17 Days Tanzania Safari Tour – Kilimanjaro Climbing & Wildlife Viewing In Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, & Arusha National Parks
17 Days Tanzania Safari Tour – SAFARI OVERVIEW
This exciting 17 Days Tanzania Safari Tour is a 16 nights / 17 days safari in Tanzania that starts and ends in Arusha. The tour is a combination of Mount Kilimanjaro climbing and classic wildlife viewing in Tanzania’s magnificent National Parks: Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, and Arusha National Parks.
Your 17 days Tanzania safari begins with 6 days of trekking the challenging beautiful Machame Route to the summit of Kilimanjaro – Africa’s highest point.
At high altitude, it is an epic adventure through the varied terrain of lowland forest and dry mountain desert. Then at Uhuru Peak (5896m), feel the exhilaration and sense of achievement as you marvel at the incredible views.
After ascending Kilimanjaro, embark on a wildlife safari in the best game parks of northern Tanzania. Enjoy thrilling wildlife encounters with the Big 5 (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo) on classic game drives.
You would be remiss if you didn’t plan your Tanzania trip to coincide with nature’s grandest annual spectacle – the Great Wildebeest Migration in Serengeti.
You can book or customize this 17 days Tanzania safari tour to suit your special interests and budget – at an affordable price!
17 Days Tanzania Safari Tour – PRIME SAFARI ACTIVITIES
- Climb to Africa’s highest peak at 5895m
- Discover high-alpine deserts
- Watch the sunrise from Uhuru Peak.
- Cultural walk around Arusha
- Classic game drives
- Chance to experience the Great Wildebeest Migration
- Big 5 game viewing in Ngorongoro Crater
- See Big Cats (Lions, Leopards, and Cheetahs)
- Spot massive elephant herds in Tarangire
- Fantastic birdwatching & photography
- A visit to the Olduvai Gorge, where the Leakey family unearthed our ancestor, the 1.75 million-year-old fossil Homo habilis.
- Optional hot-air balloon safari
17 Days Tanzania Safari Tour – FEATURED SAFARI DESTINATIONS
Day 1: Arusha
Day 2, 3, 4, 5, 6: Mount Kilimanjaro
Day 7, 8 & 9: Arusha & Arusha National Park
Day 10 & 11: Tarangire National Park
Day 12, 13, & 14: Serengeti National Park
Day 15 & 16: Ngorongoro Crater.
Day 17: Arusha
17 Days Tanzania Safari Tour – SAFARI HIGHLIGHT
Day 1: Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport & transfer to Arusha.
Day 2: Kilimanjaro Climb: Machame Gate – Machame Camp (3010m)
Day 3: Machame Camp – Shira Camp (3750m)
Day 4: Shira Camp – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp (3,960m).
Day 5: Barranco Camp – Barafu Camp (4,640m)
Day 6: Ascent to Uhuru Peak (5,895m) & Descent to Millennium Camp (3,820m).
Day 7: Descend from Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate (1,640m).
Day 8: Relax at a hotel in Arusha
Day 9: Game drive in Arusha National Park & cultural walk.
Day 10: Travel to Tarangire national park for a game drive
Day 11: Whole day game drives in Tarangire national park
Day 12: Transfer to Serengeti National Park for a game drive
Day 13: Unlimited game drives in Serengeti National Park
Day 14: Full-day game drives in Serengeti National Park
Day 15: Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area via Olduvai Gorge
Day 16: Full-day game drive inside Ngongoro Crater
Day 17: Transfer back to Arusha (Kilimanjaro Airport).
17 Days Tanzania Safari Tour – DETAILED SAFARI ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrive At Kilimanjaro International Airport & Transfer to Your Hotel in Arusha
On the first day of your 17 days Tanzania safari tour, you’ll land at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where a warm welcome awaits you.
A road transfer of about 40 minutes takes you through the coffee plantations and small agricultural villages to your comfortable hotel in Arusha city – the gateway to the best-loved Northern Tanzania Safari Circuit,
The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy as you choose. You can take a stroll and explore the bustling town. In the evening a briefing is held at the safari lodge, in preparation for your epic trek to the continent’s highest peak. After the briefing, enjoy a delicious dinner and get a good night’s rest.
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Legendary Lodge/Arusha Coffee Lodge/Kibo Palace Hotel
Midrange: – Outpost Lodge
Meal Plan: – Dinner
Activities & Services: –
- Airport pick-up
- Transfer to a hotel
- Safari briefing
Day 2: Kilimanjaro Climb: Machame Gate (1,800m) – Machame Camp (3010m)
On day two of your 17 days Tanzania safari tour, you will be picked up from your accommodation in Arusha and driven for around 1½ hour to Machame gate (1,800m) – the southwestern gateway to the Kilimanjaro National Park.
Here, you will get a trekking permit and register with the search and rescue service. You also get a complete briefing, meet your crew of guides, porters, and cooks, and undertake all the necessary health checks. Your health will be monitored at all times to ensure that you are properly acclimatizing to the reduced oxygen.
Your porters will carry all required to set up a comfortable tent for you. Today’s trek will start with a gentle stroll through lush rich montane forest, where Black-and-white colobus monkeys and many species of beautifully colored birds can be seen. You conclude your day at the Machame Camp (3,010m).
Accommodation: – Machame Camp
Meal Plan: – Lunch & Dinner
Altitude: – Climb 1210 meters
Hiking Time: – 5-6 hours
Difficulty: – Medium
Habitat: – Rainforest
Day 3: Machame Camp – Shira Camp (3750m)
Your day two of the Kilimanjaro climb takes you out of the lush Afro-montane rainforest into an unusual Afro-alpine moorland zone of giant lobelia and heather plants. Watch as the vegetation grows sparser as you trek along the path to the spectacular Shira Plateau. The trail climbs steadily with views across the plains opening out as you reach the rim of the Shira Plateau.
There is a tangible sense of wilderness especially if the afternoon mists come in. You will camp in the center of the plateau at Shira One (3750 m) and you will be treated to a golden sunset over the snow-dusted peaks of Kibo volcano.
Accommodation: – Shira Camp
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Altitude: – Climb 740m
Hiking Time: – 4-5 hours
Difficulty: – Low
Habitat: – Moorland
Day 4: Climb from Shira Camp to Lava Tower (4,630m). Descend Barranco Camp (3,960m)
Your Kilimanjaro trek today starts with a long hike from the Shira Plateau towards the Lava Tower at 4630m. This stretch of the trail has several ascents and descents, ending in a camp at over 4,600m.
It is relatively hard and you might feel some discomfort, but in order to successfully acclimate to the high altitude you’ll spend about one to two hours here, so this is where your lunch will be. Then descend to the beautiful Barranco Camp (3,960m), where you have a well-deserved meal and a rest.
Please Note: One of the most proven ways to acclimate to increased altitude is to “climb high and sleep low,” which entails trekking to a point above your camp and then returning to it to sleep.
Accommodation: – Barranco Camp
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Altitude: – Climb 880m, Descend 670m
Hiking Time: – 6-8 hours
Difficulty: – Medium
Habitat: – Alpine Moorland
Day 5: Barranco Camp – Barafu Camp (4,640m)
Today, you begin with a short steep climb up the famed Barranco Wall (it’s not a technical climb). After ascending it, you can relax and take some photos in front of the beautiful Kibo volcano. Then, continue on a trek to Karanga Camp with several ascents and descents, but with vistas of the southern ice fields.
The terrain changes to volcanic scree, with pockets of lush vegetation in sheltered hollows, and a powerful sense of mountain wilderness. On arrival, enjoy a warm lunch and have some time to rest. After relaxation, proceed on a 2-3 hour hike to Barafu Camp (4,640m).
Barafu is the Swahili for ‘ice’, and it can be chilly here at night! Tonight, have an early hot dinner so that you can rest as much as possible before the final ascent to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro very early tomorrow morning.
Accommodation: – Barafu Camp
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Altitude: – 680m
Hiking Time: – 8-10 hours
Difficulty: – High
Habitat: – Alpine desert
Day 6: Ascent to Uhuru Peak (5,895m) & Descent to Millennium Camp (3,820m)
Today, start your ascent by torchlight around midnight so that you can be up on the crater rim by sunrise. The steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zigzags and a slow but steady pace will take you to Stella Point (5780m), in about 5 or 6 hours.
You’ll rest there for a short time and enjoy the sunrise and superb views of the crater, the glacier glistening in the morning sun. Those who are still strong will make the 2-hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895m), the highest point in Africa. Here, you get to bask in the glory of the glorious setting and the empowering experience of reaching the “Roof of Africa” on your own two feet.
After photos, descend to Barafu Camp for a well-earned lunch and much thicker air! After lunch, continue to Millennium Camp for the night and have a well-deserved rest. This is a long hard day with between 11 and 15 hours of hiking at high altitudes.
Accommodation: – Millennium Camp
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Altitude: – Climb 1255m, Descend 2,075m
Hiking Time: – 11-15 hours
Difficulty: – High
Habitat: – Arctic
Day 7: Descent from Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate (1,640m)
This day is a gradual descent on a trail through a beautiful tropical forest alive with birdsong and boasting lush undergrowth with substantial botanical interest. Your path winds down to the park entrance at Mweka (1640m).
After your descent, the whole group will gather to applaud you, followed by offering you a chance to share your thoughts on the Kilimanjaro climb in the guestbook. You’ll then receive your Kilimanjaro trekking certificate and be driven back to your hotel in Arusha for a comfy bed, electrical lighting, and – often best of all – a hot shower!
Accommodation: –
Luxury: – Kibo Palace Hotel/Impala Hotel/Arusha Coffee Lodge
Midrange: – Outpost Lodge
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Altitude: – Descend 2,180m
Hiking Time: – 4-5 hours
Difficulty: – Low
Habitat: – Rainforest
Day 8: Relax At a Hotel in Arusha
Day eight day of our 17 days Tanzania safari tour is a day of relaxation and recovery. Use this day to relax by the pool, soak your aching muscles, restore your energy with delicious food and reflect on your incredible accomplishment.
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Kibo Palace Hotel/Impala Hotel/Arusha Coffee Lodge
Midrange: – Outpost Lodge
Meal Plan: – Dinner
Day 9: Game Drive In Arusha National Park & Cultural Walk Around Arusha
Your day 9 of the 17 days Tanzania safari tour begins with an early breakfast. After breakfast, embark on a 45-minute drive to the nearby Arusha National Park.
It is one of Tanzania’s smallest national parks but amazingly beautiful and diverse. Its wetlands host Hippo and Flamingos, its forests hide monkeys, and colorful birds, Giraffes browse the acacias, whereas its grasslands are grazed by Buffaloes, Zebras, Elephants, and Antelopes and patrolled by leopards and spotted hyenas.
You enjoy a leisurely morning game drive to gain an exclusive insight into the Arusha environment. After a game drive, return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. In the late afternoon, take a cultural walk around Arusha. Visit the vibrant local markets and get a feel for African local life in Tanzania. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Kibo Palace Hotel/Arusha Coffee Lodge/Impala Hotel
Midrange: – Outpost Lodge
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services: –
- Game drive
- Cultural walk around Arusha
Optional Activities:-
- A nature walk in Arusha NP
- Canoe ride on Momella Lake
- Cycling tour through villages
Day 10: Transfer To Tarangire National Park For A Game Drive
After a restful night on day 10 of your 17 days Tanzania safari tour, enjoy a good breakfast at the hotel. You then depart for Tarangire National Park, one of the least visited Tanzania safari parks but one capable of delivering fantastic wildlife viewing. This will be a scenic drive of about 2½ in the southwesterly direction. You will arrive at your lodge in time for lunch.
After lunch, have some time to rest, before taking a game drive in search of wonderful wildlife. Home to Tanzania’s biggest elephant herds and giant African baobab trees, Tarangire National Park supports large numbers of Buffalo, Zebras, Giraffes, and various antelope species, most especially during the dry season when animal concentrations at the life-giving Tarangire River are at their peak.
And because of its low visitor numbers, Tarangire offers a serene wildlife-viewing experience. After a game drive, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Tarangire Sopa Lodge
Midrange: – Tarangire Kirurumu Camp
Budget: – Roika Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & Time: – Approx. 150km/2½ hours
Activities & Services: –
- Transfer to Tarangire
- Game drive
Optional Activity: –
- Night game drive
Day 11: Full-Day Game Drive in Tarangire National Park
On day 11 of the 17 days Tanzania safari tour, you have a full-day safari in the wonderful Tarangire. You will enjoy early morning and afternoon game drives, and return to camp for lunch and relaxation in the heat of the day.
During the game drives, you will search for lions, leopards, cheetahs, wildebeests, baboons, Impalas, Waterbucks, and Hartebeests. You will also look out for fringe-eared Oryx and long-necked gerenuk, dwarf mongooses sheltering in abandoned termite mounds, and over 550 species of birds, including the rare Yellow-collared lovebirds, Kori bustards (the world’s heaviest flying birds) and the delightfully named stocking-thighed ostrich.
You will return to your lodge in the early evening for the final dinner, and overnight here. Tomorrow we are off to the legendary Serengeti!
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Tarangire Sopa Lodge
Midrange: – Tarangire Kirurumu Camp
Budget: – Roika Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services: –
- Full-day game drive
Day 12: Transfer To Serengeti National Park & Do a Game Drive
Your day 12 of the 17 days Tanzania safari tour commences with an early breakfast at 6.00 am. Then, you embark on a 5-6 hour drive through a Rift Valley landscape into the cooler climate of the crater highlands.
You have lunch en route and make time to stop and gaze down into the giant Ngorongoro Crater from a viewing platform; you will be coming back to explore Ngorongoro properly later but first, you have one of Africa’s greatest wildlife conservation areas before you: the Serengeti.
The ‘Endless Plains’ of Serengeti National Park covers 14,763km2 and is home to the most population of wild animals on planet earth. The park is world-famous for the Great Wildebeest Migration – the largest animal migration on the planet and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa. You will enjoy a game drive this afternoon on your way to your camp/lodge in Central Serengeti.
The Central Serengeti encompasses the spectacular Seronera River Valley, one of the best places for African Big Cats on thrilling hunts.
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Serengeti Sopa Lodge/Serengeti Serena Lodge
Midrange: – Serengeti Kati Kati Camp
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & Time: – Approx. 250km/5-6 hours
Activities & Services: –
- Transfer to Serengeti
- Evening game drive
Day 13: Full Day Game Drives in Serengeti National Park
On day 13 of the 17 days Tanzania safari tour, enjoy an early breakfast and then set off on a morning game drive in Serengeti. You’ll return to your lodge/camp for lunch and some relaxation in the hottest hours of the day, before going out again in search of more Serengeti animals and birds on an afternoon game drive.
The vast Serengeti plains are known to the local Maasai as Siringeti, ‘the place where the land moves on forever. And besides the massive herds of migrating wildebeests, the plains harbor some of Africa’s densest concentrations of wildlife year round.
The Serengeti National Park is also renowned for its predators, especially its lions. Hunting alongside them are Cheetahs, Leopards, Hyenas, Jackals, Wild Dogs, Crocodiles, and more. These feast on Impalas, Zebras, Giraffes, Buffaloes, Thomson’s And Grant’s Gazelles, Baby Elephants, Hippos, Topis, Elands, Hartebeests, Klipspringers, Duikers, Dik-Dik, and so much more. Serengeti is an incredible birdwatching destination also, with over 500 species.
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Serengeti Serena Lodge/Serengeti Sopa Lodge
Midrange: – Serengeti Kati Kati Camp
Budget: – Kijereshi Tented Camp
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services: –
- Game drives in Serengeti
Optional Activity: –
- Hot air balloon safari
Day 14: Another Full Day Game Drive in Serengeti National Park
On the day of your 17 days Tanzania safari trip, you have another full day of safari in the wonderful Serengeti. You can see all five of Africa’s “big five” animals in the Serengeti: the lion; the elephant; the rhino; and the leopard. Today, you can also opt for a sunrise and a balloon safari over the endless plains. Hot-air balloon safaris in Serengeti can be an unforgettable safari experience.
If you are interested, we suggest that you book optional activity before departure.
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Serengeti Sopa Lodge/Serengeti Serena Lodge
Midrange: – Serengeti Kati Kati Camp
Budget: – Kijereshi Tented Camp
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services: –
- Full-day Game drive
Day 15: Transfer to Ngorongoro via Olduvai Gorge
After a leisurely breakfast today, enjoy an en-route game drive through the Serengeti plains as you make your to the Ngorongoro Conservation area, passing beautiful Masai villages along the way.
You will stop over at Olduvai Gorge (the Cradle of Humankind), which boasts a history dating back to the dawn of time. It was here, that the anthropologists Drs. Louis and Mary Leakey discovered the skulls of the ’Nutcracker Man’ and ‘Handy Man’, the first known human species, who lived in the region – foraging, scavenging, and using stone tools – some 2 million years ago.
After touring the gorge, you will proceed to your lodge near the rim of the stunning Ngorongoro Crater for relaxation, dinner, and overnight. The Ngorongoro Crater is a UNESCO National World Heritage Site, the largest unbroken caldera on Earth, and also one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders.
The crater’s caldera which is about 260km2 wide shelters some of the world’s densest concentration of large animals and is home to an estimated 30,000 animals, including some of Africa’s last remaining black rhino.
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge/Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Midrange: – Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge
Budget: – Karatu Simba Lodge
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & Time: – Approx.140km/3-4 hours
Activities & Services: –
- Transfer to Ngorongoro
- Game drives
Day 16: Full Day Game Drive inside Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast on day 16 of your 17 days Tanzania safari tour, descent 2000 feet into this magnificent crater for a full-day game drive.
You will enjoy a picnic lunch on the crater floor, returning in the late afternoon for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
On the grassy crater floor, you will discover a large variety of grazing animals and their predators. You may see big flocks of pink flamingos around the shores of the shallow Lake Magadi and vast pods of hippos in the surrounding Swamp.
If you are after the ‘The Big Five’, it is all here waiting for you. Black rhino, big-tusked African elephants, Lion, Leopard, Painted wolves, and spotted hyenas along with healthy herds of Wildebeest, Buffalo, and Zebra. Other wildlife includes Serval Cat, Cheetah, Golden jackals, Grant’s gazelles, Thompson’s gazelles, Bat-eared foxes, as well as approximately 500 species of colorful birds.
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Ngorongoro Serena Lodge/Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Midrange: – Rhotia Valley Tented Lodge
Budget: – Karatu Simba Lodge
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services: –
- Full Game drive
Day 17: Transfer Back To Arusha (Kilimanjaro Airport)
On day 17 of your 17 days Tanzania safari tour, enjoy your last African sunrise in this spectacular country before you return home. You can have a short walk on the Ngorongoro Crater rim for dramatic crater photographs, before making your way back to Arusha’s Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight.
Meal Plan: – Breakfast
Activities & Services: –
- Transfer back to Arusha
- Drop off at Kilimanjaro Airport
End Of The 17 Days Tanzania Safari Tour
17 Days Tanzania Safari Tour − SAFARI INCLUSIONS
- Full Board Accommodation on Safari
- Transportation in either 4X4 Safari Van or 4X4 Safari Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof &AC
- Fuel
- Professional English Speaking driver guide. Any other foreign language speaking guide can be arranged on request.
- Entrance fees to the tourist sites including Protected areas mentioned
- Activity fees of the tourist activities mentioned
- Bottled water while on safari
- Airport transfers
- Kilimanjaro climbing and safety equipment
- Dedicated Kilimanajro support crew (assistant guides, camp master, porters, cooks, etc.).
17 Days Tanzania Safari Tour − SAFARI EXCLUSIONS
- General tips for the driver guide, site guides, and service staff at the lodges
- Laundry Services
- Other Beverages/drinks of personal nature like Alcohol
- International Flights (Arranged on request)
- Domestic Flights (Arranged on request)
- Visas
- Optional Activity fees
- Other extras not mentioned in the Itinerary