Tour Overview
Discover the real magic of the green season on this 19-day odyssey, designed and guided by the same experts who actually live here,. We have tracked wildlife across East Africa for over a decade and know that the raw beauty of the wilderness truly shines when the plains turn lush and vibrant,. This is an adventure with substance, offering the dramatic predator-prey action of the calving season, an experience we personally love for its intensity and lack of crowds,.
On this journey, we lead you on remote morning game drives to witness the Great Migration and thriving habitats before any other crowds arrive. We don’t just visit destinations; we immerse you in them, facilitating authentic experiences with Maasai and Hadzabe cultures and uncovering hidden gems off the beaten path. You will explore nature in style, staying in hand-picked accommodations and following routes that we have personally tested to ensure your adventure is unforgettable and free of surprises.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Tanzania – Welcome to the Adventure
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where you will be greeted by your private driver holding a sign with your last name and Raw Nature Experience logo. Enjoy a comfortable transfer to Legendary Lodge, a luxurious property set on a working coffee plantation on the outskirts of Arusha. Unwind after your journey, soaking in the serene surroundings, and perhaps take a leisurely walk through the lush gardens.
- Meal Plan: Dinner & Breakfast
- Overnight: Legendary Lodge (2 Nights)
Day 2: Explore Arusha & Surroundings
Your professional safari guide will meet you at the lodge during breakfast, ready with your private safari vehicle for the journey ahead. After a trip briefing, you have the option to explore Arusha and its surroundings through a range of curated day trips:
Arusha National Park: Enjoy a game drive with opportunities to see giraffes, zebras, buffalo, and even the rare colobus monkey. Canoeing on Momella Lakes is also an option.
Cultural Visit: Visit a local Maasai or Meru community to experience traditional lifestyles, dance, and handicrafts.
Coffee Tour: Walk through a working coffee plantation and learn about the coffee-making process from bean to cup.
Choose your preferred activity and return to the lodge in the evening for a relaxed dinner.
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation: Specified in final itinerary
Day 3: Journey to Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, depart for Tarangire National Park, renowned for its vast elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, and diverse wildlife. Enjoy a scenic drive as you enter the park, where your game drive begins immediately. Keep your eyes peeled for big cats, buffalo, giraffes, and an abundance of birdlife. Arrive at Lemala Mpingo Ridge, a luxury tented lodge offering panoramic views over the Tarangire River. Spend the afternoon relaxing or enjoying a sundowner experience overlooking the wilderness.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight: Lemala Mpingo Ridge (2 Nights)
Day 4: Full-Day Safari in Tarangire
Enjoy a full day of game drives in Tarangire National Park. This park is famous for its elephant migration, and you will likely witness large herds roaming the savannah. You may also spot lions lounging in the shade, cheetahs scanning the plains, and leopards resting in acacia trees.
For an extra adventure, consider an optional night game drive, where you can spot nocturnal wildlife such as bush babies, porcupines, and even elusive predators on the hunt.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation: Specified in final itinerary
Day 5: Into the Ecosystem of Lake Manyara
Depart Tarangire and journey towards the Lake Manyara ecosystem, a stunning landscape known for its tree climbing lions, thousands of flamingos, and dramatic Rift Valley escarpment. Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch.
In the afternoon, choose between.
A guided nature walk with a Maasai warrior to learn about traditional bushcraft.
A cultural interaction with the local Maasai community, gaining insights into their way of life.
An optional night drive, offering a chance to see nocturnal wildlife.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight: Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
Day 6: Drive to the Hadzabe Territory in Yaeda Valley
Today, travel through the Great Rift Valley to Yaeda Valley, home to one of Africa’s last remaining hunter-gatherer tribes—the Hadzabe. This journey takes you into a remote and untouched wilderness. Arrive at Ziwani Lodge, your base for the next two nights.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation: Overnight: Ziwani Lodge
Day 7: Immersive Hadzabe Experience
Spend one days fully immersed in Hadzabe culture. Experience:
A hunting excursion, where you learn how the Hadzabe track and hunt using handmade bows and arrows.
Traditional gathering techniques, foraging for tubers, berries, and honey.
Storytelling sessions around the fire, learning about their ancient traditions and survival skills.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation: Specified in final itinerary
Day 8: Journey to Karatu – Gateway to Ngorongoro
Bid farewell to the Hadzabe and travel to Karatu, a charming town on the edge of Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Arrive at Ngorongoro Manor, a colonial-style lodge offering a peaceful retreat. Spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool or indulging in a spa treatment.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight: Ngorongoro Manor Karatu
Day 9: Full-Day Safari in Ngorongoro Crater
Depart early for a spectacular safari inside the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the world’s most famous wildlife havens. Descend into the caldera, where you’ll find lions, rhinos, elephants, and thousands of wildebeests and zebras roaming the grasslands. Enjoy a picnic lunch beside a hippo-filled lake before continuing your exploration.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight: Ngorongoro Lion’s Paw Camp
Day 10-11: Private Wilderness in South Serengeti
Drive into the vast South Serengeti, where your private wilderness adventure begins. This area is prime for off the beaten path trekking, encountering Maasai warriors, and observing unique landscapes.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight: Ubuntu Camp (2 Nights)
Day 12-13: Ndutu Area & The Great Migration
Head deeper into Southern Serengeti and Ndutu the heart of the Great Migration. You may witness thousands of wildebeests calving, dramatic predator hunts, and large herds moving across the plains.
Spend two days tracking the migration, exploring the woodlands, and observing cheetahs, lions, and hyenas.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight: Lake Masek Tented Lodge (2 Nights)
Day 14-15: Gol Mountains & Maasai Culture
Cross the wilderness into the remote Gol Mountains, where Maasai communities live untouched by modern development. Enjoy cultural experiences, breathtaking landscapes, and unique hikes through the region’s stunning rock formations.
Explore Olkarien Gorge a vital breeding ground for Rüppell’s vultures—and take in the dramatic scenery of Nasera Rock.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight: Amani Collection Lodges (2 Nights)
Day 16-17: Lake Natron – Flamingo Haven & Adventure
Descend from the Rift Valley into the surreal landscapes of Lake Natron, a soda lake home to thousands of flamingos.
Activities include:
A walk to Engare Sero waterfalls, where you can swim in natural pools
Exploring the alkaline shores of Lake Natron, spotting flamingos.
An optional climb of Ol Doinyo Lengai, Tanzania’s only active volcano (for adventurous travelers).
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Overnight: Lake Natron Camp (2 Nights)
Day 18: Return to Arusha – Departure
After breakfast, drive back to Arusha, arriving mid-afternoon. A day room at Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge is available for you to freshen up and relax before your evening flight.
Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport in time for your departure flight home.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day Room: Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge
Day 19: Optional Beach Extension
If you wish to extend your journey, consider adding a Zanzibar beach retreat or exploring Tanzania’s coastal gems like Mafia Island or Pemba Island. Let us know your preferences, and we will tailor an extension for you.=
Day Room: Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge land, where you can indulge in white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and luxury oceanfront resorts.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tour Inclusions
- Transport: Return transfers
- Accommodation: Full/Half Board Accommodations.
- Meals: Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner as per the itinerary.
- Park Fees: Entrance fees to National Parks and Game Reserves.
- Safari Activities: Guided game drives.
- Professional Guide: Services of an experienced English-speaking safari guide.
- Drinking Water: Complimentary bottled water during activities.
- Government Taxes: All applicable taxes and levies.