Overview & Summary
For those who want to feel the African bush beneath their feet, this safari offers a rare and intimate connection to the land. Begin with a full day in Lake Manyara, walking the Treetop Walkway and exploring its forests and floodplains. Spend a day with the Maasai community in Mto wa Mbu, learning traditional herding, beadwork, and medicinal plant knowledge. Descend into the Ngorongoro Crater at first light for a full day among Africa's densest wildlife, including the endangered black rhino. Journey into the Serengeti for walking safaris and game drives, tracking animals on foot and learning the secrets of the bush. With expert BMC TOURS & SAFARIS guides, armed rangers, and Maasai hosts, this is a safari of immersion, not observation.
Full Itinerary
Arrival reception, Mount Meru views & walking safari briefing
Your safari begins with a warm welcome from your BMC TOURS & SAFARIS driver at Kilimanjaro International Airport. You are transferred to your comfortable hotel in Arusha, where views of Mount Meru greet you. The afternoon is yours to relax, perhaps exploring the vibrant local markets or simply unwinding by the pool. In the evening, your safari guide meets you for a private briefing, sharing insights on the walking safaris and cultural experiences that await. A delicious dinner sets the tone for the journey to come.
Dinner and overnight at Tulia Retreat Hotel & Spa
Treetop walkway canopy skywalk & Lake Manyara game drive
After breakfast, drive to Lake Manyara National Park. Begin your day with the Treetop Walkway, a unique experience suspended among the forest canopy. From this elevated perspective, walk among the trees, spotting colobus monkeys, birds, and the lush forest from above. After descending, embark on a full game drive through the park's diverse habitats from the lush groundwater forest to open floodplains. Spot elephants, baboons, giraffes, and the famous tree climbing lions draped in acacia branches. Enjoy a picnic lunch overlooking the lake, where thousands of flamingos gather. The afternoon offers more exploration through acacia woodlands and along the lakeshore, where hippos wallow and over 400 bird species thrive. Exit the park in the late afternoon and transfer to your comfortable lodge in Karatu.
Dinner and overnight at Marera Valley Lodge
Mto wa Mbu Maasai village walk, traditional herding & medicinal plants
After breakfast, drive to Mto wa Mbu, a vibrant town at the base of the Rift Valley, for a full day of authentic Maasai cultural immersion. Join the Maasai community and walk with the warriors as they herd goats and cattle, learning about traditional grazing practices and the deep bond between the Maasai and their livestock. Visit a manyatta (traditional homestead) where women demonstrate intricate beadwork each color and pattern carrying meaning. Learn about medicinal plants used for generations to heal both people and animals. Share stories with elders under the shade of acacia trees. A traditional lunch is served in the village, prepared by the community. The afternoon offers more opportunities to participate in daily life or simply observe. Return to your lodge in Karatu.
Dinner and overnight at Marera Valley LodgeUNESCO crater floor 600m descent, black rhino tracking & hippo pools
After an early breakfast, ascend to the Ngorongoro Crater rim and descend 600 meters onto the crater floor for a full 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. The afternoon continues with more exploration across the crater floor. Ascend the crater wall in the late afternoon and return to your lodge in Karatu.
Dinner and overnight at Marera Valley LodgeNaabi Hill Gate transit, Serengeti endless plains & sunset game drive
After breakfast, journey toward the Serengeti National Park via Naabi Hill Gate. As you descend from the highlands onto the vast plains, the horizon stretches into eternity. Enter the Serengeti and enjoy an afternoon game drive, encountering giraffes, elephants, zebras, and perhaps lions resting in the golden grass. Arrive at your mobile tented camp in the late afternoon, with time to settle in before an evening game drive as the sun sets over the endless plains. Return to camp for dinner under a blanket of stars, preparing for tomorrow's adventures.
Dinner and overnight at Baobab Central Serengeti Camp
Ranger-guided Serengeti wilderness walk, bush tracking & game drives
After breakfast, set out on foot into the Serengeti's designated walking zones, accompanied by your armed ranger and guide. This is a rare privilege to explore one of the world's most famous wildlife areas on foot. Your guide teaches you to read the signs of the bush: animal tracks in the dust, the architecture of termite mounds, medicinal plants, and the smaller creatures that inhabit the landscape. Walk at a slow, deliberate pace, stopping to observe wildlife from a safe distance. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the bush, surrounded by the sounds of the wild. In the afternoon, transition to a game drive to cover more ground, tracking predators and spotting herds. Return to camp as the sun sets, sharing stories of the day's discoveries.
Dinner and overnight at Baobab Central Serengeti CampOptional sunrise balloon flight, Seronera airstrip transit or Arusha return
Begin your final day with an optional sunrise hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti a breathtaking perspective as the golden light spreads across the endless plains. After landing, enjoy a champagne bush breakfast. If you choose not to balloon, enjoy an early morning game drive. After breakfast, take a short game drive en route to Seronera Airstrip or begin your scenic drive back to Arusha via Ngorongoro. The drive offers stunning views of the Great Rift Valley and opportunities to stop at viewpoints. Upon arrival in Arusha, you are transferred to your accommodation or Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure, carrying memories of craters descended, communities welcomed, and the wild felt beneath your feet.
END OF OUR SERVICESInclusions & Exclusions
Included in the Price
- Private transfers from Kilimanjaro Airport
- Accommodations as listed
- All meals: 6 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 6 dinners
- Game drives with expert BMC guide
- Lake Manyara Treetop Walkway experience
- Walking safaris with armed rangers
- Maasai cultural experiences in Mto wa Mbu
- Park entry fees for Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti
- Ngorongoro Crater descent fee
- Bottled drinking water
- All government taxes
Excluded from the Price
- International flights
- Travel & medical insurance
- Tanzania visa fees
- Alcoholic & soft drinks
- Optional hot air balloon safari
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, laundry, spa)
- Tips for guides, rangers, Maasai hosts & lodge staff
- Accommodation before or after safari
Optional Activities
