9 Days Active Explorer Safari – Canoeing in Arusha, Trekking in Ngorongoro & Serengeti Safari | Tanzania safari | Serengeti Nexus

The group arrives at Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO). Participants are met by a representative of Serengeti Nexus and transferred to a hotel in Arusha.

Note: Check-in starts at 2:00 PM.

Arusha National Park is one of northern Tanzania’s most conveniently located safari destinations, known for its diverse landscapes — from Mount Meru and the savanna plains to the Momella Lakes. Early in the morning, set out on a 1.5-hour walking safari with an armed ranger to spot the park’s most active wildlife on foot. The ranger will guide you on how to safely observe animals and share fascinating insights about the habitat and its history.

Afterwards, enjoy a peaceful break by going canoeing on Momella Lake. This two-hour paddling journey offers close-up views of water birds, and you might also spot buffaloes, antelopes, or giraffes approaching the shore. In clear weather, the view of Mount Meru is spectacular.

Following the canoeing, you'll have a picnic lunch with panoramic views over the Momella Lakes. After lunch, you can either continue exploring the park with a short drive or head to your next lodge earlier, if you prefer to rest and recharge after a full day of activities.

Today begins with a morning visit to the vibrant village of Mto wa Mbu — a cultural melting pot where over 120 tribes peacefully coexist, creating a bright and lively atmosphere. You’ll explore traditional tribal houses, wander through the local market, and get a glimpse into the daily lives of farmers, artisans, craftsmen, and painters. At the banana plantation, your guide will introduce you to the many varieties of this versatile plant and its various uses — from food to building materials and art. The local art group will share insights into different painting styles, while woodcarvers will explain the types of native wood and the meanings behind traditional carvings. To top off the experience, you may try mbege — the traditional banana and millet beer.

After lunch, you’ll journey to your next lodge perched on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater. Here, you can relax and soak in the breathtaking sunset views over this magnificent volcanic caldera. Get ready for the next day full of adventure in the most unique safari spot!

Today you are going to the Legendary Ngorongoro Crater! Your day will begin early in the morning, when your guide arrives to drive you to the Ngorongoro Crater, part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The Crater is somewhat reminiscent of The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: here you will witness tens of thousands of wild animals living in the massive crater left by a huge ancient volcano. The actual crater is relatively small, when you consider that it is home to the most variety of animals per square meter than anywhere else in the world! Here, you are sure to see a great number of animals within close proximity to one another.

The descent into the crater will take about half an hour of driving. The road passes through beautiful, lush forests with great scenery. Your safari guide will make a stop to see the ‘look out’ which is a place offering a stunning panoramic view of the entire crater. Contrary to popular myth, animals can go outside the caldera. However, most of them are safe and comfortable inside the caldera which provides an unlimited supply of fresh grass for grazers and easy prey for predators. Therefore, they prefer to remain in the crater t all the time.

Elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, lions, cheetahs, zebras and other African animals can be seen in Ngorongoro Crater. This is one of the few places in Africa where rhinos are found, although, remember that they are an endangered species, so there are very few of them. One animal that is absent are giraffes; you will not spot any of them in the crater because, due to the build of their bodies, including legs and long necks, they cannot walk down into the crater.

After your morning game drive around the crater, you will stop at the picnic area next to Lake Magadi for a snack and rest. This place is popular with various birds, including kites, who sometimes try to steal food right from the table! While not dangerous, at all, it is a good idea not to leave any food unattended. One of the draws of Lake Magadi are the hippos that live in the area. You’re sure to enjoy watching them while you eat lunch. These huge animals stay close to the shore and often surface to get air. If you do see one walking out of the water, give it plenty of space. Due to the large number of animals and endemic plants, Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and renowned for its natural significance in the world.

Hiking in Empakaai Crater is an amazing way to bring some diversity in your safari program and stretch your legs after the days of game-driving! Empakaai Crater is a caldera in the Ngorongoro Consevation Area, encircling a beautiful lake on the crater floor, for which you would head amidst the greenery of the forest. The forest trail is a bit steep, although totally manageable, and leads you passing the ancient strangler figs and rich birdlife. The trail continues to the lakeshore, where you can view water birds - and, if you are lucky, even flamingos that migrate here during certain seasons. The glorious views of the Great Rift Valley from the crater rim are totally worth the effort!

After your trek, you’ll return to your lodge to rest and recharge fully before tomorrow’s transfer to Serengeti and a new day filled with exciting adventures.

Today, you will drive towards Serengeti through the scenic Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a protected site known for its diverse landscapes including tropical rainforest, savannah, and abundant wildlife. While Ngorongoro Crater is the highlight, the entire area offers stunning scenery and animals like baboons, buffaloes, and elephants. Keep your eyes open—you may even spot a cheetah hiding in the grass.

You will make a stop at Olduvai Gorge on the border of Ngorongoro and Serengeti National Parks. This dry, dramatic landscape contrasts with Tanzania’s lush areas. From the gorge’s edge, enjoy panoramic views of valleys and highlands. Olduvai is one of the world’s most important archaeological sites, where Mary and Louis Leakey uncovered ancient human remains, confirming East Africa as the cradle of humanity.

The nearby museum, founded by Mary Leakey, showcases discoveries and cultural artifacts from indigenous tribes. An official guide will share the history of the finds and ongoing excavations. When no active digs are happening, you can explore the gorge floor and see where these historic finds were made.

After a picnic lunch, continue to Serengeti National Park — Tanzania’s largest and most famous park. Here, expect to see lions, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, and zebras, plus the chance to spot rarer cats like cheetahs and servals. The Serengeti is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its rich wildlife and the spectacular Great Migration.

Your adventure continues in the central part of the Serengeti. Seronera is a huge space, brimming with life. It is impossible to view it all in one day; today, your guide will show you new places and interesting animals, so that you can get a full perspective of Serengeti’s Seronera. It is in the Serengeti that the rarest African animals live: rhinos, leopards, serval cats and caracals. This second day increases your chances of seeing these rare animals in the wild.

This is your final day in central Serengeti. Every day in the savannah provides something new and exciting, you will not have a repeat of previous days, but will experience something genuinely new: yesterday’s lazy lions might be on the prowl today, elephants that walked away will be curious today. A cheetah may even climb atop the safari car, for a chance to see you! It is also an excellent chance to see the famous Kopjes - these remnants of volcanic rock from ancient eruptions are a picturesque part of the Seronera landscape. Animals love to rest in their shade, providing ideal photographs of your time in Central Serengeti.

You’ll also see the Simba Rock - Remember the opening scene of “The Lion King” where Mufasa lifts up baby Simba to see all the savannah? Well, you can see it in real life! In Seronera, visit the inspiration for The Lion King, and see the exact rock that was copied for the cartoon.

Rest in the hotel and transfer to the airport.

Note: Hotel check-out is at 10:00 AM. In case you need a late check-out before your evening flight, you have the option to extend your hotel stay for an extra fee. Let your manager know in advance if you need a late check-out.