12 Days Tanzania Wildlife and Primates Safaris

This 12-day itinerary is a worthwhile safari experience, taking you to Tanzania’s Lake Manyara national park, Tarangire national park, Serengeti national park, and the Ngorongoro Crater, home to over 25,000 large animals as well as Uganda’s Kibale Forest national park– home of the chimpanzees, and Mgahinga gorilla national park, ‘where silver meets gold’ . You will also experience the diverse landscapes of these two magnificent countries and have the chance to see the Big Five and other wealth of other wildlife, and primates such as chimpanzees, mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. This safari promises you an unforgettable adventure that you will remember for years.

12 Days Tanzania Wildlife and Primates SafarisItinerary Overview of 12 Day Tanzania Wildlife and Primates

  • Day 1: Transfer from Arusha to Tarangire National Park
  • Day 2: Mto wa Mbu to Serengeti National Park
  • Day 3: Serengeti National Park
  • Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater Experience
  • Day 5: Lake Manyara National Park and transfer to Arusha
  • Day 6: Transfer to Entebbe International Airport
  • Day 7: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
  • Day 8: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi Swamp walk
  • Day 9: Transfer to Mgahinga National Park
  • Day 10: Gorilla trekking
  • Day 11: Golden monkey trekking
  • Day 12: Transfer to Entebbe International Airport

Day 1: Transfer from Arusha to Tarangire National Park    

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven to Tarangire National Park, Tanzania’s third-largest park and a haven for its impressive elephant population. The park is notable for its towering baobab trees, which dwarf the animals feeding beneath them. Wildlife congregates around the Tarangire River, the only permanent water source in the area, attracting a diverse range of animals, including leopards, cheetahs, and up to 6,000 elephants. With over 300 bird species, it’s also a fantastic destination for bird watching. In the evening, you’ll head to Ngedere Camp and lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

12 Days Tanzania Wildlife and Primates SafarisMain Destination:

Tarangire National Park

Best Time to Visit: July to November (Animals come to the Tarangire River)

High Season: June to October (The Park is full of visitors)

Best Weather: June to October (Little rainfall)

Accommodation:

Ngedere Lodges & Camps

Budget lodge located 1-2hr drive from Tarangire NP

Meals & Drinks:

Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)

Day 2: Mto wa Mbu to Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, you’ll drive to Serengeti National Park for a thrilling game drive in search of predators and their prey. You’ll stop for lunch at the park entrance before continuing the game drive with the vehicle’s roof open for a better view. Later, you’ll head to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Option: On the way to Serengeti, you can visit up to four Maasai villages for an additional cost, offering a unique chance to experience Maasai culture.

Main Destination:

Serengeti National Park

Best Time To Visit: January to February and June to October (Different areas are best at different times)

High Season: July to March (The Seronera area is crowded)

Best Weather: June to October (Little to no rainfall)

Accommodation:

Ang’ata Serengeti Camp

Luxury tented bush camp located inside Central Serengeti NP

Meals & Drinks:

All meals included

Day 3: Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, you’ll continue your game drive through Serengeti National Park, discovering its rich wildlife and stunning landscapes. You’ll enjoy the thrill of observing the park’s diverse animals in their natural habitat. Later, you’ll travel to Ang’ata Ngorongoro Camp, where you’ll indulge in a delicious dinner and spend the night in comfort. Relax and unwind as you reflect on an unforgettable day spent exploring one of Tanzania’s most iconic parks.

Main Destination:

Serengeti National Park

Accommodation:

Ang’ata Ngorongoro Camp

Mid-range tented bush camp located on the crater rim of Ngorongoro Crater

Meals & Drinks:

All meals included

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater Experience

You’ll descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive across the short-grass plains and around Lake Magadi on the crater floor. This extinct volcano spans 100 square miles and teems with wildlife, including lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, buffalo, and hippos. With a bit of luck, you might spot the rare black rhino. After exploring the stunning landscapes of Ngorongoro, you’ll ascend back to the top and head to the lodge for an overnight stay.

Main Destination:

Ngorongoro Crater

Best Time to Visit: June to October (Wildlife viewing is best)

High Season: Most of the year – July to March (Expect crowds)

Best Weather: June to October (Rainfall is little to none)

Accommodation:

Ngedere Lodges & Camps

Budget lodge located 1-2hr drive from Ngorongoro Crater

Meals & Drinks:

All meals included

Day 5: Lake Manyara National Park to Arusha

We’ll drive to Lake Manyara National Park, located in the Great Rift Valley. After enjoying a picnic lunch amidst the park’s vibrant birdlife, elephants, and hippos, you’ll head out for an afternoon game drive. In the evening, you’ll return to Arusha, where our tour guide will drop you off at your hotel for the night..

Main Destination:

Lake Manyara National Park

Best Time to Visit: June to October (Easier to spot animals)

High Season: July to March (The northern section gets crowded)

Best Weather: June to October (Little rainfall)

Accommodation:

Arusha planet lodge

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 6: Transfer to Entebbe International Airport

Early morning the hotel will provide you with a breakfast after which the tour guide will transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport where you will catch your flight to Entebbe International Airport. Once at the airport, you will meet your destination guide who will transfer you to your hotel in Entebbe where you will stay the night.

Accommodation:

Best Western Hotel

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast & dinner

Day 7: Transfer to Kibale Forest national park

The hotel will provide you with an early morning breakfast after which you will embark on a journey to Kibale Forest national park for your chimpanzee experience. En route you will have a stopover in Fort portal for lunch then proceed to Kibale Forest national park. Dinner and overnight at the lodge

Main destination:

Kibale Forest National Park

 Best time to visit: Throughout the year however is more favorable from June to August and December to February (due to less rains)

Accommodation:

Kibale Forest Camp

Meals & Drinks:

Breakfast, lunch & dinner

 Day 8: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk

Early morning, the lodge will provide you with a breakfast after which your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge and transfer to Kibale Forest Park headquarters for a briefing on chimpanzee trekking. After this, you will penetrate the forest in search of the chimpanzees. This will take between 5 to 6 hours and when you find them you will be allowed 1 hour in their presence. You will then return to the starting point where you will meet your driver guide and return to the lodge for an afternoon of relaxation. You can also opt to go out for the Bigodi swamp walk. Dinner and overnight at the lodge

Accommodation:

Kibale Forest Camp

Meals & Drinks

Breakfast, lunch & Dinner

Day 9: Transfer to Mgahinga national park

In the morning, you will have breakfast at the lodge then with your driver guide begin your journey to Mgahinga national park ‘where silver meets gold’ for the mountain gorilla experience. Dinner and overnight at the lodge

Main destination:

Mgahinga national park

Best time to visit: Throughout the year however is more favorable from June to August and December to February (due to less rains)

Accommodation:

Ichumbi Kisoro

Meals & Drinks

Breakfast, lunch & Dinner

Day 10: Gorilla trekking

Very early in the morning the lodge will provide you a breakfast then your driver guide will pick you up and transfer you to the park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking. After breaking, you will join your group of 8 and enter the forest in search of the highly endangered yet gentle species. This will take you between 5 to 6 hours and when you find the gorillas you will be allowed 1 hour with them then you will return to the starting point where you meet the driver guide and drive back to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel

Accommodation:

Ichumbi Kisoro

Meals & Drinks

Breakfast, lunch & Dinner

Day 11: Golden Monkey trekking

After a breakfast at the hotel, you will head out with your driver guide to Mgahinga national park headquarters for a briefing about golden monkey trekking. After briefing, you will proceed to search for the golden monkeys. This will take between 3 to 4 hours and after finding them you will enjoy 1 hour watching them and taking photos. After the driver guide will return you to the lodge for a lunch after which you will enjoy and afternoon of relaxation at the hotel. Dinner and overnight at Ichumbi Kisoro.

Main destination:

Mgahinga national park

Meals & Drinks

Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 12: Transfer to Entebbe International Airport

In the morning, you will have a breakfast at the lodge then checkout and embark on yet another drive back to Kampala, Entebbe International Airport where the driver guide will drop you off either at the hotel or Entebbe International Airport where you will catch your flight back home.

Meals & Drinks

Breakfast & lunch

Included

  • Park fees
  • All activities & permits
  • All accommodation
  • A professional driver/guide
  • All transportation
  • All Taxes/VAT
  • Meals
  • Drinks

Excluded

  • International flights
  • Roundtrip airport transfer
  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
  • Tips
  • Personal items