8-Day Walking, Canoe & Bike Safari in Tanzania

Overview

Tour highlights

• Canoeing and walking in Arusha National Park
• Lakeshore walk and night drive at Lake Manyara
• Treetop canopy walk above the Manyara forest
• Village tour of Mto wa Mbu by bike or on foot
• Early start in the Ngorongoro Crater
• Flight from the Serengeti back to Arusha

1. Day 1 Arrival in the Meru Foothills Stay Country lodge in the Usa River areaMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   A representative meets you at Kilimanjaro International Airport for the transfer to a country lodge near Usa River, set in gardens below Mount Meru with distant views of Kilimanjaro. It is a quiet base for your first two nights. Swim in the pool, catch up on Wi-Fi, or follow the trails along the river, where you may spot birds and a monkey or two before dinner.

2. Day 2 Paddle, Walk and Drive in Arusha National Park Stay Country lodge in the Usa River areaMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Arusha National Park is close by, so an early start buys a long day there. Small as Tanzanian parks go, it packs in a lot: hippos in the wetlands, monkeys and colorful birds in the forest, and elephants, buffalo and antelope on the grassy glades. Today mixes game drives with a guided walk and a canoe outing on the water for a closer look. Return to the lodge for dinner.

3. Day 3 West to the Rift Valley and Lake Manyara Stay Small boutique lodge near Lake ManyaraMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   After breakfast, drive west to Lake Manyara, set beneath the wall of the Great Rift Valley and known for its birdlife and large mammals. Arrive in time for an afternoon game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, where flocks of flamingos may color the shallows depending on water levels. In the evening, check in at a small, personal lodge near the park for two nights.

4. Day 4 Lakeshore on Foot, Night Drive by Spotlight Stay Small boutique lodge near Lake ManyaraMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Start with a guided morning walk along the lakeshore, reading tracks and watching water birds from ground level. Later, a game drive through the park carries on after sunset as a spotlit night drive, your chance to look for nocturnal animals such as genets, bushbabies and hunting predators. Return to the lodge for a candlelit dinner and a well-earned rest.

5. Day 5 Canopy Walk, Mto wa Mbu by Bike, Crater Rim Stay Upscale lodge near the Ngorongoro Crater rimMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   A morning game drive leads to the park’s treetop canopy walkway, a raised path through the forest crowns where monkeys, tree squirrels and birds are easier to see. Next, stop at Mto wa Mbu, a lively market village, and tour it by bike or on foot with a local guide. In the afternoon, drive up to a lodge near the crater rim, close to the descent road.

6. Day 6 Crater at Dawn, Serengeti by Evening Stay Tented camp near the Moru kopjes, central SerengetiMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Because your lodge is close to the descent road, you are among the first vehicles on the crater floor. The Big Five all live here, and many visitors see most of them in a single morning. After a picnic lunch, continue to the central Serengeti and your tented camp near the Moru kopjes, granite outcrops that draw wildlife year-round. Dinner is under the stars.

7. Day 7 Two Drives Around the Moru Kopjes Stay Tented camp near the Moru kopjes, central SerengetiMeals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Today follows the classic safari rhythm, with a morning drive, a rest at camp and a second outing in the afternoon. The kopjes are good places to look for lions and leopards, and the surrounding plains hold giraffes, gazelles and elephants. During the months when the migration passes through, the herds can fill this area. Your tent has solar lighting and an en-suite bathroom.

8. Day 8 Seronera Airstrip to Arusha Meals Breakfast, Lunch

   After breakfast, transfer to Seronera Airstrip for the flight of about an hour back to Arusha Airport. From there, you continue to your onward plans, whether that is a flight home from Kilimanjaro, a few days on Zanzibar or a night in Arusha. Tell us your connections when you book so the timing works. On the way, look down at the plains and highlands you crossed by road.

Questions about this safari