara and traditional Maasai villages. Arrive in Arusha in the late afternoon for flexible drop-off at your hotel or Kilimanjaro International Airport, carrying memories of extraordinary wildlife encounters and the timeless beauty of Tanzania.
END OF OUR SERVICESInclusions & Exclusions
Included
- Private transfers from Kilimanjaro Airport
- Accommodations (Mount Meru Hotel, Baobab Central Serengeti Camp, Ngorongoro Serena Lodge)
- All meals: 5 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners
- Daily game drives with expert BMC guide
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Park entry fees for Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater
- Ngorongoro Crater descent fee
- Bottled drinking water
- All government taxes
Excluded
- International flights
- Travel & medical insurance
- Tanzania visa fees
- Alcoholic & soft drinks
- Optional hot air balloon safari
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, laundry, spa)
- Tips for guide & lodge staff
- Accommodation in Arusha before/after safari
Optional Activities
