8 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS Tanzania Big Five Photographic Safaris 2025–2026
Tour Overview
This 8-day photographic safari is designed for travelers who want time, space, and the right angles to capture Africa’s famous Big Five lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino across Tanzania’s most iconic wilderness areas. Each day places you inside the parks, staying in lodges or camps set deep in the bush for early morning light, quiet landscapes, and high chances of unforgettable wildlife moments. The pace is steady, giving photographers room to wait for behaviour, perfect compositions, and natural storytelling through the lens.
Duration: 8 Days
When to go: All Year Round
FULL ITINERARY
Day 1:
Arrival in Arusha
You arrive in Tanzania and settle into your lodge in Arusha, a calm base that allows you to prepare your gear and adjust to the environment. The day stays relaxed so you can check batteries, backup systems, and lenses before heading into the wild the next morning. Arusha sits at the foot of Mount Meru, and the surrounding greenery creates a soft introduction to the landscapes you will photograph in the days ahead.
Where to Stay
Overnight: Lodge / Hotel
MEAL PLAN
Full Board
Where to Stay
Mid - Range: Tulia Boutique Hotel
Luxury: Mount Meru Hotel
MEAL PLAN
Full Board
Day 2:
Tarangire National Park
Your journey begins in Tarangire, a park famous for its large elephant herds and ancient baobab trees that form dramatic silhouettes for photography. You spend the full day inside the park, slowly exploring riverbeds and open woodlands where buffalo gather and lions often lie in the shade watching prey trails.
The warm afternoon light in Tarangire is ideal for capturing elephants dust-bathing or moving in family lines across the plains. By sunset, you arrive at your camp inside the park, surrounded by night sounds that add to the wild atmosphere.
Where to Stay
Overnight: Tented Camp / Lodge
MEAL PLAN
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Where to Stay
Mid - Range: Tulia Boutique Hotel
Luxury: Mount Meru Hotel
MEAL PLAN
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3:
Full Day in Tarangire – Tracking Elephants and Lions
This day is dedicated to deeper exploration of Tarangire’s wildlife corridors. Early mornings offer the best chance of spotting predators especially lions and the occasional leopard resting near water points before the heat rises. You follow elephant herds as they move through valleys and along the Tarangire River, creating emotional, close-range photography opportunities. Staying inside the park allows you to use the soft dawn and dusk lighting without rushing, capturing natural behaviour during the calmest hours.
Where to Stay
Overnight: Tented Camp / Lodge
MEAL PLAN
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Where to Stay
Mid - Range: Tulia Boutique Hotel
Luxury: Mount Meru Hotel
MEAL PLAN
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 4:
Ngorongoro Crater – Home of the Black Rhino
After an early drive toward the highlands, you descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the most reliable places in Africa to photograph the endangered black rhino. The crater’s open floor, framed by towering walls, offers a natural stage for photographing the Big Five, especially lions that lie openly on the plains and large buffalo herds moving through golden grass. Hippos, hyenas, and countless birds enhance the variety of scenes. You stay overnight on the crater rim, giving you a sweeping view of this ancient volcanic caldera.
Where to Stay
Overnight: Tented Camp / Lodge
MEAL PLAN
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Where to Stay
Mid - Range: Tulia Boutique Hotel
Luxury: Mount Meru Hotel
MEAL PLAN
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 5:
Serengeti National Park – Into Big Cat Territory
You enter the Serengeti, a landscape known for its big cats and endless horizons. This region is an excellent place to photograph lions in golden light, cheetahs scanning the plains from termite mounds, and leopards resting high in acacia trees. Afternoon game drives take you deeper into the central Serengeti, where wildlife density is high and action can unfold at any moment. Your camp is located inside the park, surrounded by open views and frequent animal movement.
Where to Stay
Mid - Range: Tulia Boutique Hotel
Luxury: Mount Meru Hotel
MEAL PLAN
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Where to Stay
Overnight: Tented Camp / Lodge
MEAL PLAN
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 6:
Serengeti – Full Day Big Five Photography
This full day is crafted for patient wildlife photography. You position yourself near key ecosystems such as river loops, grassland edges, and kopjes where lions often rest and leopard sightings are more common. Elephant herds move quietly through woodlands, creating gentle scenes against soft backlight.
Buffalo graze in wide columns, offering strong, bold compositions. With no rush and a fully dedicated photographic schedule, you have time to wait for natural interactions lion cubs playing, a leopard descending a tree, or elephants crossing the savannah with dust trailing behind them.
Where to Stay
Mid - Range: Tulia Boutique Hotel
Luxury: Mount Meru Hotel
MEAL PLAN
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Where to Stay
Overnight: Tented Camp / Lodge
MEAL PLAN
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 7:
Serengeti – Sunrise to Sunset on the Plains
Another full day in the Serengeti allows you to refine your portfolio and search for the wildlife moments still on your list. Early morning drives often reveal lion prides preparing for the day or hyenas returning from nighttime movement.
Midday can bring surprising scenes, especially around shaded areas where leopards may appear. By the late afternoon, the warm colour tones return, creating the perfect atmosphere for silhouettes, wide-angle landscapes, and animal portraits. You return to your camp inside the park for your final night surrounded by the sounds of the wild.
Where to Stay
Mid - Range: Tulia Boutique Hotel
Luxury: Mount Meru Hotel
MEAL PLAN
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Where to Stay
Overnight: Tented Camp / Lodge
MEAL PLAN
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 8:
Serengeti to Arusha – Departure
You enjoy one last morning drive before flying or driving back to Arusha. It is a quieter day that gives you time to reflect on your journey and review the images you captured lions at sunrise, elephants moving through dust, buffalo herds glowing in evening light, and the rare sight of a rhino inside Ngorongoro. The safari ends with a collection of natural, meaningful photographs that tell the story of Tanzania’s Big Five in their true environment.
MEAL PLAN
Breakfast,Lunch
Tour Inclusion
- Pick up and drop in Arusha as per the itinerary
- Park entrance fee
- Full board accommodation while on safari
- Service of an English speaking driver guide
- Transport based on a 4WD Vehicle with open roof for game viewing
- Driver’s allowances and park fees for vehicle and driver
- Game drives as per the Itinerary
Tour Exclusion
- Pick up and drop in Arusha as per the itinerary
- Park entrance fee
- Full board accommodation while on safari
- Service of an English speaking driver guide
- Transport based on a 4WD Vehicle with open roof for game viewing
- Driver’s allowances and park fees for vehicle and driver
- Game drives as per the Itinerary
Price Per Person
|
Number of Person
|
Price per Person
|
|---|---|
|
PAX 2 |
$ 480 |
|
PAX 3 |
$ 460 |
|
PAX 4 |
$ 440 |
|
PAX 5+ |
$567 |
|
PAX 5+ |
$567 |
Tour Inclusion
- Pick up and drop in Arusha as per the itinerary
- Park entrance fee
- Full board accommodation while on safari
- Service of an English speaking driver guide
- Transport based on a 4WD Vehicle with open roof for game viewing
- Driver’s allowances and park fees for vehicle and driver
- Game drives as per the Itinerary
Tour Exclusion
- Pick up and drop in Arusha as per the itinerary
- Park entrance fee
- Full board accommodation while on safari
- Service of an English speaking driver guide
- Transport based on a 4WD Vehicle with open roof for game viewing
- Driver’s allowances and park fees for vehicle and driver
- Game drives as per the Itinerary
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