Explore Tanzania on a 9-day off-the-beaten-path safari through Tarangire National Park, Lake Natron, and Serengeti National Park, including Northern Serengeti for the dramatic Mara River migration crossings. Continue to Central Serengeti before ending at the iconic Ngorongoro Crater for exceptional wildlife viewing.
Highlights
Offbeat Lake Natron segment
Northern Serengeti migration time
Central Serengeti wildlife
Tarangire opening park
Ngorongoro Crater finale
Fewer crowds on Natron days
Mid-range lodges and camps
Nine day immersive pace
Route at a glance
Follow the journey across Tanzania. Tap markers for stop tips.
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Itinerary
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Upon arrival, our representative will pick you up from the airport (Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport) and drive you to your accommodation. Upon arrival, you will check in at your lodge for rest. Later, you'll be briefed and get ready for the upcoming safari.
Today's safari begins when the guide picks you up from your hotel after breakfast and drives you to Tarangire National Park for gamedrive. Often dubbed the "Land of Giants", Tarangire boasts some of the largest elephant herds in Africa. The park is home to a variety of wildlife species, including wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, buffalo, hippos, lions, leopards, and more. The park is also a great birding destination, with over 500 species living in Tarangire. During the game drive, you'll enjoy lunch at the Matete picnic site, overlooking the Tarangire River. After lunch, you'll proceed with the game drive until the evening, when you exit the park and drive to your accommodation.
After enjoying your tasty breakfast, you'll begin your journey to Lake Natron, traveling through one of Tanzania's most picturesque landscapes. Along the way, you’ll pass Maasai villages dotting the arid plains, with herds of livestock grazing. This journey will last about 3-4 hours, then you'll arrive for lunch and rest before going out to enjoy the views and other activities. Lake Natron is home to ancient hominid footprints, the largest breeding ground for lesser flamingo, and Mt. Ol Doinyo Lengai, the only active carbonatite volcano in the world.
Following breakfast, enjoy your final moments at Lake Natron with a relaxed morning, taking in the stunning landscapes and peaceful surroundings one last time. Then, head toward Northern Serengeti, embarking on a scenic journey through remote, beautiful terrain. The Northern Serengeti is famously known for massive herds of wildebeest and zebras making the dangerous crossing of the croc-infested Mara River during the great migration season (July-October).
In the afternoon, enjoy lunch, then proceed on a game drive until evening, when you'll depart for your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Main Destination: Northern Serengeti National Park
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Non-alcoholic drinks
Overnight
Safari Haven Migration Camp
Ndutu / Kogatende, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania,
After enjoying breakfast, embark on an exhilarating full-day game drive in the Northern Serengeti, where the epic great migration unfolds. Witness the spectacle of wildebeests and zebras on their journey, all while encountering an array of other wildlife that inhabit the area. Enjoy lunch amidst the wilderness, surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature. After lunch, continue with the game drive until late evening before heading back to your lodge and reflecting on the day's unforgettable encounters.
Main Destination: Northern Serengeti National Park
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Non-alcoholic drinks
Overnight
Safari Haven Migration Camp
Ndutu / Kogatende, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania,
Today, wake up early to enjoy breakfast, or take a packed breakfast and enjoy a sunrise/early-morning game drive in the Northern Serengeti. Our expert guide will make sure you enjoy more of the wildlife and Northern Serengeti migration. If you didn't see the river crossing, today might be your lucky day.
In the afternoon, begin your journey to Central Serengeti, enjoying a game drive en route. You'll arrive in the afternoon for lunch and a game drive, witnessing incredible wildlife and landscapes. After enjoying a sunset gamedrive in this wildlife-rich area of the Serengeti, drive to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Main Destination: Central Serengeti National Park
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Non-alcoholic drinks
Overnight
Safari Haven Serengeti Camp
Serengeti National Park, Central Serengeti, Tanzania.
Today, you will wake up early and have breakfast, or take a packed breakfast with you. You will set out on an early-morning or sunrise game drive with our experienced guide. This is a perfect time to witness animals when they are most active, especially predators such as lions and leopards. Most predators prefer to hunt at this time because it's cooler, as the sun hasn't risen yet. Our expert guide will take you to different parts of the park, encountering incredible wildlife at every turn.
As the afternoon approaches, you will pause for lunch in the wilderness before proceeding with an en-route game drive towards the Ngorongoro Highlands for dinner and your overnight stay.
After an early breakfast, you'll leave the lodge and descend into the crater. As you descend the crater, be prepared to be amazed by its breathtaking landscape and beauty.
Ngorongoro is home to an extraordinary array of wildlife, including the legendary Big Five animals (lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinos). With our experienced guide, you will set out to witness these animals, especially the rare and difficult-to-find black rhinos.
In the afternoon, you will pause for lunch at the Hippo Pool picnic site, inhabited by a bloat of hippos and offering panoramic views of the crater. After lunch, you will explore the crater even more! Later, you'll ascend the crater and return to your overnight accommodation in Arusha, filled with memories of the extraordinary safari experience.
“In late November 2025, a nine-day private tour for my husband and me, was provided by Topy Tours in Arusha, Tanzania. From the initial contact with Jackson at Topy Tours, communication was prompt, all questions answered completely, and prices stated. The tour was outlined and the proposed itinerary experienced.
Our guide, Joseph, was patient, knowledgeable, accommodating, and willingly answered questions about culture, politics, ecology, landscape formation, and many other topics. He quickly understood our desires and made suggestions to customize the tour for us. His knowledge and demeanor were outstanding.
The wildlife encountered ranged from cheetahs, leopards, lions, and elephants to warthogs and leopard tortoises. We are interested in birds. Joseph found and helped identify numerous species.
The Topy Tour safari took us to a wide variety of landscapes with few other tourists and a great abundance of wildlife. The size of one mixed herd of wildebeests and zebras filled our view.
We have no hesitation recommending services provided by Topy Tours.”
“Hemos hecho 7 días de safari increíbles.
La organización, el equipo humano y los medios puestos a nuestra disposición por Topy Tours han superado nuestras expectativas.
Hemos elegido el tour más económico.
Hemos dormido 3 noches en camping, menuda experiencia.
Si no has dormido en un camping bajo las estrellas entre aullidos de hienas, no has hecho un safari. Nos han visitado tortugas, diki-dikis y elefantes.
El resto en hoteles y lodges muy correctos sin llegar al lujo.
No hemos echado nada de menos, el único problema es que no nos queriamos marchar.
Un lujo de safari con Topy Tours.
(original Spanish; Google shows an English machine translation)”
Customer satisfaction is a high priority
“We truly recommend this tour. You get the best value for your money!
I booked the tour directly with Topy Tours from home. The owner Jackson always responded quickly and answered all the questions in advance. One day before the safari started Jackson came by our hostel (kinda out of the city) and gave us a short briefing about the itinerary and answered all questions. Even on the evening before our last day, he came by and suggested another option for our last day. Customer service is a big part of Topy Tours.
We were also completely happy about our driver Lobulu. At all times we felt safe and sound. One our way to Serengeti it started to rain but Lobulu managed the muddy road with ease. While others got stuck. He also has a lot of knowledge about the wildlife and always knew where to spot the animals.
Our cook Guideon made our experience even better. Guideon had not only always a joke to tell, but his food was very delicious. You have to try his self made bread!
Thanks to you all for this lifetime experience!”
He was very inspiring and clear about everything on his guide
“It was affordable enjoyable very suprisingly beautiful that includes all the narrations about the animals, the stops we had to get photos of different kinds of species , the closer distance i felt seeing the wildlife species live it was extremely the realest awesome adventure ive ever had before”
An Amazing Safari Experience
“We had a very good Safari experience to Tarangire and Ngorongoro.The Safari was really great we enjoyed lots of animals and the guide was very aware of the animals and plants, the food was amazing too.We would probably do this again!”
Common questions
Lake Natron and a migration minded Serengeti plan add remote scenery beyond the standard park loop.
Roads to Natron can be rough and long. Guests who enjoy adventure landscapes usually appreciate it.
The Natron access roads can be long, bumpy and hot. Guests who enjoy remote Rift Valley landscapes usually find the journey worthwhile.
No operator can. We position you in the right region for the season and maximize game drive time.
Travelers who want migration potential plus a remote Rift Valley experience in one journey.