8 Day Luxury Safari in Tanzania
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Why You Should Visit Tanzania
From the endless plains of Serengeti National Park to the abundant wildlife that resides in the Ngorongoro Crater, from the highest peak in all of Africa to the white sand beaches of Zanzibar, Tanzania has something to offer every type of traveler. But the main reason you should visit Tanzania is for the safaris. Drive through the lush highlands teeming with greenery and baboons until you descend onto the plains where you’ll find countless lions, giraffes, buffalo, zebra, and wildebeest. Spot an elusive leopard snoozing in a tree or a speedy cheetah chasing down its prey from the comfort of your land cruiser. With countless tour companies to choose from, you’re sure to find a luxury safari in Tanzania that fits both your budget and your interests.
What You Need to Know Before You Go to Tanzania
A herd of elephants at Tarangire National Park
General
Tanzania is in East Africa, close to the equator. Many people also go to Zanzibar, an island off the coast, after their safari, and for good reason! You’re going to be so tired by the end of your journey through the country. The waters are crystal clear and the beaches are filled with sugary sand. Honestly, I wish we’d tacked on a few days there at the end of our trip!
You don’t need a yellow fever shot to enter Tanzania unless you’re coming from a country that has endemic yellow fever. So coming from Europe and the US, you’re fine! We opted to take malaria pills… but promptly forgot when we returned home. I think I might have gotten a single mosquito bite the entire time we were there, so whether you want to take the pills is up to you.
Tanzania requires a visa to enter, and if you’re coming from the US you need a multi-entry visa. I highly recommend doing this online in advance and printing out all your paperwork. It will make going through customs a breeze and get you started on your adventure sooner! If you forget, it’s totally okay and you can apply for one upon arrival.
Money
The Tanzanian Shilling (TZS) is the currency in Tanzania, but most places will accept USD. We mostly used our cash for tips, and you can tip in USD. Speaking of tips, it is expected for every hotel/lodge/tented camp as well as your guides. The standard for your driver/guide is $20 USD per person per day.
Language
The national language of Tanzania is Swahili, but the drivers, guides, and workers at the hotels speak English.
Safety
While we were in Arusha, we remained within the grounds of our hotel, which felt very safe. Additionally, on the actual safari, we felt very safe. You will drive through small towns between Arusha and the national parks, but even when we stopped, it wasn’t a big deal. In Arusha, there were a few beggars at stoplights who would knock on your window, but if you kept your attention forward, they moved on. Generally, the people in Tanzania are super friendly, and while you’re driving through the countryside, most people will smile and wave as you drive by, especially the children. Give them one in return!
Tips for Travelers with Anxiety in Tanzania
A baby hyena in the Serengeti
Bathrooms - While you’re out on game drives, there’s ample opportunity to use an actual bathroom if you’d like. They’re actually fairly nice and well-maintained too!
Food - You’ll have breakfast and dinner at your accommodation every day and a picnic lunch. The picnic lunch was a bit lackluster for me. I have several food allergies that we communicated in advance, and unfortunately for us, we had rice, veggies, and chicken for lunch every day. Except they cooked it all at like 5AM before we left for the day so by the time we stopped for lunch it was cold. If you’re like me and struggle to eat food that should have been hot cold, pack snacks. We also struggled with communicating my food prep instructions with the waitstaff at certain lodges. To be honest, I was pretty hangry most of the trip, and about halfway through I gave up and said just give me french fries and plain grilled fish. The menus they give you are pretty limited, but they will cook you other things if you ask specifically for them.
Lots of driving - Tanzania is huge and the national parks are fairly spread out. We thought that the drives between them would be more game drive like too, but that wasn’t the case. If you’re not inside a park or protected area, you’re driving through villages and small towns on a paved road. I’d recommend bringing headphones so you have something to listen to rather than just staring out the window the entire time like I did.
If you’re anything like me, a combination of fatigue, hunger, and overstimulation is a recipe for crankiness. Prepare ahead of time for all of these to happen and communicate that with your travel partners!
How to get to Tanzania
A playful zebra
There are two airports near Arusha, where your tour will likely begin: Arusha and Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). It’s less expensive to fly into Kilimanjaro, and your tour company will arrange a transfer to Arusha for you. Arusha’s airport is domestic only, so you’ll have to connect in another city in Tanzania to fly there.
If you’re coming from the US or Europe, you’ll likely fly one of a few different airlines: Air France (from Nov 2024), KLM, Turkish Airlines, or Qatar Airways. Other African airlines include: Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, RwandAir, Uganda Airlines. If you can take any airline other than Qatar Airways, do that.
Normally, I don’t write these kinds of thing into my blog because I try to keep it upbeat, but since my focus is on helping other travels with anxiety, I can’t not say anything. We booked our tickets for this trip about 8 months in advance, and at that time, we paid to pick our seats on all Qatar Airways flights. We even sprung for some nicer ones since we’d be traveling for over 38 hours straight. At the time of booking, I also selected a gluten-free meal for myself (as I always do). About a week before our trip, we checked everything again, and my gluten-free meal was gone. I tried to select it again, and it said it went through, but then when I refreshed the page, it wasn’t there again. I ended up having to contact customer service about it. Thankfully, I received them on the flights.
BUT those seats I mentioned earlier? Yeah we never got them. Not only that, but they gave us random seats that weren’t together. Every single flight was “fully booked” according to the flight attendants. Yeah, no shit, that’s why we paid for and picked the seats we wanted eight months ago. They told us they changed the plane for two of the flights, which was why we were given new seats. Except, when we checked in online, and at the airport in Raleigh, we still had the seats we’d bought on our ticket. In London, they gave us new tickets, which was when we noticed the issue. But again, the flight was full and there was nothing they could do.
Cue the same nonsense on our return journey, though on one flight they couldn’t tell us why our seats were changed because we walked right past the ones we paid extra for. We were told to contact customer service when we returned home. So, my husband called right away and was told by the agent that he couldn’t process a refund for us and that my husband needed to fill out some form online. Two weeks later he receives a response from Qatar Airways saying they will not refund us because they gave us equivalent seats. Would you call two premium window seats the same as the two middle seats in a four person row?
Don’t take my word for it; you can read hundreds of similar stories both here and on Trip Advisor. If you absolutely can’t avoid Qatar Airways, don’t pay for seats because you won’t get your money back if you don’t get them.
When to Plan Your Tanzania Safari
One of the biggest draws to Tanzania is the great migration, which takes place late June through early August in the Serengeti. This is considered peak season, which means the parks will be busier, hotels will be fuller, and you’ll need an extra dose of patience to see the wildlife. We went in June, just before the peak season began, and I was shocked with how many people were already there. We once waited more than thirty minutes to get through a traffic jam of cars trying to get a glimpse at a lion lying in the grass (it was almost impossible to see). If you want a little more ease to your trip, I’d recommend skipping the peak season and opting for a spring or fall trip.
How to Book a Safari in Tanzania
A lion in a tree in the Serengeti
Tour Company Recommendation for a Luxury Safari in Tanzania
We booked our safari with Lion King Adventures, and they were fabulous. I highly recommend them! We opted for their 8 Day All Inclusive Luxury Safari. It was nice knowing we could just show up and they had everything all planned for us. Our guide was Macha, and we couldn’t have asked for a better one! He’d been a guide for over 12 years and knew exactly where to find all the animals. He was also a very efficient driver, which we appreciated on those insanely long days on the road.
When you’re booking your trip, you’ll have several options to choose from for accommodation at each stop. In the original itinerary, I think Lion King had it set up to where you were staying in a new lodge at least every other night, if not every night, which we opted to change. With my chronic pain and food allergies, we wanted to at least slow down a little bit. Not gonna lie, this type of safari is fast paced compared to the safari we did in South Africa. I’ll have a blog post comparing the two soon!
When you’re looking at these accommodations, keep these key words in mind.
Hotel - what you would expect in a typical hotel, with lots of floors and adjacent rooms.
Lodge - a little more rustic (but by no means less luxurious) usually with individual rooms spread out around the property.
Tented Camp - do you remember zipping yourself into a tent as a kid? Take that but add floors, indoor plumbing, and beds (especially with the luxury ones). You’ll still have to zip yourself in (to keep those pesky mosquitos out!) but that’s part of the fun. These are usually located in the heart of the wild, so you’ll get up close experiences with animals should they wander through.
Our Choices for Accommodation on Our Luxury Safari in Tanzania
Gran Melia Arusha
The Gran Melia Arusha is a 5 star luxury hotel in Arusha. Included with Lion King’s luxury & luxury plus tours.
Honestly this property is probably my new all time favorite. The rooms were spacious and clean, but the grounds? Spectacular. From the coffee plantation, greenhouses, rooftop bar, infinity pool, and view of Mount Meru, there is not a bad angle in the entire place. Plus, the food was fantastic and the staff were all super friendly. Highly, highly recommend!
Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge
Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge is a 5 star luxury lodge near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Each room is its own private hut, and they are massive. From the king sized bed and sitting area in the bedroom, to the large bathroom, and an additional sitting area in an adjacent room, you could easily spend all your time here. Each has a balcony as well where you can lounge, and if you look down, you might just spot an elephant wandering by! This lodge also has onsite massages (very needed and very great when I got one), a pool, darts, and more entertainment options.
Nyota Luxury Camp Serengeti
Nyota Luxury Camp is a 4 star luxury tented camp in the Serengeti. The sunrise/sunsets were incredible, and since the camp doesn’t have a fence, animals can wander freely through it. On our first night, a group of lions were calling out to one another and definitely kept us up. Bring earplugs if you don’t want to have your sleep interrupted by the wildlife! The tents also have outdoor showers if that’s your thing, and a porch where you can relax at the end of the day.
Lion’s Paw Tented Camp
Lion’s Paw Tented Camp is a 3 star tented camp on the Ngorongoro Crater Rim.
This was actually my favorite accommodation of our entire trip and I’m really sad we only spent one night here! The property was amazing, the views were incredible, and we definitely didn’t get to spend enough time here. This was the lodge that also had the best food. They were barbecuing when we arrived, and Andrew got to eat some seasoned beef off a skewer — he said it was delicious!
Our Tanzania Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival + Arusha
View of Mount Meru from the rooftop bar
Accommodation: Gran Melia Arusha
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, we were greeted by our transfer driver. After about an hour, we made it to the Gran Melia Arusha, checked in, scarfed down some breakfast, and promptly passed out until about 5 PM LOL. Thirty-eight hours of travel time with no sleep will do that to you…
The grounds of the hotel are immaculate and vast, perfect for wandering and working off all the airplane ick. They actually grow all the food for the guests onsite. We wandered through the coffee and tea plantation and stumbled upon the place where they dry the beans. One kind worker walked us through the process and then showed us the other greenhouses where herbs, veggies, and fruit are grown!
Once you’ve taken a stroll, head to the rooftop bar and grab a drink while you survey the greenery. Try to get a few more hours of shut eye afterward because you’re going to need them for the road ahead!
Day 2: Tarangire National Park
A tower of giraffes in Tarangire National Park
Accommodation: Nepture Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge
After breakfast, you’ll meet your guide for the next week in the lobby. They will cover your itinerary, any questions you may have, and then you’ll hit the road to your first stop: Tarangire National Park. While smaller than the Serengeti, it’s filled with wildlife, especially vervet monkeys. Take care when you stop for lunch, because the little thieves will snatch your bananas without hesitation.
As we waited for a spot to park, we watched one slip beneath the roof of another safari land cruiser and rummage through the belongings left behind. It was hilarious, and I really wanted to see what the guests’ reactions would be when they returned 🤣.
After a few hours in the park, you’ll continue on to your next accommodation, arriving roughly around 5PM to check in.
Day 3: Lake Eyasi, Hadzabe & Datoga Tribes
Andrew attempting to make fire with the help of a few Hadzabe boys
Accommodation: Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge
After a 6AM breakfast, you’ll hop in the car and drive to Lake Eyasai, where you’ll either explore the lakeside or the protected tribal area. 100000% select the tribal visit add on. I was skeptical at first, but it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip!
The Hadzabe Tribe is the only tribe in Tanzania that speaks with a click AND remain hunter-gatherers to this day. With a population of roughly 1300, they live in the protected area so they can maintain their historic ways. They don’t speak English or Swahili either, which we found fascinating. Our guide, Innocent, was also the only guide that spoke their language. He tried to teach us how to say hello… major fail! I could do the click or say the word, but not both at the same time. He actually posts about this tribe often on social media, and if you want to check them out, his handle is @escobar_rakim on Instagram. I believe you can also opt to go on a morning hunt with them if that’s something you’re interested in!
After that, you’ll drive over to the Datoga Tribe, where you’ll sit with the wives and learn how they grind corn for their daily meals. Innocent also spoke their language, so we were able to talk with them for a while via his translation. It was so cool to hear about their lives, and it really gave me perspective on my own worries. They were so happy living in these simple huts, with no internet, no running water, no modern luxuries. You can be happy so long as you choose to be happy!
The men work as blacksmiths, and you can buy some pretty bracelets from them at the end of your tour. They make the perfect souvenirs! After your time there, you’ll return to your accommodation. Take advantage of the half-day and rest, get a massage, or hang out by the pool!
Day 4: Crater Hike + Serengeti National Park
Leopard in a tree in the Serengeti
Accommodation: Nyota Luxury Camp
After breakfast, you’ll begin your trek to the Serengeti National Park. You can opt to add on a crater hike to break up the day a bit, as there is a lot of driving. While you’re unlikely to see wildlife, you will get incredible views into the crater, which is a collapsed volcano that creates almost a natural enclosure for the animals. We did find a chameleon on a stick, and it was fun to watch him change colors as he moved along! After about an hour, you’ll return to your land cruiser and continue on your way.
After a picnic lunch, you’ll finally enter the Serengeti. Then, you’ll start to see more wildlife and it turns into more of a game drive. Along the way, you’ll pass the archaeological site where the famous Lucy was found!
Day 5: Serengeti National Park + Hot Air Balloon
New lions incoming….
Accommodation: Nyota Luxury Camp
The hot air balloon ride is another add-on, and if you do it, you’ll have to get up at like 4AM 🤣. I opted not to go, while my husband did. His videos from the balloon were incredible! He says that he highly recommends it if you want to experience a safari in Tanzania from a different angle. The ride was smooth, and the balloon didn’t go very high, just over the tree line (and at one point they hit a tree LOL). Afterward, you’ll have a full English breakfast and get a certificate of completion.
Meanwhile, our guide and I went to the hippo pool. In South Africa, we only saw a few from pretty far away, so I was really excited to see so many and so close!
The rest of the day is spent driving through the plains of the Serengeti and searching for lions, cheetahs, leopards, and other wildlife. We actually opted to return to Nyota for lunch that day, which was so nice because we were exhausted at that point in our trip. We stayed out later that evening for a game drive and came upon two ~ freshly married ~ lions and got to see new ones being made. It was quite the experience to say the least!
Day 6: Ngorongoro Highlands
A pod of hippos in the Serengeti
Accommodation: Lion’s Paw Camp
Another early breakfast kicks off your last day in the Serengeti. Actually, the permits issued to each car expire at a certain time, and the guides can get fined if they miss the exit time. Around lunchtime, you’ll pass through they gate and head back into the highlands for the next part of your luxury safari in Tanzania. The views are stunning as you climb the ridge of the crater, and you’ll have another photo opportunity along the way. This day is less eventful with a lot of driving, so pack some headphones and listen to an audiobook to pass the time!
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater
A male lion unhappy that we approached while he had food
Accommodation: Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge
How many times can I talk about these early af breakfasts? 🤣 You definitely want as much time as possible in the crater though. The landscapes are breathtaking, and this is also your opportunity to see black rhinos. One of the main reasons we picked Tanzania for our second safari was because the Ngorongoro Conservation Area has the highest concentration of rhinos in the world. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed with what we saw. The roads in the crater are far fewer than in the Serengeti or Tarangire, and the rhino we did manage to see was so far away that it was difficult to spot even with high powered binoculars. But we got to check it off our list at least!
The coolest thing also happened this day though. That lion pictured above was walking along the road with a leg of a wildebeest, and when we stopped and my husband popped out of the roof, the lion roared and faked a lung for the car. It was both terrifying and also the coolest thing ever. Apparently our guide had his hand on the keys, ready to hit the gas, if the lion actually attacked the car. Truly an unforgettable experience!
Day 8: Ngorongoro Crater
A rhino (and a baby but it’s hard to see) in Ngorongoro Crater
Accommodation: Gran Melia Arusha
This day was supposed to be at Lake Manyara National Park, but we opted for a second day in the crater just in case we didn’t see a rhino on the first day. My husband saw two more (I was sick this day) but again they were very far away. After the game drive, you’ll make the return drive to Arusha. We opted to stay another night at the Gran Melia Arusha since our departing flight was at like 8AM and we didn’t want to go straight from a lodge to the airport.
Add Ons:
Lion King Adventures offering a bunch of different add ons to your luxury safari in Tanzania. Here’s which ones I think are worth it versus not.
Crater Hike - I could go either way on this one. It was nice to get out of the car and stretch our legs, but we were expecting to see animals, like our walking safaris in South Africa, and didn’t. Honestly, our expectations were just way off with this trip and that’s 100% on us 🤣
Night Game Drive - unlike the rest of your luxury safari in Tanzania, this is not a private tour. Its also about three hours, and by the end of your trip, if you’re anything like us, you’ll be absolutely exhausted. We actually pulled up at the meeting point and I threw up in the bushes, so we decided not to do it. Had we known it wasn’t a private tour, we wouldn’t have booked it in the first place. I would say pass unless its something you really, really want to do.
Tribe Visit - BOOK THIS! Especially if you can snag Innocent as your guide.
Hot Air Balloon - Worth it! My husband loved it and would 12/10 do it again.
Final Thoughts on Luxury Tanzania Safari
A luxury safari in Tanzania is fantastic for lion lovers who don’t mind being on the go the whole time. It’s certainly not a relaxing vacation, which is why so many people add on time in Zanzibar after I think! I’ll have more specific thoughts in my follow up post comparing a luxury safari in South Africa vs Tanzania, but overall, I think South Africa is by far the better set up, especially for a first time safari-goer.