9 DAYS | 8 NIGHTS African Photographic Safari – Arusha, Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Tarangire
Tour Overview
This 9-day photographic safari is designed for travellers who want quality time in the field and the best light conditions to capture Africa’s legendary wildlife. The route moves through iconic landscapes Ngorongoro’s natural amphitheatre, the endless Serengeti plains, and Tarangire’s elephant-rich valleys offering unmatched opportunities to photograph the Big Five in their natural behaviour. Every day follows the rhythm of soft morning light, long unhurried game drives, and warm evening colours.
Duration: 9 Days
When to go: All Year Round
FULL ITINERARY
Day 1:
Arrival in Arusha
Arrive in Arusha and settle into the calm foothills of Mount Meru. The afternoon is free for a gentle rest, sorting your camera equipment, charging batteries, and preparing for the photography-focused days ahead. The atmosphere is peaceful an ideal start before entering Tanzania’s great wildlife regions.
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:
Arusha to Ngorongoro Highlands
After breakfast, you depart Arusha and travel toward the lush highlands of Ngorongoro. The drive offers dramatic scenery as the landscape rises into cooler air and sweeping open views. On arrival, you settle in at the crater rim, where mist, forest edges, and distant plains create early opportunities for landscape photography. Spend the afternoon enjoying soft highland light and preparing for tomorrow’s crater descent.
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:
Ngorongoro Crater – Big Five Photography in a Natural Wonder
You descend into the Ngorongoro Crater at first light, entering one of Africa’s most reliable Big Five environments. Lions often rest on the open grasslands, giving clean, low-angle compositions. Large buffalo herds move across the plains, creating strong foreground subjects against the curved crater walls.
Elephants especially the famous older bulls wander through the marshes, ideal for portrait shots. With patience, you may photograph the rare black rhino feeding in the wide open. The full day is dedicated to wildlife photography until the afternoon light fades and you return to the rim for dinner.
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 to Serengeti – Entering Big Cat Territory
Breakfast begins a full day dedicated to Big Five photography in the Serengeti. Follow migrating herds, observe predators in action, and capture elephants and buffalo in woodland areas. Your guide will take you to the best vantage points for photographing wildlife behavior and dramatic landscapes. Pause for a picnic lunch in the park before resuming afternoon game drives.
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
Where to Stay
Overnight: Tented Camp / Lodge
MEAL PLAN
Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Day 5:
Full Day Serengeti – Following Big Five Movements
Start the day at sunrise, when predators are active and the light is soft. You spend long hours tracking elephants, buffalo, and big cats as they move across the plains. Patience gives you real photographic behaviour cubs playing, elephants dusting themselves, or lions interacting with their pride. After a picnic lunch in a shaded spot, the afternoon brings warm tones and steady wildlife movement until the last glow of the day leads you back to your lodge.
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 6:
Full Day Serengeti – Wildlife, Action & Landscapes
Another full day in the Serengeti ensures time to explore new areas and chase the best possible wildlife scenes. Early morning may reveal a leopard at dawn or a lioness returning from a hunt. Midday can bring dramatic moments as predators become active near water sources.
Afternoon light casts long shadows across the plains, giving depth and dimension to your images. You return to the lodge after sunset with a memory card full of scenes that tell the story of Africa’s greatest ecosystem.
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 to Tarangire – Changing Landscapes & Afternoon Elephant Photography
After breakfast, you leave the Serengeti and journey toward Tarangire National Park. As you arrive, the towering baobab trees and wide valleys open into a landscape known for strong elephant presence.
Afternoon is prime time for elephant photography as herds gather near the riverbeds in golden light. Buffalo often appear in tight formations, and lions sometimes rest near the marshes. The earthy tones of Tarangire create atmospheric scenes before you head to your lodge inside the park.
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:
Full Day Tarangire – Elephant & Predator Photography
You spend the entire day exploring Tarangire, a park famous for close elephant encounters and classic savannah scenes. Early light offers soft colours around the baobabs, while the riverbanks become busy with wildlife.
This is one of the best places to photograph elephant family behaviour greeting, feeding, and walking in strong natural formations. Lions and leopards may appear near the dense thickets, while birdlife adds contrast and detail to your compositions. You return to your lodge as the sky glows warm at sunset.
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 9:
Tarangire to Arusha – Final Morning of Photography
Your final morning offers one more chance to photograph Tarangire’s elephants in the soft dawn light. After a relaxed morning game drive, you exit the park and travel back to Arusha. The journey ends with a collection of meaningful wildlife images, unforgettable Big Five encounters, and scenes that reflect Africa’s natural beauty.
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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