8-Day Self-Drive Safari Adventure Tanzania

8-Day Self-Drive Safari Adventure in Tanzania

Day 1-2: Tarangire National Park – Elephants and Baobabs

Day 1: Arrival and First Game Drive

Distance: Approximately 120 km

Your self-drive adventure begins with a scenic drive from Arusha to Tarangire National Park. As you approach the park, the landscape starts morphing into a wild tableau, with majestic baobab trees and the Tarangire River carving through the land. After settling into our lodge or campsite and savoring a quick lunch, you’re ready for your first game drive.

The park is famous for its large elephant herds, so keep your eyes peeled for these gentle giants ambling in matriarchal herds or solitary bulls dust-bathing by the river. As the golden hour approaches, the park glows, offering perfect photo opportunities against the backdrop of iconic baobabs and acacias.

Day 2: Full-Day Game Drive

You spend your second day self-drive safari fully immersed in Tarangire’s diverse habitats. From the thick bushland to wetlands, every turn offers potential encounters with wildlife such as zebras, giraffes, buffalos, and even tree-climbing lions if we’re fortunate. Bird enthusiasts will also be delighted by the variety of species, including the vibrant lilac-breasted roller and the large Kori bustard.

As the day unwinds, you return to your lodge or campsite, recounting your favorite moments by the fireside, under the canvas of a starlit African sky.

Day 3-5: Serengeti National Park – The Endless Plains

Day 3: Journey to Serengeti

Distance: Approximately 335 km

On day three, your self drive safari takes you to the legendary Serengeti National Park. The drive itself is an adventure, as we traverse local villages and catch glimpses of the Tanzanian countryside. Upon entering the Serengeti, the land stretches into “endless plains,” which is what ‘Serengeti’ means in the Maasai language.

You arrive at your chosen accommodation in the late afternoon, with time for a brief evening drive before dinner. As dusk falls, the Serengeti’s ambiance is nothing short of magical.

Day 4: Central Serengeti

Dedicate day four to exploring the Central Serengeti, where the Seronera River provides a vital water source to animals all year round. This area is a hot spot for predator action, so be on the lookout for lions, leopards, and cheetahs.

You may catch the Great Migration if you’ve timed your visit right, with millions of wildebeest and zebras in pursuit of fresh grazing. The sheer scale of this natural phenomenon is breathtaking and a true highlight of any safari.

Day 5: Northern or Southern Serengeti

Depending on the season, you’ll either head north to the Mara River, hoping to witness dramatic river crossings, or south to the Ndutu area, where the calving season brings new life to the plains. Each offers a different spectacle but both are equally rewarding. The full-day excursion ensures we soak up as much of the Serengeti spirit as possible.

Day 6-7: Ngorongoro Crater – A World Within A Volcano

Day 6: To the Ngorongoro Highlands

Distance: Approximately 145 km

Bidding farewell to the Serengeti, we drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. En route, you might stop at Olduvai Gorge, a significant archaeological site where early human remains have been discovered. Arriving at the Ngorongoro Highlands by evening, we rest at the crater rim enjoying the stunning vistas.

Day 7: Descending into the Ngorongoro Crater

The highlight of day seven of the self drive safari is descending 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. This ‘Garden of Eden’ is rich with wildlife, including the Big Five. We’ll spend the day driving through diverse ecosystems, from lakes to forests, and open grasslands, spotting wildlife at every turn.

The density of game inside the crater is remarkable, and it’s not unusual to see the endangered black rhinoceros. In the afternoon, we ascend the crater walls, carrying with us the memories of a place unlike any other on earth.

Day 8: Return to Arusha

Distance: Approximately 180 km

The final day of your self drive safari, driving back to Arusha, the hub from which our journey began. With the dust of the African bush still on our boots and the wild chorus of the Serengeti ringing in our ears, we reflect on the experiences that have imprinted on our souls.