Tour Overview
This Safari In Tanzania was designed as a quest to see the legendary Big Five! Our Big Five Safaris Mount Meru climbing In Tanzania is our most unique safari experience Conquer one of Tanzania’s scenic and second peaks with beautiful flora and fauna with safari days – giving you the best chance of spotting Africa’s most iconic animals. In your pursuit of lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and cape buffalo you’ll travel through Ngorongoro crater – known as the eighth wonder of the world and the world-famous Serengeti National Park. Along the way, you’ll also see enormous herds of wildebeest and zebra, the majestic giraffe, wallowing hippopotamus, lean cheetahs, opportunistic hyenas, playful monkeys, and so much more.
Tour Itinerary
Arrival & Briefing
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be transferred to your accommodation where your guide will meet you for a full briefing and equipment check.
Overnight: Ameg Lodge
Trek Day 1: Moshi to Momella Gate to Miriakamba Hut
Elevation Gain: 920m/3,020ft
In the morning you will be transferred to Arusha National Park to register before setting off with your guide and ranger, required because there is an abundance of wildlife in the forests! Walking through the grasslands towards the acacia forest on the southern route, you may spot giraffe and buffalo. After roughly 2 hours you will reach the Maio Falls, where you can enjoy a break, then continue through ‘fig tree arch’. After approximately 4-5 hours of trekking, you will reach a spectacular viewpoint, before heading on to the huts.
Overnight Miriakamba Hut
Trek Day 2: Miriakamba Hut to Saddle Hut
Elevation Gain: 1,050m/3,450ft
Continue your trek along a steep track reaching “Mgongo wa Tembo” (elephant back) after approximately 2 hours. Low lying clouds often shroud the rainforest in mist, creating a moody atmosphere. Take in the scenery before heading to Saddle Hut. The vegetation changes from rainforest to heather and moorland. After lunch you may choose to hike Little Meru (3,820m), taking approximately 1½ hours. This is great for acclimatization and,
weather permitting, will reward you with fantastic views over Arusha National Park and Kilimanjaro. A warm meal and early night await you back at the huts.
Overnight Saddle Hut
Trek Day 3: Saddle Hut to Socialist Peak then descending to Miriakamba Hut
Elevation Gain: 1,012m/3,318ft
Elevation Loss: 2,062m/6,768ft
You will be awakened around midnight to start your final ascent. Headlamps light your way as you follow the trail through bush to Rhino Point (3,821m) where the path becomes more challenging. Occasionally some scrambling will be required. Following the crater rim, you will walk on frozen volcanic ash and rocks before reaching the summit after approximately 4 to 5 hours. Enjoy breathtaking views of sun rise behind Kilimanjaro and look deep into Mount Meru’s crater. Start your descent via the same route to Saddle Hut where you can recuperate with hot soup and tea. Once rested, continue to Miriakamba Hut. Please note, the summit stage contains a few easy but unsecured scrambling passages. A good head for heights and sure-footedness are necessary. In adverse weather conditions the park ranger may call off the summit attempt.
Overnight Miriakamba Hut
Trek Day 4: Miriakamba Hut to Momella Gate
Elevation Loss: 920m/3,020ft
After breakfast start your final stretch on Meru, via the ‘northern route’ to Momella Gate. On this 2 to 3-hour trek you may once again be lucky enough to see giraffes, buffalo and elephants, as well as black and white Colobus monkeys. Arriving at the gate, say farewell to your hiking crew and travel to your accommodation to rest for the night.
Overnight Moshi
Days 5 & 6: Serengeti National Park
This morning you will commence your drive from Arusha to one of the most famous game parks in Africa, the Serengeti taking approx 4 hours. Here is home to millions of wildebeest during the migration and over the huge flat plains you are likely to find lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena and many other predators. Enjoy an on-route game drive to your camp and the experience of sleeping in the middle of the Serengeti. You will spend the next few days exploring the endless plains of Serengeti, the great wildebeest migration and looking for the BIG 5.
Overnight in Serengeti
Day 7: Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro
An early morning start in the Serengeti to try and find big cats before they retreat from the blazing sun during the day. After a few hours of game drive travel to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area where you will overnight. The Ngorongoro caldera is the largest unflooded and unbroken caldera in the world. At approximately 20 kilometers across and 600 meters deep, the Ngorongoro Crater is a breath-taking natural wonder.
Overnight in Ngorongoro
Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater
This morning you will descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, a wonderful haven for wildlife. Ngorongoro is unique in that almost all the wildlife lives within the crater walls, hence you have the opportunity to find the game easily. Rhino in particular can be seen regularly, as well as prides of lion and other predators like cheetah. Enjoy lunch by the hippo pond. After Lunch, you will drive back to Arusha which takes approx. 2 hours.
Overnight in Moshi / Arusha
Day 9: Departure
Today you will be transferred back to Arusha Airport Or JRO in time for your flight.
Trip Includes
Trip Excludes
- All Game Drives; Vehicle; Park Entry Fees;
- Accommodation At Lodges/Tented Camps/Basic Camping;
- English Speaking Driver/Guide;
- All Food; Drinking Water;
- 18% VAT Tax;
- At Least 1 Pair of Binoculars;
- Accommodation In Moshi/Arusha;
- Airport Transfers;
- Park fees; hut fees; rescue fees; head guide, assistant guides, ranger, cook, & porters’ salaries; food; drinking water; emergency oxygen; transport to/from park entry gate & 18% VAT tax.
- Other Inclusions: Accommodation at
- Tipping for your driver/guide. The recommended is approximately USD$30-$40 per day. This is divided between everyone in the vehicle.
- Tipping for your cook (Camping safaris). The recommended is approximately USD$15-$20 per day. This is divided between everyone in the vehicle.
- Drinks unless specified
- Visas, vaccinations
- Hiring of personal equipment, including clothing, sleeping bags, walking poles etc.
- Tipping to your crew. The standard recommendation for this is USD$20 per day to the head guide, $20 per day per ranger, $20 per day per assistant guide, $20 per day to the cook and $10per day per porter. Porter to client ratio approximately 3 porters per 1 client.
- Other Additional Costs : Visas; vaccinations; spending money
