Crater & Plains Expedition

Our guide welcomes you at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). A 40–45 minute drive (33 km) brings you to Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge, a restored 100-year-old farmhouse in the foothills of Mount Meru, surrounded by tropical gardens, ancient forest and a spring-fed lake full of birdlife.

Explore at your own pace: local markets, the Cultural Heritage Centre or the Maasai Market for authentic crafts, art and souvenirs, or simply unwind by the pool and spa. An optional visit to the Serval Wildlife Sanctuary (2-hour drive) lets you feed zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, eland, serval cats and lions.

Drive from Arusha to Makuyuni Wildlife Park for a guided walking safari among oryx, giraffe, zebra, antelope, wildebeest and abundant birdlife in an uncrowded setting. After lunch, continue 35 km (about 45 minutes) to Tarangire National Park for an afternoon game drive through baobab-dotted plains and riverine woodland — home to Tanzania's largest elephant population.

An early breakfast and further exploration of Tarangire's ecosystems with a bush picnic. After lunch, a scenic 130 km drive (about 3 hours) takes you to the charming town of Karatu, nestled in the fertile Ngorongoro Highlands, for sundowners and dinner.

An early drive of 60–80 km (1.5–2 hours) to Lake Eyasi to meet the Hadzabe, one of the last hunter-gatherer communities in East Africa — their stories, fire-making, hunting and unique click language. Then a short distance on to the Datoga, skilled blacksmiths crafting tools and ornaments by ancient methods, before returning to the lodge for a late lunch.

An early start for the 15 km drive down into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the highest density of mammalian predators in Africa. Three to four hours of game viewing among lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and, if you are lucky, the critically endangered black rhino, with a picnic lunch on the crater floor. Later, continue into the southern Serengeti.

A relaxed pace with morning and late-afternoon game drives, or sunrise to sunset in the field — the choice is yours. From the shores of Lake Ndutu to the surrounding savannah, expect lion, cheetah, hyena and possibly leopard, plus giraffe, elephant, antelope, jackal and abundant birds. Midday alfresco picnics or lunch at the lodge, with optional swimming, cultural visits or scenic walks.

Drive north to Central Serengeti through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area — a 4–5 hour journey of roughly 100–120 km with a game drive and picnic lunch en route, past sweeping landscapes and Maasai village life. Settle into your tented suite and enjoy dinner under the stars.

An exclusive black rhino tracking excursion in the Moru Kopjes, 40–50 km southwest of Seronera and one of the few places Eastern black rhino can still be seen in the wild. Then the golden plains: lion on the kopjes, cheetah scanning the grasslands, buffalo and elephant herds, leopard in the Seronera River Valley, and a stop at Pride Rock before sundowners back at camp.

After an early breakfast, drive to Seronera Airstrip for the 1-hour flight to Arusha. On arrival, transfer to the Cultural Heritage Centre for a relaxed lunch and an afternoon among Tanzanian crafts, tanzanite, carvings, fabrics and fine African art. Then on to the five-star Gran Meliá Arusha to unwind with views of Mount Meru.

After a leisurely breakfast, check out and drive an hour to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your onward flight, taking with you the memories of untamed beauty and heartfelt hospitality.