6 DAYS | 5 NIGHTS
Big Cat Photographic Safaris

Tour Overview

This photographic Big Cat Safari is designed for wildlife lovers and photographers seeking up-close encounters with Africa’s apex predators. Traverse Tanzania’s Northern Circuit, from the elephant-rich plains of Tarangire to the bird-filled woodlands of Lake Manyara, the iconic open savannahs of the Serengeti, and the dramatic Ngorongoro Crater.

Each day offers unique photographic opportunities from stalking lions at sunset, capturing cheetahs in motion, to observing leopards hidden in the kopjes. Guided by expert safari leaders, this journey is carefully curated to maximize predator sightings and deliver stunning visual experiences for every wildlife enthusiast.

Duration: 6 Days

When to go: All Year Round

FULL ITINERARY

DAY 1:

Arusha to Tarangire National Park

Begin your adventure with a scenic drive from Arusha to Tarangire National Park, a landscape painted with towering baobabs, rolling savannahs, and seasonal wetlands. Tarangire is renowned for its large elephant herds, providing perfect photographic subjects as they wander peacefully or splash through the river.

Your game drive will focus on spotting the park’s majestic predators, including lions lounging in the shade or leopards hidden in the acacia trees. Zebras, wildebeests, and buffaloes roam in harmony, creating natural compositions ideal for photography. Pause for lunch amidst the park’s iconic scenery, allowing golden-hour light to accentuate the silhouettes of elephants and baobabs before returning to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Where to Stay

Overnight: Lodge / Hotel

MEAL PLAN

Full Board

Where to Stay

Mid - Range: Tulia Boutique Hotel

Luxury: Mount Meru Hotel

MEAL PLAN

Dinner

Day 2:

Full-Day Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast, travel to Lake Manyara National Park, an ecological gem offering a photographic feast. The park’s alkaline lake glistens under the morning sun, providing a backdrop for flamingos, pelicans, and herons.

Photograph giraffes elegantly browsing treetops, hippos lounging in shallow waters, and baboons or vervet monkeys interacting in the forest edges. The famous tree-climbing lions provide dramatic and rare photographic opportunities, with sunlight filtering through the branches as they rest.

A picnic lunch surrounded by vibrant landscapes and wildlife offers an intimate moment for photography and reflection. Continue with an afternoon game drive, capturing the park’s diverse ecosystems and the soft evening light illuminating the plains. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

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 3:

Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park

Depart after breakfast for the legendary Serengeti National Park, driving through the Ngorongoro highlands and spotting wildlife along the route. Upon arrival, check in at your lodge before heading out for an afternoon game drive. Serengeti’s endless plains are a predator’s paradise, where lions, cheetahs, and leopards roam freely.

Kopjes rocky outcrops dotting the landscape provide dramatic vantage points for stalking leopards and resting lions. Capture the sweeping vistas of the Serengeti under warm evening light, with herds of wildebeests and zebras creating dynamic photographic subjects. End your day with a lodge dinner and an overnight stay 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 4:

Full-Day Serengeti National Park

Spend a full day exploring the Serengeti’s vast ecosystem. Early morning light offers prime opportunities for photographing big cats on the hunt or in repose, while the open plains allow for wide-angle shots of predators against endless skies. Your expert guide will direct you to the best locations, adjusting to the movements of lions, cheetahs, and leopards.

Midday can include a picnic lunch in a scenic spot, with time to capture the interplay of light and shadows across the landscape. Afternoon game drives focus on elusive species, predator-prey interactions, and striking wildlife compositions. Return to your lodge for dinner, sharing and reviewing your photographic captures of the day.

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:

Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

After breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive in the Serengeti, capturing final predator encounters before heading toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Stop along the route to photograph dramatic highland scenery and grazing wildlife. Check into your lodge near the crater, where expansive views of the Ngorongoro rim provide stunning sunset photography opportunities. Dinner and overnight at the lodge allow for rest and anticipation of the crater exploration the next day.

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:

Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

Begin your day with an early breakfast before descending into the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the world’s most spectacular wildlife arenas. The crater floor teems with life, offering unmatched photographic opportunities for lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, and leopards, as well as spotted hyenas and the elusive golden jackal. With the crater walls framing your shots, every image tells a story.

Picnic lunch in the crater’s heart gives you a chance to capture intimate wildlife moments against dramatic backdrops. In the afternoon, ascend from the caldera and travel back to Arusha, concluding your Big Cat Safari with a collection of stunning photographs and memories that will last a lifetime.

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

YOUR NEXT JOURNEY

Make this itinerary yours