Tanzania – The Wild Side (Camping Safari)

After a short briefing and once your luggage is stowed in the Toyota Land Cruiser, your Tanzania camping safari sets off towards Tarangire National Park.

Mighty baobab trees, bush savannah and seasonal swamps shape the landscape of this protected area, which covers approx. 2,600 km².

Besides one of the largest elephant populations in East Africa, it is home to big cats such as lions, leopards and cheetahs, as well as giraffes, buffalo, zebras and various antelope and gazelle species.

Until late afternoon you go on extensive game drives. Together with your guide you not only find and observe the animals, but also learn a great deal about them.

In the evening you reach your campsite inside the park. Look forward to your first night of the tented safari in Tanzania’s wilderness.

After breakfast you leave Tarangire National Park and continue north.

On partly adventurous tracks you travel along the shoulder of the East African Rift Valley to Lake Natron at the foot of the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano.

On the way you pass small Maasai villages that blend into the beautiful surroundings. On the shore of Lake Natron lies the village of Ngare Sero. It looks like a shady oasis in the middle of the bone-dry Rift Valley. Here you pitch your tents.

In the afternoon you take a hike to the nearby waterfall. In the great heat it provides welcome refreshment. You should therefore definitely not forget swimwear and sturdy shoes that can get wet for this tented safari! Afterwards you hike to the shores of the lake.

As its name suggests, Lake Natron is strongly alkaline. Depending on the season, it is visited by thousands of flamingos, who find their food and breeding grounds here. Even from afar it often shimmers pink.

In the evening a tasty, freshly prepared dinner awaits you. Night in a tent.

Today starts early. You leave the Rift Valley on another adventurous track that leads you up into the highlands. Time and again, magnificent views open up over Lake Natron and the whole surrounding area.

Through the Loliondo Game Controlled Area you continue to the famous Serengeti. On the way you make a picnic stop.

The Serengeti is probably Tanzania’s best-known national park and is home to the largest wildlife migration, with up to 2 million wildebeest and zebras. The animals follow the lush grazing grounds and thus the rains, offering a spectacular show.

On the seemingly endless savannah plains of the Serengeti this is particularly impressive to see. On their migrations the animals of course also cross national borders, all the way up to Kenya.

There is no fence or artificial barrier. Only rivers have to be crossed, where the crocodiles are already waiting!

Night at a campsite in the Serengeti.

With the very first rays of sun you set off on the first game drive in the Serengeti – a highlight of your Tanzania camping safari. This is one of the best times to take impressive wildlife photos in the light of the rising sun.

You return to camp for breakfast. Afterwards you continue to the Seronera area of the central Serengeti. Your guide knows where the animals are and will take you to the best viewing spots.

Night at a campsite in the Serengeti.

On the way to the Serengeti park gate you go on final game drives. Perhaps in the Seronera Valley a lion, leopard or one of the other big cats you have not yet spotted will show itself once more.

For lunch you stop again at a spot with a beautiful view to enjoy your packed lunch. Then you continue towards the Ngorongoro Crater.

As soon as you reach the crater rim, camp is set up right on the crater rim, with an impressive view straight into the crater. Night in a tent.

In the morning you should not miss the spectacular sunrise over the crater! Although you are on holiday, it is worth setting the alarm today.

After a hearty breakfast, you soon drive down the steep slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater. Having arrived on the floor of the world’s largest caldera not filled with water, you will find almost every representative of East African wildlife within just a few square kilometres.

Only the giraffe, which cannot climb the steep slopes of the crater, is not found here. In the crater you also have the best chance of getting one of the very shy and rare black rhinos in front of your lens.

For lunch you drive to a lake and enjoy the great view of the steep flanks of the former volcano. Caution is advised, as the large birds also love our safari cooks’ packed lunches!

In the afternoon you set off for the final stage of your trip, Mto wa Mbu near Lake Manyara.

Here, at the lovely campsite with swimming pool and restaurant, you can relax a little and let the past, eventful days pass before your mind’s eye once more.

Night in a tent.

After a relaxed breakfast you head back to Arusha, where you arrive around midday.

This is where your eventful camping safari through Tanzania ends, in the city or at one of the airports (Arusha/Kilimanjaro).