Baobabs & Big Cats
Tarangire → Ngorongoro → Serengeti → Mwanza
Baobabs & Big Cats is a 6-day, 5-night Tanzania safari: Tarangire → Ngorongoro → Serengeti → Mwanza.
Day-by-day
Your guide meets you in Arusha, the gateway to the northern circuit, for a briefing and the drive to the park. Travel days involve long drives or flights; times depend on the day's schedule and are confirmed in your final itinerary.
Tarangire National Park, about 2,850 km² south-west of Arusha, is known for its giant baobab trees and elephant herds that can number up to 300. Spend a full day on game drives along the Tarangire River looking for elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, with a picnic lunch in the bush. In the dry season (June to October) wildlife concentrates along the river. Overnight: Tarangire Safari Lodge on the Classic option, with higher-grade camps and lodges on Signature and Sublime.
Drive from the Tarangire towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with game viewing on the way, and climb to the crater rim for sunset over the highlands. Overnight: Ngorongoro Farm House on the Classic option, with higher-grade camps and lodges on Signature and Sublime.
Descend early into the Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest intact caldera at about 260 km², and spend several hours on the crater floor, where the Big Five can be seen in a single day: lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, rhinoceroses, cheetahs, hyenas. Enjoy a picnic lunch by the hippo pool before climbing back to the rim in the afternoon. Overnight: Ngorongoro Farm House on the Classic option, with higher-grade camps and lodges on Signature and Sublime. Then drive on to the Serengeti.
Serengeti National Park, 14,750 km² of savannah, rivers and granite kopjes, is the home of the Great Migration. Start before dawn for the best light and the most active wildlife, with a game drive looking for lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, rhinoceroses, cheetahs, hyenas. Stop for a bush breakfast in the open, rest through the middle of the day, then drive again in the late afternoon. A hot-air balloon safari at sunrise can be added. Overnight: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge on the Classic option, with higher-grade camps and lodges on Signature and Sublime.
Enjoy a final early game drive, then travel back to Mwanza for your onward flight or hotel. Travel days involve long drives or flights; times depend on the day's schedule and are confirmed in your final itinerary.
Three ways to take this journey
Comfortable lodges, seasoned guides, shared vehicle.
- ◆Comfortable lodges
- ◆Seasoned guides
- ◆Shared vehicle
- ◆Accommodation
- ◆All meals
- ◆Guide
- ◆Transport
Elevated camps, smaller groups, richer inclusions.
- ◆Elevated camps
- ◆Smaller groups
- ◆Richer inclusions
- ◆Accommodation
- ◆All meals
- ◆Guide
- ◆Transport
Top-tier lodges, private guide & vehicle, fly-in transfers.
- ◆Top-tier lodges
- ◆Private guide & vehicle
- ◆Fly-in transfers
- ◆Accommodation
- ◆All meals
- ◆Guide
- ◆Transport
- ◆Group size: From 1 person
- ◆Tailor dates, lodges and pace — every trip is bespoke.
- ✓Accommodation as per your chosen option
- ✓All meals
- ✓Professional English-speaking guide
- ✓Transport throughout, as per your option
- —International flights
- —Visas
- —Travel insurance
- —Tips and personal expenses
- —Optional extras (see the price list in the description)
Optional extras
A sunrise balloon flight over the Serengeti plains, followed by a champagne bush breakfast.
Your own guide and safari vehicle for the whole trip, for the freedom to set the pace.
Add days on the beach in Zanzibar at the end of your safari.
A guided visit to a local community to meet people and see daily life.
Light-aircraft transfers between parks to save long drives.
A session in a photographic hide for close wildlife photography.
Before you book
What is the difference between Classic, Signature and Sublime?
Classic: comfortable lodges, seasoned guides and a shared vehicle. Signature: elevated camps, smaller groups and richer inclusions. Sublime: top-tier lodges, a private guide and vehicle, and fly-in transfers.
When is the best time to go?
Tarangire National Park: Dry season (Jun – Oct): Best for game viewing, with easier road access and concentrated wildlife around the river. Wet season (Nov – May): Lush landscapes and fewer tourists, but expect rain. Ngorongoro Crater: Wet season (Nov – May): Best for vibrant landscapes, but expect rain and muddy roads. Dry season (Jun – Oct): Best for game viewing, with clear skies and easier travel.
What should I pack?
Suggested: Documents: Passport (6+ months validity), Visa / eVisa, Travel insurance, Yellow-fever certificate, Flight tickets; Clothing: Neutral-colour layers, Warm fleece (cold mornings), Sun hat & sunglasses, Comfortable walking shoes, Swimwear (Zanzibar); Gear: Binoculars, Camera + spare batteries, Power bank & Type-G adapter, Small daypack, Refillable water bottle; Health: High-SPF sunscreen, Insect repellent (DEET), Malaria prophylaxis, Personal medication, Basic first-aid kit.
How do I book and pay?
Send an enquiry or choose your dates on this page. The Shayona team confirms availability and sends a quote, and your booking is confirmed once the deposit is paid.
Is it suitable for children and families?
Yes, with some planning. Tell us the ages of everyone travelling when you enquire so that we can suggest the right pace and accommodation.
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Ready to experience this journey?
Tell us your dates — we'll tailor the lodges, pace and add-ons around you.